Who knows, you might be living your favorite science-fiction movie in the near future.
Do you ever remember imagining a future where there will be flying cars or highly-advanced buildings, or perhaps robots that assist you everywhere you go? And do you see any resemblance to that vision in our times now? There is a genre that depicts this kind of futuristic concept in literature. Science-fiction is a theme that is synonymous with this idea of taking current technology and extrapolating them to predict the what-ifs of the future.
The quality of life now can be closely compared to that of science-fiction.
People are provided with a vast amount of information that can be gathered in a snap, making living more manageable and more comfortable. Most of the things people need to survive and even those they want can be easily accessed through simple clicks of buttons. And most of the things they used to only watch in movies or read in books now exist with them – for instance, artificial intelligence, a.k.a robots.
These science-fiction stories have significantly changed the world. Most of the technologies people rely on today were built from science-fiction novels, magazines, or movies. They have caused scientific developments and provided visions that inspired scientists and engineers to create for generations. Imagine how it wasn’t long since machines that allowed undersea travel was only available to read on paperbacks. Now, many sea explorations are done through submarines, which were invented because someone got inspired by a science-fiction novel.
From H.G. Wells to Benoit Blanchard, science-fiction authors have long given their audiences some visions of the future. Are we really in the age where the thin line between fact and fiction is inexistent? And if it is, what happens next? Here are pieces of evidence that show how the present is becoming closely similar to fiction.
The internet provides access to global communications
If the discussion is about technological advancements that greatly benefit the human population, then the internet shouldn’t be missed. It has significantly shaped how the modern world works. Social networks such as Facebook have provided people with better means to communicate despite long distances. And due to these cultures, they have created different languages like emoticons and abbreviations.
Before the internet came to be, there were a lot of science-fiction novels and stories that predicted or imagined a system that’s closely similar to the internet. Among others, a novel by William Gibson titled Neuromancer popularized “cyberspace,” which predicted interconnection and the ability to share data across the world. Nowadays, asynchronous and real-time communication through chatting and emails brought about by the internet allows such communication.
Modern medicine’s life-extension research
Perhaps, a little bit similar to how immortality can be achieved through chemicals and technology in science-fiction, extending the quality of life has, to a certain degree, now been achieved or has been continuously sought by modern medicine. It is predicted that aging problems can be fundamentally solved through medicinal or technological advances like antibiotics and gene therapy in the future.
Whether it’s aging regarding the physical aspect or simply in the sense that illnesses and ailments can be easily cured, modern technology already has solutions to these. If anyone wishes to look younger, a trip to the clinic for aesthetic procedures can be easily made. Or if anyone feels ill and wants to be revitalized, one trip to the doctors can solve their problems.
3D printing
If Star Trek introduced the concept of molecular replicators, machines that can create and recycle things, modern technology has now created 3D printers for people’s aid. These are used for a wide range of things, whether clothes, footwear, etc. In fact, a biotech firm brought this type of printer to another level when they began using it to print organs. It is assumed that 3D printing may be able to encourage cell regeneration from these printed organs in a few years.
Existence of commercial robotics
One of the most important themes of science-fiction centers on robotics. Science-fiction has tacked the possibility of having these machines as humans’ assistants, and modern technology has made it a reality. Honda’s ASIMO project, or the “Advanced Step in Innovative MObility,” best introduced the concept of a real-life robotic companion. The project revolved around creating humanoid robots to function as personal assistants.
This list only includes technologies that already exist, and nobody can tell what kinds of inventions can be created in the future. When science-fiction authors have become more creative, perhaps, modern technology will likewise grow in the future.
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