I’ve been thinking about the science and fiction map again, and about a possible event looking at the connections between imagination and invention – and who exactly is influencing whom here?
Is it possible to write good science fiction without a good understanding of science and do the thoughts contained within academic institutions naturally permeate into the broader public consciousness, thereby creating a series of self-fulfilling prophesies? (if enough people think about something someone will write about it and then someone will eventually invent it). Perhaps a panel discussion one evening with a couple of academics and sci-fi writers?
Nice PBS (US) video on the subject here – 8 minutes.
Another nice link here.
Just saw this from a technology newsletter today:
http://www.techmarketview.com/ukhotviews/archive/2016/01/31/elon-musks-hyperloop-takes-another-step-towards-reality (it’s the last paragraph you’ll be most interested in).
Worh pulling this bit out..
“Historical Footnote – Some readers might recall that this idea is not new. George Medhurst came up with the idea for a atmospheric railway in 1799. Isambard Kingdom Brunel – my boyhood hero and another person who could claim to have been the most visionary person of his time – actually built an atmospheric railway in Devon as part of the Great Western Railway. It was eventually abandoned as the technology of the day wasn’t up to it. I think Brunel and Musk are two of a kind…”
So what else is ‘out there’ and old that could be made new?