Sci-fi is a genre of speculative fiction that revolves around imagined technological and future scientific advances. A good example of sci-fi is time travel or extraterrestrial life. Over the years, the genre has been an exciting topic depicted in famous books, films, and TV shows. Strangely enough, some of the things imagined by certain writers have come to pass. In today’s post, we’ll be exploring whether the concept of science fiction is becoming a reality.
The Correlation between Science and Fiction
The simple answer to the question as to whether science fiction is becoming a reality is yes, but only to some extent. Imagination is the first step in innovation; you can’t create a technology out of thin air. Let’s take space travel, for instance. If it weren’t for brilliant minds like Robert H Goddard and Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, who envisioned the dream of traveling to space, it would still be a fictional concept.
Most people don’t understand that there is a fine line between science and fiction. Researchers read through fictional books and watch sci-fi movies for inspiration. On the other hand, writers consult scientists when coming up with sci-fi content; they do not guess things out of thin air. This is why, despite the exaggeration in some films, you’ll notice that the science incorporated is accurate if you observe closely.
Looking back through history, science fiction has predicted television, the internet, the moon landing, submarines, and even credit cards. Even to date, more movies are predicting future fictional outcomes such as the AI takeover. The Matrix Trilogy is a perfect example.
Predictions Made By Sci-Fi That Are True Today
Everyone remembers Star Trek, which later influenced the Star Wars films. These movies, despite being based solely on sci-fi, predicted a lot of future inventions. In 1966, Star Trek portrayed a flip phone used to communicate. About 3 decades later, the Star Trek flip phone came to life when Motorola launched it.
The same film also introduced a handheld recorder, which came to reality several years later. It’s not just communication devices; Star Wars also inspired 3D holograms when it displayed an image of Princess Leia conveying a message to Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Star Trek is not the only sci-fi movie that has predicted future technology. The famous TV show, The Jetsons, predicted 3D printing technology. In the show, they had a machine that would produce full meals. Star Trek also had a replica of this device.
The Jetsons predicted robotic devices, too. They had a robot called Rosie that was always carrying around a feather duster cleaning the house. Does this device sound familiar? Yes! That’s because a good number of homes today have disc-shaped robotic floor cleaners.
Reality, such as autonomous cars, was predicted by sci-fi over a century ago. One of the most renowned science fiction writers, Issac Asimov, claimed that by 2014, autonomous cars would be part of modern technology. True to his word, Tesla launched its autopilot feature in 2014, and the software was released in 2015. This vehicle could facilitate low-speed summoning within a private property and automatic parking.
Throughout the 20th century, a lot of films toyed around with the idea of autonomous cars. For instance, James Bond movies would portray cars such as BMWs fitted with robot brains that would drive the car without James Bond being at the wheel.
Has Science Fiction Finally Caught up With Reality?
Even though science fiction’s prediction of autonomous cars has come to pass, that of flying cars is still in development. 21st-century engineers are working around the clock to bring this dream to reality. By 2070, we’ll have cars flying above our heads or something similar.
So, has science fiction finally caught up to reality? Not yet, but this is an ongoing process. Back in the day, it was just that people had not figured out the role of sci-fi in the community. Besides entertaining viewers and readers, sci-fi stimulates imagination, even in young minds. A child who grew up watching science fiction movies may be inspired to develop one of these technologies.
Take Elon Musk, for example. He was a big fan of science fiction. As an adult, his company is now at the forefront of exploring space and colonizing other planets. This was thought to be impossible a few decades ago.
How Sci-Fi Has Grown over the Years
Gone are the days when science fiction only revolved around time travel, aliens, advanced weapons, or flying cars. Today, sci-fi films are venturing into sectors such as healthcare, natural disasters, and the internet. This gives society a broader overview of what the future has in store for us. With time, most things predicted by science fiction will become real.