10 times Star Trek predicted the future before it happened

Star Trek is more than just a thrilling space opera. This sci-fi show often feels like looking into a crystal ball, seeing decades ahead. This iconic series has captivated the viewers for decades. From unique devices to intriguing plotlines, this series is one of a kind.

Star Trek has an uncanny knack for foreshadowing real-world situations and inventions. It almost feels as if the writers weren’t just crafting fiction but laying a prediction for the future. So, let’s discuss the 10 times Star Trek predicted the future.

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10 times Star Trek predicted the future before it happened

1) Devices resembling Bluetooth earphones

Star Trek has given the viewers unique devices, and one of them has to be Lt. Uhura's wireless earpiece. This device, especially at the time Star Trek was released, seemed like something that would never be possible.

However, when we fast forward to our present day, having an earpiece that can wirelessly transmit audio is a common device. It almost seems like Star Trek had a vision about the scientific developments of the future world.

A Bluetooth earphone is something that probably every other person has. It is not a far-fetched futuristic device anymore.

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2) Videochatting

Though video chatting has turned out to be such a common activity in recent days that it doesn't even feel like a futuristic element anymore. However, when the viewers first saw the captain of the Enterprise having video communication where the person on the other side could clearly see and hear, it was truly a remarkable thing.

Though there were hardly any technologies that were even close to what was shown in the Star Trek series, it is not the same anymore. Back at the time when this was released, the type of technology seemed only fiction. It can easily be said that Star Trek somehow predicted how we would be communicating in the future.

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3) Virtual assistants then and now

It is surprising to think about how the world has evolved through the years, especially in the field of technology. A product that had much less use has become a part of our day-to-day lives within the span of a mere decade. If we consider the use of virtual assistants in the Star Trek series, especially the original series, the crew of the Enterprise does most of their tasks on the computer.

They have access to vast information and can do any kind of task with the help of a computer. However, the time the series was released, computers were not that famous, and nobody would even have dreamt of using a computer for so many tasks.

However, in recent years, virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa have made our lives so much easier. Star Trek imagined a future like no other series.

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4) Translators

The world as we know it today is filled with people who use different languages. Even though we might not have a handheld device that can translate alien language yet, we sure do have applications that can easily translate languages in mere seconds.

These translation applications can not only help us understand other languages but also help us speak these languages as well. This is very similar to what Star Trek visualized with the universal translator.

Now, bridging the linguistic divide has become as easy as clicking a small button. It is truly exciting to see how much technology has evolved, to think that the devices that Star Trek showed years before have become a present-day reality.

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5) The tricorder

The tricorder, one of the most unique and eye-catching devices that Star Trek introduced. The tricorder is a type of device that would come in handy whenever an officer is on a mission. The tricorder has the ability to do anything and everything.

It has the ability to map, store information, and use sensors and whatnot. Thinking about using such a device on a daily basis would been the dream of many during the time Star Trek was released.

However, it is surprising how, with the advent of technology, now everyone has a device that can do literally everything similar to the tricorder and sometimes even more than that. The modern smartphone has a vast number of uses, and to say that Star Trek saw it coming would not be an exaggeration.

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6) PADD (Personal Access Display Device)

Star Trek had always been ahead of its time. It showed us the type of devices that were a myth back in the day but now have become a part of our lives. It is almost like the show predicted how the future is going to look.

Though we might not have bonded with aliens yet, who can be sure about it? So the PADDs that we saw in Star Trek: The Next Generation were the lightweight and handy version of the computers that we saw the officers at the Enterprise use.

It was sleek, did its job, and was also easy to carry around without any hassle. The early computers that were present in the real world were bulky and could not be carried anywhere. However, as the years passed by, the world was introduced to tablets.

These tablets did all the work that the computers were able to do, but with the facility to easily move around. This was yet another prediction from Star Trek that came true.

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7) Replicators

The replicators became the most coveted device from the Star Trek franchise that people around the world sought. A truly unique device with the ability to recreate any object in mere moments would solve so many problems around the world.

Though the exact replicator has not been created yet, 3D printing is the closest we have to a replicator. However, it is a possibility that we will be able to create something with the same ability as the replicator.

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8) Holodeck

The concept of the Holodeck is truly one of the most intriguing aspects of the Star Trek franchise. The holodeck helped to create a virtual reality which could be used for entertainment purposes, along with training for the crew of the Enterprise as well.

Though we are yet to create something with the abilities of the Holodeck, with the development of virtual reality, it is not far. In recent times, we have experienced virtual reality through various devices like the Samsung Gear has made the accessibility of virtual reality easier.

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9) Moon landing

Star Trek made one of the most accurate predictions about the moon landing when it released the episode ‘Tomorrow is Yesterday.’ In this episode, the crew goes back in time for a mission.

However, during the mission, they get spotted by the military. In this episode, they predicted the moon landing, which was accurately done. Even the year was accurate. It is truly a surprising thing to witness, especially considering how Star Trek predicted many things almost accurately throughout its episodes.

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10) Automatic doors

One of the most fascinating aspects that the viewers of Star Trek during that time noticed was the automatic doors that opened and closed whenever someone entered or left. During the time this series was released, it was not something that was easily accessible.

During the shooting, there were people offscreen who helped to open and close the door using pulleys. This is a lesser-known fact that many new Star Trek fans might not know.

However, even though some of the automatic doors were present, Star Trek gave a futuristic look to them. Star Trek captured the sense of technological optimism and possibility. It truly was ahead of its time.

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