8 science fiction movies with technologies that are now a reality

X science fiction technologies that are now a reality

That reality surpasses fiction is something we have been verifying over the years. The cinema is a clear example of how strange objects and curious ideas have become everyday tools in our daily lives. An example of this we have in films like "2001: a space odyssey". Stanley Kubrick already showed some advances translated today such as videoconferencing or tablets. Other masterpieces of cinema have also left clues in recent years about the space that robotics or artificial intelligence were going to occupy in our lives. Her from Spike Jonze and how the protagonist falls in love with his assistant is brilliant . In fact, it won the Oscar for best Original Screenplay.

What made us dream in science fiction movies of the 70s, 80s or 90s is now part of our current reality. It seems strange to think, therefore, that there is something to be discovered, but some current series like Black Mirror have the key to what we can see in the future . It is true that some things cause some concern. Will we witness some of them in a few years? It's possible. We leave you while some of the technologies that appeared in old science fiction movies and are already part of the present.

1. Matrix

The first Matrix film was released in Spain in June 1999. It has been one of the most acclaimed science fiction films, especially for its idea of ​​a dystopian future. What is perceived as reality is merely a virtual simulation created by machines that have taken over the human population. This reminds us a lot of current augmented reality glasses. We can say that they are very close to the feeling of being totally immersed in a new world. The Oculus Rift or the Samsung Gear VR are some of those that are sold today.

Matrix

Any of them have the same purpose as the Matrix, to enter another reality parallel to ours to do what we want without consequences for it. At least as far as the physical plane is concerned. Although it is true that there is still a lot of work to be done, with augmented reality glasses we can play games, watch concerts, dance believing that we are in a disco or even make porn something more real. In some therapies they are also used to cure certain phobias, such as the fear of flying.

2. Back to the future 2

When we watched Back to the Future as children, we couldn't guess that some things that left us speechless were going to be a reality years later. It is true that even cars cannot fly and that there are no skateboards like the ones in the second part. Yes, instead, Robert Zemeckis predicted communication with household appliances, drones, augmented reality glasses , or the use of fingerprints to unlock a security system.

Back to the future 2

Remember when the Marty McFly of the past used his girlfriend's fingerprint to open the door to his house of the future? The interaction with television, the refrigerator and other appliances was also very present in the second installment of the trilogy . Likewise, videoconferencing, something unthinkable to carry out at home in 1989, was also shown in this part. Little by little, Back to the future is becoming like Back to the past. In any case, it remains to be seen that we drive on highways with the car as if it were an airplane. We imagine that it will be much more complicated than talking to the washing machine.

3. Star Trek

One of the most brilliant series of all time also predicted some of the technological advancements that are now part of our reality. One of the most important was the mobile phone. To the point that its inventor, Martin Cooper, publicly acknowledged that he had the idea when he saw one of the chapters. But how did the mobile appear in Star Trek? Like some kind of intercom through which Captain Kirk communicated with the rest of the crew. This device was opened and gave him the possibility to communicate with his interlocutor just by mentioning him . Today we can also do that thanks to mobile assistants like Siri.

Star trek

Star Trek also predicted such important things as TACs. Thanks to a tiny device, Dr. McCoy was able to make a diagnosis without having to open the person for it, as was the case in reality at that time. Although these devices are part of the present, it is true that their size is much larger than that shown in the series. Likewise, what we know as USB memories, and which are so useful to us to save data or transfer it from one computer to another, had its appearance in Star Trek. In the ship they used small square and flat disks, about 7 centimeters, which were inserted into the central computer. At that time we also saw giant plasma screens, navigation systems such as the current GPS or tablets in the series.

4. Star Wars

If you are a Star Wars fan, you surely know exactly what futuristic technologies were shown in the movies and that they are now well known to everyone. Do you remember how Princess Leia begged for help in a tiny-sized three-dimensional projection? Star Wars previewed what we know today as holograms and that we saw, for example, with the image of Michael Jackson at the 2014 Billboard Awards. These holograms try to make us believe that this person is present in the place where it is projected.

Star wars

Luke Skywalker's bionic hands when he lost his after fighting Darth Vader can also be described as a visionary scene that has come to fruition. It is true that the price of these devices is quite high. Also, not many can access them. However, this new technology is changing the lives of hundreds of people and we imagine that it will be perfected for the future.

As if this were not enough, in Episode I, George Lucas also showed an armored train that ran at great speed in defiance of the laws of gravity. This is already a reality in places like Shanghai or Japan, where the magnetic levitation train, better known as maglev, transports thousands of people every day.

5. Her

Her is one of the most emotional and brilliant films of recent times. Spike Jonze presents us with an apocalyptic future in which loneliness due to dehumanization, the result of living in a big city, and technology come together to give rise to a tender love story with tragic ends. It is true that although technology is everywhere, it is silent and unobtrusive, seamlessly weaving in and out of the protagonist Theodore's life. There are no keyboards in this world. Everything from your desktop to your game console is activated with voice commands. How could it be otherwise, the artificial intelligence that Joaquin Phoenix falls in love with in the film, Samantha, too.

Her

Although Samantha goes beyond the capabilities of current virtual assistants like Google Now or Siri, futurist Ray Kurzweil believes that this is how the world could be in 2029. Scientists are already experimenting with ways in which technology can help to human psychological problems, such as robotic seal pups for patients with dementia. Technology as a cure for loneliness is just around the corner.

6. Elysium

In 2154, humanity divides in two. The most privileged live comfortably in Elysium's space habitat, the rest are found on Earth, a devastated, polluted and impoverished shell of their former self. Before a critical mission to Elysium, Max Da Costa, who lives on Earth, is equipped with a motorized exoskeleton. This kind of futuristic apparel is no longer just a science fiction thing. It came true a year after the film's release.

elysium

A group of Brazilian neuroscientists developed a complete exoskeleton suit that was inaugurated at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. It was used for a paraplegic person to perform the first honor kick despite his inability to walk. Two years later, in 2016, we also saw Panasonic exoskeletons. They are prepared so that in some jobs employees suffer less, or so that people with some type of disability have it easier in their day to day life.

7. Blade Runner

Ridley Scott made one of the greatest cult, futuristic movies of his day. Blade Runner not only left the best phrases and scenes in the history of cinema, but also some predictions that today are part of our reality. This is the case of the giant advertising signs with LED lights that appeared in the movie and that today we can see in some of the great cities of the world, such as New York, Paris or Tokyo.

Blade runner

Other famous Blade Runner predictions that are no longer a thing of the future are video calls. Remember Agent Deckard speaking face to face with Rachel from a booth? The film predicted the workings of applications like Skype, which ended up becoming a commonplace in homes and businesses around the world years later.

8. Forget about me!

In this Michel Gondry film, lovers Joel and Clementine hire a company to erase their memories after their breakup. The doctor records and tracks Joel's brain activity, while Joel describes how he and Clementine fell in love and fell out of love. He systematically uses this "Clementine Map" to selectively target and erase Joel's painful memories of Clementine. Most of the movie takes place in Joel's mind.

Forget about me

Although it is true that there is still no such technology that can alleviate the pain of a break, scientists have recently discovered the gene that clears memory in mice. They have tested a drug called an HDAC2 inhibitor to manipulate a mouse brain , successfully "erasing" traumatic memories. This study could be more beneficial for patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Also, according to science writer Steven Johnson, the cinematic visual effects of how memories are formed, how they deteriorate, and how they are stored are really on point when it comes to modern neuroscience.