For the uninitiated, in the 1989 movie "Back to the Future Part II," Marty McFly (played by Michael J. Fox) and his mentor, the scientist Emmett "Doc Brown" (played by Christopher Lloyd) time travel in a DeLorean sports car from 1985 to 30 years in the future in the fictional Calfornia town of Hill Valley.
Robert Zemeckis' film was tasked with imagining future technology, styles, mannerisms and economy.
Let's dive in and take a look at what the film got right and what it got wrong — and discover where the insurance industry has a stake.
1. Hoverboards
One of the film's most innovative pieces of technology was Marty McFly's hoverboard, which was used like a skateboard, but without wheels. It hovered, hence the name, over all surfaces except water (unless you had a Pitbull!) through magnetic hover capabilities.
The Lexus car company recently unveiled a prototype for a hoverboard, which uses the same magnetic hover technology. Like Marty's, it can't be used on water. Pro skater Tony Hawk tested a similar board from the company Hendo, but this toy is more like a tiny hovercraft. This board also only works over metallic surfaces. Most recently, handle-free Segways have come to market, but these still have wheels.
While Zemeckis' and Bob Gale's screenplay may have missed the boat on how widely hoverboards are used by the average consumer, it is accurate to say that this technology is capable for development today. Some carriers may have gotten the ball rolling with coverage for personal Segway equipment. Progressive offers a Segway policy that protects from "unforeseen spills, mishaps and damage while you're riding around town." Coverage options can include liability, collision and comprehensive; liability only; or liability and comprehensive."
2. Wearable technology
In the movie, Marty McFly's children use wearable technology at the dinner table to make and receive phone calls and watch TV. Doc Brown also uses silver glasses to view different cameras around the DeLorean — instead of using mirrors.
And that's not all — Doc also wears something that appears to be a smartwatch. When Marty and he first arrive in 2015, it's raining — Doc checks his "smartwatch" and predicts to the second when the rain will stop. You've heard of the Apple Watch, correct? Other imagined 2015 tech fashions include Marty's self-drying coat and self-tying Nike sneakers.
In a recent survey from Accenture, nearly two-thirds of insurers expect wearable technology to have significant impact on the insurance industry within the next two years. The report, "Accenture Technology Vision for Insurance 2015 — Digital Insurance Era: Stretch Your Boundaries," also found that 31 percent of carriers say they already are using wearables to engage customers, employees and partners. Field adjusters are using Google Glass technology when handling claims, and some risk managers are using or considering wearable devices like Fitbit in return-to-work programs.
3. Tablet computers
In "Back to the Future, Part II," future Doc (aka 2015 Doc, not 1985 Doc who traveled to 2015) encounters 1985 Marty who-traveled-to-2015 (got it?) in front of the Hill Valley clocktower. 2015 Doc holds out a tablet for Marty to sign to save the aging clocktower, presumably electronically.
Tablets and e-signatures? This has insurance agency management operations written all over it.
