From Science Fiction to Virtual Reality

In 1869, science fiction writer Jules Verne in “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”, theorizes about the possibilities of diving - without reliance on surface-supplied air. With his unique mix of scientific fact and fiction, Verne is remembered for his uncanny ability to predict inventions such as airplanes, submarines, television, guided missiles, space satellites, space shuttles, and scuba gear.

In 1929, the scientific accuracy in the launching of a rocket in Fritz Lang's last silent movie “Woman In The Moon” is absolutely astonishing. Lang depicts a trip to the moon 40 years before it actually happened. To this day we mimic the counting down to zero to launch a rocket from this film.

In 1946, when portable two-way communication seemed like an impossibly futuristic device, Dick Tracy captured the imaginations of young fans with his wristwatch radio. Star Trek was decades ahead of its time with tasers and communicators.

Author Neal Stephenson recently created an online 3D Metaverse in his 1993 published novel “Snow Crash”, where technology blurs the lines between virtual and reality with the inter-weaving of physical and digital characters and plots. It is rumored that this science fiction novel was one of the inspirations for the development of “Second Life”, a 3D Virtual World where people meet to socialize, shop, attend educational classes, do business, and even engage in political campaigning.

History appears to reinforce the belief that if we can envision it, we can create it. How do we want our world to look tomorrow? What are you envisioning today?