Gadgets from Sci-Fi TV That Should Be Real

Things on TV are not always what they seem, even—make that especially—when it comes to reality television. Still, we often envy what we see—what appears unattainable: gorgeously decorated apartments, glamorous crime-fighting jobs, and perfectly plated dinners. And don't get us started on all of those gadgets on our favorite television shows.

Sure, we've gone where no man has gone before and have communicators, Pado, a universal translator, and hypospray and all in a relatively short span of time. But we're not wrong to expect that some of what we dream up—even the more outrageous ideas—will manifest sooner rather than later.

Futurists and technologists, like Alvin Toffler and Buckminster Fuller, have advanced theories about accelerating change that have largely panned out. Basically, the rate of technological, social, and cultural paradigm shifts grows exponentially faster over time. Futurist and inventor Ray Kurzweil expounded in his essay "The Law of Accelerating Returns" that the 100 years of the 21st century will have the equivalent of 20,000 years of technological progress. That's nothing compared to what Kurzweil calls the Singularity, "technological change so rapid and profound it represents a rupture in the fabric of human history."

While television is one of the results of accelerating change, it's also the medium through which we conceptualize future changes. Allow us to indulge in a bit of sci-fi fantasy and imagine how we'd feel if we got to spend some time with a few technologies outside of our television screens. Do not adjust your set, as some of them are really not that far-fetched.

Doctor Who – Sonic Screwdriver

Editor Rating:
Excellent

Pros
Self-repairing.

Cons
Needs to be recharged. May malfunction in presence of hair dryers.

Bottom Line
We'd buy it, but a production date remains a mystery.

Full Review
To be honest, we haven't gotten our hands on every version of the Sonic Screwdriver; there are quite a few out there. They do all seem to have the same basic functions, though. They repair electronics, operate computers, provide universal roaming for cell phones, scan and identify animate and inanimate objects, and at least one model has a DARPA-worthy psychic interface.
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The Jetsons – Rosie the Robot Maid

Editor Rating:
Good

Pros
Cleans.

Cons
Prone to worry. Sometimes cries. What's with her voice?

Bottom Line
It's the only robot maid we've got.

Full Review
Rosie the Robot Maid (XB-500) is endearing but she has malfunctioned on multiple occasions and meddled in quite a few more. We've seen the newer model from Toyota but the company says it won't be ready until 2015, so Rosie's not headed back to U-RENT A MAID anytime soon. And at this point, she's practically family.
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Knight Rider – KITT

Editor Rating:
Excellent

Pros
Nearly indestructible. Dispenses money. Comes packed with accessories. Fuel efficient.

Cons
Available in only one color.

Bottom Line
Way more than just Siri in a Google Driverless Car.

Full Review
There's not much to complain about. Self-driving and equipped with a self-aware cybernetic logic module, KITT (Knight Industries Two Thousand) is far superior to its predecessor KARR (Knight Automated Roving Robot) in that it did not forcibly eject our tester or attack anyone with a laser. Especially impressive are KITT's alpha circuit, laser powerpack, and ability to deflect heat-seeking missiles. 
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Star Trek - Replicator

Editor Rating:
Good

Pros
Time-saving.

Cons
We've already got one. Make that two. No, three…

Bottom Line
Amusing at first but the novelty quickly wears off.

Full Review
The Replicator does improve on the 3D printing of yore. Skipping the necessity of using CAD or a 3D scanner file to create objects, it's undoubtedly both speedy and handy. However, replicated items didn't look, taste, or feel quite like the real thing. Note: Putting one Replicator inside another Replicator is not advised. 
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The Prisoner – Neuroelectric Facilitator

Editor Rating:
Poor

Pros
None.

Cons
Creepy. Expensive therapy bills.

Bottom Line
Do not attempt this at home.

Full Review
The Neuroelectric Facilitator is the most evil gadget we've ever tested (OK, not really). You know that dream where you show up to that quantum physics class that you 'slept through all semester and have to take the final exam in Latin while you're naked? It's such a relief when you wake up from that, right? Not if it's being projected on a 50-inch plasma.
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The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy – Joo Janta 200 Super-Chromatic Peril Sensitive Sunglasses

Editor Rating:
Very Good

Pros
You won't see it coming.

Cons
You won't see it coming.

Bottom Line
Don't panic.

Full Review
The lenses of the Joo Janta 200 Super-Chromatic Peril Sensitive Sunglasses darken at the first sign of danger. They're also quite stylish, with a round Jackie O-ish frame. We lost a few pairs—and testers (which we are not at liberty to discuss at the moment)—but all in all, they seemed to adequately do the job.