10 Futuristic Gadgets from Sci-Fi We Wish Were Real

Science fiction holds immense power, offering a chance to explore the dangers of unchecked government control in works like "1984," "Brave New World," and "Fahrenheit 451." These stories remind us of the value of individuality and independent thought. Though set in futuristic or fantastical worlds, their themes resonate with our present-day lives. Don't let the presence of robots or rockets fool you – there's more beneath the surface of these tales.

Beyond its exploration of society, science fiction has gifted us with incredible inventions we'd love to see in the real world. Some fictional gadgets have even become reality. For instance, the "universal translator" from "Star Trek" was a groundbreaking idea for breaking down language barriers. Today, with a smartphone and Google Translate, we can converse across languages. There are countless examples of once-imagined gadgets that now exist in the real world.

However, not every sci-fi gadget is available for purchase just yet. Let's dive into 10 amazing inventions from the world of science fiction that we can't wait to get our hands on.

10: The Hoverboard

"Back to the Future 2" had big shoes to fill after the success of the original film. It introduced the flux capacitor, which we’ll revisit later, and popularized the DeLorean car – a vehicle that was almost forgotten by 1985. Though some argue the sequel missed the charm and pacing of the first, it did manage to capture our imaginations with the iconic hoverboard.

In simple terms, a hoverboard is a skateboard without wheels. It hovers above the ground, letting the rider glide effortlessly. To steer, just lean as you would on a regular skateboard. And as shown in the movie, hoverboards don’t work on water – unless they have a power source.

How do they work? We have no idea! The film never truly explains the technology behind hoverboards. We just know we’d love to have one to zip around the office. After the movie’s release, a rumor spread that the hoverboards were real, even sporting the Mattel logo. Supposedly, concerned parents and consumer groups pressured Mattel to stop production, fearing the boards would cause injuries. The truth is, real hoverboards never existed – it was all movie magic. But we’re still hoping that one day, we’ll glide along with Huey Lewis tunes in the background.

9: The Neuralizer

For anyone who struggles with saying the wrong thing, the neuralizer would be a lifesaver. A vital tool for the agents in Men in Black, this device erases memories with a quick flash of light. With a simple button press and a calming phrase, you can replace someone's memory with a completely new one.

In the world of "Men in Black," the neuralizer allowed agents to interact with aliens without the risk of the whole world finding out about extraterrestrial life. But in the Mytour.com office, we’d probably find other uses. Need an extension on that project deadline? Just zap the site director and tell them the deadline has been moved to next week. Spilled coffee on the general manager? A quick zap, and blame it on one of the Stuff You Should Know guys – problem solved.

Using the neuralizer to alter memories might not be the most ethical choice. Perhaps it's for the best that it doesn’t exist in reality. However, if you spot a Mytour.com writer sporting sunglasses indoors, it might be best to look away – just in case.

8: The Lightsaber

Setting aside the valid point that "Star Wars" leans more toward fantasy than science fiction, we arrive at the iconic lightsaber. It's a refined weapon from a more sophisticated time. The culmination of a Jedi knight's training is crafting their own personal lightsaber. The films show us that these mystical blades can cut through almost anything and deflect blaster shots. Plus, they make that iconic voom-whoosh sound when they swing.

If you dive into the extended Star Wars universe -- which includes novels, video games, comics, and other media that tie into the Star Wars world but aren't part of the main saga -- you'll discover that a lightsaber is made up of a handle, a power source, and some crystals. These crystals determine the color of the blade as well as other characteristics. Users of the light side typically find crystals in natural environments like caves, while those on the dark side tend to craft synthetic crystals, giving their lightsabers a menacing red hue.

While we don’t envision using a lightsaber for combat here at Mytour.com, we’ll admit it would be incredibly useful for landscaping. With just a few swings, you could clear trees, shrubs, and even plastic pink flamingos standing between you and your beautifully manicured lawn.

7: The Electronic Thumb

The story goes that Douglas Adams came up with the concept for "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" while relaxing in a field, nursing a bit of a hangover from his European travels. Back then, it was common for students and travelers to hitch rides while exploring new cities and calling home for extra funds. Adams wondered: what if this practice expanded to a cosmic scale? This led to the creation of a tale featuring a confused human, Arthur Dent, and a disguised alien named Ford Prefect, and the rest, as they say, is history.

