The recent launch of Apple’s advanced Vision Pro has unexpectedly reignited interest in the beloved TV series The Simpsons. This resurgence isn’t just about nostalgia; it’s driven by the series’ uncanny knack for predicting future technologies. Remarkably, The Simpsons showcased a device strikingly similar to Vision Pro nearly eight years ago, underlining its role as a cultural oracle.
The Simpsons is the longest-running sitcom and animated series in the United States. Since its debut in 1989, it has aired over 800 episodes, securing numerous accolades and cultivating a vast global fan base. The series centers around the Simpson family in the fictional town of Springfield. The father, Homer Simpson, is famously inept yet lovable, working at the local nuclear power plant. His wife, Marge, is the quintessential American housewife, managing the household and providing a moral compass. Their children, the mischievous 10-year-old Bart, the intelligent 8-year-old Lisa, and the ever-silent baby Maggie, add their own quirks to the family dynamic.
This series is celebrated not only for its humor, but also for its biting satire of American culture, society, and human nature. Viewers initially tuned in for the laughs, but soon recognized the show’s profound capability to predict technological innovations and societal changes.
‘The Simpsons’ predictions
Vision Pro: From fictional forecast to technological reality
The episode “Friends and Family” from the show’s 28th season is particularly prescient. In this 2016 episode, Mr. Burns, the curmudgeonly billionaire owner of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, uses a pair of high-tech augmented reality glasses — reminiscent of ski goggles — to escape his loneliness. These glasses create a vivid alternative reality filled with joyous family scenes, delicious meals, and picturesque landscapes. Mr. Burns, yearning for familial warmth, decides to ‘hire’ the Simpsons to join him in his virtual paradise.
The Simpsons children, especially Bart and Lisa, quickly indulge in the delights offered by virtual reality, from gobbling up digital candies to embarking on virtual adventures. Their enthusiasm soon spreads throughout Springfield, with the townsfolk adopting the technology en masse. The humorous yet slightly disturbing sight of people navigating the streets, fully absorbed in their virtual worlds and oblivious to the physical one, quickly becomes a familiar spectacle.
On February 2, 2024, Apple released the Vision Pro, a sophisticated augmented reality headset that closely resembles the glasses from The Simpsons. Like its fictional precursor, the Vision Pro blends digital imagery with the real world, allowing users to interact seamlessly with a mix of virtual and physical elements. The similarities between the fictional glasses and the Vision Pro are not merely cosmetic; they both utilize augmented reality technology, which integrates the digital onscreen content with the real-world environment.
The ethical and social implications of augmented reality
While impressive, this technological marvel brings significant ethical and societal questions. The Vision Pro and similar technologies challenge our perceptions of reality, blurring the lines between the virtual and the real. Can the sweetness of virtual candy ever match the joy of real-life experiences? What are the implications for a society that chooses to live in a dream-like state, increasingly detached from the tangible world?
The Simpsons serves as more than just a source of entertainment; it acts as a cultural lens, reflecting potential future realities through its humorous predictions. The show’s prescience extends beyond the realm of high technology, touching nearly every facet of life. This episode, in particular, not only showcases the show’s ability to foresee technological trends but also invites viewers to reflect on the potential consequences of our tech-driven lives.
As we integrate devices like the Vision Pro into our daily routines, it’s crucial to consider these technologies’ impact on our social interactions, mental health, and overall well-being. Are we prepared for the changes these technologies will bring? The Simpsons encourages us to ponder these questions, providing a satirical yet insightful commentary on the path our society might take.
In embracing such futuristic technologies, we must remain mindful of the lessons embedded in our pop culture, ensuring we maintain a balance between technological advancement and preserving our human connections.
This exploration of The Simpsons and its predictive powers is just the beginning. Stay tuned for Part 2, where we delve deeper into the show’s uncanny ability to forecast even more significant global events and cultural shifts.
Translated by Katy Liu, edited by Yuqi Shi
