The 21st century is quickly resembling a sci-fi novel with driverless taxis, generative AI, and plans for colonizing Mars. Daniel Smalley, a researcher at Brigham Young University, believes that science fiction inspires and drives technological advancements. He and his team are working on recreating Princess Leia’s hologram from “Star Wars” and the Holodeck from “Star Trek.” These iconic sci-fi works have influenced various technologies such as smartphones, advanced prosthetics, and even robots like R2 on the International Space Station.
“Star Trek” has inspired technologies like mobile phones and holograms, with Martin Cooper creating the first cellphone after being inspired by Captain Kirk’s communicator. Smalley’s lab is also trying to recreate the Holodeck from the show.
“Dune,” a novel by Frank Herbert, is considered the first major ecological science fiction novel. It discusses the concept of terraforming, which researchers at Louisiana State University are exploring to potentially make Mars habitable. Smalley also connected the idea of “Voice” in “Dune” to research conducted at Cambridge University on manipulating sound for potential weaponization.
In conclusion, science fiction has played a significant role in inspiring and shaping modern technological advancements, pushing researchers like Smalley to turn imagination into reality. From holograms to terraforming, these fictional works have sparked real-world innovation that is changing the way we live and interact with technology.
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