10 Sci-Fi Gadgets We All Wish Were Real
Saturday, Jul 11, 2009, 11:10 am | In General, Ponder ThisOver the years, Science fiction, be it on television, in books or films has given us an array of amazing ideas for gadgets, gizmos and technology. Some of these have come to fruition, such as satellites, microwave ovens and whatever Kirstie Alley used to lose all that weight. However there's a number of (sadly still fictional) gadgets that we'd all love to have around the house...
THE STAR WARS X-WING
How convenient would it be to have your trusty X-Wing at hand, R2 unit and all, available at anytime for you to hop in a jet off to Dagobah? Also, it would certainly beat the congestion on the highways to and from work every morning. And as an added bonus, should a Death Star appear in orbit around the planet, at least you'd be able to go and do something about it on your lunch break.
THE MEN IN BLACK "NEURALISER"
Ever had one of those days you'd just love to forget? Yeah, me too. Like the time you accidentally called your boss "Mom" in front of the whole office. Or how about that day in high school when you fell on your ass in front of the entire girls dance team? The Neuraliser would be just the thing you need to get rid of that pesky memory. It would also come in particularly handy when used on others. Ever had a bad date? Go ahead and "flashy-thing" your way to a do-over. Just don't use it too much, you might put someone's mind out.
STAR TREK'S TRANSPORTER
Okay, all jokes aside, the Transporter would revolutionize not only travel, but life as we know it. All we'd need is a tubby Scottish engineer to monitor the controls and in a fizzle of cheap special effects, you and your family are transported to Orlando for your two weeks in the sun, luggage and all. However, if you're going to be traveling to any dangerous destinations, I do advise that you bring a stranger or two along, and make sure they wear a red shirt, just in case anything bad happens.
THE MATRIX'S "HEAD PLUG"
"I'm going to learn Kung Fu today." That's about all it would take to be the next Bruce Lee. We'd have to make sure the system ran off the Mac OS though however, otherwise you'd have to dismiss a million pop up ads about "Hot Babes" and "Penile Enlargement" every time you wanted to learn a new skill. Also, pirating software would be especially dangerous. One clever up-loader could rename a file and your medieval combat your flying lessons could turn into classical ballet pretty quickly.
THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY'S BABELFISH
Language is often the barrier to so much. Take out that barrier and anyone could experience any part of the world with ease. Slotted into the ear, it instantly translates any language into a language that the host can understand perfectly well. I don't really have a good joke for this one, so just imagine I said something about it translating the world into lies and nonsense for politicians.
BACK TO THE FUTURE'S DELOREAN TIME MACHINE
This one's pretty straight forward. It's a freaking time machine! You could re-live history first hand. You could travel to the future to see what type of wonders humanity has come up with. You could even travel back a few years and be there for the moment when after six years of presidential life, George W. Bush finally learned how to spell his own name! (Oh and as an added bonus, it’s a flying car, that runs on trash, take that Al Gore!)
THE LIGHTSABER
I don't know about you, but personally, any chance I had to use a sword made of a giant laser, I would. From carving up the turkey on Thanksgiving all the way to simply opening your mail, the lightsaber is the perfect way to make sure nobody ever pissed you off again.
THE HOLOGRAM MESSAGING SYSTEM FROM STAR WARS
Forget video chat, I want actual chat. Honestly, you think that by 2009, engineers would have at least started trying some stuff. Plus the business opportunities are incredible (I'm looking at you porn industry).
KITT FROM KNIGHT RIDER
We've got GPS. We've got voice-control. We've got hydraulics. We've got iPods. We've even got iPhones that will do what we say when we tell them. Now where's my autonomous talking car? Even if not for the weapons and gizmos, having a car in which you could take a nap and be politely woken up by Mr. Feeney when you got your destination would be worth any price.
THE INVISIBILITY CLOAK FROM HARRY POTTER
Now I know this one isn't *technically* a gadget, but I think everyone will agree its worth a mention. Invisibility has always been my top-5-desert-island super power, and having it in the form a cloak where I can make other things invisible, is probably the best form I can imagine.
That's just a few of the sci-fi gadgets I'd love to have in my rec-room, how about you? Hit up the comments and let me know what fictional gadget you hope we get in the future!
Couldn’t agree more with each of your choices. I’d be just as happy with a Jetson’s car as I would with Kitt, though.
Comment by Jack Carlson — July 11th, 2009 at 11:00 pm #
What about the half chainsaw, half gun from Gears Of War. That seems like something I would need.
Comment by Josh Beck — July 12th, 2009 at 1:42 am #
There are a few technologies from Arnold’s “The 6th Day” movie that would be cool, such as the ability to copy oneself into a fresh cloned body. Of course, if we had the Matrix, we would probably all live in there.
Comment by btn — July 13th, 2009 at 12:28 pm #
i do prefer the new kitt from the new series of nightrider than the old one
Comment by sam allum — August 6th, 2009 at 2:48 pm #
RE: transporters.
I’ve given much though to this device since TOS and I have to say, not for me. As I understand it, The transporter is basically a fax machine. You step on the grid, and an exact duplicate of you appears somewhere else with all your memories and thoughts. To itself and others it IS you. But in fact, the original you is now disintegrated, you have just committed suicide; a copy has taken your place and nobody notices. I’ll take the bus.
Comment by Bill — August 19th, 2009 at 1:56 pm #
Aw don’t be such a Dr. McCoy.
Comment by Darrell — September 9th, 2009 at 3:23 pm #