10 Sci-Fi Gadgets That Inspired Real Inventions
Where do the big tech companies get their ideas? Fiction of course.
In 1818, Mary Shelley proved that girls do love science fiction after all: she created the genre with Frankenstein. Ever since, sci-fi has always featured a vast array of amazing technology.
Naturally, those ideas have inspired real life designers who use their own brand of ingenuity to turn a spark of an idea or a fictional prop into a real, usable product that can be bought, sold and enjoyed. From that very first story where a man harnessed the power of science and nature to create life, inventors have been inspired. After all, what is the modern defibrillator if not a device that uses the power of electricity to bring human beings to life?
The entire Star Trek franchise is rife with examples of this, largely because of the well-constructed future world that was created and maintained. Their sliding doors (originally operated by two men pulling props apart while awkwardly trying to make sure they looked smooth) were soon seen worldwide, and as illustrated Deep Space Nine's wearable tech would later be available to all in the form of smart glasses.
With that in mind, here are ten more inventions whose creators drew inspiration from sci-fi gadgets - with original concepts dating as far back as 1870.
10. Tablet Computers
Star Trek The Next Generation first aired in 1987, over thirty years ago. Most of those reading this were probably children then, or not yet born.
A key part of the Enterprise crew's everyday equipment was the PADD, a piece of technology that seemed entirely futuristic to audiences at the time. Touch screen enabled, able to store and access seemingly limitless data and memory in a handheld device and absolutely commonplace to the crew, the Personal Access Display Device could be used for all manner of things from advanced Starfleet exploratory work to sending simple text messages from one crew member to another.
Designer Michael Okuda explained that the PADD was mainly designed to be, "as inexpensive as possible," combined with, "as futuristic as possible." The touch screen technology that has now became such a key part of our modern world was chosen by the art department at the time as it saved the creation of countless buttons, flashing lights and levers on the set.
Now, tablet computers can be found and used everywhere, and are in many settings as readily available as they were on the Enterprise.