Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
great scott
It's Back to the Future Day ... so what did the movie get RIGHT about 2015?
Keep and eye out for Marty and the Doc… Today’s the day they travelled to, in Back to the Future II.
Updated at 9.20am
EVERY SO OFTEN, you see someone sharing on your Facebook feed that ‘today is the day Marty McFly and Doc Brown travelled to the future’.
Well, all of those times were wrong, until today. Today is actually Back to the Future day.
It’s the day that Doc, Marty and Marty’s girlfriend Jennifer arrive in the future. (They’re due in at 12.29 Irish time in case you’re wondering).
To celebrate the day, the two lads themselves sat down to talk about the reality of 2015 compared to what they saw when they used the DeLorean to travel 30 years into the future.
But what did the filmmakers get right?
Video chatting is everywhere, as are 3D movies, but hoverboards and self-tying shoes aren’t quite a thing yet.
Here’s what Marty and the Doc found, when they travelled here:
Flat screen TVs
Oh, what’s that? A large flat-panel display mounted on a wall?
Yep.
Fingerprint scanners
Not only are these now a built-in part of millions of iPhones worldwide, you can now literally buy one for your house for a couple of hundred euro.
Skype
So everyday, even our pets are doing it.
Self-lacing shoes
Nike designer Tinker Hatfield has declared that these will become a reality in 2015.
The company has already made a non-power-lacing replica of Marty McFly’s shoes, which currently sell for around $8,000 a pop. Here’s somebody wearing them:
The Hoverboard
In the spring of 2014, the world was pranked by what appeared to be a functioning replica of the hoverboard. It turned out to be a Funny Or Die hoax.
But then, along came Hendo Hoverboards. Yes, this is real. Yes, you can buy one.
Flying cars
Well, one now exists. In testing, anyway.
The AeroMobil can park in normal parking places, fill up at normal petrol stations… and fly almost 700km on a single tank.
Attack of the drones
The film showed news footage being captured by a drone. Which is eerily on-the-ball.
Super-slim technology
Super-thin advanced digital cameras? If anything, Doc Brown is a bit behind the times.
Blockbuster entertainment
The movie correctly predicted the return of 3D to blockbuster films … though the CGI in 1989 wasn’t quite ready to portray it.
Finally… a message from the Doc
For those of you concerned about the lack of progress in certain areas – don’t worry, Doc Brown is here with a message.
The Back To The Future Facebook page posted this video of Christopher Lloyd at the wheel of the DeLorean…
https://www.facebook.com/BTTF/videos/1041479309197239/
Can’t see the video? Click here.
Great Scott! If my calculations are correct, it is now precisely October 21, 2015. The future has finally arrived. Yes, it is different than we all thought. But don’t worry, it just means your future hasn’t been written yet. No one’s has. Your future is whatever you make it. So make it a good one.
:’) Thanks Doc. We feel better now.
Includes reporting from DailyEdge.ie and Business Insider.
have your say