Science fiction is simply science fact in the future. With the first quarter century of the new millennium nearing closer, you don’t need to look too hard to see the incredible technological achievements that humanity has been able to accomplish in a short amount of time. With the progression of micro and macro-technologies, mechanical and digital science and industry are developing at a break-neck pace. We are living in the digital age, and data and tech have become more immersive, accessible and convenient than ever before. When it comes to visualizing the future of our material evolution, only our imaginations limit us. Our capacity to push the boundaries of technology even further is growing, and what was once inconceivable is becoming reality.
Pop culture and science fiction often find ways to overlap. Films like Blade Runner and the Matrix or the work of authors such as Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov are prime examples of the influence of art on pop culture, and life’s strange need to imitate art. Artistic creation functions as the ripple in the pool that we call our collective conscience. It has the ability to shift perception and predict (albeit not always intentionally) what is yet to come. So, why not take a journey with Planet 7 Online Casino to learn about the instances when pop culture and technology melded together. Here is a list of some real life examples of when science fiction became real.
Looking Backward
We kick off our list with a book released in 1887 by author Edward Bellamy. In his utopian science fiction novel “Looking Backward”, Bellamy speaks of a future where cash as a form of currency for consumer purchases will no longer be necessary. The characters in his book instead use credit cards to buy goods. An extraordinary vision that would end up being true. Incredibly, it was written more than sixty years before the first credit cards were ever mass-produced, and twenty years before the invention of plastic!
Today, the majority of consumer purchases are made using debit or credit cards, and although the cards in Bellamy’s book functioned more like debit cards, the concept of credit card starting with Bellamy’s idea revolutionized the free market. The buck doesn’t stop there. Even the best online casinos use credit cards as a form of payment on their encrypted sites to ensure that players get the most reliable gaming experience.
2001: A Space Odyssey
Fans of Stanley Kubrick’s science fiction masterpiece “2001: A Space Odyssey” are sure to remember the film’s main villain, HAL 9000 – a self-aware computer that decides to take matters into its own “hands”, and *spoiler alert* ultimately kills one of the film’s main characters. Although Kubrick’s depiction of artificial intelligence in the film is a tad morose, it has become a pop culture landmark, warning us of the potential dangers of playing God with technology.
What makes the film even more intriguing is that fact that many of the human characters in the film use versions of electronic devices that we might recognize today. From iPads to space stations, voice and gesture technology to automatic doors. The film depicts these well before ever being used in real life. Even the film’s antagonist, the super-computer, HAL 9000, has become “real” to an extent. Today’s voice controlled applications like Siri or devices like Alexa have revolutionized the way in which we interact with technology; bring forms of A.I. to the mainstream. We can only hope that Kubrick’s ultimate interpretation remains a matter of fiction.
The Jetsons
Who could have guessed that a Hanna-Barbera cartoon from the 1960s about a future American family would go on to predict much of the technology that we see today? Sad to say, we don’t have flying cars yet, but one thing that the popular animated show “The Jetsons” predicted was the use of robotics simplifying our lives today. The cartoon’s talking robot-maid Rosie performs everything from household chores to dog walking and kid sitting.
These days, home robots are becoming a staple in the household. Although these devices might not be as advanced as Rosie, you can purchase anything from Roomba vacuum cleaners to Google self-driving cars. These robotics are designed to reduce manual labor, and simplify our lives. We rely on robots for manufacturing, and many aspects of industry and labor. On top of this, robot technology is consistently evolving. It’s only a matter of time before we see anthropomorphic versions of our metallic friends, and eventually we might not even know the difference between human and humanoid.
The Terminator
Back in 1984, director James Cameron created a film about a dystopian future where robots wage war against humanity. This might seem too bleak for some, but hardcore sci-fi enthusiasts will argue that Cameron’s film “Terminator” is a true cinematic masterstroke. The film not only helped launch Arnold Schwarzenegger from Austrian bodybuilder to silver screen star, but it’s incredible visuals and cautionary tale of the potential evils of robot technology might prove to be an accurate prediction of real life in the foreseeable future. Let’s hope that’s not the case however.
In “Terminator”, a company known as Skynet develops new technology in the form of a computer chip that makes robots self-aware, giving them the ability to wipe out the human race. In reality, today the world’s military powers utilize drone technology and hyper-intelligent computer software to engage in non-human warfare. Companies such as Boston Dynamics are currently developing human-like robotics that could have real-world implications in future warfare. These incredible pieces of machinery can perform everything from carrying weight hundreds of times greater than any soldier could to performing feats as remarkable as running at incredible speeds and performing backflips. Let’s just hope that we won’t have to pull the plug or give Arnie a call.
