Buzz
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The future has arrived—though Marty McFly might argue we’re running late.
In Back to the Future II, Marty McFly and Doc Brown’s DeLorean transported them to October 21, 2015. While the film accurately foresaw certain advancements, like hands-free gaming, it missed the mark on others, such as the continued relevance of phone booths and newspapers, which have significantly declined since the movie’s 1989 release.
Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, the director-producer and writer-producer duo, were well aware that many of their futuristic predictions wouldn’t materialize by 2015. They didn’t expect flying cars to dominate the roads or Jaws to spawn 18 sequels. While humor often took precedence over realism, the team conducted thorough research on emerging technologies to craft their vision. Gale aimed to steer clear of the grim, dystopian futures seen in movies like Blade Runner, instead creating a future that felt inviting. “We wanted audiences to feel excited about the future, just as we did when we were kids,” he explains.
Zemeckis and Gale undoubtedly succeeded in capturing imaginations: hoverboards fascinated audiences in 1989 and continue to do so today. But should we expect these floating skateboards to be on our 2015 holiday wishlists? Let’s explore the feasibility of some of Back to the Future Part II’s futuristic technologies becoming a reality soon.
1. Biometric Thumbprint Scanner
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This prediction from Back to the Future might be the most accurate. In just a year, you could pay for a taxi ride with a simple fingerprint scan or unlock your home without fumbling for keys. The iPhone has played a crucial role in advancing this technology, despite the initial hiccups with Touch ID. While only a few airports currently use biometric scanners to streamline security, experts like Jim Carroll, a futurist from Ontario, believe this technology will become widespread by October 2015, particularly with companies like Apple driving its adoption.
2. Hoverboard
Gale remembers receiving countless letters from children after Back to the Future Part II premiered, with requests like, ‘Please send me a hoverboard, but not a pink one.’ Unfortunately, hoverboard enthusiasts will be disappointed: the Pitbull won’t hit the market by 2015. Anti-gravity technology remains elusive, despite claims from a Tony Hawk viral hoax. (Magnetic levitation is the closest alternative available today.)
Even if Mattel’s developers achieved a breakthrough and produced a hoverboard, they’d face another hurdle: legal restrictions on what’s allowed on public streets. Think back to the Segway and its once-hyped revolutionary potential. Michael Rogers, a futurist based in New York, predicts the hoverboard would likely meet the same fate as the Segway, fading into obscurity.
3. Rejuvenation Clinic
via SomethingAwful
Doc Brown’s trip to a rejuvenation clinic spared the film’s makeup team from aging Christopher Lloyd’s character throughout the movie. However, today’s audience might also view Doc’s wrinkle-free transformation as a nod to the rising popularity of cosmetic procedures. Additionally, his replacement spleen and colon could foreshadow future medical trends. Rogers notes that by 2015, synthetic organ replacement will exist but remain experimental. Glen Hiemstra, a futurist from Seattle, predicts that by 2030 or 2040, we’ll be able to clone and grow our own organs, such as a new liver or spleen.
4. Marty’s Clothes
via Sole Collector
Marty’s self-lacing Nike shoes and auto-adjusting jacket appeared to be innovations too brilliant to remain fictional. While Nike has teased the possibility of self-lacing footwear, don’t anticipate electronically resizable clothing to dominate the market in the next year or two. Futurists suggest that infrared body scanners, which provide exact measurements for tailored garments, and smart fabrics that monitor heart rate and blood pressure, are more plausible advancements. Parents are already embracing similar technology with the Exmobaby System, which uses pajamas to track an infant’s temperature and vital signs.
5. Holomax Theater
In Back to the Future’s 2015, holograms have replaced 3-D movies as the latest cinema sensation. As Marty walks through Hill Valley’s Clock Tower Square, he spots a Holomax Theater marquee promoting Jaws 19, directed by Max Spielberg (eldest son of Back to the Future producer Steven). Even Hollywood’s fast-paced sequel production couldn’t deliver a 19th Jaws film by October 2015. Similarly, technological advancements would need to accelerate significantly to make holographic films feasible within a year. Hiemstra points out that holographic projections remain “fairly crude,” but the massive holographic shark that seems to attack Marty outside the theater isn’t entirely far-fetched. Rogers highlights that interactive digital advertisements already engage with pedestrians in real-world settings.
6. Workout bikes in Café '80s
Lou’s Café transforms into Café ’80s in 2015. While Back to the Future Part II accurately predicted the 1980s nostalgia trend, it missed the mark by including workout bikes in the café. The future Hill Valley also lacks any obese individuals, which doesn’t reflect modern America. However, a shift in the Fast Food Nation’s dynamics might not be as improbable as it seems. Rogers suggests that by the end of the decade, insurance premiums will heavily depend on lifestyle choices. Miniature wireless devices will monitor calorie consumption and expenditure, making exercise not just a health benefit but also a financial necessity.
7. Barcode License Plates
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At the end of the first Back to the Future, the DeLorean returns to 1985 with a futuristic license plate featuring a metallic barcode instead of visible numbers or letters. While such plates may never become standard due to readability concerns, scannable codes for law enforcement could be feasible. Rogers explains that this technology could resemble the tags used for automatic toll payments. However, the more probable advancement lies in internet-connected vehicles. By 2020, or even sooner, every new car will likely be online constantly, equipped with Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) systems, ensuring constant identification and tracking.
8. Flying Cars
via Natasha Yong
Flying cars have been a staple of sci-fi films, often portrayed as just around the corner. After watching a 1960 TV special predicting life in 1985, an 8-year-old Gale was convinced flying cars were imminent. “I thought I’d never need a driver’s license—just a pilot’s license,” he recalls. Unfortunately, the real 2015 doesn’t mirror Hill Valley’s sky full of flying cars. However, futurists are optimistic about prototypes from companies like Moller International and Terrafugia. Current challenges include noise levels and FAA regulations. Rogers jokes, “There will be plenty of lawyers standing between us and flying cars.” Hiemstra remains hopeful, predicting that by 2030, wealthy individuals might own self-navigating personal flying vehicles.
So where we’re going, we will need roads ... but not for long.
