Things Sci-Fi Movies Get Wrong About The Future

People have dreamed of flying cars as long as cars exist. Henry Ford introduced the "Ford Flyvver" in 1926, the prototype for a mass-market flying car. He stopped the project two years later after his test pilot died in a crash. Entrepreneurs keep trying to build flying cars. At the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Uber announced a plan to debut flying taxis by 2023.Ford Flyvver.The Ford Flyvver was the prototype for a flying car. He dropped the project after his test pilot died in a crash two years later. Entrepreneurs still try to build flying cars. At the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Uber announced a plan to debut flying taxis by 2023.Science fiction assumes flying cars are certain. Airborne cars signal an "advanced society" in stories like Bladerunner, Total Recall, The Fifth Element, and The Jetsons.By 2023, science fiction assumes flying cars are certain. Airborne cars become shorthand for "advanced society" across many things.This trope appeared in science fiction. It showed up in everything from Tron to Flash Gordon and the Star Trek: The Next Generation remake.This trope appeared in science fiction. It showed up in everything from Tron to Flash Gordon and the Star Trek: The Next Generation remake.This trope appeared in science fiction. It showed up in everything from Tron to Flash Gordon and the Star Trek: The Next Generation remake.This trope appeared in science fiction. It showed up in everything from Tron to Flash Gordon and the Star Trek: The Next Generation remake.This trope appeared in science fiction. It showed up in everything from Tron to Flash Gordon and the Star Trek: The Next Generation remake.This trope appeared in science fiction. It showed up in everything from Tron to Flash Gordon and the Star Trek: The Next Generation remake.The Jetsons..

However, there are problems. Several reasons suggest we probably won't see flying cars anytime soon.These are the reasons.We probably won't see flying cars anytime soon.Uber claims flying vehicles are impractical, expensive, and dangerous. Operating a flying vehicle demands much more skill than driving a car or truck. A pilot must manage several extra mechanical systems and keep track of things in three dimensions. Pilots need years of training and practice to operate a flying car. Building a professional group of flying car operators will also be hard because there is already a shortage of airline pilots. Since driverless cars are not perfected, a fully automated flying car remains a long way off.Uber claims flying vehicles are impractical, expensive, and dangerous. Operating a flying vehicle demands much more skill than driving a car or truck. A pilot must manage several extra mechanical systems and keep track of things in three dimensions. Pilots need years of training and practice to operate a flying car. Building a professional group of flying car operators will also be hard because there is already a shortage of airline pilots. Since driverless cars are not perfected, a fully automated flying car remains a long way off.There is a shortage of airline pilots.Since driverless cars are not perfected, a fully automated flying car is a long way off.

Cities must change fundamentally for flying cars to happen. Cities need infrastructure for takeoff and landing spaces. Our existing infrastructure, like roads, is already deteriorating. Cities must also create new systems to control vehicle safety and driver skill. Air traffic control systems require a complete rethink.Cities must change fundamentally for flying cars to happen. Cities need infrastructure for takeoff and landing spaces. Our existing infrastructure, like roads, is already deteriorating. Cities must also create new systems to control vehicle safety and driver skill. Air traffic control systems require a complete rethink.Air traffic control systems need a complete rethink.

Society must change to let thousands of tons of machinery fly. Flying cars won't replace your Hyundai, even if they become technically possible someday.

If science fiction holds true, the future will be scary. Besides murderous androids and aliens, people will also need skin-tight bodysuits.This trope.This trope was popular in the 1970s and '80s. It appeared in everything from Tron to Flash Gordon.This trope was popular in the 1970s and '80s. It appeared in everything from Tron to Flash Gordon.This trope was popular in the 1970s and '80s. It appeared in everything from Tron to Flash Gordon.This trope was popular in the 1970s and '80s. It appeared in everything from Tron to Flash Gordon.This trope was popular in the 1970s and '80s. It appeared in everything from Tron to Flash Gordon.This trope was popular in the 1970s and '80s. It appeared in everything from Tron to Flash Gordon..

Science fiction reflects its time and place. In the '60s, '70s, and '80s, fabrics like spandex and lycra were new. Jane Fonda's costume in Barbarella was made from metallic and plastic fabrics because it looked futuristic to moviegoers in 1969.Jane Fonda's costume.Jane Fonda's costume in Barbarella.Jane Fonda's costume in Barbarella.Jane Fonda's costume in Barbarella was made from metallic and plastic fabrics because it looked futuristic to moviegoers in 1969.Star TrekGene Roddenberry, the Star Trek creator, wanted the Next Generation costume department to use spandex because he thought it would be the future of clothing.Gene Roddenberry wanted the Next Generation costume department to use spandex because he thought it would be the future of clothing.The Next Generation costume department should use spandex because he thought it would be the future of clothing.He thought spandex would be the future of clothing.He thought spandex would be the future of clothing.

