1. Robot surgeons from Star Wars
In the third episode of the franchise, Anakin Skywalker gets seriously burned and loses his legs. His life is saved by robotic surgeons who encase the hero in the black armor of Darth Vader. A complex life support system is integrated inside the suit, which supports damaged organs and allows the villain to breathe.
In real medicine, robotic technologies are also used, but until recently a person had to operate the device. In 2017 spent the first commercial knee reconstruction using TSolution One®. The robot cut the bone according to the plan given to it.
In 2022, scientists presented a Smart Tissue Autonomous Robot (STAR) machine, which will likely allow soft tissue surgery. She can make the incision herself, carry out the necessary manipulations and apply stitches. The invention has already been tested on pigs. The robot operated on the intestines of four animals, and surgeons performed traditional laparoscopic surgery on the fifth. Researchers said STAR made fewer errors than an experienced doctor, and wounds healed just as well after the procedure as with the conventional method.
2. TARDIS from Doctor Who
Of course, we are not talking about the main function of the ship – movement in time and space. Some scientists admit that in theory This is possible, but for now we can only enjoy the idea of traveling into the future in books and movies. But another ability of the TARDIS has already become a reality. The ship was able to translate into all existing languages, except for ancient Gallifreyan, the language of its native planet.
To understand the meaning of a text in a non-native language, modern people no longer need to delve into dictionaries. Thanks to neural machine translation technologies, you can easily understand what is written in Japanese or Turkish. They are used, for example, Yandex And Google. When translating, each sentence is not divided into individual words, but is analyzed comprehensively, which allows the system to find a more accurate meaning.
3. Tricorder from Star Trek
In the series, which aired in 1966, the device was used to collect, analyze and record data. The engineering tricorder helped the ship’s crew set up technical systems on board, and the medical version of the device made it possible to collect information about the state of health and make a diagnosis without even touching the patient.
Modern doctors can also improve the diagnostic process with the help of artificial intelligence. It is expected that it will help recognize signs of pathological changes, and the doctor, taking into account this assessment and other examinations, will make a diagnosis. In addition, they want to use AI in resuscitation: Programs can analyze patient parameters and quickly respond to dangerous changes. Doctors also use other modern developments. For example, in hardware-software complex ReviVR uses virtual reality and multisensory biofeedback technologies. The system helps Russian doctors rehabilitate patients after strokes.
4. HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey
In Stanley Kubrick’s film, a superintelligent computer controlled the life support systems of crew members who were put into suspended animation before a long journey. Real scientists have similar technologies. For example, MIT’s AI algorithm can analyze the state of a person based on radio signals around him. To get started, you do not need to attach any sensors with wires to your body.
Another startup is developing a gadget for control dreams. The headband-like device measures brain activity and then compares this data with that of other people who have been lucid dreaming. Having understood what a characteristic signal looks like, the gadget will stimulate brain activity using high-frequency sound waves. It is not yet clear why such development may be needed. Moreover, some experts are skeptical reacted to the idea because it is unclear how the device might affect the brain with long-term use.
5. Glasses from Back to the Future 2
In the 1989 film, the characters wore augmented reality smart glasses that allowed them to watch television shows. And in 2014, Google presented Google Glass is a headset for Android smartphones. Smart glasses made it possible to take photos and videos, search using voice queries, and send messages. However, a year later the product was removed from the market. The reasons for the failure range from high price to debate over whether the device violated people’s privacy rights because it could secretly take photos.
Smart glasses are still being developed. Thus, recently the company Brilliant Labs presented Frame AI. The gadget runs on an open source platform based on Python and can connect to artificial intelligence services. The camera in the glasses recognizes what the user sees and uses this information to make requests. The device can search the Internet, translate text, and generate pictures.
6. Robotaxi from Total Recall
The film takes place in 2084. Instead of going on vacation, people are recording travel memories. It is still difficult to imagine this in life. But another technology that was reflected in the film has already become a reality. When the hero of the film gets into a taxi, he sees a dummy driver behind the wheel – in fact, the car drives itself.
In reality, create a self-driving car tried back in the 1920s, but then it was a matter of steering it using a remote control. And the first trip without human participation took place only in 1995 – the car drove about 110 km. Today, unmanned vehicles can already be seen on city streets. For example, in Russia, taxis without a driver have been arriving in Innopolis since 2018. And from 2023 it works in test mode in Moscow in the Yasenevo area.