[thephyber]

This rhymes with “we were promised The Jetsons and all we got was Facebook.”

Sci-fi is fanciful and doesn’t take into account psychology. What we got is the local maxima of what entrepreneurs think they can build and what people are willing to pay for.

Sci-fi is not a prediction. It is a hypothetical vision for what humanity could be in a distant future. The writer doesn’t have to grapple with limitations of physics (note FTL travel is frequently a plot device, not a plausible technology) or limitations about what product-market-fit the market will adopt.

And, of course, sci-fi dates are rarely close or accurate. That’s probably by design (most Star Trek space technologies would be unbelievable if the timeline was 2030, but more easily believable if you add a few thousand years for innovation).

[jacquesm]

And yet, a mobile phone is quite close to a Star Trek communicator and in many ways already much more powerful. Ok, you can ask to be beamed up by your friend Scotty and it likely won't happen (call me if it does) but other than that it is an impressive feat of engineering.

[sugarkjube]

> Star Trek communicator

As a trekkie this was a dream come true.

Unfortunately we still don't have a tricorder yet (despite Elisabeth Holmes' promise).

But we do have the apps and the games, they didn't have these in star trek. My phone is loaded with these (apps, not games)

[ykonstant]

>(call me if it does)

They can just tell you in person!