Not long ago I was discussing the new China social credit system (more on that later in this post) with my classmates and we agreed that the famous TV show Black Mirror is slowly becoming a reality. I wanted to dig deeper into this topic and see what is out there now that has the potential to develop into something that we see in the sci-fi TV show. This post will be divided into two parts so I can go through more examples of these cases.
Black Mirror (Image source: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/entertainment/a14587741/why-black-mirrors-called-black-mirror/)
Black Mirror is a sci-fi TV show, where the main storyline goes around the future technology; how can it backfire and go against the ones who are using it. Each episode happens in different reality and time and is not mutually connected as each of series studies different cases that involve technology.
Here is a trailer for those who have not watched the series:
What could become reality?
'Nosedive' and the case of China
In the first episode of season three called 'Nosedive', a dystopian society is being rated by points they have scored by interacting with people. The idea is that better interaction and therefore better ratings from other people increases the life opportunities of each individual and vice versa with low ratings one's life can go to a despair, which happened also to the main protagonist.
Now we can witness something similar happening in China. Authorities are developing a social credit system, where citizens will be will be ‘scored’ between 350 and 950 points for good actions such as donating blood, charity work, and posting positive messages about the country. Higher scores can lead to some advantages such as cheaper public transport, shorter lines in hospitals, while low-ranking citizens will get restricted access to hotels, restaurants and slower internet speed.
The system will be tested in 2020.
'Nosedive rating system' (Image source: https://www.esquire.com/uk/latest-news/a19429131/china-nosedive-black-mirror-technology/)
'Hated in The Nation' and insect robots
In this episode, the insect drones that are pollinating flowers in the post-bee world and are being attacked by hackers. The bees are ordered to kill one person, who is being chosen by Twitter users with "#DeathTo" hashtag.
Currently, a Norwegian company Prox Dynamics are developing drones in size of hummingbirds. Also, a succeeding replica of swarm activity is being made, just like with the dreadful Black Mirror bees.
'Hated in The Nation' bees attack. (Image source: https://www.theawl.com/2016/10/the-black-mirror-episode-about-bees-was-dumb/)
'The Entire History of You' and the Spectacles
The episode shows a reality where people are able to rewatch their memories anytime with a help of device called "grain".
Currently, there is no technology that is able to tap into memories so directly, but small steps are being taken towards developing such a feature with Spectacles sunglasses made for Snapchat. They can record up to 10 seconds long video with a camera equipped in the glasses.
Samsung has also patented smart contact lenses with a built-in camera and will be able to project images directly into wearers eyes.
'The Entire History of You' reviewing memories (Image source: https://www.douxreviews.com/2015/01/black-mirror-entire-history-of-you.html)
'Arkangel' and fitness trackers
In this episode, an overprotective mother has a chip implanted in her daughter's head so she can hear and see everything she does. It can also show the daughter's biometric data through an app, which also allows controlling scarry/inappropriate imagery through the daughter's eyes by blurring them out.
Quite a rough outline of this can be seen in currently available fitness trackers, which can measure athlete's biometrics, while companies such as Catapult can gather analytics on one's health and movements. Researchers at Berkeley are working with a break-through technology of retrieving images from one's brain activity.
'Arkangel' chip implantation (Image source: https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2017/11/182433/black-mirror-arkangel-motherhood)
'Crocodile' and Pizza Hut pizza van
A self-driving pizza delivery van hits a pedestrian after which series of violent events unleash.
Not long after the episode was released, Pizza Hut introduced a fully autonomous delivery vehicle with a partnership with Toyota. It will be possible to transport goods, people and order food. It is planned to be released in 2020.
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Black Mirror's response to Pizza Hut van. (Image source: https://www.curbed.com/2018/1/9/16851924/black-mirror-crocodile-architect-pizza-hut)
I agree that technology can on some scale help us to keep up with our lives as they become more and more fast-paced. Even though Black Mirror is a sci-fi TV show, it keeps predicting the technology advancements and shows them in a dark light, which is quite disturbing. Somehow I think that sooner or later we will witness the episodes becoming true in real life considering that even now some of the technological elements are becoming possible on some scale.
Used for inspiration:
IMDb. Black Mirror.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2085059/
Tom Connick. Black Mirror’s ‘Nosedive’ episode is about to become reality in China.
https://www.nme.com/news/tv/black-mirrors-nosedive-episode-become-reality-china-2263309
Chris Weller. 14 terrifying predictions from 'Black Mirror' that could become reality.
https://www.businessinsider.com/black-mirror-predictions-reality-2016-10?r=US&IR=T#the-national-anthem-1
James Wilson-Taylor. 7 'Black Mirror' Episodes You Won't Believe Actually Happened In Real Life.
https://www.popbuzz.com/tv-film/features/black-mirror-episodes-that-actually-came-true-irl/
Ian Sandwell. 8 Black Mirror things that already exist in real life.
http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/black-mirror/feature/a847046/black-mirror-technology-in-real-life-irl/
Tim Molloy. 5 ‘Black Mirror’ Episodes Inspired by Real Life (Photos).
https://www.thewrap.com/black-mirror-vs-real-life-5-real-things-the-series-barely-changed-video/
Black Mirror (Image source: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/entertainment/a14587741/why-black-mirrors-called-black-mirror/)
Black Mirror is a sci-fi TV show, where the main storyline goes around the future technology; how can it backfire and go against the ones who are using it. Each episode happens in different reality and time and is not mutually connected as each of series studies different cases that involve technology.
