From Sci-Fi to Reality: How Films Inspired the Tech Around Us

21 August 2025

Paul Francis

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A Nostalgic Glimpse of the Future

There was a certain magic in sitting down to watch a sci-fi film as a child, eyes wide, heart racing, as heroes tapped sleek screens, spoke into tiny devices, or zoomed around in cars that seemed to fly. The future felt just a reel away, and we often marveled at gadgets that seemed impossible. Yet over the decades, many of these fantastical inventions have crept off the screen and into our pockets, homes, and daily lives.

Foldable smartphone with a purple cover, standing open on a marble surface. The screen displays the time 17:51 and a colorful graphic.

Star Trek and the Rise of Mobile Phones

One of the most obvious examples is the mobile phone. Fans of Star Trek will remember the original series’ communicators, small flip devices that allowed instant contact across distances. These were a clear inspiration for the flip phones that became ubiquitous in the 1990s and early 2000s. Even today, the sleek, touch-screen smartphones we carry owe a nod to that early vision of portable, personal communication.

Beyond Phones: Sci-Fi as a Blueprint for Innovation

Films like Back to the Future Part II imagined hoverboards, self-lacing shoes, and video calling long before they became tangible possibilities. Science fiction has often served as a blueprint, a source of collective imagination that engineers and designers try to replicate. Robotic assistants, smart home devices, and augmented reality technologies can all trace at least part of their conceptual lineage back to the silver screen.

Medical Technology Inspired by Fiction

Medical technology has also benefited from the visionary ideas of science fiction. The Star Trek medical tricorder, capable of diagnosing ailments instantly, inspired real-world attempts at portable diagnostic tools. Companies and researchers have been working on handheld devices capable of scanning vitals and detecting illnesses quickly, a technology that could revolutionise healthcare access in remote areas.

Challenges of Turning Fiction Into Reality

Yet translating fiction into reality is rarely straightforward. Many innovations seen in films face practical, economic, and ethical challenges. The self-driving cars imagined in Total Recall and Minority Report are now being tested in real cities, but safety, regulation, and infrastructure remain hurdles. Similarly, while gesture-controlled interfaces and holographic displays dazzle audiences in cinemas, creating responsive, reliable, and affordable versions for daily use is far from simple.

Close-up of a person wearing glowing, futuristic HUD glasses with digital patterns. Eye-focused, hi-tech ambiance against a dark backdrop.

Nostalgia Keeps the Dream Alive

Nostalgia, however, keeps the dream alive. Older audiences smile at seeing Star Trek communicators reflected in their pocket devices, while younger viewers are inspired by the visions they see on screen today. Science fiction acts as both motivator and mirror, reflecting our hopes for the future and nudging technologists to turn imagination into reality.

Looking Forward: The Fantastical Becoming Mundane

So, while we may not be zooming around on hoverboards or casually teleporting from place to place just yet, the gadgets we carry and the technologies we rely on are increasingly influenced by what once seemed impossible. Perhaps one day, the fantastical devices of today’s films will be the mundane tools of tomorrow, and future generations will look back with the same nostalgic wonder we do now. Until then, keep an eye on the screen—it may just be the blueprint for the next revolution in technology.

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Budget Forecast vs. Reality: What Your Payslip Has to Say

Connor Banks
Oct 30, 2024
2 min read

The UK’s Autumn Budget announcement has wrapped up, and as the dust settles, we’re left to sift through what was forecasted, what we actually got, and what it means for our payslips (yes, they’re trying to squeeze a bit more out of them). Here, we’ll highlight the major takeaways and surprises, along with some advice for when you next check your wage slip and think, “Where did that go?”.

Forecast vs. Reality

Before the Budget dropped, the expectation was that we’d see:

An uptick in the National Living Wage – which did happen, hitting £12.21 per hour.
Stable income tax rates – indeed, no changes there.
Potential tweaks to inheritance tax, which, as predicted, now include taxes on pension pots starting in 2027.
Hopes for fuel duty stability – a wish that’s still on the fence.

What We Got:

The Budget’s big headline for most folks? The 6.7% minimum wage hike. Not only will this mean a little extra for workers, but it also comes with some expected price rises in retail and hospitality (where payrolls are heavy). A quick glance at your payslip might show the new rates sooner than later. Taxes like VAT and income tax stayed the same, but the freeze on income tax thresholds and potential tweaks to capital gains tax means it’s still worth watching your deductions closely.

Key Takeaways for Employees

Expect slight increases in take-home for minimum wage workers, but don’t bank on much more wiggle room in disposable income, especially with energy prices and potential fuel duty hikes looming. For everyone else, the lack of change in thresholds (a freeze on the personal allowance) means inflation will continue to nibble at real income. Looking forward, this is one Budget where the big-ticket changes may just trickle down rather than make waves, though future adjustments on savings taxes could impact those with pension plans or capital gains in the works.

So, when you see that wage slip, a small jump in your hourly rate might feel like a win – just remember the Budget giveth, and, in some ways, the Budget taketh away. Keep an eye out for any savings or pension-related tweaks in future announcements, and make sure you’re still set for any tax adjustments down the line.