Science Fact From Fiction

Embedded Geek writes "The European Space Agency maintains an ongoing project called Innovative Technologies from Science Fiction for Space Applications (ITSF) (Cliquetez ici pour la version française). Its goal is "to review past and present SF literature, artwork and films in order to identify and assess innovative technologies and concepts described which could be possibly developed further for space applications." While I had known about Clarke first envisioning the geostationary satellite, the site also lists some other interesting ideas first pitched in SF: planetary landers, rocket fins, and space stations assembled in orbit. Visitors to the site are encouraged to submit technologies from SF works, although they should look at the master keyword list to avoid duplication first. Also of interest is a spiffy little brochure and a writing contest. Even if it never results in any new technology actually being developed, the site is a nice resource for science educators and science fiction fans."

Re:Bluetooth?

[awakened tech]

Obviously not now, but I imagine that some SF writer in the 80s (or earlier) proposed computers talking to each other and other devices wirelessly, a vision that has now become reality.

Re:What about other fields?

[IncarnationTwo]

Credit cards.
Cash (debit?) cards.

Both of these are widely aivailable in europe, though it is fairly hard to pay with EC("electronic cash"), as not so many shops have needed readers for EC cards.

Why is that?
Because there is no market for "credstics" or EC
in consumer markets. People like to see how much money they have.

Maybe when you can get visa electron 2.0 that has lcd-on-creditcard that shows your current balance... or maybe not even then.

And you should remember that whern you use EC, all you transactions are _tracable_.

And what about Scifi view of EC-on-skin... I find that a horrible idea. An electronic tracing instrument planted on your skin.

IP.

[DaBj]

The site is also a nice resource for finding prior art.

Hope that doesn't make companies avoid inventing the stuff, since they can't really patent it, and we all know that it's the patent that creates a profit, not the invention...

Re:Wait...

[anonymous cupboard]

our space program takes its cues from scientists who are serious professionals with years of training

Regrettably it gets its money from the lunatics on the hill and at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. With an obsession with providing rewards for the backhanders received from the aerospace inducstry, a lot is spent on inappropriate and/or ineffective technologies (Star Wars).

post hoc ergo propter hoc

[The Fun Guy]

Disclaimer: I love science fiction, always have, always will, however...

Science fiction did indeed predict (in some form, anyway) communications satellites, cell phones, rocket fins, particle weapons, the floppy drive, etc. However, it also predicted antigravity, rolling roads, matter converters, mind control rays, time machines and stasis fields. The trouble with looking back at science fiction and picking out the accurate predictions is that you ignore the 99.9% that was inaccurate, and distort the perceived value of the source material. It's like finding one potato out of a thousand that's shaped kind of like Elvis... you would not seriously conclude that potato fields are a good place to look for new sculptures, would you?