Which Films of the Past Successfully Predicted Tech That Exists Today?
It’s amazing to think that only a few decades ago, the technology around today would have seemed alien. In a world that didn’t even have internet, it was hard for most people to think about what the future could hold. There were, however, a few visionary futurists who either predicted things that have now come about, or had an influence on their development. Many of these predictions were found in film, and there were some classics that got things absolutely spot on.
Back to the Future
The Back to The Future Films predicted numerous pieces of technology that now exist today. Most of these ideas appeared in Back to The Future Part II in 1989, as this was the installment that went forward in time into Robert Zemeckis’ vision of 2015. Although a few of the film’s predictions were way off – the advert for Max Spielberg’s Jaws 19 is a good example – a lot of the devices that Doc Brown and the people of the future used have come to fruition.
One of the most notable pieces of tech from Back to The Future was the tablet computer. In the late 1980s, cell phones weren’t even in the mainstream, let alone smartphones. That makes it all the more incredible that Zemeckis was able to conceive of the tablet. The film series also correctly predicted that wearable technology would come to pass. There were glasses that could be used to answer phone calls. On top of all that, fingerprint scanning was also seen in the franchise’s vision of the future. This is something that is found on almost every new device, and its use is only going to become more commonplace in the years ahead.
The Terminator
With the whole premise of the Terminator films being about robots becoming autonomous and raging a deadly nuclear war on mankind, it would be preferable if most of the series’ predictions didn’t come to realization. However, there are certain things from James Cameron’s 1984 sci-fi film and subsequent sequels that exist today. In the dystopian future imagined by the classic movie, the machines use automated drones that search out members of the resistance on the ground. Drones are now commonly used for a variety of purposes.
In addition to predicting future tech, the Terminator franchise had a strong influence on the film industry in the years that followed. In addition to the first offering, there have been six sequels to date. Throughout the decades, there has been plenty of related merchandise that has helped the series to stay in the mainstream. For example, fans can get hold of mugs, classic posters, and T-shirts. There is also The Terminator: Official Board Game that was released in 2017.
The ideas that Cameron came up with were often borrowed or expanded upon in other works. This has helped the Terminator series to stand strong for nearly four decades. It continues to stay at the forefront of popular culture with offerings like the Terminator 2 online slot ensuring there are entertainment options for fans to enjoy. This has been one of the most popular slot titles for more than five years, surviving even as newer titles are released. There are also mobile games such as Terminator Genisys: Future War that have helped keep Cameron’s iconic series in the mainstream.
2001: A Space Odyssey
Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey is often considered to be one of the most influential space movies ever made. At the time, it was nominated for four Academy Awards and, more recently, it has been preserved in the National Film Registry. To say that it was made in 1968, before even man had set foot on the moon, the number of things that it predicted was remarkable.
One of the most notable pieces of tech in Kubrick’s sci-fi was the interactive computer that could perform functions based on what the user said to it. The modern-day versions of this type of technology would be Siri and Alexa. The movie also featured pink objects that were similar to tablets in appearance.
A concept that was brought forth in 2001: A Space Odyssey was that of space tourism, and the idea that people would be travelling away from earth on holidays in the future. This hasn’t actually come to fruition yet, but companies like SpaceX are trying to get commercial flights into space in the next ten years.
Die Another Day
Die Another Day is considered by many to be one of the worst James Bond films, and it marked the end of Pierce Brosnan’s turn as the legendary spy. One of the reasons that the 2002 flick from Lee Tamahori wasn’t favored was that there were some highly inconceivable elements. The gadgets, in particular, were far too outlandish, even by 007’s standards. However, the filmmakers were on to something when they came up with cloaking device for Bond’s Austin Martin V12 Vanquish that made it completely disappear.
In a few years’ time, people may return to Die Another Day and feel less shocked when Bond’s car suddenly turns invisible. This is because militaries around the world are actually working on making this technology a real thing. It’s called active camouflage, and it is a concept taken from studying animals that are able to blend in with their surroundings. The Israeli company, Eltics, has already produced a prototype that can be used to cover a tank.
Of course, there have been many other movies that have managed to come up with ideas of tech that now exist today. Some other notable mentions should go to Minority Report, which had targeted advertising, and Star Wars, which featured hologram technology. There are certain elements of these films that we hope definitely won’t happen, though.
