The world of science fiction is dominated by high-tech advancements that make life easier (or more dangerous) for the characters. For more than a century, real-world scientists have been inspired by sci-fi innovations to create new technology. From Star Trek to Star Wars, today we’re talking about life imitating art!
Virtual Reality
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Many people enjoy VR headsets every day to explore virtual worlds. The future dreamt of in tales such as Tron and Blade Runner look a bit more believable when viewed through this lens. While we might not have fully-immersive, full-body recreations of reality, we do have a close visual and auditory approximation. For whatever reason, we are fascinated with being someone else, and VR is our window to that fantasy. While VR has had a rough history (Virtual Boy, anyone?) it’s stronger than ever and commands a good bit of public attention. Oculus Rift and Microsoft’s own VR are two big names to watch in the VR field.
Wireless Earbuds
Photo Credit: Apple
In Ray Bradbury’s classic novel, Fahrenheit 451, a number of citizens are described as having “seashells” attached to their ears. The seashells play calming ocean sounds, music and talk shows. In the context of Bradbury’s novel, they are indicative of a dystopia of disinterested, unintelligent and cruel people. In our own world, the existence of truly wireless in-ear headphones wouldn’t be a reality until the last decade or so. Apple’s AirPod technology is a notable example. Bradbury would be pleased to see that we’re not burning books to withhold their contents, in spite of our technological advancements.
Robotic Prosthetics
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In Star Wars, the iconic scene of Luke getting his new, prosthetic hand calibrated has two large impacts on the audience. First, it reminds us that Luke could become just like his cyborg father, Darth Vader. Second, it reminds us how freaking awesome robot hands are. Just like Luke, there are people in the real world who have benefitted from recent advancements in prosthetic technology. The technology uses receivers that can receive electric signals from the brain and translate them into fine motor control. This tech may have been inspired by fiction, but it’s helping to improve real lives!
Video Calling
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In our world, video calls are commonplace and happen every day. However, in the 1920’s, when silent film The Metropolis was released, they were an impossible fantasy. Since that film’s antagonist used video communication on the silver screen for the first time, numerous sci-fi tales have used the technology. Star Trek is notable for its many tense negotiations between ship captains via video transmissions. In our world, thankfully, we’re not dodging photon torpedoes shot by hostile aliens, we’re just calling grandma to make sure she’s doing okay.
Space Travel
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Nearly every sci-fi tale ever told features space travel in some capacity. Indeed, our cultural subconscious holds that man’s future lies with the stars. While our lofty ambitions are still generations from being realized, they’re much closer than any other time in human history. The International Space Station is evidence of this, as are the many deep-space probes we send to the deepest reaches of our star system. While living on alien planets and traveling between stars remain firmly in the realm of fiction, exploring space is still a reality for our species.
Cell Phones
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In the original Star Trek series, the main characters use a rather wild invention called a tricorder to communicate over vast distances. While we’re being a bit tongue-in-cheek, of course, the idea of a handheld communication device is nothing new in sci-fi. However, the unprecedented computing power of modern handsets certainly reminds one of the types of technology dreamed up by writers from the middle of the last century. Indeed, you carry more computing power with you than what went to the moon in the 60’s. That actually is wild!
Tractor Beams
Photo Credit: The Telegraph
British scientists actually invented this iconic piece of Star Trek tech! A sci-fi innovation long thought to be little more than science fantasy is now reality. While the real-world iteration of this tech is on a much smaller scale than the Star Trek version, it’s the same principal. By manipulating particles within the body, the scientists hope that the technology will revolutionize surgery. Thanks to the tractor beam technology, surgical some surgical procedures that were previously invasive may become much safer, non-invasive endeavors!
3D Printing
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There’s no technology more optimistic and encouraging that Star Trek’s replicator. The technology behind it is likely also responsible for the teleportation technology employed in the show. However, replicator tech is much more feasible in our world, but under a different name: 3D printing. We don’t make much of it now, but 3D printing is a huge step towards sci-fi innovations becoming reality. Where the replicators were concerned primarily with food, our 3D printers are versatile and perform tons of tasks. And yes, 3D printing food is one of them!
Nuclear Weaponry
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Sci-fi innovations aren’t always optimistic, and nowhere is that more evident than in HG Wells prediction of the atom bomb. In his novel “The World Set Free,” Wells describes “atomic bombs” that “detonate indefinitely,” after reading theories put forth by scientist Ernest Rutherford. Wells’ versions of the bombs were hand-thrown and burned for as long as seventeen days, a far cry from the bombs of our own world. However, the idea of a “nuclear bomb” may have even gone on to influence the research and discovery of true atomic weapons, as life attempted to imitate art.
Coolest Sci-Fi Innovation Becoming Real: Cybernetic Soldier Suits
Photo Credit: Marvel
Tony Stark sports visually-arresting, butt-kicking super-armor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It originally debuted in 1968, but it looked a bit clunkier and less awesome back then. That said, the original Iron Man comics would go on to inspire countless robot-piloting works of fiction. Notably, in our world, tech like Stark’s is close to being reality: the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit, or TALOS, is in development by the US Military. Yes, that name sounds like something Hydra would send after Tony in a comic book, but it’s a real piece of military technology. It incorporates technology that looks like Tony’s Bleeding Edge armor seen in Avengers: Infinity War, using liquid armor that solidifies at the operator’s command. Talk about sci-fi coming to life!
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