Here is a trailer for those who have not watched the series:
What could become reality?
'Nosedive' and the case of China
In the first episode of season three called 'Nosedive', a dystopian society is being rated by points they have scored by interacting with people. The idea is that better interaction and therefore better ratings from other people increases the life opportunities of each individual and vice versa with low ratings one's life can go to a despair, which happened also to the main protagonist.
Now we can witness something similar happening in China. Authorities are developing a social credit system, where citizens will be will be ‘scored’ between 350 and 950 points for good actions such as donating blood, charity work, and posting positive messages about the country. Higher scores can lead to some advantages such as cheaper public transport, shorter lines in hospitals, while low-ranking citizens will get restricted access to hotels, restaurants and slower internet speed.
The system will be tested in 2020.
'Nosedive rating system' (Image source: https://www.esquire.com/uk/latest-news/a19429131/china-nosedive-black-mirror-technology/)
'Hated in The Nation' and insect robots
In this episode, the insect drones that are pollinating flowers in the post-bee world and are being attacked by hackers. The bees are ordered to kill one person, who is being chosen by Twitter users with "#DeathTo" hashtag.
Currently, a Norwegian company Prox Dynamics are developing drones in size of hummingbirds. Also, a succeeding replica of swarm activity is being made, just like with the dreadful Black Mirror bees.
'Hated in The Nation' bees attack. (Image source: https://www.theawl.com/2016/10/the-black-mirror-episode-about-bees-was-dumb/)
'The Entire History of You' and the Spectacles
The episode shows a reality where people are able to rewatch their memories anytime with a help of device called "grain".
Currently, there is no technology that is able to tap into memories so directly, but small steps are being taken towards developing such a feature with Spectacles sunglasses made for Snapchat. They can record up to 10 seconds long video with a camera equipped in the glasses.
Samsung has also patented smart contact lenses with a built-in camera and will be able to project images directly into wearers eyes.
'The Entire History of You' reviewing memories (Image source: https://www.douxreviews.com/2015/01/black-mirror-entire-history-of-you.html)
'Arkangel' and fitness trackers
In this episode, an overprotective mother has a chip implanted in her daughter's head so she can hear and see everything she does. It can also show the daughter's biometric data through an app, which also allows controlling scarry/inappropriate imagery through the daughter's eyes by blurring them out.
Quite a rough outline of this can be seen in currently available fitness trackers, which can measure athlete's biometrics, while companies such as Catapult can gather analytics on one's health and movements. Researchers at Berkeley are working with a break-through technology of retrieving images from one's brain activity.
'Arkangel' chip implantation (Image source: https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2017/11/182433/black-mirror-arkangel-motherhood)
'Crocodile' and Pizza Hut pizza van
A self-driving pizza delivery van hits a pedestrian after which series of violent events unleash.
Not long after the episode was released, Pizza Hut introduced a fully autonomous delivery vehicle with a partnership with Toyota. It will be possible to transport goods, people and order food. It is planned to be released in 2020.
Black Mirror's response to Pizza Hut van. (Image source: https://www.curbed.com/2018/1/9/16851924/black-mirror-crocodile-architect-pizza-hut)
I agree that technology can on some scale help us to keep up with our lives as they become more and more fast-paced. Even though Black Mirror is a sci-fi TV show, it keeps predicting the technology advancements and shows them in a dark light, which is quite disturbing. Somehow I think that sooner or later we will witness the episodes becoming true in real life considering that even now some of the technological elements are becoming possible on some scale.
Used for inspiration:
IMDb. Black Mirror.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2085059/
Tom Connick. Black Mirror’s ‘Nosedive’ episode is about to become reality in China.
https://www.nme.com/news/tv/black-mirrors-nosedive-episode-become-reality-china-2263309
Chris Weller. 14 terrifying predictions from 'Black Mirror' that could become reality.
https://www.businessinsider.com/black-mirror-predictions-reality-2016-10?r=US&IR=T#the-national-anthem-1
James Wilson-Taylor. 7 'Black Mirror' Episodes You Won't Believe Actually Happened In Real Life.
https://www.popbuzz.com/tv-film/features/black-mirror-episodes-that-actually-came-true-irl/
Ian Sandwell. 8 Black Mirror things that already exist in real life.
http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/black-mirror/feature/a847046/black-mirror-technology-in-real-life-irl/
Tim Molloy. 5 ‘Black Mirror’ Episodes Inspired by Real Life (Photos).
https://www.thewrap.com/black-mirror-vs-real-life-5-real-things-the-series-barely-changed-video/
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