Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

What Lies Ahead? (The Future of Our Technological Society)

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Exploring Science Through Science Fiction

Part of the book series: Science and Fiction ((SCIFICT))

Abstract

As we discussed in the previous chapter, the distant future of our technological society will depend on the decisions that are taken now and in the near future, regarding what research projects to fund or not to fund, and how to use the new discoveries that are made and the new technologies that are developed. In this chapter, we will explore some visions of the future, as presented in science fiction. We will also consider how cultural and historical context can influence the way in which a classic science fiction story is told, and how our understanding of technology can influence how we think about culture. But we begin with a brief survey of some sci-fi predictions which have already come to pass, and a few more which may be coming very soon.

It is no concern of ours how you run your own planet. But if you threaten to extend your violence, this Earth of yours will be reduced to a burned out cinder. Your choice is simple: Join us, and live in peace, or continue your present course, and face obliteration. We shall be waiting for your answer. The decision rests with you.

—Klaatu

The Day The Earth Stood Still

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 29.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 37.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

Accurate Predictions

  1. Goldfinger (Guy Hamilton, MGM 1964). Industrial Laser [DVD scene 18]

    Google Scholar 

  2. Forbidden Planet (Fred McLeod Wilcox, MGM 1956). Holographic image [DVD scene 14]

    Google Scholar 

  3. The Andromeda Strain (Robert Wise, Universal 1971). Medcom computer prescribes treatment for patients [DVD scene 10]

    Google Scholar 

  4. Singer, P.W.: Wired for War, p. 7. Penguin Press, New York (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Camel races with robot jockeys. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-W1oaWCIXQ

  6. The Day the Earth Stood Still (Scott Derrickson, 20th Century Fox 2008). Reaper drones (UAV) useless against giant alien robot [DVD scene 13]

    Google Scholar 

  7. Eagle Eye (D.J. Caruso, DreamWorks 2008). Unmanned aerial vehicles (MQ-9 reaper) used against human targets [DVD scenes 1, 20]

    Google Scholar 

  8. Singer, P.W.: Wired for War, p. 21. Penguin Press, New York (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Hennigan, W.J.: Experimental drone marks a paradigm shift in warfare. Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan 2012

    Google Scholar 

  10. Singer, P.W.: TED Talk on the use of robots in modern warfare. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1pr683SYFk

  11. When Worlds Collide (Rudolph Maté, Paramount 1951). Detection of exoplanets [DVD scene 2]

    Google Scholar 

  12. Mad Love (Karl Freund, MGM 1935). Hand transplant [DVD scenes 8, 9]

    Google Scholar 

  13. The Man They Could Not Hang (Nick Grindé, Columbia 1939). Heart-lung bypass machine [DVD scenes 1, 2, 6]

    Google Scholar 

  14. GATTACA (Andrew Niccol, Columbia 1997). High-speed DNA sequencing [DVD scenes 6, 7]

    Google Scholar 

  15. Star Trek – “Where No Man Has Gone Before” (James Goldstone, Paramount 1966). Sickbay bed with vital signs monitor [DVD vol. 1, ep. 2, scene 3]

    Google Scholar 

  16. Star Trek – “The Man Trap” (Marc Daniels, Paramount 1966). Medical tricorder [DVD vol. 3, ep. 6, scene 2]

    Google Scholar 

  17. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (Nicholas Meyer, Paramount 1982). Remote command from one starship to another prefigures OnStar’s Stolen Vehicle Slow-down technology [DVD scene 8]

    Google Scholar 

  18. The Black Panther (Ryan Coogler, Marvel Studios 2018). Remote driving system via holographic interface [DVD scene 8]

    Google Scholar 

  19. Forbidden Planet (Fred McCleod Wilcox, MGM 1956). The Krell plastic educator: using brain waves to control external devices [DVD scene 14]

    Google Scholar 

  20. The Force Trainer toy, similar in concept to the Krell plastic educator. http://unclemilton.com/star_wars_science/#/the_force_trainer/

  21. A.I. Artificial Intelligence (Steven Spielberg, Warner Brothers 2001). A boy, who would otherwise be unable to walk, is fitted with robotic leg braces, which he controls, presumably with his brain [DVD scene 8]

    Google Scholar 

  22. Abbott, A.: Mind-controlled robot arms show promise. Nature, 16 May 2012. http://www.nature.com/news/mind-controlled-robot-arms-show-promise-1.10652

