The futurist who predicted China's wealth

The death in June of Alvin Toffler, author of Future Shock, reignited memories of an interview more than a decade ago in Dubai.

We had arranged to meet in a hotel and two aspects stood out. To almost every question he replied with a China-related answer and he wanted, at the end of the interview, to come with me back to the newspaper office to see the printing press.

Toffler, an elegant man in a field often associated with wackiness, was disarming. His manners were old-fashioned and his dress (suit and tie) was definitely not futuristic.