August 23, 2011

Why Science Fiction has Ruined Me

Recently, a friend posted a link to a chart. This chart outlined the apparent year that classic sci-fi took place, in comparison to what year it really is. For instance, Back to the Future took place in 2015. That's 4 years from now. Does anyone really think we will have hover-skateboards and flying cars and all that other crazy stuff in 4 years? No. Of course not.

Disneyland was build in 1955, and it had an area of the park devoted to the future. "Tomorrowland" was supposed to represent the way the world would be with the contribution of science, and over 50 years later, we still don't have all the doodads and gadgets imagined back then.

Is it because the technology hasn't developed? Sure. But the big question is WHY hasn't technology advanced as quickly as we'd hoped? Is it because we aren't smart enough? I don't think so.

I think technology hasn't developed as much as was dreamed in the past, because the writers and dreamers of the past never imagined how EXPENSIVE technological development would be.

Think about it. How many science fiction books have you read where money gets in the way? How much would an enterprise like Jurassic Park cost in todays world? Could we do it? Maybe. But it would probably take the entire GDP of a midsize country to get it done.

Why haven't we started colonizing the moon? Cost.

Why don't we have thriving underwater communities? Cost.

Why don't we have electric cars, smooth roads, and a way to travel cross-country in an hour or less? Cost.

Now, I'm not trying to make some economical-political statement. That's not how I roll, and I realize these issues are a lot more complicated than a simple dollar sign. What I am saying, is that being a lover of science fiction has made it impossible not to look at the world today and wish things could be a little different.

Because I know how innovative we can be. I know how creative our scientists and engineers truly are. And I know why most of them stick to doodling on napkins.

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