Posted on 02 November 2012 by Adrian Mather – Comments (0)
The news of Disney’s $4 billion takeover of Lucasfilm this week (and the small announcement that Episode VII of the saga will be released in 2015) has created quite a stir ‘round FreeAgent Towers this week - it’s amazing that a 35-year-old franchise has such a lasting influence on modern science and pop culture, and is set to reach a whole new generation. So this week, we’re looking at some examples of the Star Wars legacy:
It helped inspire real-life tractor beams
One of the staples of the Star Wars (and Star Trek) franchises was tractor beams - gravitational rays that could latch onto and pull in a spaceship from kilometres away. Now scientists have replicated the technology - albeit on a smaller scale, to help move microscopic particles around. OK, so it’s not going to lasso the Millennium Falcon anytime soon, but it’s still a tractor beam!
Tweet ThisLightsabers are becoming a reality
Every Star Wars fan is desperate to wield a lightsaber like Luke Skywalker - and the pipe dream is getting closer to being a reality. Real Lightsabers have built an entire business based on the dream of a fully functioning lightsaber, and their latest version boasts a beam that can cut through wood (and, presumably, flesh). One for the die hards, but perhaps not for the Xmas presents.
Tweet ThisYou can now ride a speeder bike
One of the best scenes in Return of the Jedi was the thrilling speeder bike pursuit on Endor. And now, thanks to the engineering skills of Aerofex, reliving the movie is a step closer. Their “Tandem-Duct Aerial Vehicle” is the closest thing to a real-life speeder and it looks amazing. Just check out the video:
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It’s shaped the way we advertise
From Volkswagen to Dixons, it seems that everyone’s using Star Wars to sell their products these days. But it’s actually a phenomenon stretching back to the early 80s, where the adventures of Luke, Han and Leia were used to sell everything from breakfast cereal to underpants. It just shows how much lasting power the franchise has to influence customers...
Tweet ThisIt’s changing the world of entertainment
Remember the concert earlier this year, when a hologram of long-deceased rapper Tupac Shakur “performed” on stage? Or Japan’s World Cup bid to have holographic football matches streamed across the globe? Both are great examples of how Star Wars-esque 3-D holographic projections are now becoming a reality - and will shape the entertainment of tomorrow.
Tweet ThisStar Wars Uncut
This fan-made project is a tribute to the lasting legacy of Star Wars on budding filmmakers, as well as an outstanding example of pop culture mash-ups. Hundreds of would-be George Lucas’s took to their cameras to film 15-second chunks of A New Hope - and this is the result when they were all stitched together.
Tweet ThisCheck out our Google+ page for more awesome Star Wars links - and remember to hit us up on twitter or leave a comment if there’s something amazing that you think we’ve missed. May the Force be with you!
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