Here is a concise summary of the provided text:
**Title:** The 7 Most Ridiculous Predictions in History
**Summary:**
This article/video counts down the 7 most infamous quotes from historical figures who grossly underestimated or misjudged the potential of various innovations. The list includes:
1. **Ken Olson (1977)**: "No reason why anyone would want a computer in their home."
2. **Western Union (1876)**: Rejecting the telephone, citing "too many defects" and "no value".
3. **Decca Recording Co. (1962)**: Rejecting The Beatles, saying "We don't like your music" and "Guitars are going out of fashion".
4. **Harry Morris Warner (early cinema era)**: "Who wants to hear actors speak?" (opposing talkies).
5. **Ferdinand Foch (French Marshal)**: "Airplanes are interesting toys but have no military value".
6. **Popular Mechanics (1949)**: Predicting computers would never be more powerful than 1.5 tons (equivalent to 2 Volkswagen Beetles).
7. **Lord (physicist & mathematician, Royal Society President)**: "Machines heavier than air cannot fly" (opposing early aviation).
Each quote is highlighted for its remarkable lack of vision, given the subsequent impact of these innovations on history.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text, without opinions, in short sentences with numbers:
1. **Position 7**: A physicist and mathematician, who was also president of the Royal Society, stated that it's impossible for a machine heavier than air to fly.
2. **Identity of Person in Position 7**: The individual was a respected lord, known to be somewhat stubborn.
3. **Publication in Position 6**: Popular Mechanics, a prestigious magazine with 112 years of experience, published an article in 1949.
4. **Prediction in Position 6**: The article claimed that future computers could think no more than a ton and a half, equivalent to two Volkswagen Beetles.
5. **Position 5**: Ferdinand Foch, a marshal and professor at a prestigious French military school, made a statement about airplanes.
6. **Foch's Statement**: Foch said, "Airplanes are interesting toys but they have no military value."
7. **Historical Context of Foch's Statement**: This was prior to the significant military use of airplanes in World War I and II.
8. **Position 4**: Harry Morris Warner, founder of Warner Brothers, made a statement about silent films.
9. **Warner's Statement**: Warner believed silent films would be eternal, questioning who would want to hear actors speak.
10. **Year of Warner's Passing**: Harry Morris Warner died in 1958.
11. **Position 3**: A recording label rejected a newly formed band.
12. **Rejected Band in Position 3**: The band was The Beatles.
13. **Additional Reason for Rejection**: The label also stated, "The guitar is going out of fashion."
14. **Position 2**: A rejection letter from the Western Juniors office criticized the telephone.
15. **Statement in Position 2**: The telephone has too many defects to be considered a proper means of communication.
16. **Year of Statement in Position 2**: 1876.
17. **Position 1**: Ken Olson, president of Digital Equipment Corporation, made a statement about home computers.
18. **Olson's Statement**: There is no reason why anyone would want a computer in their home.
19. **Year of Olson's Statement**: 1977.
20. **Outcome for Digital Equipment Corporation**: The company disappeared in 1998.