The 1989 film ‘Back to the Future Part II’ transported Marty McFly and Doc Brown in a flying car from 1985 to 2015 – October 21 to be precise. There it reimagined a world of video conferencing, tablet devices and robotic drones.
Some of the film’s predictions have proved to be accurate, but others like the flying car have missed the mark.
A group of scientists and film buffs will be gathering in Melbourne tonight to , with an imagining of what science might bring in the future.
Scientist Dr Renee Beale from the University of Melbourne, who is co-ordinating the event, says while some of the predictions were far off, the film got a number of things right.
"Things like teleconferencing, which seemed ridiculous in the ‘80s. However, we do that everyday now," she told SBS News.
"It looks as if Doc, when they first arrive in 2015 has something that looks a little bit like an iPad or a tablet. Also, the rise of the wearable tech. We’re seeing that definitely now. Things like sunglasses that you can watch movies through. We have obviously realised that now."
As for flying cars, time travel and self-tying shoe laces; the key question for Dr Renee Beale is not if the ideas can be realised, but if it is practical to do so.
"If we actually wanted to realise flying cars, I think we would because obviously we fly in aeroplanes all the time. It is just a benefit for us to do that. And at the moment, I don’t think there is," she said.
Dr Beale said science fictions films and books do play a role in scientific innovation.
"Certainly some of the ideas in Back to the Future became self-fulfilling prophecies, whereas they may not have actually been realised for any other reason."
And the ideas do not always need to be practical; creativity can also lead to innovation.
"I think also from those laughable ideas can come real ideas as well.
"So often scientists can think creatively but they might also work with artists, who can dream up things that are a bit ridiculous. And then scientists might pick up on those and apply them to different areas of research and that’s often when you get tremendous innovations."
What scientific inventions would a Back to the Future III made today come up with?
The question will be the key topic of debate when Back to the Future fans and scientists gather tonight at .
Dr Beale said there are already a few ideas.
"We will be brainstorming the plot to the next Back to the Future which will be set in 2041; and talking and thinking about what sorts of technologies we might find, and a few other things like social structure.
"So for example, I’m interested in how we might communicate with one another. Will we no longer need devices? Will we have brain to brain communication, telepathy as some people call it.
"How will we date in 2041? Will we even need to or will we upload our favourite hologram and select from a list of personality traits that we might desire at the time.
"What will we eat? Because obviously the Back to the Future in 2014, predicted that we would be eating dehydrated food. Obviously we’re not doing that at the moment, unless you’re an astronaut. So will we be eating 3D-printed meat for example that is cruelty free? Will there be a need for being vegetarian any longer?"
