Presented an original Research Paper on the impact as well as significance of Science-Fiction in Research. The paper was published by Journal of Scientific Temper (Vol 7(3&4), July-Dec 2019, pp. 166-190, ISSN: 2278-2788)
1. A Route to a better Tomorrow
The Power of Science Fiction
A PAPER PRESENTATION BY RISHABH DUBEY
2. The Problem and the Objective
Science and Fiction considered as incompatible domains.
An Assessment and a succinct historical survey to analyse and
possibly refute the given problem statement.
To derive a subsequent inference to validate the significance
of Science-Fiction as an imperative factor towards innovation
and evolution.
3. History of Science Fiction
Science-Fiction predates the word ‘Scientist’ by 15
years.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley- the first known work of
Science-Fiction.
The idea is to use thematic, speculative and
predictive techniques to project your imagination.
4. A Glance into History
Many major objects of history are a direct result of
Science-Fiction and imagination.
The first being discussed in this presentation- The
Mobile Phone.
5. A Glance into History (contd.)
The ‘Communicator’ being used,
from the Television Series Star
Trek, 1967
Martin Cooper, handling the world’s first
Mobile Phone,1973
6. A Glance into History (contd.)
Kubrick’s Newspad, 2001: A Space Odyssey, 1968
7. A Glance into History (contd.)
The next invention to be discussed is the Nuclear Fission
Reactor.
Invented by Leó Szilárd.
Resulted in the ‘Manhattan Project’
Leó was directly influenced by The World Set Free by H.G.
Wells.
8. A Glance into History (contd.)
The World Set Free, H.G. Wells, 1914
9. A Glance into History (contd.)
The next invention of discussion is Artificial Intelligence and
Automation.
Talking about Robotics, the word Robot is derived from the Czech
word Robota, which means ‘forced labour’.
In 1920, Karel Čapek, a Czech Science-Fictionist, first used the word
in regard to artificial form of intelligence created by mankind.
His book, Rossum’s Universal Robots, depicted what are now
considered as the primary concept of humanoids and androids.
The words Robots or Bots, ever since, have been used to signify
controlled mechanical or virtual machines that offload our work.
10. A Glance into History (contd.)
• The fear of the idea of the created displacing the
creator started budding in the common mind.
• Revolutionary thinker predicted the trend and
came up with the unforgettable Three Laws of
Robotics.
• His name was Isaac Asimov.
11. A Glance into History (contd.)
Sophia, Hanson Robotics Ltd., speaking at the AI for GOOD Global Summit, ITU, Geneva, Switzerland
12. A Glance into History (contd.)
Arriving to the subject of the famous Science-Fictionist, Jules Verne.
Verne is credit with a number of influences on technology.
The primary two being- The Helicopter & The Submarine.
The designs for the Nautilus by Verne in Twenty Thousand Leagues Under
The Sea inspired inventor Simon Lake to build the world’s first electric-
powered submarine, Argonaut Jr.
Furthermore, his depiction of a ‘Lighter Than Air Flying Machine’ lifted by
‘Propellers atop tall masts’ in his great book The Clipper of The Clouds,
inspired inventor Igor Sikorsky to build the world’s first helicopter, the VS-
300.
13. A Glance into History (contd.)
Albatross, the huge battery-powered, Multirotor
Gyrodyne, The Clipper of the Clouds, Jules Verne,
1887
Argonaut Junior Submarine, 1897
14. A Glance into History
One of the greatest inventions of the century is the Internet.
You would be amazed to know that it is also due to a direct impact of
Science-Fiction.
More amusing is the fact that it was an adult magazine which did it.
Sir Tim Berners Lee, as a young boy, got his hands on a copy of Playboy.
In that edition, there was a story entitled Dial F For Frankenstein written by
Sir Arthur C. Clarke.
It depicted the story of a group of telephones which formed a sentient
network and conversed in their special encoded language called ‘Code-
Speak’.
It inspired Sir Tim Lee to take up the subjected diligently and he eventually
founded the World Wide Web (WWW).
15. A Glance into History (contd.)
Many more great inventions were directly inspired by Science-
Fiction.
The Geostationary Satellite.
G.P.S.
The Liquid Fuelled and Multistage Rockets.
Manipulator Arms.
TASER Gun
Multimedia Player
16. Inadvertent coherence with technology
The second section of the paper deals with the raw parallelism of Science-
Fiction depictions and predictions of old with later inventions and
technologies.
Inventions Discussed:
The Defibrillator.
The Bluetooth Headset.
Self-Driving Cars.
Holograms
Credit Cards
17. Inadvertent Coherence with
technology (contd.)
Yes…
Credit Cards…
In the 1888 novel, Looking Backward, author Edward Bellamy
depicted the use of Credit Cards meticulously, down to the
two receipts- one for seller and one for the customer.
It is so accurate that it borders on prophecy.
18. Prospects and Current Research
The last section discusses the ideas and theories which are currently being
worked upon by the Greatest minds of Earth.
Viz.-
Cryogenic Sleep System.
Hyperspatial Transmission and Travel.
Plasma Shields.
Cloning (Digital and Physical)
Etcetera
19. Discussing the Evident Significance
The objective of the paper is not to explore the technicalities of the
inventions but to validate the impact and relevance of science
fiction as a field of exploration and research.
In the words of the great Jules Verne- “Anything that one man can
imagine, another man can make real”.
If one is left dissatisfied after hearing the words of a Science
Fictionist, then I can quote a Scientist-
“The True Sign of Intelligence is not Knowledge… But Imagination.”
These are the words of Albert Einstein.
20.
21. Inference
The conclusion thereby derived is the same as mentioned
before.
A Science-Fictionist in isolation or otherwise can think, project
and maybe even create wonders for the world.
A Science Fiction Writer need not be an innovator.
An innovator either needs Science-Fiction influence
himself/herself or a futurist science-fictionist himself/herself
for creating wonders of the world (subject to few incidental
exclusions).
22. References
There are 32 references in the end for all of the
viewers to explore.
Only 10 short of the Answer to the Ultimate
question of Life, the Universe and Everything
