fahrenheit 451
Being very interested in film, I have been quite drawn to the genre of science fiction. However, we as a society are quite drawn to the genre for, I believe, science fiction is the harbinger of innovation in technology. The genre itself sparks so many ideas in one’s mind. Unlike the genres of fantasy, drama, and historical fiction that look upon at our past or present life, science fiction looks toward the future. It has no limitations whatsoever of what can be in store for us.
Quite a lot of our common and domestic objects today are based on the inventions proposed in previous science fictions. For example, the flat screen television was first thought of in Ray Bradbury’s classic 1953 dystopian novel “Fahrenheit 451″. What had been described in Bradbury’s novel was a huge flat screen with ornate sound systems that displayed television soap operas and what not all on your home wall.
Another contemporary object used in previous science fiction is the flip cell phone. The idea was conceived in Star Trek, as the “communicator”. With its striking resemblance of our current cell phones (with a little bit of a retro twist), the communicator allowed crew members to contact each other when in orbit.
Star Trek also presented one of the most unnoticeable and simple inventions used today, the electric sliding door. Star Trek was first to conceive of the idea of doors that would open automatically when one would walk toward it. Surprisingly, this concept had never before been thought of. And sure enough, the idea was so appealing and inevitable that we jumped on it right away.
These are only a few of the modern objects that were inspired by science fiction. Although many inventions in science fiction are not seen in our day-to-day life (flying cars, jetpacks, teleportation), scientist have tried and are still trying to make them possible. Which supports my claim that science fiction is the bellwether of innovation.
Links
http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/21418
http://www.technovelgy.com/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3811785.stm
http://www.terrafugia.com/