Thursday, October 22, 2015

Back to the Future Day: How Much is Now Real?

Some clever marketing person created "Back to the Future Day" to mark the day October 21, 2015 depicted in the 1989 movie "Back to the Future Part II". There were numerous media reports on how much of what was in the movie is now real. The biggest mistake in the move was the prevalence of fax machines, which have all but disappeared. Perhaps the biggest success was the depiction of a home with numerous large flat screen displays and video calls.

Now have and use:
  • Biometric locks
  • Video calls
  • Tablet computers
  • Digitally networked police
Have but don't use much:
  • Headset glasses
  • Hands-free games interface
Don't have:
  • 3-D with no screen
  • Self-lacing shoes
  • Hoverboards
  • Flying cars
  • Time travel
ps: The ANU built a hover-board for the day.  I made one of these in my youth, from a truck inner tube, sheet of plastic, a board, roll of duct tape and an industrial vacuum cleaner.

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