Do Science Fiction Movies Advance Technology?

Posted by Jason Parent Nov 6, 2009

Science fiction movies envision futuristic societies with amazing vehicles, awesome toys, and a massive assortment of other items and equipment that would enrich our lives. But how many of these envisioned products have come to be?

Ann Silverthorn's excellent article, Comparing Today to 2001: A Space Odyssey, compares today's technology with that found in Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke's groundbreaking film. Released in 1968, 2001: A Space Odyssey painted a high-tech vision of the future in some respects. Silverthorn notes that HAL, artificial intelligence of the cold, calculative kind, is likely far beyond our current capabilities. Perhaps, that is a good thing (think Terminator).

In other respects, real technology surpassed that portrayed in fiction. As Silverthorn points out, cameras seen in the film are archaic by today's standards.

Still other devices that were once "fantastical" exist today. "On the craft that takes Floyd to the moon for a meeting, TV screens play movies in the back of the passengers’ seats. Those video screens are still pretty novel, being found mainly on Jet Blue airplanes and overseas flights," says Silverthorn

Silverthorn's thought-provoking article, well, it provoked thought. What other devices that were once science fiction have since become science fact? I don't know the answer to this question, but it is one I intend to explore.

All things aside, here's some science fiction technology I would love to see invented:

• Star Trek teleporters - transportation made quick and easy, unless you get trapped in it like Scottie just so The Next Generation creators have an excuse to put you on their show.

• Star Wars light sabers - what an accident waiting to happen that would be. Still, carving that Thanksgiving turkey would be made easy.

• Speaking of Star Wars, any of Boba Fett's equipment, because let's face it, Boba Fett is da man!

• The Time Machine's time machine, so I can go back in time and be the first to invent Play-Doh and Hot Pockets. Why? I don't know. Why not? (note, I choose this time machine because unlike Doc Brown's, I don't have to fight off Libyans for plutonium just to make my DeLorian work).

• That huge contraption in Pee-Wee's Big Adventure that Pee-Wee uses to make his breakfast in the morning, including the Mr. T cereal he adds when it's done. Okay, so Pee-Wee's Big Adventure isn't a sci-fi film, but that doesn't make his contraption any less cool.

But what would I really want above all? Nope, not world peace. I'd go for Back to the Future 2's hoverboard. Til then, I guess I'll have to settle for a Razor scooter.