Predictions From Our Past

Many science fiction predictions from the past are now a reality. In his article “10 Great Technologies We Got From Science Fiction”, Nathan Barry describes and illustrates how advancements in electronics had been predicted by science fiction books and films before the modern technology actually existed. From tablets to wrist radios, and from bluetooth devices to holograms, much of today’s technology does exist due to the foresight of the sci-fi writers and directors from the past.

Of the many predictions made about future electronic devices, Nathan Barry gives Apple’s iPad as an example; “would it be here without Star Trek’s PADD? The Personal Access Display Device was first introduced to us by Captain James T. Kirk”(Barry par. 3). If it had not been for the prediction made in that sci-fi series, the iPad would possibly be very different from what it is now, or maybe not even have been invented.  Another example of sci-fi writers’ predictions displayed in Barry’s article, is the invention of the world wide web; “In 1990, David Brin Published a book called ‘Earth’, in which he predicted a whole manner of things, not least of which was The World Wide Web… when you consider that at the time, the internet was still just 10 servers and a hub between Universities” (Barry par. 17). Taking into account that the book “Earth” was written several years before computers were capable of surfing the web, David Brin’s predictions are incomprehensible. In conclusion, “10 Great Technologies We Got From Science Fiction”, illustrates these and many other examples of sci-fi writers’ predictions and certainly is entertaining as well as informative.

• Posted in: ENC1102
• Tagged: 10 Great Technologies We Got From Science Fiction