[Dominus of Megadeus]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/12/11...eye/index.html

[Roysten]

Amazing, give it a few more years and who knows how far this technology will progress

[Diron Hod]

I wonder how much it costs...

[MrQ1701]

You know... the guy or gal that has worked so hard to bring this type of technology to fruition was probably inspired by Geordi LaForge. I wonder if NuTrek will inspire anyone to do anything important. Seems doubtful

[kevin]

Yep, was waiting for that remark.

[MrQ1701]

Originally Posted by kevin

Yep, was waiting for that remark.

You know me so well!!

If Trek is no longer "nerdy" and only made to fulfill the entertainment desires of a movie audience, then I believe it will NOT inspire ANYONE to go into the fields of science or mathematics or to do anything of importance to society. That is what I was trying to say in my "NuTrek sucks" thread... Trek has NOT remained to true to itself. It has replaced the nerdy book with a cool iPod touch full of rap music and YouTube videos. No one seemed interested in talking about what I was obviously trying to say. Trek has become a popularity wh0re. I still hope the next flick has more substance... even though I never really expected substance from a trek movie, but it is now the ONLY Trek available!

[kevin]

I think science and technological innovation existed long before Star Trek existed and it will continue to develop with or without any Star Trek in the world.

I'm sure that some feel the entire latter half of the twentieth century wouldn't exist without it but Star Trek isn't responsible for everything!

But hey, if you want to imagine that Star Trek must have inspired these people (even though the article actually says nothing about that being the case) in order to get your post in then far be it from me to stand in the way!

[horatio]

I think it is safe to say that science-fiction speculates about future technologies, extrapolates current trends and sometimes inspires scientists to allocate their research efforts on the de-fictionalization of hitherto mere fictional technologies.
An example for extrapolation is the classic German sci-fi movie "Frau in Mond" features a rocket similar to the ones that were shot on the moon about fourty years later due to the assistance of "rocket scientist" Oberth. We all should have heard that name at least once.

There is a feedback mechanism between science and sci-fi, but one shouldn't exaggerate its importance. It is not like we wouldn't have self-phones today without Star Trek.

[kevin]

And in fact, cell phones were developed over a decade before Motorola launched the StarTac clamshell phone which started to resemble the communicator/tricorder.

The design similarity followed the technological breakthrough of earlier work.

[MrQ1701]

Originally Posted by kevin

I think science and technological innovation existed long before Star Trek existed and it will continue to develop with or without any Star Trek in the world.

True. No argument from me. But you are ignoring the fact that Trek HAS inspired many people. THAT is my point.

Originally Posted by kevin

I'm sure that some feel the entire latter half of the twentieth century wouldn't exist without it but Star Trek isn't responsible for everything!

I don't know anyone that feels this way, myself included.

Originally Posted by kevin

But hey, if you want to imagine that Star Trek must have inspired these people (even though the article actually says nothing about that being the case) in order to get your post in then far be it from me to stand in the way!

I believe it is possible that Trek inspired this invention. Must EVERY article that mentions any new technology mention the inspiration from which it came?? What is that saying??? "lack of evidence is not evidence".... or something like that. Because the Bible does not mention dinosaurs, then they must NOT have existed!! (I'm not trying to start a bible debate, just making a point)