The Feedback Loop Between Science Fiction And Reality

There's this distinctive curiosity that draws us to science fiction grabbing our imagination and dancing with our emotions. I was a big fan of science fiction while growing up (still am to a large extent).

It was when I grew older that I understood that there's a big difference between science fiction and reality. To me, It could well be a reality in a parallel universe which I desired to visit. Perhaps, a time machine?

Modern day science fiction seems to be an evolution of the concept of myths in which we idealize reality and the implicit meanings behind it.

Take the epic Star Wars saga.

Beyond the out of the world experiences and fascinating technologies, lies a world full of implicit meanings.

From the way of life of Yoda and the personification of his character to the philosophy of the Sith.

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Science Fiction As A Testing Ground

From a broad perspective, there is a feedback loop between science fiction and reality.
Because we now live in a sophisticated world, sci-fi nowadays, is becoming more complex and multifaceted.

But part of the reasons why our world is sophisticated today is because we drew inspiration from the sci-fi of prior decades.

So it seems sci-fi feeds reality, then reality feeds sci-fi. Only for sci-fi to feed reality again. And the cycle continues.

Science fiction can be seen as a testing ground of what reality could be like in the near present or future.

It could even be of what the past was as in bringing to screen the Greek legends such as the Battle of Troy and the succeeding Odyssey by King Odysseus.

Yes, there might be no technology behind them but there's definitely a science to it.

But the real testing ground is from one of the characteristics of sci-fi. Which is technology that is theoretically possible but not yet practical.

This means it is an invitation to work on the practicals of bringing said technology to reality. And it seems that is what we've been doing for all this decades.

Technology, The Digital World And A Flexible Reality

Ever wondered where the concept of the metaverse came from? This virtual world in which we will be doing almost everything, appearing so real yet not being real?

According to the interweb, the concept and the term was introduced by Neal Stephenson in his sci-fi book Snow Crash which was published in 1992, almost three decades before the recent hype about the metaverse.

Three decades!

I often see technology as the main bridge between science fiction and reality. Of course, not all science fiction concepts will cross the bridge.

But with technology and the systematic thinking it fosters, many things can become a reality.

Things are pushed even further in the digital realm in which traditional limits are not existent.
Practicality is a fluid concept in this realm.

Having a real time semi 3D video conversation with someone at the other side of the globe is practical. So is sending money across the globe in a few seconds or minutes.

Back to the metaverse.

While trying to crack the code of bringing the metaverse into reality, the recent hype about it has rekindled in many people the thought about the nature of reality.

If we can create this mind boggling virtual worlds that have an uncanny potential to resemble reality, could it mean that our reality is also the same but at a higher level?

Are we living in some sort of simulated reality? New concepts about reality are entering our minds.

Closing Thoughts

As the feedback loop between the two continues, each reinforcing the other.

It is a possibility that a time will come in which both are so sophisticated that it will be hard to differentiate one from the other.

And I think the metaverse will be the starting point of that.

Thanks for reading!! Share your thoughts below on the comments.