Unless you've been living under a rock, you're aware that today is Back to the Future Day; an homage to the blockbuster trilogy that made sleeveless burnt orange vests cool and hoverboards a must-have Christmas present, even if they hadn't - and still haven't - been invented yet.
Oct. 21, 1985 is the date Marty McFly first travels into a futuristic world of flying cards, hands-free technology, and a major league baseball team on Chicago's north side winning the World Series.
Some "Back to the Future" prophecies actually happened. Others are still a pipe dream. Let's take a look at what the films got right, what they got wrong, and what may still come to pass.
What they got right
Flat screen TV's
Film creators hit the home theatre experience dead-on, predicting picture-in-picture technology streaming multiple channels at once. It's like they actually went into the future and got a glimpse of the NFL's RedZone channel.
Video teleconference
From desktop webcams to mobile live streaming apps like Apple's FaceTime, video teleconferencing is part of our daily lives, as it was in "Back to the Future II." Marty talks to his co-worker, Needles, via a large screen that brings the users face-to-face. While that's interesting enough, other details of their meeting as just as prophetic.
In the said meeting, a list of personal information runs across the bottom of the screen. We learn Needles' birthdate, address, occupation, hobbies - he's "an avid basketball fan" - age, and his favorite alcoholic beverage.
Self-tying shoes
Last January, Nike designer Tinker Hatfield revealed that his team was working on sneakers with power laces. Tuesday night, Nike reached out to Michael J. Fox via their Twitter account, simply saying "see you tomorrow."
.@realmikefox see you tomorrow.
— Nike (@Nike) October 21, 2015
Wednesday morning, a Nike spokesman confirmed the rumor: self-lacing shoes are here. The first pair of self-lacing Nike Mag shoes is in New York City," read an email sent to various media outlets. While the spokesman didn't specify if they will be available to the public, Quartz reports that the sneakers will be released through an eBay auction.
Hands-free games
Five years ago, Microsoft launched the Xbox Kinect in response to Nintendo's success in the hands-free video game market. Sony followed with their PlayStation Motion soon after. When two boys are watching Marty play a hands-free game in BTTF 2, one boy quips "you mean you have to use your hands?" while the other says "that's like a baby's toy!"
Donald Trump
Biff Tanner and Donald Trump are one in the same. Biff uses his wealth - which he earned in casinos and hotels - to control the Republican Party before assuming power in Hill Valley. The resemblance is uncanny.
Yeah yeah, Back to the Future II wasn't that good. But Trump was GREAT in it. Terrific actually. pic.twitter.com/e5W6ye7qGO — Cuffy (@CuffyMeh) October 21, 2015
Miami baseball team
The Florida Marlins changed their name to the Miami Marlins four years ago as part of a deal to finance a new downtown ballpark. While they've been a franchise since 1993, film creators already knew South Beach would be an ideal spot for a baseball club.
Drones
Drones aren't as prevalent in our society as they were in BTTF2, but it's getting to that point. Amazon plans on using them for deliveries. Fishermen use them to fish. Some people even use them to pick up dry cleaning. All that's left is to use drones to take dogs on a walk.
Mobile paying tech/ fingerprint recognition
Cash, and even credit cards, may become obsolete one day thanks to wireless payment technology. Smartphone apps like Samsung Pay, Square, and Apple Pay are making it easier to shop. Next up is a fingerprint payment system, like one used in the second film.
Video glasses
One scene in BTTF2 depicts Marty and Jennifer's future kids watching TV and talking on the phone using futuristic glasses. That, in a nutshell, sums up Google Glasses. Though the company has stopped making the high-tech video goggles, many are still available online.
Botox
In one scene from BTTF 2, Doc Brown tells Marty about his anti-aging technique.
"I went to a rejuvenation clinic and got an all-natural overhaul. They took out some wrinkles, did a hair repair, changed the blood, added a good 30-to-40 years to my life," he said.
Pepsi Perfect
Pepsi released a collectible "Pepsi Perfect" series of sodas to commemorate Back to the Future Day. They planned on shipping 6,500 bottles, but may needs to send more following social media backlash they received.
For their part, Pepsi released a message on Twitter saying "Pepsi Perfect" isn't sold out.
What they didn't get right
Flying cars
Flying cars captured the imagination of moviegoers more than anything else. The problem is that there isn't a real need for them.
Aside from the fact that flying cars would need some type of aerial roadways, car manufactures are more focused on cost-efficiency and automobiles average consumers could affords. It's taken this long just to get hands-free cars, and those are still in the development stages.
Hoverboards
Queensland, Australia police deployed their "hoverboard unit" this week to search for a 17-year-old male who "was in possession of a license which expired over 30 years ago."
The tongue-in-cheek tribute is as close as anyone will get to an aerial skateboard.
Chicago Cubs in the World Series
As of Oct. 21, the Chicago Cubs are one loss away from their 107th straight year without a World Series title. The funny thing is that no one expected them to get into the playoffs, far less the National League Championship Series. There's always next year.
3D food printers/ food hydrators
3D printers can make anything from Halloween costumes to life-sized guitars. The only thing they can't make is anything that's edible.
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