Great Scott! It’s Back to the Future Day – the date Marty McFly and Doc Brown crashed the future in the second of the three time-hopping sci-fi adventure films.
The sequel was released in November 1989. And watching it back nearly 26 years later, it’s impressive to note how many tech trends it predicted, even if it also contained its fair share of misfires.
From TV tech to smart homes, modern life reflects the Hill Valley of 2015 in plenty of ways, which is especially impressive when you consider that there was no concept of an Internet at the time. And even where the movie didn’t get it quite right (where is my food re-hydrater?), you’ll be surprised at how close it came. Except about the prevalence of fax machines, obviously.
Fingerprint Door Locks
Virtual Windows
Hanging Gardens
Roll-Up Flatscreen TVs
A roll-up flatscreen shown in the McFlys’ home is reminiscent of the flexible panels LG recently showed off. Meanwhile, voice-controlled televisions are already a reality!
Video Phone Calls
Personal CC Readers
Smartglasses
Voice Activation
Hoverboards
Alternative Energy
Self-Lacing Shoes
Flying Cars
There are many other speculative technologies shown in the film that haven’t come to pass yet, such as the organ replacements Doc gets to extend his life, size-adjusting clothes, suspended animation dog kennels, holographic movie theaters, and the microwave-replacing “hydrator” that cooked an entire pizza in three seconds.
Others could probably be done, but no one’s attempted them yet.
The Back To The Future movies have taught us that anything’s possible – the poster advertising surfing in Vietnam must have seemed crazy to Americans in 1989 considering their all-too-recent conflicts, but like some of those unlikely inventions, it’s now a reality. Truth really is stranger (and more awesome) than fiction.