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How Star Trek Has Shaped The Modern World

When Star Trek first aired in 1969, it was widely panned by critics. After three seasons, it was cancelled as the ratings for the show were still low. But the show’s devoted fan base refused to let it die, and after failed attempts at bringing the show back, they succeeded with Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987. It was one of the most popular shows of that decade and still remains a fan favourite today. Now, almost 50 years later, Star Trek has become one of the most influential television shows ever made. Its storytelling, characters, and morality have become so ingrained in our culture that we don’t even realize how often its themes echo back at us.

The groundbreaking series made way for numerous spinoff shows, movies, and books, inspiring many creators along the way. Here are just a few ways Star Trek has shaped the modern world.

Influenced Real-World Technology

One of the most notable ways Star Trek has influenced the real world is the technology that appears in the show. In fact, many of the technologies we use today can be traced back to tech seen in Star Trek.

  • Mobile phones
  • Bluetooth
  • Automatic doors
  • Tablets
  • Voice activation
  • GPS
  • FaceTime
  • Non-invasive medical monitoring technology
  • Focused ultrasound
  • Visual impairment devices

Increased Children’s Interest In Science

Science is a crucial part of the Star Trek universe, and it’s something that everyone can learn from, including children. In the show, scientists are often portrayed as the heroes of the story and are shown as people who make discoveries, solve problems, and push the boundaries of human knowledge. This kind of representation is crucial in getting children interested in science. While the science in the show is fantasy, scientists are depicted as heroes in Star Trek who venture out into the unknown, seeking new civilizations and new forms of life.

Social Progressivism

The term social progressivism is often used to describe the efforts to promote civil rights, end discrimination, and increase equality. As the name suggests, it’s used to further social progress in the world and make the human race a better and more equal place. Star Trek is often praised for its social progressivism, and several of the episodes in the series make it clear that racism is not a part of the show, including The Original Series showing the first interracial kiss. The series proved that diverse casts could be commercially successful and make money for networks. It also showed that people want to see shows that represent them and their interests. 

Inspired A Generation On Sci-Fi TV And Film Writers

As previously mentioned, Star Trek has inspired scientists, but it has also inspired countless creatives as well. Writers, directors, and producers have all admitted that they were influenced by the show’s storytelling, characters, and morality while they were growing up. The modern sci-fi film and TV universe is the way it is because of writers who were inspired by the world of Star Trek. From the first episode, Star Trek began to inspire many talented writers, who went on to make their own stories inspired by the show.

Lead To Themed Products And Games

Many of the futuristic gadgets used on the show are now a part of our everyday lives. Trekkies can even get themed underwear, socks, lamps, and more. There are also Trek-themed board games and products that let you live out your Starfleet fantasies. The show’s characters and storylines have also been the inspiration for themed products and games outside of the franchise, including online casino games. There are few themes as pervasive in pop culture as Star Trek, and fans of all ages are always looking for new ways to engage with the franchise. One of the most popular ways has been online slot machines and online casino games themed around the show. If you’re interested in checking some of them out and reliving the fantasy of episodes like The Royal episode in Star Trek: TNG, head here to see the best online casinos to play in: www.onlinecasinos.co.uk.

Shaped Nasa’s Spacecraft Propulsion Technology

Throughout its many spinoffs, Star Trek has explored many different themes and technologies. One of those technologies is space propulsion, and NASA has actually used it in real life. Ion propulsion is a very real technology that NASA has developed that uses the power of the sun. This power that is collected by the solar arrays ionizes atoms of xenon to create power. This allows spacecrafts to not only be smaller but also to have less fuel onboard while having the capacity to travel further.

Fans Convinced Nasa To Name A Spacecraft Enterprise

As the first space shuttle ever built, many fans of Star Trek know the story of the Space Shuttle Enterprise. While it was originally meant to be named Space Shuttle Constitution, fans of the show had other ideas and began a letter-writing campaign to President Ford. The campaign was successful, and when the space shuttle was finished being built in 1976, it was dubbed the Space Shuttle Enterprise. Unfortunately, this space shuttle never got to fly in outer space, but it is currently on display in New York at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.

Continues To Inspire New Generations With New Shows

While the first two Star Trek series are considered by many to be the best in the franchise, there are many new series that are being produced, and they’re inspiring new generations of fans every day. While many of the shows are set in the same universe as the original series, they’re all unique in their own way. 

Wrapping Up

Star Trek has been credited with inspiring many technologies, promoting social progressivism, and inspiring legions of writers. It has become a timeless piece of entertainment that has inspired generation after generation with its stories and themes. If you’re a fan of Star Trek or even just a fan of science fiction in general, you’ll want to keep a lookout for future technologies and products inspired by the timeless show. As for the future of Star Trek, the show has proven that it can survive for many decades, changing and evolving as needed. With each new generation of fans, the show will continue to inspire new technologies and products and will continue to build on its rich history.

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