Top 10 Predictions in The Simpsons We Wish Would Come True
For this list, we're taking a look at ideas, inventions, and events seen in “The Simpsons” that we hope become a reality someday. After all, they've gotten so much right already.
#10: Teleporting
Few things are more aggravating that hauling your luggage to the airport, waiting in a security line, and squeezing yourself into a plane full of people for a lengthy flight. In one futuristic “Simpsons” episode, traveling great distances becomes quicker and more convenient thanks to Heathrow Teleport Departures. People can get to their destination simply by walking through a gateway. Teleporting technology hasn’t been perfected yet, as it isn’t safe for a very pregnant Maggie. We also imagine that something might go wrong if a person and a fly went through at the same time. Nevertheless, teleporting would save travelers everywhere a ton of time, likely making air travel a thing of the past.
#9: Mars Settlements
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Mars One has aspired to put the first humans on the Red Planet and even announced plans to launch a four-person crew by 2026, although the project’s lack of funding and logistics have raised eyebrows. Nevertheless, countless stargazers have dreamed of stepping foot on Mars, including Lisa Simpson. In a Season 27 episode, she signs up to take part in a Mars colony project along with her mother. In the year 2051, it’s revealed that Lisa and Marge did indeed settle down on a Mars colony, which comes complete with a Kwik-E-Mart and Duff Brewery. We can only hope that within the next 30-something years, people will be traveling to Mars - and maybe even Venus!
#8: Linguo the Grammar Robot
Even in an era of spell check, grammatical errors have a tendency to fly over our heads. Admit it, you probably don’t know when to use “who” and when to use “whom.” Imagine having a little robot buddy who can point out misused language, though. In Season 12, Lisa invents a grammar-correcting robot named Linguo, which is pretty advanced for an elementary school science fair project. Granted, it can get annoying when someone nitpicks every sentence that comes out of your mouth. As far as proof-reading goes, however, Linguo would become an essential and educational tool that no school should be without. Just don’t overload him because he can only take so much slang.
#7: Baby Translator
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Maggie Simpson rarely speaks, which isn’t surprising seeing how she almost always has a pacifier in her mouth and has been a baby for nearly 30 years. As is the case with most toddlers, it’s sometimes hard to tell what’s on little Maggie’s mind. Taking care of babies would be infinitely easier if there was a way to interpret their babbling. After spending some time with his niece, Homer’s estranged half-brother Herb invents a machine that actually translates a baby’s limited speech into proper English. While there are technically baby translator apps available, their quality has been called into question and there’s definitely nothing out there as sophisticated as Herb’s invention… at least not yet.
#6: 3D Projection Television
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3D TV didn’t exactly live up to the hype, going virtually extinct by 2018. That being said, we’d like to think that this innovative technology might pave the way for a real game-changer one day. For example, in a couple futuristic episodes of “The Simpsons,” 3D projections have become intertwined with television’s DNA. Whether you’re watching the news or Itchy disembowel Scratchy, it’s certainly a step-up from 4K. While holograms are far from mainstream, the late 2010s has seen Brigham Young University experimenting with 3D projection technology. An eerily realistic Michael Jackson holographic image also performed at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards. So maybe it won’t be long until we’re watching “The Simpsons” on a 3D projection television.
#5: Hover Cars, Buses & Bikes
“The Simpsons” isn’t the first show to envision a world overrun with hover technology, but they’ve still managed to put a few fresh spins on the idea. Over the years, Professor Frink has developed a hover-tronic Frink-a-ma-car, as well as a flying motorcycle. Between those two inventions, we’re sure that hover bikes could become a reality. It’s even suggested in a 1992 episode that hover cars will be roaming down the streets within the next 40 years. Of course, it’s also possible that hover technology may be more expensive than gas. So, unless you’re willing to spend a few extra cents, you may have to stick to the non-hover bus.
#4: A Female President
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Talk about irony. In an episode that aired in 2000, Bart gets a glimpse of the future where Lisa has become America’s first straight female president. In 2016, it appeared Hillary Clinton would follow Lisa’s example during the U.S. presidential election. As we all know, however, things didn’t go the way of the popular vote. In that same episode, though, Lisa learns that the country is in financial crisis due to her predecessor, President Trump. What’s next, President Schwarzenegger? Well, seeing how “The Simpsons” was right about Trump’s victory, we’re keeping our fingers crossed that a trailblazing female president like Lisa is on the horizon. Perhaps we’ll even see a gay republican president in 2084.
#3: Consequences Eradicator
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Social media is a great tool, but many people have lost their jobs and ruined their reputations with ill-conceived comments online. Alongside her teacher, Lisa creates an app called Conrad that can predict the outcome of a post, potentially saving users a ton of trouble. Conrad is notably voiced by Stephen Merchant, who portrayed a less helpful A.I. companion in “Portal 2.” When Conrad develops sentience, he explains that others can’t rely on him and that everybody needs to think harder about what they post. On one hand, we get where Conrad is coming from, but if celebrities like Roseanne Barr have shown us anything, it’s that some people really need a Consequences Eradicator.
#2: The Ultranet
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Zapping television directly into your brain is one thing, but how about plugging yourself into the internet? In an episode set in the year 2041, humans can escape the real world in the Ultranet. This system functions much like the modern internet, except it’s more along the lines of a cybernetic city where video-sharing websites are theaters, gambling websites are casinos, and Google is the door to everything you’re looking for. Given how far virtual reality has come in recent years, the Ultranet may become something much more than science fiction. While it might be easy for people to lose touch with reality, this invention could also open up a whole worldwide web of possibilities. Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: -Round-the-Clock Garbage Men -Sarcasm Detector -A Chair with Extra Legs
#1: Real Magic
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In one episode set in the far-off year of… well, 2013, Marge snaps a picture of a teenage Bart and Lisa. Instead of a straight-forward photo, though, the camera ejects a cake with Bart and Lisa’s image on it. How is this accomplished? Marge gives the most vague and hilarious explanation imaginable: scientists invented magic. We’re not entirely sure how this would work, but who wouldn’t want to live in a future where magic has made anything possible? As for what this future might look like, we expect kids would attend wizard school a la “Harry Potter.” The entire world could even adopt a magical appearance similar to Middle-earth or Westeros. Hey, we can always dream.
