Final Presentation: Science Fiction and Prediction
For my final presentation blog posting, I have post my slideshow as well as links on how science fiction has shaped and influenced technology. Has it predicted current technology? You bet it has. I have picked a few examples from now 30 year old Star Wars (and also one of my favorite movies of all time). Some argue that science fiction works so well because the stories aren't about the technology as much as they are about the people living in a world with that technology. Writers and filmmakers dream up magical pieces of technology without having to worry about the technical know how. This means the sky is the limit as far as coming up with stuff to make day to day life easier. How can this character see this other character galaxies away? Make a machine that does it. How can this character understand that character? Make a robot that translates. Need to take out the garbage in our future world? They've got a robot that will do that. It is this imagination that influences scientist to pursue these endeavors in hopes for the same outcomes that they see in the movies.
Yes - user interfaces are constantly evolving toward the
ultimate goal of 'the wire' (direct brain--machine interface).
There are different goals. Some displays support decisions,
such as heads-up displays for jet pilots. Other displays
may support pattern-recognition, such as immersive
CAVE displays. Check out the Emotive headset:
http://www.wonderlandblog.com/wonderland/2007/03/brainscanning_g.html
Full Interview With IST Professor, Gerry Santoro:
Are there any specific examples of this type of influence [sci-fi predictions] you can think of?
There are Many examples - look at the web site
www.technovelgy.com for zillions of examples
My favorite would be Cyberspace and Cyber-warfare. It
was predicted in sci-fi back in the 70's--90's (Gibson, Stephenson, etc),
well before it existed in reality. Bottom line is that the stories
influences a new generation of scientist/engineer who then set
out to create what they had imagined.
www.technovelgy.com for zillions of examples
My favorite would be Cyberspace and Cyber-warfare. It
was predicted in sci-fi back in the 70's--90's (Gibson, Stephenson, etc),
well before it existed in reality. Bottom line is that the stories
influences a new generation of scientist/engineer who then set
out to create what they had imagined.
Are we using technology that people dreamed up decades if not centuries ago? (Asimov comes to mind.)
Sure - but better than Asimov would be Clarke. He predicted
communications satellites in the 1940's. He also predicted
the space elevator that is now under study by NASA.
communications satellites in the 1940's. He also predicted
the space elevator that is now under study by NASA.
Have you ever noticed any instances where a piece of technology used in sci-fi shows such as Star Trek or Lost in Space is something we actually use now?
Um, the communicator -- (cell phone). When Shatner and pals
beamed down, pulled out the little device, and flipped it open
to talk we would never have imagined that we would be doing that
by the year 2000.
Um, the communicator -- (cell phone). When Shatner and pals
beamed down, pulled out the little device, and flipped it open
to talk we would never have imagined that we would be doing that
by the year 2000.
Do you think any of sci-fi authors accurately predicted the social outcomes of their predicted technology? (I.E. Ways of life,government, etc...)
Thats a bit harder. I don't think the authors set out to predict. These
pieces are rhetorical in nature - they seek to warn, amaze, critique,
etc. That's why the human element. Sometimes they become
predictions in hindsight, but take for example Orwells 1984 -- he
was warning Britons of a possible future, not of the inevitible
future. So to answer oyur question, when this does happen
I think it is by accident, not on purpose.
Thats a bit harder. I don't think the authors set out to predict. These
pieces are rhetorical in nature - they seek to warn, amaze, critique,
etc. That's why the human element. Sometimes they become
predictions in hindsight, but take for example Orwells 1984 -- he
was warning Britons of a possible future, not of the inevitible
future. So to answer oyur question, when this does happen
I think it is by accident, not on purpose.
In Star Trek, there are characters known as the Borg or cybernetic organism. Do you think we are slowly approaching this point? As science becomes greater at making more realistic and functional prosthetic body parts, could this possibly be something we have to look out for? Will we be able to attach a hand as easily as Luke Skywalker did?
Yep - and why not? Check out the writings of Hans Moravec
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Moravec
I do believe (if we do not destroy ourselves first) that our
technology will reach a point where we can alter our
own design. We do it now with glasses, I have hearing
aids, we are vaccinated, etc. Why not artificial organs and
limbs as needed. Why not nanite robots that will repair us
from within?
The issue is NOT will we be able to do this. The issue is
wether we will do this in a way that benefits society or
harms society. All technology is a 2-edged sword.
Yep - and why not? Check out the writings of Hans Moravec
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Moravec
I do believe (if we do not destroy ourselves first) that our
technology will reach a point where we can alter our
own design. We do it now with glasses, I have hearing
aids, we are vaccinated, etc. Why not artificial organs and
limbs as needed. Why not nanite robots that will repair us
from within?
The issue is NOT will we be able to do this. The issue is
wether we will do this in a way that benefits society or
harms society. All technology is a 2-edged sword.
A big theme in a lot of sci-fi is the user interfaces they use in their fictionalized computer systems (I am thinking of Minority Report). Do you feel that some of these ideas translate into the user interfaces we use today? Are they always practical?
Yes - user interfaces are constantly evolving toward the
ultimate goal of 'the wire' (direct brain--machine interface).
There are different goals. Some displays support decisions,
such as heads-up displays for jet pilots. Other displays
may support pattern-recognition, such as immersive
CAVE displays. Check out the Emotive headset:
http://www.wonderlandblog.com/wonderland/2007/03/brainscanning_g.html
Other Links:
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