One day, a computer will fit on a desk.

What's most interesting about this brief clip is what Clarke got wrong.

He argues that networked computers will allow us to live anywhere we want and that we won't be "stuck in cities." As it turns out, cities are more popular than ever. This is a mistake techies and futurists make all the time - they get so focused on the tech that they forget the human piece.

We want to live near other people because that's where all the fun is. That's where all the good restaurants and grocery stores are. That's where the entertainment is. That's where economies of scale and agglomeration and the extent of the market make possible the widest variety of consumption possibilities. Sure tech makes it easier to be productive from anywhere, but that's not as true of consumption, especially consumption activities that are enhanced by the presence of others who enjoy them too.

The wealth created by technology gives us more options (and time) for leisure. And many leisure activities require enough other humans with similar tastes. And that requires cities.