"The Simpsons" is one of the longest-running animated sitcoms in television history that has been airing since 1987. Over its three decades long run, it has become known for its satirical take on American culture and society as well as its ability to make accurate predictions about future events. From predicting Donald Trump’s presidency to the rise of smartphones, “The Simpsons” have consistently shown an uncanny knack for anticipating what's coming next. Here are some examples of how the show predicted future with accuracy over the years:
1) Homer's iPad - In a 2010 episode titled "The Cartridge Family," Homer receives an electronic tablet that resembles Apple's iPad. The device is called the "Mapple iPod Touch" and has many features similar to modern-day tablets such as video conferencing, internet browsing, and games. This was four years before the release of the first iPad in 2010.
2) Uber Eats – In another episode from season 30, Marge orders food through an app called Grubby's which is very similar to ride-sharing service UberEATS. The show predicted how easy it would be for people to order food delivery services with just a few taps on their phone.
3) Virtual Reality - In "The Simpsons" episode titled "The Last Traction Hero," Homer experiences virtual reality technology that resembles modern VR headsets like Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. This was in 19996 before the release of the first commercial version of the Oculus Rift in 2014.
4) Donald Trump's Presidency – A 200000 episode featured a character named Mr. Burns running for president who has similarities to President Trump such as his wealth, business background, and political views. The show predicted Trump’s rise to power with uncanny accuracy.
5) Self-Driving Cars - In "The Simpsons" season 30 episode titled "The Cad and the Hat," Homer drives a self-driving car that resembles modern autonomous vehicles like Tesla's Model S. This was before the first commercial release of self-driving cars in 2016 by companies like Google and Tesla.
6) Smart Homes – In an early episode from season 4 titled "Homer's Triple Bypass," the family has a smart home system with voice commands, similar to Amazon Alexa or Google Home devices. The show predicted how technology would become more integrated into our daily lives.
7) Social Media - A 19998 episode called "The Simpsons" predicted social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter with its creation of "Springfield Squares." This was before the rise of social media sites in the mid
-200000s.
8) Contact Lenses – An episode from season 3 titled "One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish Blue Fish" features Homer wearing contact lenses that resemble modern smart glasses like Google Glass. The show anticipated wearable tech long before it became mainstream.
9) Mobile Phones – In a 19995 episode titled "Homer's Phone Booth," Homer uses a mobile phone to make calls while on the go which is similar to today’s cell phones used by millions of people around the world. This was years before the rise of mobile technology in the late '90s and early 200000s.
10) Drones - A season 30 episode called "The Man Who Came To Be Shot Gun" features drones that resemble modern-day quadcopters for photography and surveillance purposes, predicting their popularity long before they became mainstream.
Overall, “The Simpsons” has shown an uncanny ability to anticipate future events with remarkable accuracy through its satirical take on American culture and society. The show's predictions have become a hallmark of its legacy and continue to entertain viewers while providing insight into what’s coming next in the world around us.
