10 Films That Prove We Should Fear Technology
Pop culture has always informed our view of technology. When freed from the constraints of reality, writers and directors are able to dream up what seem like wholly unrealistic tools and toys for the sake of creating an exciting universe in which a films characters can play. In the process, these movies provide the inspiration for people to go out and create real-world analogues. Look no further than Martin Cooper, who cited Captain Kirk and his communicator as providing the push he needed to create the world's first handheld cellular phone. Movies are a playground, where we can show ourselves how technology can change the world. Then, we go out and make it happen. But some movies help us look before we leap. They provide insight into what can happen when technology goes awry, when robots gain too much power, or when time travel falls into the wrong hands. If one thing's been made clear after decades of cinema's technological exploration, the Average Joe and Jane are usually on the losing side of progress. Here are 10 cautionary tales that will hopefully make us all think twice before flicking the "On" switch. 10. Minority Report
In 2054, society is flush with dozens of new toys we would love to have today, from jet-packs to self-driving cars. But when Capt. John Anderton (Tom Cruise) finds himself accused of murder, we see just how terrifyingly advanced our tech has become. Devices like the sonic blaster and sick sticks, which incapacitate people by non-lethal means may not seem so bad, but the Halo, which renders individuals unconscious so they may be imprisoned, and Spyder bots are much more frightening. In addition to this heavy-handed approach to law and order, we also get a glimpse of daily life in a futuristic Washington, D.C., where all transactions are recorded, and everything from a persons movements to their purchases at the local mall are tracked and tagged via retina scans. The only way to throw off the persistent shadow of authorities and advertisers, it seems, is to swap retinas with someone else. And you thought Facebook ads were intrusive.