Humans have always been intrigued by exploring the uncharted territories of imagination. In addition to the numerous scientific technologies that have improved lives, the human brain has a solid resume of creating creative masterpieces that have left an indelible mark on the world. A film is one such aspect of human imagination.
Films are more than just a source of entertainment. We seek refuge in them more often than not. Whether imagining yourself as Dominic Torreto whizzing through the streets at top-notch speed or dear old Harry, who’s constantly at loggerheads with that notoriously famous dark sorcerer, you can’t deny it’s a different kind of bliss!
While some films may be mere figments of human imagination, others have seen their storylines come true after decades. In this article, we explore such creative masterpieces that were just stories once but are now technologies that became a reality .
1. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
We live in the age of video calls, space travel, and AI assistants like Siri and Alexa. You might find that normal today, but in 1968, this was a distant dream. Directed by the legendary Stanley Kubrick and based on Arthur C. Clarke’s work, “2001: A Space Odyssey”, the film follows a voyage to Jupiter with the sentient computer HAL 9000.
Themes of artificial intelligence, extraterrestrial life, and human evolution are constants in the movie. If you like it, just watch how generations before us visualized video calls on Skype and Facetime; you’ll be wonderstruck for sure!
Since we are talking of the distant past, here are some of the oldest engineering books you should know about.
2. Blade Runner (1982)
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep is a novel written by Philip K. Dick. Little must he have imagined he was actually writing the future and not just a mere imaginary storyline. Thanks to Ridley Scott’s ‘Blade Runner’, his storyline is visualized as a film.
Set in a dystopian future where synthetic humans known as replicants are bio-engineered by the powerful Tyrell Corporation, the plot follows Rick Deckard, a blade runner tasked with hunting down the rogue replicants.
The film envisioned advanced AI and humanoid robots, highlighting the ethical dilemmas surrounding artificial life. The urban landscape, characterized by towering skyscrapers and constant rain, mirrored the burgeoning mega-cities and environmental concerns we face today. The film’s exploration of identity and humanity remains relevant as we advance in AI and robotics.
The movie sheds light on the ethical dilemmas that we face in today’s generation regarding artificial life, ranging from the increasing mega-cities and the threats they pose to the environment. Furthermore, urban landscapes with towering skyscrapers do well to paint a futuristic vision in a film that explores the world of AI and robotics.
3. The Truman Show (1998)
Starring Jim Carrey as Truman Burbank, this Peter Weir directorial tests the artificial confines of human existence. The film foreshadowed the rise of reality TV and the culture of surveillance. It predated shows like “Big Brother” and “Survivor,” which turned ordinary people into televised spectacles. Additionally, the pervasive surveillance in Truman’s life echoes the current concerns about privacy and the extent to which our lives are monitored by technology.
4. Minority Report (2002)
Steven Spielberg is one of Hollywood’s finest directors and is well-known for his attempts to tinker with futuristic imaginations. Minority Report is one of those science fiction films you cannot afford to miss out on if you’re exploring scientific advancements already predicted in films.
This one, in particular, anticipates technological developments like gesture-based technology, personalized advertising, and predictive policing. The depiction of customized ads is astonishing since that’s already a reality. Furthermore, gesture-based interfaces, like those seen with Microsoft Kinect and VR systems, were also predicted in the film.
5. WarGames (1983)
If you don’t know about cybercrime today, you’re living in a cave! However, back in 1983, when War Games was released, people were unaware that crimes could be committed on a computer. Directed by John Badham, WarGames is the story of David Lightman, a young hacker who accesses a U.S. military supercomputer programmed to simulate and execute nuclear war.
The film highlights the issues of cybersecurity decades before cybercrime became a thing. It displays the vulnerabilities of computer networks and the potential consequences of cyber warfare. And let us tell you an amazing fact.
The movie was so good it influenced the U.S. government policies on cybersecurity! If you’re a science enthusiast, don’t miss out on these movies .
6. Back to the Future Part II (1989)
We are already nine years past 2015. However, folks living in the late eighties created this film with 2015 as the benchmark year of how the future would look like. It’s the story of Marty McFly and Doc Brown as they undertake time travel to 2015 to prevent a series of events that could ruin their lives.
The film accurately predicted video calls, wearable technology, and even the rise of 3D movies—the hoverboard, though not exactly as depicted, inspired real-life prototypes and innovations in personal transportation. The use of wearable devices, like smart glasses, and the prevalence of large-screen TVs were also accurately envisioned.
7. Her (2013)
Now, this is probably as recent as it gets. Directed by Spike Jonze, Her is the story of a lonely writer who develops an intimate relationship with an AI companion. While AI as a technology existed even back then, the concept of an emotional relationship with an AI assistant is what we are experiencing today with virtual AI girlfriends.
Through visionary storytelling, these films have offered prescient glimpses of our future. As we continue to innovate and evolve it’s fascinating to reflect how the figments of human imagination can be accurate predictors of the things to come.
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