In class we watched a documentary titled “How William Shatner Changed the World”from 2005.The documentary was about how Star Trek influenced people with the futuristic technology of the show and how they made this technology from the show into our modern technology.It is narrated by one of the shows main charaters from the 1960s,William Shatner who played Captain Kirk.This two hour documentary was comissioned by Discovery Channel Canada.It was co-produced by the History Channel in the U.S.A and Channel Five in the U.K.

          The show first talks about Dr.Marc D. Rayman and after he watched Star Trek he became interested in propulsion and now works with N.A.S.A .The show then discuses Martin Cooper, the inventor of the cellphone and he became influenced by the Star Trek communicator.Then the show discuses Mae.C.Jemison the first African American and how Star Trek’s multicultural crew convinced her to join  N.A.S.A. It also convinced Seth Shostak to join S.E.T.I[Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence]    

        I particularly liked the part of the documentary when it talked about a dark future,when technology was more of a nuisance than a necessity. One of key people that worked on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine wasn’t very fond of the idea of a great future with technology as a helpful resource,which was the idea that the original Star Trek promoted.It reminds me about the converstation about A.I technology making a large portion of the human species obsolte.Technology does have the ability to destroy the human species so we should trust,but also resent it.

One new invention has gotten a lot of attention recently,which is 3D printers.3D printers can print any object that exists,with the right dimensions.Research began in the 1980s on 3D printers with 3D printers making simple things.After this in 1990s the modern 3D printers began to take shape.Now in the 21st century we have a modern 3D printer that will probably keep evolving to include more difficult tasks.3D printers will be an important device to produce consumer goods and may be an important tool.