Dirk Morr gives C2ST talk on the Real Science Behind Star Trek
On April 2, 2014, Professor Dirk Morr gave a Chicago Council on Science and Technology (C2ST) talk at UIC comparing the “futuristic” technology featured on the TV series Star Trek to what real life advances have been made so far. He explained how formerly space-age tools like Bluetooth headsets, tablets, and handheld communicators (i.e. cell phones) have emerged from the fictional television show. Professor Morr started this project about a year ago while developing an unrelated exhibit for the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, and wanted to pursue it in order to see if he could “use Star Trek to convey what we do as researchers.” What could be the next Trekkie breakthrough? According to Morr, probably the idea of a holodeck: a dynamical, interactive, holographic environment, an area which has seen rapid advancement over recent years. To read more about Professor Morr’s talk, you can read this article from UIC News or read and watch an interview with Professor Morr on PBS’s Chicago Tonight TV show. You can view Professor Morr's entire C2ST talk on YouTube video.