![\"Back](\"http:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Back-to-the-Future-2-001-Phone-Booth.jpg\")
<\/a>Back to the Future 2 has phone booths<\/p><\/div>\n
In the 2015 of Back to the Future 2, fixed-line telecommunications\u00a0were the way people communicated.<\/p>\n
Our reality is very different, with mobile wireless technology stretching to some of South Africa\u2019s remotest places and more people communicating via cellular towers than fixed-line phones or Internet connections.<\/p>\n
\n
The Internet<\/h3>\n![\"Back](\"http:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Back-to-the-Future-2-010-ATnT-video-calling.jpg\")
<\/a>Back to the Future 2 – AT&T video calling<\/p><\/div>\n
![\"Faxes?](\"http:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Back-to-the-Future-2-020-Faxes-bwahahaha.jpg\")
<\/a>“Read. My. Fax.” Bwahahaha!<\/p><\/div>\n
Instead of communicating through the patchwork quilt of vendor and technology-neutral interconnected networks we know as the Internet, people in Back to the Future were\u00a0stuck on proprietary networks.<\/p>\n
While they do have video calling, this seems to be a service offered by US telco AT&T.<\/p>\n
Thanks to the Internet we have e-mail, instant messaging, and a sm\u00f6rg\u00e5sbord of IP-based voice and video-calling services to choose from.<\/p>\n
\nSmartphones<\/h3>\n![\"Wearable](\"http:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Back-to-the-Future-2-030-wearable-technology.jpg\")
<\/a>Wearable technology in Back to the Future 2<\/p><\/div>\n
Combine widespread cellular coverage and the Internet, and you get the smartphone.<\/p>\n
People in Back to the Future had some innovative technology, in the form of smart glasses and voice recognition with natural language processing.<\/p>\n
However, where our smartphones are portable computers, the smart glasses in Back to the Future must be connected to something else – either the car, or a house system.<\/p>\n
\nComputer graphics are incredible<\/h3>\n![\"That's](\"http:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Back-to-the-Future-2-040-holograms-and-computer-grapphics.jpg\")
<\/a>That’s a very low-poly model in that hologram<\/p><\/div>\n
Back to the Future had fairly unambitious predictions of the kind of graphics quality modern computers would be able to achieve.<\/p>\n
While holographic technology may not be cost effective enough to be used in the way depicted in the film, 3D\u00a0designers\u00a0today can certainly produce a much more realistic-looking shark.<\/p>\n
\nBonus round: tech inspired by Back to the Future Part 2<\/h3>\n![\"Nike](\"http:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Back-to-the-Future-2-050-Nike-power-laces.jpg\")
<\/a>Nike power laces in Back to the Future 2<\/p><\/div>\n
Back to the Future fans may not have received their flying car, self-adjusting and self-drying clothing, hoverboards, or Mr. Fusion, but the film has inspired companies to build some of the tech we dreamed of in the late 80s.<\/p>\n
Earlier in 2015,\u00a0Nike promised shoes with \u201cpower laces\u201d as depicted in the film. It showed off designs which looked like those in the movie, and dubbed it MAG.<\/p>\n
Nike tweeted at Michael J.<\/a> Fox<\/a><\/strong>: \u201cSee you tomorrow\u201d, sparking speculation that it would release its self-tying shoes on Back to the Future day.<\/p>\nHoverboards are another film fantasy companies have tried to make a reality, with Lexus and the Kickstarter-funded Arx Pax building their own versions.<\/p>\n
However, real hoverboards can\u2019t just levitate off any surface and will need special skate parks to work.<\/p>\n
![\"Mattel](\"http:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Back-to-the-Future-2-060-Mattel-Hoverboard.jpg\")
<\/a>Mattel Hover Board in Back to the Future 2<\/p><\/div>\n
\nMore on hoverboards and other modern gadgetry<\/h3>\n
This is how the Lexus hoverboard actually works<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nHendo Hoverboard levitating skateboard Kickstarted<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nOwn your very own Jetpack for R1.8 million<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n
