If you were watching science fiction shows at the time, you probably saw this futuristic device and thought, “Wouldn’t it be great if this was real?” In some cases, fiction becomes reality, and concepts crafted by creative minds inspire tech enthusiasts to bring imaginative devices to real life.
From communication devices to robotic assistants, these gadgets once existed only in fiction, but are now part of our reality.
1. Communicator, Star Trek (1966-1969)
Back in the ’60s, when television was relatively new, Captain Kirk was seen opening the comms aboard the USS. company. Today, everyone carries a cell phone in their pocket. Even though I had moved on from a flip phone, that’s why I wanted it.
2. Hoverboard Back to the Future II (1985)
When Marty travels from 1985 to 2015, he sees some pretty interesting futuristic stuff, including hoverboards instead of skateboards. The Hedo Hoverboard strives to achieve these goals and created a prototype in 2013. Although some progress has been made, there were so many safety issues that no one seems to pursue this technology anymore.
3. Video call jetsons (1962-1963)
This cartoon about a family living in the future may be outdated in terms of gender stereotypes, but some of the technology introduced on the show was spot on. Nowadays, we often see families interacting and meeting with each other via video calls using programs like Zoom and Skype.
4. The advent of self-driving cars Velt (1950)
Ray Bradbury’s short story was written in 1950 and features several things that have since become reality. The plot revolves around her two children who have set up a virtual reality world in their garden. They have smart homes and self-driving cars. Like many writers at this time, this message aims to warn about the dangers of over-reliance on technology.
5. Personalized advertising minority report (2002)
If you’ve seen the movie, you may remember Tom Cruise walking past a bunch of digital billboards and saying his name on each one. Philip K. Dick’s novel is meant to be a warning when AI goes too far, but personalized advertising is a common thread here.
6. Babel fish, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (1979)
In this science fiction novel, Douglas Adams’ comic genius creates a world that seems absurd, but some fictional technology becomes reality. If you’ve read the book or seen the movie adaptation, the main character is given a small yellow fish and told to put it in his ear. This creature/device translates the language heard by the user. Versions of this technology have been around for a while, but Google Translate developed neural machine translation in 2016.
7.Tablet computer Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994)
very similar to the original Star Trek He showed me the flip phone version. Star Trek: The Next GenerationThis work, which premiered in 1987, also featured fictional items that later became reality. It is common to see crew members carrying handheld devices similar to modern Android tablets or iPads. Similar to the series, these devices have similar uses in storing and providing information.
8. On-demand TV stand in zanzibar (1968)
This novel was written in 1968 by John Brunner. Although the novel is set in his 2010 dystopian future, some elements in the book are real. Features include in-flight entertainment and on-demand TV. These two things about him are a great blessing to our modern society.
9. Virtual reality World on a Wire (1973)
Rainer Werner wrote the script for this science fiction novel in 1973. The novel revolves around a company that develops a supercomputer that generates life-like entities called “identity units” from digital information. These constructs inhabit an artificial world believing in its reality. This work is an early exploration of a theme that would later be identified as virtual reality.
10. Gesture-based interface, minority report (2002)
Characters in the film interact with advanced computer systems using intuitive hand movements rather than traditional input. Director Steven Spielberg’s depiction of this cutting-edge interface had a huge impact on popular culture. This type of technology is now increasingly being used in smart TVs, smartphones, and gaming consoles. The Microsoft Kinect, which uses gestures for gameplay, is a prime example.
11. Bionic Limb, Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Remember when Luke received a bionic hand that could move with his thoughts? the empire strikes back• Utah’s Neurorobotics Institute has developed a motorized limb called the “Luke Arm.” One of the recipients said, “I never thought I would feel those hands again. It brought me to tears.”
12. Flying cars, multiple science fiction mediums
we have seen flying cars Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), Back to the Future II (1985), and fifth element (1997), to name a few. In 2023, a flying car prototype received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration. This vehicle can also multitask while driving on the road. I’m curious about plane accidents and how to deal with the rules of the sky to avoid disasters.
13. Head-up display, iron man (2008)
Head-up display refers to headgear that provides information right in front of the user. This has been used in several science fiction movies. iron man (2008) and terminator (1984). This inspired Google Glass, a type of smart glasses that function similarly to the sci-fi version. Google announced that it would discontinue this invention in March 2023. If you’re interested in this technology, several companies have created similar concepts.
14. Multipath, fifth element (1997)
One of the most memorable lines from Luc Benson’s 1997 film. fifth element The character Leeloo says “multipath”. This little card was my ID, payment card, phone card, and passport. We now have many of these features on our phones via Google Wallet and Apple Pay.
15. Social rating system black mirror (2011)
of black mirror The episode “Nosedive” explored the world of what-ifs in society based on social media ratings. The idea of a world where your social media popularity determines your opportunities and worth is frightening. But this is what the Chinese Communist Party has been building for years.
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Australian journalist Lee Winter, currently based in New Orleans, combines a love of solo travel with a keen eye for finding great deals on flights and accommodation. She is passionate about sharing her insights about her travels with her viewers, based on her rich experience. Lee holds a master’s degree in journalism and a bachelor’s degree in literature and history. Her interest in history is also evident as she serves as a tour guide at the Historic Buildings Museum and shows off her knowledge of architectural history. Beyond her journalism and history, Lee has a unique flair for coffee culture. As a barista, she has operated a coffee van and showcased her coffee preparation skills at various events and markets.