Technology--Lucy Whitman Sandmeyer

Artists have managed to accurately predict the future a number of times (it’s actually a bit terrifying) in the past and, even though I’m no artist, I can follow a trend. We as a race have invented flying machines (planes, cars, hoverboards, jetpacks, rocket ships), information devices (cell phones, laptops, tablets, Google, Skype), war tools (atomic bomb, tanks, types of guns) and tons of other technologies similar to—or based off—novels, movies, pictures, paintings, etc. One of the new up and coming technologies that we’ve seen for years in sci-fi is holographic imaging. As of now, the holograms being used are simply 3D pictures displayed in presentational settings; you can even make holograms from your phones/tablets (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YWTtCsvgvg).

But holograms as we know them in the sci-fi world are way cooler: they are malleable, physical programs that work essentially as any smart phone would if you lived literally inside it. What innovative engineers are attempting to produce now are realistic versions of just that, and they aren’t too terribly far off.  When I say, “aren’t too terribly far off,” I don’t mean we should be getting some real life holodeck technology before the next generation iPhone comes out but advances in the field of holography have made touching a small, fast hologram a reality. The potential of interactive holographs is astounding as it is incredibly exciting; we could use them in practically every field there is. They could change the world just as much, or even more, than mobile smartphones have.

Imagine replacing all boring power point presentations with what is essentially Tony Stark’s JARIVS system minus the really pleasant British accompaniment. Then again, we could just add in the voices (like Siri) and have our own personal JARVISes. It would be amazing and now I’m really excited for my very own JARVIS system. Add that to the newly created military suit that’s bullet proof and contains weapons (but can’t fly), give it about 50 years and then we’ve got the means to Iron Man. HOLOGRAMS MEAN WE CAN BE IRON MAN. 

Us right now

Us really soon