Remember the Jetsons? I was certain that by the time I had kids of my own, we'd all own flying cars and have robot housekeepers. Rosie would be such a great addition to my household.

I wonder how accurately we imagine the world of tomorrow? 

At the end of most life-story interviews, I like to take some time to pass along thoughts, hopes, wishes to the future — distant and not-so-distant. What are your hopes for your grandchildren? What concerns do you have about the world that your grandchildren and great-grandchildren will inherit? 

Too bad most of us don't have our great-grandparents' answers to these questions. It would be interesting to hear what they envisioned about the world that awaited their great-great-grandchildren — the youth of today.

On her site, Brainpickings.com, Maria Popover has dug up six visions of the future, left to us from the past. They cover topics from travel, clothing, architecture, technology and communications — even snippets from Walt Disney's program "Tomorrowland." Fascinating stuff. Be sure to watch the "Clothing of the Future" video clip from the 1930s ….