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I think it's funny how much science fiction inspires current technology, but our expectations for quality are so much higher for real products than their sci-fi

I think it's funny how much science fiction inspires current technology, but our expectations for quality are so much higher for real products than their sci-fi counterparts. In fact, in sci-fi advanced technology is often made inferior to be more relatable to current viewers/readers. For example, the holograms in Star Wars: They are made to look lower quality than the world around them, so it's visibly clear this is a digital projection (and not teleportation or a wormhole or something). But could you imagine if Apple released a holographic "FaceTime3D", only the holograms were monochromatic, filled with scanlines, visual noise and crappy audio quality? Reviewers would blast it, and a poor experience like that could even do more harm than good to the popularity of AR.

scott_s 11y ago
Star Wars, however, has a run-down, lived-in aesthetic. That was part of its appeal: it was futurey, but it looked old. Star Trek does not have that kind of aesthetic, and its holograms do not look the same.
- gknoy 11y ago
  It could be worse, it could be Warhammer 40k tech.
oaktowner 11y ago
Well, to be fair, they are typically talking to someone who is halfway across a galaxy. Apple only has to get that signal partway around one measly little planet. ;-)
no_wave 11y ago
I think you're underselling the technology. The hologram appeared to be a small attachment to a multi-purpose droid that was recorded off of a single camera. Being able to record and project holograms on your phone would be extremely impressive even today, regardless of the fidelity. And the Palpatine hologram was likely monochromatic because it was being received in outer space. The hologram standard for a dedicated device without transmission issues was much higher, seen in the holographic game board that C3P0 plays with Chewbacca on the Falcon. But in general Star Wars was smart enough to keep the technology basically gimmicky - the real targeting computers and useful stuff was 2-dimensional.
- dmix 11y ago
  Does this connect at all with the OPs point or are you just pointing out your Star Wars knowledge?
guiambros 11y ago
Indeed. This reminds me of Louis CK - Everything Is Amazing And Nobody Is Happy [1]. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8LaT5Iiwo4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8LaT5Iiwo4

scott_s 11y ago

Star Wars, however, has a run-down, lived-in aesthetic. That was part of its appeal: it was futurey, but it looked old. Star Trek does not have that kind of aesthetic, and its holograms do not look the same.

gknoy 11y ago
It could be worse, it could be Warhammer 40k tech.

oaktowner 11y ago

Well, to be fair, they are typically talking to someone who is halfway across a galaxy. Apple only has to get that signal partway around one measly little planet. ;-)

no_wave 11y ago

I think you're underselling the technology. The hologram appeared to be a small attachment to a multi-purpose droid that was recorded off of a single camera. Being able to record and project holograms on your phone would be extremely impressive even today, regardless of the fidelity. And the Palpatine hologram was likely monochromatic because it was being received in outer space. The hologram standard for a dedicated device without transmission issues was much higher, seen in the holographic game board that C3P0 plays with Chewbacca on the Falcon. But in general Star Wars was smart enough to keep the technology basically gimmicky - the real targeting computers and useful stuff was 2-dimensional.

dmix 11y ago
Does this connect at all with the OPs point or are you just pointing out your Star Wars knowledge?

guiambros 11y ago

Indeed. This reminds me of Louis CK - Everything Is Amazing And Nobody Is Happy [1]. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8LaT5Iiwo4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8LaT5Iiwo4