By
Mark A. Ollig
The
year is 2015; we have officially entered the beginning of technology’s future.
Before
we get too far into our 2015, it might be interesting to look back at some of
the science fiction movies and writings where the storyline future takes place
in the year 2015.
In
2009, the science fiction novel “The Carbon Diaries: 2015” was published in the
United Kingdom.
This
novel dealt with a British family’s lifestyle changes as they adhere to “carbon
rationing” rules enacted by the government because of climate changing
catastrophes taking place during 2015.
The
“Back to the Future II” movie (written in 1989) takes place in 2015, when it
was thought there would be floating hoverboards, and flying cars.
In
fact, there have been attempts to build flying cars, and you may have even seen
some on YouTube; however, they are not being used as envisioned 26 years ago in
the movie.
One
video made a sensation in early 2014, showing an apparently floating and
flying-over-the-ground hoverboard.
Professional
skateboarder Tony Hawk demonstrated what looked to all of us as the real thing,
as he traveled down, and a couple of feet above, a paved street in the middle
of a city.
It
was later learned the video was a hoax.
The
video released to convince us the hoverboard was real (sure looked real to me)
can be seen here: http://tinyurl.com/o32durp.
You
can watch an apologetic Tony Hawk come clean, as he revealed how the flying
hoverboard illusion was created in this video: http://tinyurl.com/nmh6v9g.
Another
futuristic event taking place in “Back to the Future II” shows a USA Today
newspaper company’s flying drone, taking photographs at the scene of a teenage
gang arrested near the Hill Valley courthouse.
Today,
drones are being used to capture hard-to-take photographic images from the air;
this is known as “drone photography.”
Aerial
news photography, and video of events captured by using drones, is occurring
with greater frequency.
I
look for this aerial drone method for recording news and events to continue to
gain popularity and wide-spread use among the mainstream media, and independent
citizen journalists, as well.
The
movie “Event Horizon” (released in 1997) reveals humans establishing a
permanent colony on the moon in the year 2015.
Another
movie set in 2015, shows an attempt to limit the use of natural resources;
including oil and gasoline.
The
1981 Canadian movie “Firebird 2015 AD” depicts the US government outlawing the
public’s use of gasoline in automobiles, unless it was for “official purposes.”
This
movie includes a scene with the president of the United States speaking before
Congress about the deplorable actions of 10 states which have violated federal
orders, and have allowed oil and gasoline to be freely provided to its
citizens.
Of
course, back in 1973 and 1979, we really did experience nationwide oil and gas
shortages.
In
many states, gasoline was rationed, and people experienced long lines while
waiting in their cars at the gas stations.
Thankfully,
the last time I checked, gasoline was plentiful, and was selling for around $2
per gallon.
So
far, 2015 has not seen the gasoline restrictions as envisioned in “Firebird
2015 AD.”
In
1941, famous science fiction author Isaac Asimov wrote “Runaround,” which
includes the famous Three Laws of Robotics:
•
A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to
come to harm.
•
A robot must obey orders given in to it by human beings, except where such
orders would conflict with the First Law.
•
A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not
conflict with the First or Second Law.
“Runaround”
is about a robot and two people who travel to the planet Mercury in the year
2015.
They
are there to resume mining operations which began on the planet 10 years
earlier.
While
on Mercury, the robot begins to act in a very strange manner.
It
begins running around in circles, and is speaking irrationally.
It
was learned the robot’s behavior was caused by the effects of a type of
chemical element called “selenium,” which is used to maintain life-support
inside the human habitation base on the planet.
The
story examines what can happen when the Three Laws of Robotics are put to the
test.
I
feel, with the continuing advancements in artificial intelligence and robotic
technology, the probability of humans interacting with quick-thinking,
autonomous robots will someday put these three laws to the test for real.
It’s
2015; let’s begin experiencing the next chapter of technology’s future.
Being
I’m such a Star Trek fanboi, I wanted to end this first column of 2015 with the
words Scotty said in the 1986 movie “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.”
“Hold
on tight, lassie. It gets bumpy from here!”
