Question

Were told that the happylife home system cost "thirty thousand dollars installed" bradbury published this story in 1951 and, due to inflation, it turns out that $1 in 1951 is worth about $9 today. Given this how much would the happylife home system cost in todays dollars? Would there be a market today for such a system? Why or why not

Answer 1

According to "The Veldt" by Ray BradBury...

Answer to the First Question: Assuming the inflated value of $9 still applies to the time of this answer, today the Happylife Home System would have a price of $270,000 dollars, since:

30,000 x 9 = 270,000

Answer to the Second Question: There would be a market for this system as long as the governments approve of the risks implicated.

Anyone aware of the system's capabilites would not think twice about purchasing one - provided they could afford it -. The fact that a machine could do any chore of daily life, as well as provide simulated entertainment with no boundaries is simply irresistible to anyone. The benefits are worth the price.

The customers would not worry about the dangers at first; they would consider themselves responsible enough to manage a balanced life of luxuries.