Beam you up? Warp speed? Don't bet on it

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility and current status of advanced technologies depicted in science fiction, particularly those from "Star Trek," such as replicators, universal translators, transporters, and warp drives. Participants reflect on the gap between these fictional technologies and present-day capabilities, exploring themes of aspiration and technological progress.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that many technologies from "Star Trek," such as replicators and warp drives, remain beyond our current capabilities and imagination.
  • Another participant reminisces about childhood stories involving antigravity, questioning the current absence of such technologies.
  • A different participant reflects on past predictions of flying cars powered by nuclear generators, expressing skepticism about their realization.
  • One participant humorously expresses disappointment at the lack of flying cars, suggesting that they might still be a future possibility.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express a sense of skepticism regarding the realization of advanced technologies, with some sharing nostalgic views on past predictions. However, there is no consensus on whether these technologies will ever be achieved.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights a reliance on speculative ideas and cultural references, with no concrete evidence or developments presented to support the feasibility of the technologies mentioned.

Ivan Seeking
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Before we get too cocky about our multitasking cell phones, global data networks and other gizmos that match "Star Trek's" sci-fi tools, let's remember: Most of the standard equipment on the starship Enterprise is still in the realm of "where no one has gone before."

Replicators to instantly synthesize any food we want? Nope. Universal translator machines to convert any form of speech into English? Not yet. Transporter rooms to beam us to the next planet? No way.

Warp Drive to speed between star systems? Fuggedaboudit.

Some of these technologies are not only beyond what we can do, they're beyond what we can imagine finding a way of doing.

That doesn't mean we aren't trying. "Star Trek" continues to inspire the questing mind and sets a cultural benchmark for what we could achieve.[continued]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/artic...hive/2004/03/15/BUG8L5K0M31.DTL&type=business
 
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Hell, when I was a little kid we had antigravity - in the stories. What ever happened to that?
 
You young'uns couldn't possibly know how many times I have read over the years that we were soon all going to be commuting to work in flying cars, probably powered by an onboard nuclear generator that used a pellet of plutonium.
 
What, I'm not going to get my flying car?
Just you wait...
 

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