Digital Engagement #6

In the movie Back to the Future Part II, released in 1989, the year 2015 is depicted as a technologically advanced society filled with flying cars, hoverboards, and instantaneous communication. The movie depicts a world where daily tasks are simplified through automation, and futuristic gadgets dramatically enhance life. However, when reflecting on our present day, we can see how some predicted technological advancements have become our reality, while others remain unachieved or have evolved unexpectedly.

One of the film’s most notable predictions is the prevalence of flying vehicles, which, despite advancements in vehicle technology, have not yet become a practical reality for personal transportation. Their are some cars that have self-driving automation, such as the Tesla Autopilot, but the driver still has to have their hands on the wheel and support the Automator. There have still yet to be purchasable vehicles that can drive without any human assistance. Instead, we still heavily rely on conventional vehicles and public transportation, similar to the 1980s. Hoverboards, a prominent feature in the film as an example of how drastically different the future would be, exist in various forms in today’s world, but lack the anti-gravity capabilities portrayed in the movie.

However, “Back to the Future Part II” accurately predicts the rise of portable devices and instant communication, mirroring our reliance on smartphones and the internet. The film’s portrayal of video calls has been realized in applications like FaceTime, Zoom, and Skype, reflecting a significant shift in how we are able to connect and communicate with people that we previously could not. Additionally, the film’s depiction of consumer culture, such as automatic services, does reflect our present reality, where convenience is becoming more and more prioritized in everyday life. For example, using services such as Doordash or Instacart allows you to receive your food or groceries without even having to leave the comfort of your home. However, similar to how the film satirizes these ideas, there have also been concerns about the social implications of such technologies, including how they drive people to avoid human interaction and have too much reliance on these tools.

In conclusion, while Back to the Future Part II accurately captured some aspects of a technologically rich future that has been reached, the differences between its predictions and our reality are still notable. Because of how much our society and its goals will change over time, I do not think it is possible to completely accurately predict what the future will look like.