  23. Collinger, J.L., Wodlinger, B., Downey, J.E., Wang, W., Tyler-Kabara, E.C., Weber, D.J., AJ, M.M., Velliste, M., Boninger, M.L., Schwartz, A.B.: High-performance neuroprosthetic controlled by an individual with tetraplegia. Lancet. 381(9866), 557–564 (2013)., 17 Dec 2012 Epub. http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(12)61816-9/fulltext

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Zhang, J., Fiers, P., Witte, K.A., Jackson, R.W., Poggensee, K.L., Atkeson, C.G., Collins, S.H.: Human-in-the-loop optimization of exoskeleton assistance during walking. Science. (2017). https://science.sciencemag.org/content/356/6344/1280/tab-pdf

  25. Palanker, D., Goetz, G.: Restoring sight with retinal prostheses. Phys. Today. 71, 26 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. “Sight for poor eyes” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 18 June 2012, p. C-1. See also: http://bioniceyetechnologies.com/

  27. Danielle Commisso, “Visionary” Carnegie Mellon Today, Jan 2013

    Google Scholar 

Coming Soon

  1. Dingell, C., Johns, W.A., White, J.K.: To the moon and beyond. Sci. Am. 297(4), 62–68 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Mars Desert Research Station. http://mdrs.marssociety.org/

  3. Parker, E.N.: Shielding space travelers. Sci. Am. 294(3), 40–47 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Bruce and Astrid McWilliams Center for Cosmology. http://www.cmu.edu/cosmology/

  5. NASA’s Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer. http://ams.nasa.gov/

  6. Large Synoptic Survey Telescope. http://www.lsst.org/lsst/scibook

  7. Katherine Harmon, Scientific American Octopus Chronicles blog. http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/octopus-chronicles/

  8. Markvicka, E.J., Bartlett, M.D., Huang, X., Majidi, C.: An autonomously electrically self-healing liquid metal-elastomer composite for robust soft-matter robotics and electronics. Nat. Mater. 17, 618–624 (2018). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41563-018-0084-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Primer (Shane Carruth, THINKFilm 2004). While working on a project in their garage, two engineers not only succeed in developing a room temperature superconductor, they also accidentally build a time machine [DVD scene 6]

    Google Scholar 

  10. Cartlidge, E.: Tantalizing hints of room-temperature superconductivity. Nature, 18 Sept 2012. http://www.nature.com/news/tantalizing-hints-of-room-temperature-superconductivity-1.11443

  11. The Nobel Prize in Physics 2012. http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/2012/

  12. The Jetsons – “Rosie the Robot” (Hanna-Barbera, 1962). Robotic maids [DVD season 1, episode 1]

    Google Scholar 

  13. Big Hero 6 (Don Hall and Chris Williams, Disney 2014). Baymax, the personal healthcare robot, diagnoses and treats minor injuries [DVD scene 2]

    Google Scholar 

  14. Moravec, H.P.: Robots, after all. Commun. ACM. 46, 90–97 (2003). http://www.frc.ri.cmu.edu/~hpm/project.archive/robot.papers/2003/CACM.2003.html. see especially figure 3 therein: http://www.frc.ri.cmu.edu/~hpm/talks/revo.slides/power.aug.curve/power.aug.html

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Star Trek: The Next Generation – “Tapestry” (Les Landau, Paramount 1993). Captain Picard’s artificial heart [DVD season 6, disc 4]

    Google Scholar 

  16. World’s first completely self-contained artificial heart. http://www.abiomed.com/products/heart-replacement/

Science Fiction in Historical Context

  1. The Island of Dr. Moreau (Don Taylor, MGM 1977). Genetic basis of heredity [DVD scene 6]

    Google Scholar 

  2. The War of the Worlds (Byron Haskin, Paramount 1952). Aliens emerge from what was believed to be a meteor [DVD scene 3]. Conventional military weapons useless [DVD scene 5]. Experimental Flying Wing aircraft and A-bomb also ineffective [DVD scene 9]. Death of Martians from natural causes [DVD scene 13]

    Google Scholar 

  3. War of the Worlds (Steven Spielberg, Paramount 2005). Parallel between Martian invaders and sleeper terrorists is made obvious [DVD scenes 5–7]. Military response [DVD scene 14]

    Google Scholar 

  4. The Day the Earth Stood Still (Robert Wise, 20th Century Fox 1951). Arrival, greetings, and response [DVD scenes 2–3]. Final remarks and warning about nuclear proliferation: “Join us and live in peace, or continue present course and face obliteration” [DVD scene 15]

