Tech In 'Black Mirror' That's Not Sci-Fi Anymore

The hit sci-fi TV series from Netflix "Black Mirror" has had a huge following for a while, and not without reason. "Black Mirror" interesting technologies and gadgets might seem far-fetched, even for the usual dose of sci-fi, but not everything on the show is totally impossible.

"Black Mirror" critique of societal norms and technological advancement have struck the line between satire and horror, drawing in viewers who are both fascinated and afraid. It is a satirical take on social media, augmented reality and virtual reality, bioengineering, and even plain old television.

For instance, the earlier versions of the technology you'd see on the show "Black Mirror" are already happening. What's more, the social ills that are presented in the show over dystopian backdrops are already manifesting in the 21st century.

In a listing by Producthunt, an interesting glimpse of what's currently available in the market is getting updated each day to reflect its similarities with "Black Mirror" tech. A few of the products listed include Snapchat's Spectacles (embedded camera sunglasses), Apple's AirPods (wireless NFC earphones), Peeple (social app for rating people), ChatLike.me (a personalized Twitter bot), and Pact (monetizing app for gym goers).

Snapchat's Spectacles looks a lot like those seen on "Black Mirror" episode entitled "The Entire History of You." In a report by Inverse, it is said that Samsung has already secured patents for contact lenses that are capable of live-streaming and wireless data processing.

Meanwhile, ChatLike.me is similar to the "Black Mirror" "Be Right Back" episode in the second season, wherein a bereaved woman attempts to connect with a chatbot run by artificial intelligence. In "Black Mirror" first episode of season 3, the mobile app Peeple simulates a nearly identical framework for rating people. In perhaps one of the more harrowing dystopian scenes that "Black Mirror" has shown its avid viewers, a whole society is built on the premises of accumulating points through the use of gym equipment. Pact is similar to this such that it is a mobile app designed to monetize personal exercises and diets done by users and paid for by those who fail to meet the demands.

What the future of technology holds is indeed a question of time: When does it begin? "Black Mirror" has shown some interesting things and provoked some critical questions about our digital way of life. Watch the show's director explain some of its core concepts in the video below.