Spandex bodysuits looked cutting-edge once. Now, they just make science fiction feel old.

In 1993,Demolition ManPopularized freezing convicts for long periods as punishment. It also showed the tropehas shown up in movies likeMinority Reportand Star Trek: Into Darknessand video games likeMass Effect 2and The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, plus many others. Placing convicts in suspended animation lacks sense as punishment.Mass Effect 2possibilityThe Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher BayThen, consider if cryo-freezing works as punishment. A person in cryo-freeze skips time. Real suffering starts after thawing and entering society. Freezing anyone, criminal or not, for decades and releasing them into an unknown society will be

traumatic.Everyone they knew vanishes. They lack skills to cope in a new society.Prison overcrowding is a worldwide problem. Many prisons in the United States are underfunded. Adding expensive, unproven tech that invites human rights abuses to a taxed prison system might happen in sci-fi. But based on reality, this won't happen for many lifetimes.

According to science fiction, extraterrestrial life exists. Humans will likely speak with it easily. We see aliens landing and immediately saying, "Take me to your leader" in perfect English. This trope comes from a 1953 New Yorker cartoon.But science fiction features humans and aliens who learn each other's languages easily. In E.T. the Extraterrestrial, E.T. learns English after watching Sesame Street. E.T. imitates Gertie, suggesting his species has vocal cords, like humans.This implies his species shares traits that let humans speak. This happens in Independence Day.

Prison overcrowding is aworldwide problem, and many prisons in the United States areunderfundedAdding expensive, unproven technology that invites human rights abuses to an already taxed prison system might happen in sci-fi. But based on our world, this won't happen for many lifetimes, at least.

Science fiction assumes extraterrestrial life exists. Humans can then speak with it easily. We picture an alien landing and saying, "Take me to your leader," in perfect English. (This idea comes from a)1953New Yorkercartoon.E.T. the Extraterrestrial, E.T. starts learning English after watchingSesame Streetand copying Gertie, which shows his species has features like human vocal cords.Independence DayFor aliens visiting Earth, talking to humans uses telepathy.Humans can communicate with alien life using telepathy.turns Dr. Okun into a puppet in the Mass Effect series.Mass Effect.This is a series.Humans, Asari, Turians, Salarians, and every other species can speak the same language quickly after first contact.

If aliens exist, talking to them probably won't be simple. Linguists disagree on specifics, but they know the ability to use language is a human trait.Language use is a universal human trait.Humans cannot communicate with other species on Earth. This suggests we might not communicate with aliens from other planets. A hypothetical alien species might not grasp words or grammar; they could use a different medium, like color swirls.

Linguistsa movie like 2016'sArrival.a movie like Arrival, where a human scientist spends months deciphering an alien species' writing before any understanding happens, shows a more accurate first contact.

Science fiction suggests future sports become so violent participants lose their lives. These sports sometimes evolve so dangerous that death is a normal outcome, like in Rollerball.Rollerball.other sci-fi competitions make the entire point, like in The Running Man or The Hunger Games.The Running Man.The Hunger GamesThe Hunger Games..

These sporting events often aim to show our love of carnage. They do offer a point. Plenty of research shows humans enjoy watching violence.Research.History features vicious, deadly spectator sports, from Roman gladiator bouts to medieval jousting tournaments and bare-knuckle boxing. These sports mostly ended, but many scholars argue modern spectator sports, like MMA or American football, still satisfy those violent urges.He argued.modern spectator sports, like MMA or American football, still satisfy those same bloody urges.

Our bloodlust has limits. In the last 10 years, as medical science better understood sports injury effects, the public lost some desire for mayhem. The NFL started stricter concussion protocols in response to public outcry.They pushed for stricter concussion protocols.In the NHL, hockey players seldom fight because of growing awareness of head injury danger.Fights seldom occur.Boxing, which is violent by nature, has declined in popularity since the 1970s.Popularity declined.Fans find other reasons to watch dangerous sports besides the danger itself. NASCAR fans watch crashes. However, a University of Iowa study found the biggest ratings draw lately is the Race to the Cup, the playoff system NASCAR began in 2004.A study examined this.Lately, the Race to the Cup, NASCAR's playoff system from 2004, draws the biggest ratings.

American footballDanger remains high.Unlike sci-fi versions, modern sports fans do not want to see someone get hurt—not all of them.

Duplicating a human genetically raises moral questions about clone rights. Science fiction authors explore this for decades. A government creating a genetically engineered army of clone soldiers appears as early as 1953 in Poul Anderson's short story "Un-Man".Un-Man.Human cloning gained more popularity.This became a subject in science fiction.The story followed the successful cloning of Dolly the sheep.Dolly the sheep.The cloning in 1996 made human cloning seem possible.

