Which mildly futuristic devices got omitted in SF settings?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the exploration of simple, practical devices or systems that do not currently appear in science fiction settings but could feasibly exist in the near future. Participants consider various technologies, including software applications, drones, and medical tools, while reflecting on their absence in contemporary speculative fiction.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that drones, while already in use, are underrepresented in military science fiction, with expectations for mass deployment of exoskeletons and power armor within the next 15 years.
  • There is a proposal for a medical app that could diagnose common ailments using a smartphone, which some participants find practical and timely.
  • Concerns are raised about the lack of contemporary technology, such as smartphones and the internet, in speculative fiction, questioning why future settings do not reflect current technological realities.
  • One participant mentions the potential impact of electronic surveillance on stealth-based narratives, suggesting that such technology could undermine traditional hero tropes.
  • Discussion includes the idea of advanced medical technology and genetic enhancements being overlooked in future settings, as well as the implications of automation on societal structures.
  • Some participants humorously discuss the practicality of fictional devices, such as gravity field-generating swords, while others critique their feasibility.
  • There is mention of the potential for smart pet collars to prevent accidents, reflecting on practical applications of technology in everyday life.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the practicality and representation of various technologies in science fiction. No consensus is reached regarding which devices should be included or the implications of their absence in speculative narratives.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the limitations of current speculative fiction in reflecting contemporary technological advancements and societal changes, but do not resolve the implications of these observations.

  • #31
This thread seems to have become "things I would like" rather than "technologies not foreseen in science fiction". As this is the science fiction forum it would be best it the conversation steered back towards the latter.
 
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  • #32
Should someone open another thread for exchanging ideas what would be good, realistic in our future?
 
  • #33
Ryan_m_b said:
This thread seems to have become "things I would like" rather than "technologies not foreseen in science fiction". As this is the science fiction forum it would be best it the conversation steered back towards the latter.

The problem is that SF tend to be preoccupied with big stuff, like for example nuclear powdered space ships. Just such crucial changes for life happen from actually small devices. I've seen a jokes that introduction of washing machines did more to equal rights of women than all political movements. So I would consider such wish as quite helpful, after all if a gizmo is desired around AD 2015, then in farer future could be expected to be mature technology bought in discount bin equivalent or in best case even an outdated tech.

Think about story potential for a derelict building with dirty walls, where a mysterious noise in middle of the night turns out to be an old roomba, while at that time all people use much silent devices that connects to net and thanks to gecko like climb ability also clean windows? ;)
GTOM said:
Should someone open another thread for exchanging ideas what would be good, realistic in our future?

And then the discussion would drift to more speculative devices, which would bring us here back? ;)
 
  • #34
Because of my advanced age, to the best of my memory, one of the earliest misses was the transmission of pictures from a landing on another Planet/Moon. The communications in all early SF stories and movies leading up to the Apollo Moon landing were, generally static laden, radio communications. Not even the best Asimov, Clark, etc. missed that one.
 
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  • #35
For one, reusable spaceship configurations. A modular approach with established designs and known capabilities selected for optimum outcomes.
 
  • #36
Terahertz radiation full body imaging, even now that some scanners exist...
 
  • #37
1. Technological inventions follow changes in human lifestyle. In early 20 century no one predicted mobile phones to include them in space travel books, since mobile phone wasn't needed back then.
2. Usually SF greatly overestimates development of space travel and underestimates social changes.
3. In 50 years we will no longer go outside or even walk on foot. We will sit on out butts and browse galleries of funny kittens.
4. This change of lifestyle will demand new inventions to address new challenges. Instant anti-acne pill? Virtual reality goggles to make one feel like he's doing sport? Holoraphic belly shrinker? Guess what.
5. In 50 years people will laugh at the today's sci-fi writers that they haven't anticipated such obvious things like edible autonomous drone tasting like pizza.

The biggest mistake sci-fi writers make is to assume that in the future there will be the same society traveling trough space. It's the social change that's driving new inventions, not space industry.
 
  • #38
haael said:
3. In 50 years we will no longer go outside or even walk on foot. We will sit on out butts and browse galleries of funny kittens.

The biggest mistake sci-fi writers make is to assume that in the future there will be the same society traveling trough space. It's the social change that's driving new inventions, not space industry.

IMHO, you are overestimating social changes. It is like in Back to Future 3, Emett Brown talks about the future, people laugh on him : So that cars will mean, no one will walk?
 
  • #39
haael said:
The biggest mistake sci-fi writers make is to assume that in the future there will be the same society traveling trough space. It's the social change that's driving new inventions, not space industry.

I think that science fiction is for teenage future engineers. They're generally interested in technology, not social change. They seem to prefer highly retrogressive governments, perhaps because they lend themselves to wars and other drama.

There are exceptions, like Iain Banks' Culture. But more often it's empires.
 
  • #40
Hornbein said:
They seem to prefer highly retrogressive governments, perhaps because they lend themselves to wars and other drama.

Maybe another topic should be dedicated to that matter (i have one Past ages in SF) but developed technology can be very well used to bring back times where the few had absolute control over the many, with birth control, cloning one can get rid of a weakness of dynasties, succession wars.

By the way, many things we use now in everyday life, was originally created for military or space industry (GPS, new materials for example)
 
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  • #41
Robots controlled over the network with tactile feedback in body suits and virtual reality headset gear allowing the operator to see and hear and FEEL (tactile at least) but from safe distance -in order to explore, say, potentially dangerous caves or underwater regions, help rescue/locate victims of natural disasters etc.

Largely ignored by any SF:
Quantum computers.