<\/a>Back to the Future 2 – AT&T video calling<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>“Read. My. Fax.” Bwahahaha!<\/p><\/div>\n
Instead of communicating through the patchwork quilt of vendor and technology-neutral interconnected networks we know as the Internet, people in Back to the Future were\u00a0stuck on proprietary networks.<\/p>\n
While they do have video calling, this seems to be a service offered by US telco AT&T.<\/p>\n
Thanks to the Internet we have e-mail, instant messaging, and a sm\u00f6rg\u00e5sbord of IP-based voice and video-calling services to choose from.<\/p>\n
\n
Smartphones<\/h3>\n<\/a>Wearable technology in Back to the Future 2<\/p><\/div>\n
Combine widespread cellular coverage and the Internet, and you get the smartphone.<\/p>\n
People in Back to the Future had some innovative technology, in the form of smart glasses and voice recognition with natural language processing.<\/p>\n
However, where our smartphones are portable computers, the smart glasses in Back to the Future must be connected to something else – either the car, or a house system.<\/p>\n
\nComputer graphics are incredible<\/h3>\n<\/a>That’s a very low-poly model in that hologram<\/p><\/div>\n
Back to the Future had fairly unambitious predictions of the kind of graphics quality modern computers would be able to achieve.<\/p>\n
While holographic technology may not be cost effective enough to be used in the way depicted in the film, 3D\u00a0designers\u00a0today can certainly produce a much more realistic-looking shark.<\/p>\n
\nBonus round: tech inspired by Back to the Future Part 2<\/h3>\n<\/a>Nike power laces in Back to the Future 2<\/p><\/div>\n
Back to the Future fans may not have received their flying car, self-adjusting and self-drying clothing, hoverboards, or Mr. Fusion, but the film has inspired companies to build some of the tech we dreamed of in the late 80s.<\/p>\n
Earlier in 2015,\u00a0Nike promised shoes with \u201cpower laces\u201d as depicted in the film. It showed off designs which looked like those in the movie, and dubbed it MAG.<\/p>\n
Nike tweeted at Michael J.<\/a> Fox<\/a><\/strong>: \u201cSee you tomorrow\u201d, sparking speculation that it would release its self-tying shoes on Back to the Future day.<\/p>\nHoverboards are another film fantasy companies have tried to make a reality, with Lexus and the Kickstarter-funded Arx Pax building their own versions.<\/p>\n
However, real hoverboards can\u2019t just levitate off any surface and will need special skate parks to work.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Mattel Hover Board in Back to the Future 2<\/p><\/div>\n
\nMore on hoverboards and other modern gadgetry<\/h3>\n
This is how the Lexus hoverboard actually works<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nHendo Hoverboard levitating skateboard Kickstarted<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nOwn your very own Jetpack for R1.8 million<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n
<\/a>Wearable technology in Back to the Future 2<\/p><\/div>\n
Combine widespread cellular coverage and the Internet, and you get the smartphone.<\/p>\n
People in Back to the Future had some innovative technology, in the form of smart glasses and voice recognition with natural language processing.<\/p>\n
However, where our smartphones are portable computers, the smart glasses in Back to the Future must be connected to something else – either the car, or a house system.<\/p>\n
\n
Computer graphics are incredible<\/h3>\n<\/a>That’s a very low-poly model in that hologram<\/p><\/div>\n
Back to the Future had fairly unambitious predictions of the kind of graphics quality modern computers would be able to achieve.<\/p>\n
While holographic technology may not be cost effective enough to be used in the way depicted in the film, 3D\u00a0designers\u00a0today can certainly produce a much more realistic-looking shark.<\/p>\n
\nBonus round: tech inspired by Back to the Future Part 2<\/h3>\n<\/a>Nike power laces in Back to the Future 2<\/p><\/div>\n
Back to the Future fans may not have received their flying car, self-adjusting and self-drying clothing, hoverboards, or Mr. Fusion, but the film has inspired companies to build some of the tech we dreamed of in the late 80s.<\/p>\n