After Dolly, sci-fi movies like the 2005 Michael Bay thriller "The Island" and 2010's "Never Let Me Go" explored cloning ethics from the clone's view. A new idea emerged: clones will be bred only as unwilling organ donors. This idea stems from the real problem of organ shortages.The Island.and 2010's.Never Let Me Go.These films explore cloning ethics from the clone's point of view. A new idea surfaced: clones will be bred just to be unwilling organ donors. This trope comes from the real problem of organ shortages.18 people.Around the world, 18 people die daily waiting for an organ transplant. This caused a harsh black market for organ trading.black market.organ trading.

Creating clones might seem like a gruesome fix for the organ shortage. However, it is unlikely to happen just because it is not needed. Human cloning is theoretically possible.theoretically possible.since 2013, when the first human stem cells were made through cloning.the first human stem cells were created via cloning.This technique could clone a whole human. It can also clone the organs themselves.regrow or clone the organs themselves.If doctors could grow a new heart or kidney, there would be no need to create a being and harvest its organs. This outcome would be less dystopian than today's organ shortage.

This.trope.the trope actually goes back to the 1930s.1930s.Science fiction imagined entire meals in pill form then. Since then, writers have proposed the same idea: future food will be heavily processed, nutrient-rich, and unsatisfying to eat.Soylent GreenThe main food staple in Soylent Green is a wafer from ocean plankton. In fact, it is made from humans.The Matrix.Neo's first meal leaving the Matrix is a runny mush made from "single-cell protein combined with synthetic aminos, vitamins, and minerals," which tastes like "snot."Snowpiercer.The people in the back of the train eat blocks of dark red gel made from cockroaches.

This trope comes from fearing a future with too many people and not enough food. Food shortages could be a problem for future generations. In the last 40 years, the world lost a third of all arable land due to erosion and pollution.arable land.due to erosion and pollution.2050.The population nears 9.8 billion. We project even less arable land. Looming issues mean societies will churn out nutrient paste lacking eggs or wheat.

We probably will need more processed foods.processed foodsHowever, they probably won't taste as bland as science fiction makes them seem. We already have theImpossible BurgerThis soy and potato-based patty looks and tastes like real beef. Companies testsynthetic wines. Insect proteinis a major future food staple. People already acceptthe idea. The future of food looks much better than sci-fi suggests.

From Star Wars to Pacific Rim to The Last StarfighterSpace combat in science fiction often contradicts itself. Spacecraft can achieve amazing feats, like lightspeed travel, yet they still need a human operator. Real pilots are already being replaced byunmanned drones. Soon, we might seefighter planes that pilot themselves.

Sci-fi spacecraft often feature human pilots for reasons related to filmmaking, not future prediction. In Star Wars, for example,Star Wars, George Lucas used existing genre tropes to make his vision work. He used footage from WWII dogfighting movies asplaceholders while editing until effects were done.But having human pilots builds a more intense story for the audience. Human lives are at stake.The ending of A New Hope would not have been as exciting if R2-D2 piloted the X-wing instead of Luke. We knowA New HopeStar Wars wouldn't have been nearly as exciting if R2-D2 piloted the X-wing instead of Luke. We know this.is technically 'fantasy,' not sci-fi. But it contains functional droids, yet creators still fail to stop human fighter pilots from exploding.As technology advances, people picture a world filled with realistic human-like machines. Virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa mimic human speech. Androids, replicants, and other humanoid robots have been sci-fi staples for decades, and they bring problems. A lifelike android with super abilities sometimes threatens its human counterpart, like when Ash tries to kill Ripley in

As technology advances, imagining a world with realistic human-like machines in society becomes simple. Virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa already mimic human speech. Androids, replicants, and other humanoid robots have been science fiction staples for decades, and they bring worrying issues. Sometimes, an android with superhuman skills threatens its human counterpart, like when Ash tries to take out Ripley in. However, living humans often pose a greater danger to androids than the reverse. Lifelike androids usually exist either for labor exploitation, as inBlade RunnerBlade RunnerWestworld.But several reasons make living with lifelike androids unlikely soon. People in 2020 struggle with the uncanny valley. In

But a few things make living with lifelike androids unlikely soon. People in 2020 struggle to pass the uncanny valley. Inone European studyOnly 40% of people accept a child forming an emotional bond with a robot. Building a lifelike robot for a task is unnecessary; you can program a machine to do the same thing. Why build an android chauffeur when you can just program a car to drive itself?Program a car.Can it drive itself?

