Cryptocurrencies are Science Fiction!
Mrs. Denmarkguy and I have lots of weird conversations out on our back porch. You see, she's a smoker who hates the smell of smoke, so she only smokes outside-- as a result of which we take "smoke breaks" together, about 6-7 times a day.
Lacy ornamental maple in fall
Unlike many couples (or so it seems) we actually really like each other and spend hours in conversation, every day. It's part of our daily routine, since we enjoy the relative "luxury" of both being self-employed, and working from home much of the time.
Mrs. Denmarkguy knows that I am now blogging on Steemit, and we've both been trying to learn more about the whole cryptocurrency thing... of which we are actually both pretty ignorant.
So over this morning's coffee we're briefly talking about Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies and the general process of taking new concepts from the realm of "weird invention" only a few people care about to general acceptance by the general population, and the many years it can take for a concept to gain traction.
Bitcoin = Science Fiction "Credits"
She looks at me sincerely and says "Bitcoins are really not anything new. Science fiction has already been preparing the world for cryptocurrencies for decades. Think about all those sci-fi movies and shows we've been watching since the 60's and 70's where heroes and villains book passage on spaceships using these unseen 'credits' to pay for the fare. This is the exact same thing, brought to life."
Of course, this is probably not a new thought... but it did get me to pause and think about the way science fiction writers often turn out to be the "non-technological visionaries" of the future. They "see" or "imagine" things in their mind's eye and write them into stories and movie scripts long before the supporting technology actually exists... and years later, variations of those same things become part of our daily lives.
Forsythia in bloom, in our yard, right now
Think about it...
What is a microwave oven but a variation of the sci-fi movie "put some wrapped cubes in a box, press a button, and a steaming hot meal comes out?"
What is a smartphone with add-on apps but a version of the Star Trek "tricorder?"
What is an industrial laser or a laser targeting system but a variation on old science fiction "ray guns?"
And so, what are Bitcoins but a later interpretation of these never seen "Credits" used to book passage on a starship?
Imagine THIS:
Kinda made me sit and ponder whether the enigmatic "Satoshi Nakamoto" was catching up with a favorite sci-fi show, watched someone transfer "credits" to get a meal and started thinking "How would that actually have to WORK, to become a reality here in our world?"
And next thing you know, Bitcoin came into existence.
This is, of course, all pure speculation... any resemblance to reality is purely coincidental! But it's still fun to think about.
What do YOU think? Are (some?) science fiction writers "visionaries" who dream up things for our lives, before we have the technology or resources to create the reality? Are cryptocurrencies just the "real world" manifestation of the science fiction "credits" we've seen on TV for decades? Can you think of other examples where science fiction "led" technological advancements? Leave a comment and start the discussion!
This post was in part inspired by @stephenkendal's recent explorations of the blockhain merely being a variation of old database technology.
(As usual, all text and images by the author, unless otherwise creadited. This post is original content created expressly for Steemit)
Margaret Cavendish wrote The Blazing World where she predicted submarines, going to other worlds and bombs being dropped from the air. This story was writen in 1666 so led technology by centuries.
Wow... that's almost a Nostradamus-like prediction, centuries in advance. Thanks for the share!
The technology for Bitcoin had been around for almost a decade so in reality it could have been invented much sooner. All the pieces were there waiting to be pit together, bit of course it took Satoshi Nakamoto to think of doing it. But of course his real stroke of genius was not Bitcoin but the blockchain. That was unique and never seen before in history.
Just as a point of knowledge that not so many people know is that the MAIDESAFE network, which is still being built, and has its own "alt coin" MAID, was invented 5 years before Bitcoin.
But yes for sure Blockchain tech is definitely from a sci-fi future.
True enough... there would most likely be no Bitcoin or other alt. coins without the blockchain... Bitcoin just happens to show up as the openly visible manifestation. Now it makes me wonder if those "alien worlds'" virtual credits are also blockchain based. Or (if I were to put on my conspiracy theorist tinfoil faraday-cage hat) of the blockchain is based on alien tech?
Didn't know that about the MAID coin... I've seen it mentioned here and there, but really know nothing about it.
When I started to read your post I think it's a portrait of me and my hubby! We take "smoke breaks" together, we spend hours in conversation (we work at home) and we are studying the world of cryptocurrency because we are pretty ignorant. This morning we have a long conversation about Dash (curiosity: in Italy "Dash" is the most notorius brand of washing powder ^_^ )
Haha! I think I have seen the "Dash" laundry powder in Spain when I was visiting my parents there, many years ago... funny! Anyway, thanks for coming by and sharing a comment... nice to know others have interesting smoke breaks.
Vernor Vinge pretty much nailed virtual reality and crypto anarchy in his amazing novella "True Names." When I first read it in the early 1980's I dismissed it as nonsense, just a fun story. Every year, it has become more true.
Robert Heinlein invented many things in his science fiction long before they existed - most notably coming to mind is CAD - Computer Aided Design. In "Door Into Summer," the protagonist uses a computer-driven drafting board...
I highly recommend both books...
I'll have to check those out... I already have a tall stack of "to read" books by my bedside-- can always add a few more. I really do think many sci-fi writers have some sort of plugin to the "Interstellar ESP Channel" or something... they visualize these amazing things, and next thing you know, some scientists and engineers are turning it into reality.
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Sometimes I think sci fi authors just slap a new name on a thing they don't want to think up some technology for but is required for the story. Then it's up to the reader to project wonder onto it cough FTL cough. How much technology began as a convenient way to move a plot foward?