1984
George Orwell’s hair-raising novel from 1949, “1984”, describes a dystopian world where “Big Brother” watches your every move. His landmark novel is a stark dissection of the modern age. Surveillance permeates every facet of our lives, our daily routines, and interactions. Even language and the act of thought itself is not safe from political or ideological intervention.
In today’s political climate, we are not far from some mutation of Orwell’s harrowing “vision”. It is a well-known fact that video cameras and recording technology are found in almost every corner of today’s big cities, even in our pockets. Cameras monitor our every movement when we enter shopping malls, banks, post-offices, visit ATM machines, drive on busy streets and highways. Casinos utilize surveillance technology to prevent cheaters and theft. Even our cellphones and laptops come stock with built-in video devices and voice recording software. But who is watching? For one, hackers can if they have the right tools. One need look no further than the case of infamous government whistleblower, Edward Snowden. It begs the question: is all of this recording technology making us safer, or more vulnerable to cyberattack?
The Star Trek franchise
First started in the 1960s, this hit television series has gone on to become a media franchise and global sensation. Star Trek has sparked everything from films, comic books, spin-off series, toys and “Trekkie” conventions and lunchboxes. “Star Trek” fans are all too familiar with the band of space explorers that the show focuses on. Their efforts to better understand and connect with the beings of the other planets and galaxies of the universe are at the focal point. The show’s creators needed quite the imagination to make the “futuristic space show” believable. Ultimately, they managed to do a lot more than that!
Star Trek predicted many of today’s (and perhaps tomorrow’s) gadgets. Handheld mobile devices, communicators, 3D printers, lasers, flat screen TVs, Bluetooth headsets and voice-activated computers are just some of the gizmos seen in the show. These forms of new technology are widely used in today’s world. Star Trek is simply science fiction turned fact at its finest. It’s only a matter of time before we start shooting through the galaxy at warp-speed and tell our friends to beam us up! Live long and prosper, fellow Trekkies!
The Net
This 1995 film starring Sandra Bullock as a cyber-hacker depicts online identity theft before it was even really a thing. More importantly, it managed to foresee the overwhelming significance of the internet and permeation into aspects of today’s culture. Little did we know at the time of the true impact the internet would have ultimately have. Although the film does not exactly stand out as a good movie, there is one seemingly banal scene at its beginning. Bullock orders a pizza online for home delivery – choosing its style, toppings and size. In hindsight, this is remarkable, because although today it doesn’t seem like anything out of the ordinary, back in 1995 it was unheard of.
Today’s major companies and small businesses rely on the internet to promote their business, and sell and market their products. Revenue for these companies have soared all thanks to the reliability of online shopping and e-commerce. Companies from Pizza Hut to Amazon allow customers to make online purchases from the comfort of their homes or on their mobile devices. Online purchase power has never been more potent. Despite failing to see mainstream success, the film has become something of a cult classic.
The Cable Guy
This nineties feature film “The Cable Guy” from 1996 stars Jim Carrey. Although it might not exactly be on the level of “Citizen Kane” or “The Godfather”, “The Cable Guy” has quite the Easter egg in it. Despite being released over 20 years ago, the film managed to predict the popularity of online gaming and the overall importance of the internet. Its titular character, played by Carrey, is an eccentric, egotistical cable installer and repair-guy who, in a pivotal scene rants about the importance of new technology in the future. In it, he boasts confidently:
“The future is now! Ha-ha-ha! Soon, every American home will integrate their television, phone and computer! You’ll be able to visit the Louvre on one channel or watch female mud wrestling on another. You can do your shopping at home, or play Mortal Kombat with a friend in Vietnam.“
Who could have guessed that an oddball character from a 90s comedy would predict the future! In reality, the boom of the online casino industry, cyber gaming, and the virtual market is here. Today’s experts state that online-oriented businesses and gaming operators, including online casino gambling, will have a combined revenue worth hundreds of billions of dollars! And this is just the beginning. Online casino games and esports are coming out of their infancy. Now they are rapidly developing exciting, new technology to connect gamers to their services.
Back to the Future II
In 1989, “Back to the Future II” was released four years after its immensely popular predecessor. The film depicts a future world where protagonist Marty McFly must once again prevent certain events from taking place to halt a potential doomsday scenario. One interesting scene in the film depicts the McFly family sitting around at the dinner table while a young Marty McFly Jr. wears what can only be described as a precursor to the Google Glass or Oculus Rift. That’s right, the “Back to the Future” franchise depicted new technology in the form of wearable computing!
At the time of the film’s release virtual technology and augmented reality were still in their infancy. But today these types of new technology have progressed in leaps and bounds. They are riding the wave of the boom of online gaming. Even online casino gaming operators have taken the time to incorporate virtual reality or VR technology with some of the most popular casino games. Too bad hover boards still don’t exist!
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