4 Real Inventions Inspired by Science Fiction

Where science fiction becomes science fact - that is the place Hank is exploring in today's episode of SciShow. Many inventions we use today were first imagined in stories that described fantastical futures. Hank talks about the origins of four of these: the cell phone, the submarine, the telemanipulator (or robot arm), and the taser. Blast off for knowledge!

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[Blaklighte]

Tom
A.
Swift's
Electric
Rifle
...that just blew my mind...

[TheNoiseySpectator]

They forgot something else from Star Trek, something so common we hardly take notice of it as being strange and new anymore.

Doors that sense the approach of someone and open by themselves.

[bigbenhebdomadarius]

Robert Heinlein is also credited with inventing the waterbed, which he described in _Stranger in a Strange Land._

[CajunWolffe]

I read all of the Tom Swift series in the 60's. I discovered the books in 2nd grade at the school library, they would most likely be banned today. I have also read everything by Heinlein, Clark, and Asimov among others. Larry Niven's Ring World comes to mind. My mother taught me and my brother the value of a good book at a very young age, I thank her to this day. Long live the Nerds!

[evelynellsworth]

Fahrenheit 451 was pretty good at predicting technology like earbuds and flatscreen TVs, although I have no idea if it actually inspired any of them

[scahsaint]

People should be inspired and supported to create Science fiction movies, we need more science fiction movies out there. Science fiction movies are like the playground of imagination for scientist and kids which ushers in new era's of technology inspired by science fiction. Many technology we have today as the video states are a direct inspiration from Sci Fi, for example inspirations game from Star Trek, Star Wars and many older science fiction movies/shows. It's the perfect way to get young kids who still have a very creative mind to become empowered and inspired to create things that are considered improbable. So, to all the Science fiction books, movies and show writers alive or dead, thank you for inspiring generations of scientist and engineers, because you have sure inspired me to become an engineer and help push for the future. :)

[Eric]

How could you possibly omit Clarke's geostationary communications satellite?  Its called the "Clarke Orbit" for a reason!

[jakeposey]

my galaxy s3 also holds a 30 minute charge.

[ador]

"nerds are the most dangerous people on Earth" - Bill Burr

[truckcaptainstumpy]

personally, i am more impressed by the predictions made by Asimov like robotics and satellites.... but those listed were kinda cool too...
i remember those monster bricks... as well as the original car phones

[simonrancourt]

In his book 2001, Clarke describes Floyd reading the news on a computer screen, and headlines where updated regularly. Sounds familiar ?

[REDACTEDREDACTED-lr]

What I took away from this:

Just in general leave elephants alone.

[r.b.]

"The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" Was a *fantastic* book.

[jokulhaupz]

Given the two options, name my first born son either "Waldo" or "Master-Slave Manipulator Mk8" i know which i'd pick.. Waldo is a stupid name.

[pirobotbeta]

Tazer...
In 1971, I had mounted the guts of a photo-flash to a rubber glove.
Pinky finger was +270 volts, thumb was ground.
440 microfarad capacitor gave it some bite...
First time I tested it, the electrodes welded together!
Good thing, too!

[HarikaBusayavalasa]

Scott Westerfeld actually talked about hoverboards in the Uglies trilogy. They are able to well, hover, because of a magnetic grid built under the city, and when the main characters escaped, they were still able to use the boards by going over rivers which had metal deposits. The boards were also charged using solar power cells. The boards even had fans on the underside which kept the board aloft. And the person who was hoverboarding had "crash bracelets", which were these metal bracelets that were attracted to the board, and they kept the person from falling to the ground if they ever lost balance.

Someone has to make this happen--I want to be able to see and use a hoverboard!

[AffinityOfTime]

I was reading some old Heinlein books (published in the 1930's-1940's) and one thing that actually really stunned me was a reference to the main character's asbestos-lined space suit. Sure, some science fiction writers have thought up great things, but others they got very, very wrong.

[MissRebekah]

R. A. Heinlin also conceived the Water Bed. I think that was in Stranger in a Strange Land.
But I was never a SciFi Nerd, it was the '70s. Grok?
Aunt B

[oliviawatts]

"dont go tasering your friends for fun" looking at you, michael reeves

[Youndabay]

I was always really impressed by the technology presented in Fahrenheit 451.  They had wall televisions, interactive tv programs, even earphones (called "shells" in the novel). The only thing I really don't want to see become reality from that book are those robot dogs.  No thank you, Ray Bradbury.