Most sci-fi films have been successful in predicting accurately what and how technology would be or look like in the future.
Steven Spielberg's 'Minority Report', which was released in 2002, showcased futuristic technology and gadgets from year 2054 that seemed unrealistic and beyond imagination. Fast-forward it to the current year, and the future technologies portrayed in the film were prescient.
'Futuristic technologies and gadgets' that have become a reality includes 3D technology, activation through multi-touch, gestures or voice, retina scanners for identification and personal advertising.
In the movie, John Anderton is able to watch home videos of his son and wife that was projected as a combination between 3D and a hologram, making it appear as though the son and wife was right in front of him without him wearing any special glasses. Unfortunately, the reality of holograms is still under development and still in its primitive stage. So as of right now, we just have to settle for glass-less 3D television and 3D gaming device like the Nintendo 3DS.
Another technology that is constant through out the movie was gesture, multi-touch and voice activation computing. John would be able to move windows, files, icons and images with movement from his fingers. He could also activate or 'switch on' technologies in his house just by saying, "I'm home", project image or videos on a larger screen by saying "full screen". The idea of gesture and multi-touch computing has been a logical extension of mouse since 1968. Apple has offered multi-touch or gesture-based technology with its trackpad, iOS that allows users to pinch, pull, and swipe through pictures, text and even applications. Microsoft offers this feature through Kinect and Microsoft Surface. Recently, Pranav Mistry invented SixthSense, a wearable device comprises of a mini-projector, a mirror and a camera that enables physical environment and physical objects to be interfaces to support multi-touch and multi-user interactions.
In the movie, personalized ads were something John can never run away from. They're able to show ads based on previous purchase or current situations with a Guinness ad telling John that he "could use a Guinness now" while trying to get away from the PreCrime force. Currently, there are Internet service providers, advertising companies and even social networking sites that keep track of any sites you visit and tailor ads that caters to your interest. Fortunately for us, privacy is still a societal concern and therefore, hinders the concept - for now.
And the most important piece of technology that was present in the movie was the ability to predict the future – in this case, crime- before it actually happened. In the movie, John and his PreCrime department will be able to see the perpetrator, the victim, how they attack the victim, which murder weapon was used, the time and the location of the murder. John was confident that the technology was perfect but nothing will ever be perfect.
Currently, the Department of Homeland Security of the United States of America has a system called Future Attribute Screening Technology that is drawing comparisons to PreCrime in Minority Report. It uses cameras and sensors to monitor and track changes in a person's body movement, breathing patterns, eye movements and pitch of voice to determine an individual's likelihood to commit a crime.
The movie made me realize how easy people spot the mistake of others but are oblivious to their own errors. I believe no one really knows what the future has in store for an individual. The future is not fixed – it’s not a simple black-and-white, heads or tail issue. There are ‘greys’ in every situation – the choices available and the choice we make.
With that, I shall continue to keep my eyes peel and see when sci-fi technologies and gadgets become a part of my reality, keeping in mind a quote from Omar N. Bradley, “If we continue to develop our technology without wisdom or prudence, our servant may prove to be our executioner.”
