5 Top Sci-Fi Gadgets That Actually Exist

Electronic Products ^ | 01/27/2014 | Grace Noto

[Rebelbase]

[dangerdoc]

Where’s my flying car.

[upchuck]

Why can't these forms and communiques be sent over electronically?

Because then all the comely Ensigns would be out of a job. Can't have that, don't want that :)

[IYAS9YAS]

I had to explain to my daughters that this was unavailable at the time, and they had to have a crew member push a button as the actor approached.

And less than 10 years later, they existed. I remember doors that opened for me as a kid - and that would have been early-to-mid-1970s.

[martin_fierro]

Google just bought these guys.

[discostu]

I think that is electronic sending, computer to pad, pad to captain, captain signs, pad tells computer, signature stored. I suppose he could have done a thumb swipe somewhere, but then there’d be no reason for yeomen Rand to exist, I prefer a world with yeoman Rand.

[KarlInOhio]

Sci-Fi gadgets that don't exist anymore:

A method of flying people from the Earth to the Moon.

[discostu]

One of the apocryphal tales from the set is that some tech guy and said that automatic was the hardest Trek gadget to accomplish in the real world. Heard that tale in multiple interviews with cast members but never any real proof, it’s funny of course because it was the first one that made the jump.

[kevkrom]

Where’s my flying car.

Not grounded for lack of technology, but the more human issue of air traffic control, or, more to the point, do you want to morons who can't manage two dimensions properly getting to play around with a third?

[RandallFlagg]

A method of flying people from the Earth to the Moon.


Then, there's the more modern method of lunar travel...

[Pan_Yan]

Battlestar Galactica (The new one) had wireless, too.

One of the plot twists of the new Battlestar Galactica was that it was getting ready to be retired and had never been integrated into the fleet computer network. That's why it was able to escape and fight back when the rest of the fleet was betrayed by their electronics. I enjoyed that series for a while until it got so depressing I found myself wearing a noose while watching it.

[Secret Agent Man]

which means i can’t buy one of these now.

[Secret Agent Man]

flying cars would require flight training and license approval, like any civillian aircraft, as these are much bigger and more damaging than a more simple ultralight. so not just anyone would drive/fly one.

[Buckeye McFrog]

The Biostamp is well-timed, given that we are living in Idiocracy now.

[exPBRrat]

They’re all pretty incredible esp the Sigmo...

...heck for only $50 too, why it’s costs more than that to fill up our gas tank...and that ends up in smoke.

[skinkinthegrass]

!

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Because then all the comely Ensigns would be out of a job.

Eeeeeeexcellent point. Missed that one I did. Yup. Right over my head.

[OldNewYork]

The future is here. I hope it doesn’t track mud in.

[upchuck]

:)

[Some Fat Guy in L.A.]

Still waiting for H. Beam Piper’s perfect lie detector - the veridicator (from “Little Fuzzy”). Would revolutionize criminal prosecution and put most current politicians on the “free agent” list.