4 Science Fiction Inventions that We Wish Were Actually Real
Sometimes science fiction authors come up with technology that we WISH we could have. When I read or watch Sci-fi, I always keep track of all of the inventions that I hope to see invented within my lifetime. Here are my 4 favorites!
One of the most awesome inventions in Sci-Fi is the replicator. Replicators are used to create food or other simple objects seemingly from thin air. It's a little similar to the 3-D printers that we have now, but much more advanced.
In Star Trek the replicators use some sort of organic material to create food, supplies, etc at the molecular level. But that's not all-- the food that they replicate is always nutritional! Want ice-cream or cake without any calories? Done! A greasy pizza without the heartburn? Done! Additionally, you don't have to cook it! You're a 5-Star chef at the press of a button!
Another Star Trek invention, the holodeck is a virtual reality room that projects any time or setting onto its walls. It allows you to go anywhere and experience anything-- like a video game from all around you, and you're living in it! Imagine being able to go or see anything! I've always wanted to visit Rome-- like, actual ancient Rome. With a holodeck, you would be able to simulate what it was like to be there! History class would be amazing-- you could go and experience anything from history.
Now, this could have its downsides. There would probably have to be rules about how you use the holodeck to keep people safe. Some of the most stressful moments in the Star Trek shows involve people's misuse of the holodek. In "The Veldt," by Ray Bradbury, a similar holographic room causes all kinds of trouble for the parents of some very spoiled, very crafty children. The Arena in The Hunger Games could also be lumped into the "holographic rooms" category... and it is certainly only used for nefarious purposes.
How amazing would it be to visit another country without the anxiety of not speaking the language? The universal translator has made appearance in many sci-fi universes-- Star Wars, Star Trek, a myriad of video games, and literature-- and programmers have been working for years to make it a
reality.
I like riding in cars, but I hate driving them. Why drive when you could be gazing at the scenery, reading a book, taking pictures, etc. Countless sci-fi movies feature fast-paced chase scenes with sleek driverless vehicles.
Google has been all over the self-driving car craze, and has a prototype that they've been testing across the country. Their goal is to make driving more convenient for those who cannot drive due to medical conditions (blindness, epilepsy, etc.) and to help less car accidents occur. Their cars can detect road signs, navigate city traffic, and detect other obstacles in the way!You can check out some awesome videos and more information here.
Replicators!
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| This is a current 3D Printer that is printing a hamburger. Image Source |
In Star Trek the replicators use some sort of organic material to create food, supplies, etc at the molecular level. But that's not all-- the food that they replicate is always nutritional! Want ice-cream or cake without any calories? Done! A greasy pizza without the heartburn? Done! Additionally, you don't have to cook it! You're a 5-Star chef at the press of a button!
Holodecks/Holographic Rooms
Another Star Trek invention, the holodeck is a virtual reality room that projects any time or setting onto its walls. It allows you to go anywhere and experience anything-- like a video game from all around you, and you're living in it! Imagine being able to go or see anything! I've always wanted to visit Rome-- like, actual ancient Rome. With a holodeck, you would be able to simulate what it was like to be there! History class would be amazing-- you could go and experience anything from history.
Now, this could have its downsides. There would probably have to be rules about how you use the holodeck to keep people safe. Some of the most stressful moments in the Star Trek shows involve people's misuse of the holodek. In "The Veldt," by Ray Bradbury, a similar holographic room causes all kinds of trouble for the parents of some very spoiled, very crafty children. The Arena in The Hunger Games could also be lumped into the "holographic rooms" category... and it is certainly only used for nefarious purposes.
Universal Translators
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| This is the "Pilot" from Waverly Labs. It's small, and fits inside of your year! (Image from the Waverly Labs site) |
How amazing would it be to visit another country without the anxiety of not speaking the language? The universal translator has made appearance in many sci-fi universes-- Star Wars, Star Trek, a myriad of video games, and literature-- and programmers have been working for years to make it a
reality.
As a teacher, the idea of the universal translator is extremely appealing! Imagine being able to talk to any of your students without a language barrier. A technology company called Waverly Labs has been working on an earpiece that would do just that. Called the Pilot, the earpiece would translate conversations from one language to another in real time. They've funded their project through the crowdsourcing website Indigogo, and the project has raised over three million dollars! Through funding the project, you can own your own for $199. It will be exciting to see how this new technology works once it's released to the public.
Self-Driving Cars
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| This is one of the prototype self-driving cars that Google is currently testing! Image from the Google Driverless Car site linked in the paragraph to the right. |
Google has been all over the self-driving car craze, and has a prototype that they've been testing across the country. Their goal is to make driving more convenient for those who cannot drive due to medical conditions (blindness, epilepsy, etc.) and to help less car accidents occur. Their cars can detect road signs, navigate city traffic, and detect other obstacles in the way!You can check out some awesome videos and more information here.
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