From Sci-Fi To Reality: 14 Inventions Inspired By Science Fiction
Science fiction has sparked the creativity and invention of great minds around the world. As technology advances, the line between fantasy and reality gets blurry.
This is how futuristic dreams have become realities, shaping the way we live, work, and communicate. These things now change how we live but were once confined to sci-fi writers’ minds. These are 14 inventions inspired by Science Fiction.
Modern Submarine
Recognized as the pioneer of the modern submarine, American inventor Simon Lake was deeply fascinated by the concept of undersea exploration from Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. Lake’s groundbreaking innovations, including ballast tanks, divers’ compartments, and the periscope, revolutionized submarine design. His company achieved a significant milestone with the successful operation of the Argonaut—the first submarine to navigate the open ocean—in 1898, earning Lake praise from Verne himself.
Helicopter
Though Jules Verne is widely celebrated for his fictional submarine, the Nautilus, the French author also had a visionary outlook on aviation. Igor Sikorsky, the inventor behind the modern helicopter, found inspiration in Verne’s work. Particularly in the book, “Clipper of the Clouds,” which he read during his youth. Sikorsky mentioned Verne, saying, “Anything that one man can imagine, another man can make real.”
Rocket
Robert H. Goddard was an American scientist renowned for constructing the first liquid-fueled rocket. He achieved a successful launch on March 16, 1926. Goddard’s passion for spaceflight was ignited by an 1898 newspaper of H.G. Wells’ iconic novel depicting a Martian invasion, “War of the Worlds.” Reflecting on his inspiration, Goddard recalled how the idea “gripped my imagination tremendously.”
Atomic Power
H.G. Wells’ novel “The World Set Free” (1914) envisioned “artificial” atomic energy. Physicist In 1932, Leo Szilard picked up the book, sparking his quest to crack the puzzle of creating a nuclear chain reaction, which he did in 1933.
Cellphone
Martin Cooper, the director of research and development at Motorola, acknowledged the influence of “Star Trek” technologies in shaping the design of the first mobile phone. Inspired by the futuristic gadgets in the series, Cooper and his team sought to bring science fiction to life by creating a portable communication device to revolutionize how people connect.
Tablets
The idea of handheld touch-screen devices akin to tablets finds its origins in the realm of science fiction. Arthur C. Clarke’s 1968 novel “2001: A Space Odyssey” features characters utilizing handheld gadgets known as “newspads” for reading news and accessing information. Contemporary tablets, such as the iPad, can be attributed to this.
Video Calling
“Video calling” technologies like FaceTime and Zoom have their roots in Hugo Gernsback’s science fiction novel “Ralph 124C 41+.” In the book, Gernsback envisioned a device called the “telephot,” which allowed people to communicate visually over long distances. This concept of real-time visual communication across vast distances laid the groundwork for the development of real-life video-calling technology.
Combat Information Center
The concept of Combat Information Centers (CICs) draws inspiration from E.E. “Doc” Smith’s “Lensmen” novels. In these science fiction tales, Smith introduced the notion of a centralized command hub equipped with advanced technology to gather and analyze battlefield data in real time. The command ship called the Directrix in the books was the inspiration for a U.S. naval officer to put them on warships.
The Waldo
“The Waldo” originated from a short story by science fiction author Robert Heinlein. In this tale, Heinlein introduced a mechanical device named “Waldo,” controlled remotely by a human operator. As depicted in Heinlein’s story, the concept of a remote manipulator or telefactor system inspired real-world developments in remote manipulation technology, particularly in industries like robotics and medicine.
Voice-Controlled Assistants
The concept of interacting with computers through voice commands finds its origins in science fiction, notably in the “Star Trek” series. In the show, characters like Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock communicate with the ship’s computer using voice commands. This futuristic vision inspired real-world advancements in voice-controlled assistants, such as Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant.
Smartwatches
Smartwatches can trace their conceptual origins back to Dick Tracy’s two-way wrist radio, which made its debut in a 1946 comic strip. This fictional device allowed the comic book detective to communicate wirelessly and access information directly from his wrist. Dick Tracy laid the groundwork for the development of modern smartwatches.
Virtual Reality (VR)
The concept of virtual reality (VR) draws inspiration from Neal Stephenson’s novel “Snow Crash,” in which characters immerse themselves in a digital realm known as the Metaverse. In this fictional universe, users navigate through a vividly imagined virtual space, interacting with others and engaging in various activities.
Self-Driving Cars
The concept of self-driving cars can be linked to Isaac Asimov’s short story “Sally,” published in 1953. In the story, Asimov introduces the character of a robotic car named Sally. This fictional depiction of a vehicle capable of navigating itself without human intervention inspired the development of real-world self-driving car technology.
Electric Cars
John Brunner’s novel, “Stand On Zanzibar,” published in 1969, provides a speculative glimpse into the future. He envisioned vehicles powered by rechargeable electric fuel cells in America by the year 2010.
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