TV has long been a fertile ground for science and technology fiction. Star Trek alone has prospered mightily on the small screen, even if the first series only gained traction in reruns. Today, TV networks are combing novels and past movies for new series-based content.
One new motif we’ve seen in recent years is fictionalized depictions of the tech world in shows such as Silicon Valley and Halt and Catch Fire. These series are deliberate takes on early PC and tech business; they’re almost not fiction at all. We’re also seeing emerging technology show up on the screen, from robotics to cloning.
Rob Spiegel has covered automation and control for 17 years, 15 of them for Design News. Other topics he has covered include supply chain technology, alternative energy, and cyber security. For 10 years, he was owner and publisher of the food magazine Chile Pepper.