2015: Then and Now
For ‘Back to the Future’ Day on Oct. 21, compare tech from the film with today’s movie-inspired innovations.
1. “Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.” Doc was right about our expansion of above-ground transportation. Although hoverboards are not yet our go-to method of travel, Lexus revealed the world’s first levitating magnetic hoverboard in August with liquid nitrogen-cooled superconductors. –EC
2. It seemed so weird as a kid to watch Marty McFly communicate with a robot through his sunglasses. Now, the world’s first commercially available “smart glasses” are being sold for $999 through Vuzix. The M100 Smart Glasses are essentially wearable Android computers. –RS
3. Unfortunately, the streets of NoVA are not equipped with hovering and glowing cars, but Google is on the cusp of making driving less prone to human error. The company’s self-driving car hit the California roads this summer, but more years of testing are needed before introducing it to the market. –RD
4. If you thought Marty McFly’s Nike shoes were cool in the movie, Nike was granted a patent in 2014 for power-lacing, light-up shoes called the Nike MAG, equipped with a weight sensor to assess how tight the laces should be. The shoes are expected to be available sometime this year. –CH
(October 2015)