    Google Scholar 

  5. The Day the Earth Stood Still (Scott Derrickson, 20th Century Fox 2008). Humans are killing the earth. The Earth must survive. Therefore the humans must die. No warning. No opportunity for repenting and reforming. Just die! [DVD scene 17]

    Google Scholar 

Visions of the Future

  1. Star Trek (original series) – “Errand of Mercy” (John Newland, Paramount 1967). Alien culture naively judged by apparent lack of technological progress [DVD vol. 14, ep. 27, scene 2 or full episode]

    Google Scholar 

  2. Metropolis (Fritz Lang, UFA 1927). A future society divided into a technological elite and a laborer class [DVD scene 1]

    Google Scholar 

  3. GATTACA (Andrew Niccol, Columbia 1997). Society divided into genetic haves and have-nots [DVD scenes 3, 4, 6, 7]

    Google Scholar 

  4. Things to Come (William Cameron Menzies, United Artists 1936). The end of the movie offers a choice between rejecting technological progress and living like the animals, or embracing progress and conquering the universe [DVD scenes 10, 12]

    Google Scholar 

  5. WALL-e (Andrew Stanton, Disney PIXAR 2008). Humans of the future have become overly dependent on technology [DVD scenes 12, 14]

    Google Scholar 

  6. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (James Cameron, Studio Canal 1991). Robots waging war against humans [DVD scene 2]

    Google Scholar 

  7. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (Jonathan Mostow, Warner Brothers 2003). Startup of SkyNet and the beginning of the machine war against humans [DVD scenes 22–24]

    Google Scholar 

  8. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (George Lucas, 20th Century Fox 1977). Holographic chess [DVD scene 27]

    Google Scholar 

  9. Forbidden Planet (Fred McLeod Wilcox, MGM 1956). The Krell plastic educator translates mental images into holographic images [DVD scene 14]

    Google Scholar 

  10. Star Trek: The Next Generation – “Encounter at Farpoint” (Corey Allen, Paramount 1987). The holodeck – a virtual reality environment, which combines transporter and replicator technology, in order to create tangible objects [DVD season 1, disc 1, scene 11]

    Google Scholar 

  11. Star Trek: Voyager – “Caretaker” (Winrich Kolbe, Paramount 1995). The pilot episode introduces the Emergency Medical Hologram, a holographic doctor, who can manipulate real instruments and treat real patients [DVD season 1, disc 1, scene 5]

    Google Scholar 

  12. The Illustrated Man (Jack Smight, Warner Brothers 1969). The “instantaneous atmosphere”: a VR environment, which may have inspired Star Trek’s holodeck [DVD scene 12]

    Google Scholar 

  13. The Matrix (The Wachowski Brothers, Warner Brothers 1999). Humans are enslaved in a virtual reality environment created by machines [DVD scene 12]

    Google Scholar 

  14. Caprica (Jeffrey Reiner, Universal Studios 2009). Recapturing the essence of a real person by copying a VR avatar [DVD scenes 11 and 13]

    Google Scholar 

  15. The Day The Earth Caught Fire (Val Guest, British Lion Films 1961). Nuclear testing by U.S. and Russia cause shift in Earth’s motion around the Sun, resulting in rapid increase in global temperature. Only 4 months before all life on Earth will burn up [DVD scene 18]

    Google Scholar 

  16. Star Trek: The Next Generation – “Ship in a Bottle” (Alexander Singer, Paramount 1992). A holodeck-simulation of Professor James Moriarty becomes self-aware, and demands to be allowed to leave the confines of the VR environment [DVD season 6, disc 3, scenes 1, 2]

    Google Scholar 

  17. The Thirteenth Floor (Josef Rusnak, Columbia Pictures 1999). Simulated characters discover that their world is not real; real characters fall in love with simulated characters [DVD scenes 18, 22]

    Google Scholar 

  18. Forbidden Planet (Fred McLeod Wilcox, MGM 1956). A civilization at the pinnacle of achievement was destroyed by the power of their own technology: “monsters from the id” [DVD scenes 21, 22]

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Barry B. Luokkala

Authors
  1. Barry B. Luokkala
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Luokkala, B.B. (2019). What Lies Ahead? (The Future of Our Technological Society). In: Exploring Science Through Science Fiction. Science and Fiction. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29393-2_8

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation