Every time the Simpsons predicted new technology and got it right
The Simpsons get a smart house before it’s cool
It often takes a more far-out framing device to see “The Simpsons” dabble with new technology. “Treehouse of Horror XII” includes a segment where the family gets a new smart home, tricked out by a nefarious AI voiced by Pierce Brosnan. It does everything for them, from cooking their favorite foods to cleaning the dinner table. Of course, the AI also falls in love with Marge and tries to kill Homer, but before that, it shows off some pretty nifty technology.
Herb Powell paved the way for baby translators
On Season 2 of “The Simpsons,” we learn Homer has a half-brother named Herb, who is voiced by Danny DeVito. He’s a successful businessman who loses his fortune by the end of the episode due to Homer’s incompetence. Fortunately, he gets redemption in Season 3’s “Brother Can You Spare Two Dimes” when he borrows money from Homer for a gadget that’ll put him back on top — a baby translator. Maggie Simpson makes for the perfect test subject, as he analyzes her coos to figure out what she’s really trying to say.
Springfield gets the Apple Vision Pro first
The history of practical VR goes back decades, usually involving people wearing some kind of goggle-esque headset to see things that aren’t really there. “The Simpsons” certainly didn’t invent the aesthetic, but it’s hard not to see similarities between the VR headsets featured in Season 28’s “Friends and Family” and the Apple Vision Pro, which would come out eight years after the episode.
