Back to the Future Day: 10 predictions from the movie that came true
Fans of science fiction films know all about Back to the Future and how important the date October 21 is. It's the date that the film's hero, Marty McFly, travels to in the second film in the series, and is now celebrated annually as Back to the Future Day.
But now that October 21, 2015 -- the exact date Marty travels to -- has come and gone, how much of the film's vision of the future has actually come true? Check out the list below to find out what future technologies the film predicted are now part of our present.
1. Mobile payment technology
In Back to the Future II, there is a scene where a member of the 2015 Hill Valley Preservation Society asks Marty to donate $100 to save the Hill Valley Courthouse. The character has a handheld electronic device where Marty can use his thumbprint to transfer the amount.
Nowadays, especially with the lockdowns brought about by the global coronavirus pandemic, mobile banking and payment has become the norm, with Filipinos having a number of options to choose from. You can pay your bills, donate to causes, and do a lot of other things just from your mobile phone.
2. Biometrics
This is also something that the film predicted correctly. Just like in the first item on this list, you can now use your thumbprint to access baking apps and electronic wallets to pay your bills.
Back to the Future II also had houses that could be opened with a thumbprint, which is something that you can also do today, thanks to biometric locks that can easily be bought from the market.
3. Tablet computers
The scene featuring the 2015 Hill Valley Preservation Society member asking for donations didn't just predict mobile payment and biometrics. The handheld device the character holds looks a lot like the tablet computers of today, which pretty much has all the features of the same fictional tablet featured in the movie.
4. Drones all around
Drones were ubiquitous in the 2015 that Back to the Future II envisioned, and you can say the same now in 2021. It isn't just something that big companies are using -- drones are now also a staple for vlogs and a lot of other video content.
5. Hands-free technology
In a memorable scene that featured a very young Elijah Wood, a couple of 2015 kids express amazement at having to use their hands to play an arcade game.
While games aren't completely hands-free just yet, Microsoft did introduce the Xbox Kinect in 2010, which was completely hands-free unlike its competitors, the Nintendo Wii and the PlayStation Move. That said, the Kinect did not really take off and was discontinued in 2017.
However, hands-free technology is now available to almost everyone, thanks to mobile phones. Voice commands can help you search for something online or make your phone play your favorite song. The Amazon Alexa even allows people to run their household just by using their voice.
6. Video calls
Marty McFly gets talked into doing an illegal transaction using his company card in Back to the Future II, resulting in him getting fired. The entire conversation happens via video call that Marty has on his television set.
Not only you can have video calls on your television set now, but also you can do it on your phones, your laptops, and a host of other devices.
7. Video conferencing
In the movie, Marty doesn't just video call one person, it is shown that multiple people can all be in one video call. It all looks very much like the Zoom calls that a lot of the world has had to get used to in light of the global coronavirus pandemic locking everyone down.
8. Flatscreens
The video calls 2015 Marty was having were all made on flatscreen televisions, which pretty much everyone who can afford them has at this point. In fact, it's not just televisions that have flatscreens -- computers in offices are all flatscreens now.
9. AR, VR, and 3D technology
During his first few hours in the future, Marty is shocked by a promo for Jaws 19 that looks a lot like today's augmented reality. The 3D versions of blockbuster movies are now a staple, especially if you're watching it on IMAX. AR technology is even used in news broadcasts now.
10. Wearable technology
While wearable technology hasn't progressed yet to self-drying clothes and auto-lacing shoes, there is now a lot of technology that you can wear. The most prominent of these are the plethora of smart watches that you can use to answer emails and even measure your heart rate.
For more lifestyle content, head out to GMA's Lifestyle page.