From Swinging to Smart

This book looks back at life in 'swinging'1964 and compares many aspects with the 'smart' 2014 version taking the reader from nostalgia to reality in the post baby-boomer era. With reference to events from elsewhere in our global environment, its main focus is on the changes pertaining to the UK. It is often surprising how easily we can lose track of time and date experiences in our memories as occurring long before or long after they actually took place. Inventions, creations, fashions, events, achievements and any noteworthy happening remain with us but evolution, adaptation and the dynamic forces of living confuse our perception of historic time scales. Therefore, if a lot has happened since 1964 and by 2014 we just accepted the changes without considering how they have impacted on our existence, can we imagine what kind of world we are heading towards in 2064 ? In 1964 The New York Times published an article by the acclaimed scientist and science fiction author Issac Asimov to coincide with the World's Fair being held that year. Asimov offered his views on what might be found in a similar World's Fair 50 years in the future. He anticipated cable free technology, coffee makers, large flat screen television monitors as well as moving pavements, driver-less cars and robots. Asimov died in 1992 and was unable to compare the accuracy of his predictions with the reality but when we reached the critical anniversary of his speculations it was apparent that many examples suggested in 1964 had in fact turned out to be correct. From a technological and scientific perspective the world had advanced as he said it would but how far had we actually come in those 50 years
About the Author: James Allan writes to stop himself talking and publishes because people can't hear when he doesn't speak. His first book was about connections, coincidences and similarities in the pop / rock music business and was titled Musicians Eat Cakes. For his second publication, a contrast between 1964 and 2014, he discusses progress over the 50 year period. Daughter Holly assisted with input particularly the sections on Social Media and Food and Drink. James is a Graduate of Glasgow University (Philosophy) and Caledonian University (Management). Holly Graduated from Glasgow University, MA Literary Studies (merit)