Monday morning humor: Did Star Trek have it right with its predictions of technology communications?

/ The Tech-Savvy Lawyer.Page/

The "Star Trek" franchise, beginning in the 1960s, has made numerous predictions and depictions of future technology, some of which have striking similarities to devices and concepts that have since emerged in the real world. Here is a quick overview of how "Star Trek" fared in its portrayal of communications technology:

Star trek has been predicting advances in technology since 1966.

  • Communicators: One of the most iconic Star Trek gadgets, the handheld communicator, closely resembles today's flip phones. When the original series aired, the idea of personal wireless communication devices was science fiction. Today, it's ubiquitous with mobile phones, though modern smartphones have capabilities far beyond voice communication.

  • Universal Translators: Star Trek introduced the concept of a device that could instantly translate alien languages. Today, we have apps and devices like Google Translate and Pocketalk, which can instantly translate spoken words into multiple languages, albeit not alien ones.

  • Holodeck: This virtual reality room on the Starship Enterprise allowed crew members to interact with computer-generated environments and characters. While today's VR technology is in its infancy, the principles behind virtual and augmented reality have been explored extensively and resemble the Holodeck's capabilities.

  • Viewscreen: Star Trek's viewscreen, used for video communication between ships or with alien species, is reminiscent of modern video conferencing tools such as Skype, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams.

  • Data PADD (Personal Access Display Device): This tablet-like device was frequently used in the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" series, well before the iPad or other tablets became a part of our daily lives.

  • Wearable Tech: "Star Trek: The Next Generation" introduced the combadge, a wearable badge that served as both an identifier and a communication device. Today's wearable tech, like smartwatches, can track health metrics and receive notifications, among other functions.

However, it's essential to point out the difference between inspiration and prediction. While "Star Trek" may have inspired some of the technological developments or provided a vision for engineers and designers, saying the show "predicted" these advancements might be a stretch. Technologies often develop because of broad socio-economic, scientific, and technological trends, not necessarily because of science fiction portrayals.

"Star Trek" certainly got some things "right" about the direction in which communication technologies were headed. While the exact implementation and details differ, the show did an impressive job visualizing a future where technology makes communication more seamless and universal.