Earlier in 2015,\u00a0Nike promised shoes with \u201cpower laces\u201d as depicted in the film. It showed off designs which looked like those in the movie, and dubbed it MAG.<\/p>\n
Nike tweeted at Michael J.<\/a> Fox<\/a><\/strong>: \u201cSee you tomorrow\u201d, sparking speculation that it would release its self-tying shoes on Back to the Future day.<\/p>\nHoverboards are another film fantasy companies have tried to make a reality, with Lexus and the Kickstarter-funded Arx Pax building their own versions.<\/p>\n
However, real hoverboards can\u2019t just levitate off any surface and will need special skate parks to work.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Mattel Hover Board in Back to the Future 2<\/p><\/div>\n
\nMore on hoverboards and other modern gadgetry<\/h3>\n
This is how the Lexus hoverboard actually works<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nHendo Hoverboard levitating skateboard Kickstarted<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nOwn your very own Jetpack for R1.8 million<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n
<\/a>That’s a very low-poly model in that hologram<\/p><\/div>\n
Back to the Future had fairly unambitious predictions of the kind of graphics quality modern computers would be able to achieve.<\/p>\n
While holographic technology may not be cost effective enough to be used in the way depicted in the film, 3D\u00a0designers\u00a0today can certainly produce a much more realistic-looking shark.<\/p>\n
\n
Bonus round: tech inspired by Back to the Future Part 2<\/h3>\n<\/a>Nike power laces in Back to the Future 2<\/p><\/div>\n
Back to the Future fans may not have received their flying car, self-adjusting and self-drying clothing, hoverboards, or Mr. Fusion, but the film has inspired companies to build some of the tech we dreamed of in the late 80s.<\/p>\n
Earlier in 2015,\u00a0Nike promised shoes with \u201cpower laces\u201d as depicted in the film. It showed off designs which looked like those in the movie, and dubbed it MAG.<\/p>\n
Nike tweeted at Michael J.<\/a> Fox<\/a><\/strong>: \u201cSee you tomorrow\u201d, sparking speculation that it would release its self-tying shoes on Back to the Future day.<\/p>\nHoverboards are another film fantasy companies have tried to make a reality, with Lexus and the Kickstarter-funded Arx Pax building their own versions.<\/p>\n
However, real hoverboards can\u2019t just levitate off any surface and will need special skate parks to work.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Mattel Hover Board in Back to the Future 2<\/p><\/div>\n
\nMore on hoverboards and other modern gadgetry<\/h3>\n
This is how the Lexus hoverboard actually works<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nHendo Hoverboard levitating skateboard Kickstarted<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nOwn your very own Jetpack for R1.8 million<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n
<\/a>Nike power laces in Back to the Future 2<\/p><\/div>\n
Back to the Future fans may not have received their flying car, self-adjusting and self-drying clothing, hoverboards, or Mr. Fusion, but the film has inspired companies to build some of the tech we dreamed of in the late 80s.<\/p>\n
Earlier in 2015,\u00a0Nike promised shoes with \u201cpower laces\u201d as depicted in the film. It showed off designs which looked like those in the movie, and dubbed it MAG.<\/p>\n
Nike tweeted at Michael J.<\/a> Fox<\/a><\/strong>: \u201cSee you tomorrow\u201d, sparking speculation that it would release its self-tying shoes on Back to the Future day.<\/p>\n Hoverboards are another film fantasy companies have tried to make a reality, with Lexus and the Kickstarter-funded Arx Pax building their own versions.<\/p>\n However, real hoverboards can\u2019t just levitate off any surface and will need special skate parks to work.<\/p>\n Mattel Hover Board in Back to the Future 2<\/p><\/div>\n This is how the Lexus hoverboard actually works<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Hendo Hoverboard levitating skateboard Kickstarted<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Own your very own Jetpack for R1.8 million<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>
\nMore on hoverboards and other modern gadgetry<\/h3>\n