Sci-Fi movies and TV shows are a work of the creator’s imagination and there’s no doubting that. But what’s interesting is that, as technology advances, we are seeing more and more of the Sci-Fi technologies that we’ve only witnessed till now in movies and TV shows become a reality. Following are some of the Sci-Fi technologies that have become a reality due to the untiring efforts of engineers and scientists across the globe.
Without a doubt, most of the engineers and scientists working on cutting-edge technology are or have been fans of Sci-Fi movies and/or TV shows. Let’s be honest: science fiction has inspired many of the technologies that we use and proudly flaunt technology. From talking robots to self-driving cars, modern technology was envisioned in films and books long before it became reality.
Each year in Geneva—an important city on the world map, an International Exhibition of Inventions is held where groundbreaking ideas are presented at the world’s largest inventions fair. The inventions range from everyday gadgets to high-tech industrial novelties. Like every year, the 2018 or 46th Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions was the platform 822 exhibitors from 40 countries presented groundbreaking technology. Many of these inventions were inspired by Sci-Fi movies and shows.
The International Exhibition of Inventions is not the only place where you will find examples of technology inspired by science fiction. Instead, these technologies are very much a part of our daily lives today. In fact, sometimes it can get difficult to see whether life is influencing art or art is influencing life.
We live in an exciting time where fantasies of our childhoods are starting to become a reality. Smartphones can now actually do most of the stuff Jack Bauer—a fictional character and the lead protagonist of the Fox television series 24, expected his mobile to do in 2001, and the U.S army is trying to create an Iron-man-esque suit. Following are the top 5 Sci-Fi technologies that have made the leap into our real lives.
Video Phones
Let’s start with an invention that we see and use in our daily lives: video phones. Whether it is a Skype call, a WhatsApp call or a call via any other app, all smart phones today allow you to make a video call. Video calls became a reality only a few years ago but were envisioned decades ago in Sci-Fi movies and TV shows. There are countless examples of video phones in science fiction, but the earliest on-screen debut of the video phone was in Fritz Lang’s 1927 masterpiece “Metropolis.”
The video phone in the 1920s classic was a large, clunky phone that required four dials to set up a call, but it was undoubtedly a video phone. This was followed by several other movies and TV shows depicting a ‘closer to reality’ video phone. However, Metropolis will always be known as the pioneer that introduced the video phone to the world.
Smart Home
Lightning automatically turning on, the protagonist getting news updates from an invisible voice, and robot-butler catering to his master—we’ve all enviously watched on as Sci-Fi movies depicted the life we could have only dream of—up until now.
The smart home that we have longed-for since years or in some cases decades, is now a reality. You no longer need to use your hands to switch on the light in your living room.; You can instead ask your digital assistant to do that for you. The robot-butler has well and truly arrived! With a combination of smart speaker, smart thermostat, and smart light bulbs, you can now control your entire home using just your voice.
As if that wasn’t cool enough, your house can actually learn your habits, which allows it to know your preferences, for example, switching the heating on before you walk through the door, or gradually increasing the light in your bedroom to wake you up in the morning.
Tablet Computers
If you’re old enough, then you’d remember an iPad-style device appears in 1968 classic “2001: A Space Odyssey”.However, ‘iPad’ became popular after it made an appearance in the hit American TV series ‘Star Trek.’ This was in the earlier season of the show. However, the iPad became a more prominent part of the Tv series in subsequent season in the 70s and 80s and was known as PADD, an acronym for Personal Access Display Device.
Hoverboards
No matter what generation you belong to, you would have at the very least heard about Marty McFly—the protagonist of Back to the Future—arguably one of the biggest blockbusters of all time. Perhaps, the most well-documented characteristic of McFly is his love for Skateboards or hoverboards in the future. In the 80s when the movie was shot and released, hoverboards or flying boards were not even a prototype.
For many years, hoverboards looked like a pipe dream. There was no way hoverboards could actually exist until 2015 when Lexus created a hoverboard. Although it was just a publicity stunt, the hoverboard created by Lexus worked really well and served as an inspiration for many other companies to follow in the footsteps of the auto manufacturing giant.
Super Solider Suits
Admitted this isn’t a Sci-Fi technology for the masses, but it a highly-envied Sci-Fi technology that could soon become a reality so talking about it is mandatory. While most of us remember the Iron Man Suit from Iron Man or Avengers movies starring Robert Downey Jr., the suit first appeared in 1968 marvel comics and looked nothing like the sophisticated wearable tech it is today. However, that is not important. What is important is that the U.S military is developing an iron-man like super soldier suit called the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS).
If you want to know what other technologies from your childhood have or are about to become a reality, get in touch with me today!
by Bobby J Davidson
We love our company and we love what we do. Check out the ‘Why Percento‘ page to learn more: Love of Technology and Business! As the President of Percento Technologies International, I provide day-to-day leadership to the company’s senior management and I am personally involved in the strategy, business development and sales activities of the firm.
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