Comments on: Things That Used to Be Science Fiction (and Aren’t Anymore)

By: Mike Keller

Mike Keller — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 13:37:09 +0000

One thing about science fiction predictions: too often the writers/filmmakers don’t set the story far enough in the future. While we may have had a space station by 2001, it was far more primitive than the one imagined by Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke. And Blade Runner was set in 2019; we’ll be lucky to see flying cars before 2100.

By: HAL Lives

HAL Lives — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 08:24:55 +0000

Re: The iPad / Tablet Computer. In "2001..." Poole and Bowman use their "Newspad's" (portable wireless streaming / computing devices) to watch the pre-recorded BBC interview with themselves and HAL while eating their meal. Steve Jobs would have been about 13 when the film was released; I wonder if he ever saw it?

By: Dan Dobruse

Dan Dobruse — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 03:55:10 +0000

See “Things Pass By” by Murray Leinster in the Summer 1945 issue of ‘Thrilling Wonder Stories’. He described in some detail a process most people today would recognize as ‘3D printing!’

By: larry voyles

larry voyles — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 21:53:19 +0000

You left out: wireless electronic communication (cell phones are remarkably similar to “try-corders” from star trek), food in an instant (microwave).

By: YevP

YevP — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 15:00:50 +0000

In reply to Oracles. Oh, nice recommendation! That was not on my radar but it's published by Tor, so I'm immediately curious

By: Oracles

Oracles — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 19:35:38 +0000

Sort of related to the Space Stations subheading, network geeks should all read Vernor Vinge’s “A Fire Upon The Deep” and keep in mind that he’s writing it in 1992. Some of the concepts described are prescient.