Could “1984” still be ahead of us?

Cameras. Telescreens. Thought Police. Could this be the future of our world?

“1984”, the futuristic dystopian novel by George Orwell is still seen as a futuristic image today, but could this really be the future for our world?

The novel, written by George Orwell in 1949, describes a desolate world where all actions are recorded and watched by an all-dominant party with complete control over everyone. People get killed for the slightest movements and signs of individuality. Everyone is a robot.

Could this be the future of us, though? It might well be. London has the largest number of security cameras in the world, and the UK has many millions as well, both of which are used to great effect in catching robber, thieves and criminals, but could they be used to create a perfect society, where everyone thought the same and acted as if there were no differences between people.

In the novel 1984, individuality is stamped out and there is no democracy in the area. People have to act controlled throughout their lives in the fear that they will be vaporised, (executed). The party changed the published newspapers so that the residents of the country can’t accuse them of being wrong about anything, so they can’t be challenged. Due to the fact that the party can change the papers, they can change the memories of the people, as only a few can remember how the world used to be and what the party had said in papers and then changed.

Telescreens and cameras are constantly scanning the country and catch anyone doing anything unusual or different. The “Thought Police”, a 1984 version of the police force today can read your mind making it impossible to even have your own opinion on matters. Is this the way that our world is heading?

Our ingenuity to create cameras and devices (such as lie-detectors) to help us make decisions is unquestionable, but could this come back to bite us in the future?