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Handheld Fashion Kinetoscope Appliance Found
In his 1899 story When the Sleeper Wakes, H.G. Wells writes about a futuristic device that is able to present a complete "fashion-plate" to a prospective clothing buyer:
"In your days they showed you a fashion-plate," said the tailor," but this is our modern development See here." The little figure repeated its evolutions, but in a different costume. "Or this," and with a click another small figure in a more voluminous type of robe marched on to the dial.
It turns out that this device is available prior to 2113, as predicted by Wells.
iPhone apps like GQ Style Picks let you see a complete "fashion plate" in a very small format.
He opened the roller with a quick movement, and a confusion of brilliant fabrics poured out over his knees. "You lived, Sire, in a period essentially cylindrical -- the Victorian. With a tendency to the hemisphere in hats. Circular curves always. Now --" He flicked out a little appliance the size and appearance of a keyless watch, whirled the knob, and behold -- a little figure in white appeared kinetoscope fashion on the dial, walking and turning. The tailor caught up a pattern of bluish white satin. "That is my conception of your immediate treatment," he said...
(Read more about Wells' kinetoscope appliance.)
(GQ Style Picks screenshot)
Depending on the app selected, it is indeed possible to show short videos illustrating different fashion choices.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 6/10/2010)
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