For example [vaguely]: writer creates a character who behaves like X, despite nobody actually behaving like X in real life. Then characters behaving like X become a wide-ranging trope. People in the real world begin to think it’s normal to behave like X, and subsequently start actually behaving like X themselves.
Any actual examples of this phenomenon happening?
Sensors are continually getting better and smaller. Some of this tech may even already be in your phone now! Heart rate sensors, magnetometers, cameras, accelerometers, GPS, barometer, and all sorts of other sensors crammed into your device can feed raw data to apps like Physics Toolbox. There are also widely availableperipherals like air quality sensors, thermal imaging, blood pressure, ECG, etc.
We aren’t too far off from having legit tricorders given the path we are already on, some of it already exists!