A while ago, I started a thread on “fictional” items that were real all along. This is about the power movies, games and books have sometimes generating real locations or items after the movie or book appeared.
For example:
Regarding Casablanca (1942) There was no Rick’s Cafe in Casablanca until 2004:
Various Willie Wonka candies were made after the first movie came out.
When Bonanza rules the airwaves, people use to show up in Virginia City, NV and ask to see the Ponderosa ranch. Eventually, they pointed the tourists to an old, abandoned ranch near town. Later, an actual “Ponderosa Ranch” was set up.
But my favorite was when a radio station WABC-FM changed its call letters to match the Four Deuces/Frank Zappa song “WPLJ.” WPLJ is still broadcasting.
Shows that home computers today can recreate better electronic environments (in real time!) now, while the original movie computers had to spent months creating the original scenes for the movie.
Now that is interesting MrJackboots, I wonder why that Patent office now seems to be unable to find previous art in many silly patents it grants nowadays.
I almost forgot another item:
Bubba Gump Shrimp, the restaurants appeared thanks to the popularity of Forrest Gump.
The waldo was first conceived (not invented) by Heinlein in his novella of that name. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waldo Whether the actual inventor had trouble getting a patent, I do not know; but the name stuck.
I really don’t know if this qualifies, per your OP. That is, I don’t think Star Trek had anything, really to do with it, but…
Capt. Kirk’s flip-open communicator. Got a cell phone just like it as have untold numbers of folk. Of course, mine won’t flip open with a turn of the wrist like his did, or like my gravity knife does.
And while I can’t get Enterprise, I can just say, “Wife” and after a few seconds get her on the horn. (voice dial)