I was 14. In the little town in which I went to school GE had sort of a technology fair. They had a number of items, none of which I remember save one.

I watched them set up two speakers, with wire running between them, about 50 feet apart. The audience watched this demonstration from about 30 to 4 feet away.

They played a record of a steam train crossing the stage. We listened to it move from right to left, whistle blowing as it chuffed away.

It seemed to be a miracle. I HEARD that train move across that stage, there was no doubt about it, and yet I watched them set up only two speakers. Completely awesome, a technology which would never drift down to the common person.

4 years later I had a roommate who wasn't busy one night. He took two cheap old record players with built-in speakers, bought a stereo needle, and wired them up to play stereo records. I was truly impressed.

As far as Asimov's prediction, in those days the future was a Utopia. Workers would have long vacations, work 30 hours weeks and enjoy the use of all manner of appliances which would make life easier. Little did anyone know that the new-found wealth would find it's way to the few, leaving the worker worse off than before.