Star Trek Tech
Nancy Reagin, a professor at Pace University in New York and editor of the book "Star Trek and History", noted the show's creator, Gene Roddenberry, was a futurist. She says some of Roddenberry's friends worked in technology development, and the original series showed technologies that have become reality.
"You see the first depiction of a plasma-screen TV. You see the first depiction of what I would call a cell phone. I mean the communicators - they sort of flip open just like the first cell phone that I ever had," she explained. "You see the first example of Bluetooth technology, where Uhura is wearing the little Bluetooth in her ear. You see the first use of tablets, you know, where they are using multi-touch pads."
Star Trek still inspires engineers, said Mike Gold, corporate counsel at Bigelow Aerospace. The Nevada-based company is developing next-generation spacecraft.
"I'd like to think that our entire program is again very much in keeping with the spirit of Star Trek, which is to push the boundaries for human exploration," he said.
The Bigelow Expander Activity Module will be tested on the International Space Station in 2015. Gold notes its acronym, BEAM, harkens back to Star Trek characters' abilities to teleport or "beam" from one location to another.
Continuing Relevance
Star Trek fans gathered at the Air and Space Museum in Washington and the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York City for a Google Hangout with the stars and writer of the newest movie, Star Trek Into Darkness. Two astronauts at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, and one on the International Space Station joined in to discuss Star Trek's appeal.
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2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25