Humans worry about overpopulation for centuries. In 1798, Thomas Malthus warned the public against too many babies in his essay, "Principle of Population."Thomas Malthus.Thomas Malthus tried to warn the public against too many babies in his essay, "Principle of Population." In the 1960s, the global population increased by about 20% every decade.Global population grew about 20% every decade. Fear of overpopulation gained traction through fiction and facts. Harry Harrison published the novel in 1966.Harry Harrison published the novel in 1966.Make Room! Make Room.! This became the basis for the 1973 film.Soylent Green.. Two years later, as the global population kept rising, Dr. Paul R. Erlich published "The Population Bomb."The Population Bomb., warning the world faced too many people to feed. Since then, overpopulation has become a common sci-fi idea, appearing in everything fromJudge Dredd.toElysium.

Recent real-world trends make this fear seem old. Future societies might face too few people because the global fertility rate keeps dropping.The global fertility rate keeps falling.. The fertility rate was about 5 children per person in the 1960s; now, it is about 2.43. Stable population growth needs an average rate of 2.1. Our future is likely much lessJudge Dredd.and much more.Children of Men..

The 2002 sci-fi thriller.Minority Report.getsplenty of credit.for predicting technologies that became real and for foreseeinghow technology would allow more government surveillance.One iconic detail in the film is the gesture-based floating graphic interface John Anderton (Tom Cruise) uses to map crimes. This technology has not reached the mass market. This technology isIt is definitely possible., so why has it not replaced laptops, tablets, and smartphones? Economics and practicality explain why we lack floating computer screens.

Steven Spielberg wanted his near-future film to show how computers would work in 50 years, or as accurately as possible. He consulted John Underkoffer, an MIT scientist who designed user interfaces at MIT since 1994. Underkoffer proposed gesture-based interfaces. Underkoffer meant these interfaces solve complex problems involving large amounts of data, far more than a single computer screen shows at once. Underkoffer suggested a scene showing support staff working for Anderton to access data with hand waves. The scene ended on the cutting room floor.John Underkoffer., an MIT scientist who designed user interfaces at MIT since 1994. Underkoffer created the idea for gesture-based interfaces. People must use these interfaces to solve complex problems needing much more data than one computer screen shows at once. Underkoffer suggested a scene showing staff working to let Anderton access data with hand waves. The scene ended up on the cutting room floor.

AfterMinority Report.Underkoffer founded something.Oblong Industries.A company built Gspeak, a real-life gesture-based interface. Underkoffer planned Gspeak's data visualization for finance, military, and oil and gas projects, not for cubicle spreadsheets. Oblong's products already had a small market.Other difficulties arose.These difficulties made the product harder to sell. Companies found them too expensive. Users struggled switching from mouse controls to gestures. Finally, contemporary reviewers pointed out...Contemporary reviewers pointed out that a gesture-based interface lacks practicality for constant use. Waving arms works for a fifteen-minute presentation. A worker cannot handle that for an eight-hour shift.Pointed out, a gesture-based interface fails for constant use. Waving arms for a fifteen-minute presentation might work, but a worker cannot handle that for an eight-hour shift.

Gesture-based interfaces are technologically possible. Some hospitals use them, for example, introducing augmented reality MRIs.Augmented reality MRIs.However, these do not replace screens soon.

Science fiction has believed humans will live on the Moon permanently for decades. The idea has existed for centuries, but it gained momentum in the 20th century as the United States and Soviet Union raced to reach the Moon.The idea gained steam.In the 1900s, the United States and Soviet Union raced to be the first nations on the Moon. Since then, science fiction has pictured the Moon as humanity's second home. Humans living on the Moon is...Humans living on the Moon is a common sci-fi idea.This trope appears in many stories. It shows up in things like The Fifth Element, Starship Troopers, and Star Trek: First Contact.The Fifth Element.Starship Troopers.Star Trek: First Contact.ARTEMIS.ARTEMIS.ARTEMIS.ARTEMIS.Andy Weir wrote ARTEMIS.Andy Weir wrote The Martian.The Martian.

Human habitation on the Moon is more possible now than other predictions suggest. In 2016, NASA drew plans for a Moon colony ready by 2022.NASA drew up plans.A Moon colony could form by 2022. This plan lets ten people live on the Moon for a year; capacity can grow to 100. Humans can temporarily live on the Moon, but that is far from a Moon city with millions of inhabitants, like in *Star Trek: First Contact*.Star Trek: First Contact.

The main problem is the cost of going to the Moon. NASA estimated a return trip cost $104 billion in 2005 ($133 billion in 2019 dollars). NASA's 2019 budget was $21.5 billion. A Moon city costs much more. Congress needs to raise NASA's budget greatly, which will be unpopular.A 2018 poll showed only 38% of people thought returning to the Moon should be a priority.A 2018 poll asked if NASA should return to the Moon; only 38% said it should be a priority.

Building a small lunar research station for a trip to Mars would be politically hard.A trip to Mars.But an entire Moon city is as likely as the Moon is made of green cheese.