These Materials Could Make Science Fiction a Reality Metamaterials, which could improve smartphones and change how we use other technology, allow scientists to control light waves in new ways. Credit...James Yang This article is part of our new series, , which examines how rapid advances in technology are transforming our lives. Imagine operating a computer by moving your hands in the air as Tony Stark does in “Iron Man.” Or using a smartphone to magnify an object as does the device that Harrison Ford’s character uses in “Blade Runner.” Or a next-generation video meeting where augmented reality glasses make it possible to view 3-D avatars. Or a generation of autonomous vehicles capable of driving safely in city traffic.