What 'Back to the Future, Part II' Got Right and Wrong About 2015
The year in which Marty McFly and Doc Brown travel to in the great trilogy Back To The Future is now upon us.
Yes, the year 2015 is the year in which the second movie of the franchise is set. Marty and Doc hop into their DeLorean time machine and visit the year to avoid an incident happening to Marty's future son that would have terrible consequences on his family. Many set pieces of the movie predict what the future world may resemble, such as; transport, fashion and communications. As we all know, not everything they envisioned happened, but you'd be surprised how accurate they were on certain aspects.
what they got right
• Flat Screen TV's, Video Communication and Card Readers
In a scene in Back To The Future Part II we take a trip to Marty's future home which is decorated with plenty of flat screen televisions and a video communication system that resembles Skype. Although Skype and others, such as Face Time, aren't our primary form of communication yet, video calling software is becoming increasingly popular. Another aspect of Marty's future home is the use of card readers to pay for transactions. This, unlike Skype, is common place today, making payments easier and quicker.
• Biometrics
Biometrics isn't in as much widespread use as video communications or card readers, but mobile telephones such as the iPhone now require a fingerprint to unlock the phone. The days of using our fingerprints or eyes to identity our address and unlocking our homes is likely some time away. But biometrics are certainly being integrated and incorporated into todays technology.
• 3D Movies and Sequels
Ok, Jaws 19 hasn't been made yet, and most likely will never be made. All likelihood is that particular set design was a joke between the producers of the movie. What the Jaws 19 joke does pick up on is the fact we are currently handed a gluttony of sequels, and remakes at our local multiplexes. Another interesting part about the scene in which Marty gets his first taste of the future is they predicted 3D movies would be in common practice at cinemas.
what they got wrong
• Fax Machines and Phone Booths
Fax machines and phone booths are still being used in today's world, but they're certainly not being used in a day-to-day basis as shown in Back To The Future Part II. The use of e-mail and mobile telephones has made fax machines and phone booths almost surplus to requirements.
• Self-lacing Shoes
Power laces, how much would everyone love that to be a reality? Unfortunately, self-lacing shoes have yet to be incorporated into fashion— but that could be about to change. Earlier in 2014, Nike designer Tinker Hatfield revealed the company will release a functioning pair of sports shoes that feature power laces in 2015.
• Flying Cars and Hover-boards
This is probably the one thing writers and producers of Back To The Future got most wrong. As of today, we still have to drive our boring four wheeled automobiles on the ground and still have to use our stupid legs to walk around rather than jumping on a flying skateboard!
