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From science-fiction to science fact: seeing is believing in the age of the internet
For most people,
sci-fi is pure
fantasy and
a means to provide
some escapism
from the hum-drum
of everyday
life. Programmers
such as Star
Trek and Doctor
Who have drawn
legions of dedicated
fans, studying
each scene,
memorising lines
and analysing
sub-plots for
hidden meaning.
Indeed, the
impact that
the sci-fi genre
has had on popular
culture is probably
incalculable.
Many modern-day
inventors and
scientists admit
to being inspired
by shows such
as Star Trek.
The communicator-like
'flip-phone',
for example,
is now commonplace.
And in medicine,
laser 'scalpels'
have even been
developed. In
some respects,
we may even
be centuries
ahead of the
world that is
on display in
Star Trek, given
it was set in
the 23rd century.
Indeed, the
world we see
today is different
altogether from
the one 100
years ago. At
the beginning
of the 20th
century, some
people said
that everything
that could be
invented had
been: the telephone,
the automobile,
recorded sound,
moving images
and the first
flight had taken
place. |
But, of course, the
surface of the technology
revolution hadn't even
been scratched. The
20th century saw man
travel faster than the
speed of sound and go
to the moon; and televisions
in every household.
And the 20th century
also saw the invention
of perhaps the biggest
influence on how we
live our lives since
the humble telephone;
the personal computer.
But at first, the PC was initially a plaything for computer geeks and games enthusiasts. To bring computers to the masses, something else was needed. Something that would revolutionise the way people lived their everyday lives. And that, of course, was the internet.
Besides allowing people to shop online or verify just about any fact there is to be verified, the internet has added a new dimension altogether to the world of communication, and has brought advances way beyond the capabilities of the humble telephone.
Whilst 'chatting' online has been fairly commonplace for a number of years, either through instant messaging services or internet-telephony technology, all that was really new about this was the medium. Now though, video calls can be made across the internet to anywhere in the world, bringing to life the visions of those who created the likes of Star Trek more than 40 years ago.
And what is truly revolutionary about being able to communicate face-to-face over the internet, is not only the fun and enjoyment it creates, but also it's free. All that's needed is a computer, an internet connection and a mic-enabled web-cam, and it's good to go.
So, with internet technology and a little inspiration from the world of sci-fi, it's now possible to say hello, and wave goodbye. And whilst we may not be able to beam ourselves to the other side of the world quite yet, we're certainly a few light-years further on from where we were 100 years ago. Seeing really believes!
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