So, how do you catch a lift from an alien? Enter the Electronic Thumb. Adams describes a sub-ether network that the thumb taps into, signaling passing spaceships for a ride. Over the years, Adams wrote several versions of his story, with no two identical. One thing's unclear: does the spaceship's captain need to approve the hitchhiker’s request before they board via a matter transfer beam?

For the electronic thumb to be really useful, we'd first need aliens cruising through the cosmos. But even if there aren't any extraterrestrials lurking nearby, the electronic thumb would still make for an interesting paperweight.

6. Mr. Fusion

Let's take a trip back to the "Back to the Future" trilogy. This iconic series gave us plenty of futuristic gadgets: time machines, flying skateboards, and even shoes that tie themselves. But out of all these innovations, Mr. Fusion stands out as a true game-changer.

It's a quick joke at the end of the first Back to the Future movie: Doc scrambles through Marty's trash, pulling out banana peels and empty beer cans. He shoves the garbage into the Mr. Fusion port on the back of the DeLorean. The punchline is that this small device can generate a staggering 1.21 gigawatts, enough to power the flux capacitor and make time travel possible. Throughout the movie, we see Marty and Doc trying to harness lightning to get Marty back to 1985, and by 2015, all that power is available from an everyday appliance.

Imagine the kind of world we could have if Mr. Fusion were real. We could meet all our energy demands just by tossing in our trash. A few nuclear reactions later, and we'd have enough energy to run our homes and cars. It would solve both our recycling problems and energy crisis in one fell swoop! Sure, using a nuclear reactor so casually might raise a few eyebrows, but hey, no risk, no reward, right?

5: Iron Man's Armor

Comic book superheroes are known for their incredible powers, but some, like Batman and Iron Man, are just regular humans who use their skills and gadgets to take on villains. Iron Man's suit is the ultimate superhero gadget. It's like a Swiss Army Knife: it can fly, it’s nearly indestructible, and it even has repulsor beams capable of blasting through concrete.

Iron Man's suit has had many different versions over the years, appearing in comics, TV shows, and movies. Some designs are large and cumbersome, almost resembling a tank, while others are more streamlined. One suit was even compact enough to fold up into a suitcase! It's still unclear how Stark managed to carry around such a suit without totally wrecking his back.

If we had Iron Man suits, Casual Friday at Mytour.com would be taken to a whole new level. And imagine being able to step out onto the balcony, jump into the air, and fly off to lunch — no more waiting for slow elevators!

4. Time Machines

While the neuralizer from "Men in Black" would certainly come in handy for erasing embarrassing moments, what do you do when you’ve made a bigger mistake? You turn to your trusty time machine! Of course, jumping through time could create a paradox that might tear apart the space-time continuum, but hey, it’s worth the risk to avoid that awkward moment. Sure, you might bump into a younger version of yourself or even set off a chain of events that could erase your own existence, but that's what makes time travel so thrilling!

Time machines come in all kinds of shapes and forms. Maybe you want to travel in the TARDIS from "Doctor Who," a living, multi-dimensional spaceship. Or perhaps you prefer sitting back in a comfy chair, pulling levers and twisting dials like the one in H.G. Wells’s classic time travel story. Or, for a real adventure, you can fire up the flux capacitor and hit 88 miles per hour in the iconic DeLorean from "Back to the Future." Whatever your personal style, there’s a time machine out there for you.

3: The Transporter

If you happen to live in one of the worst cities for commuters, you’re no stranger to the agony of sitting in traffic that barely moves. In some of the worst cities, you might spend over 70 hours a year stuck in traffic. But imagine if you could just skip all that altogether? That’s why we dream of installing a "Star Trek" transporter at the Mytour.com office. Now we just need to figure out how to make it happen.

The transporter was a revolutionary device that could break you down into atoms, send you over vast distances, and reassemble you at your destination. No need for two devices — a single transporter could beam you from a spaceship to a planet, and then back again once you were done with your mission — or after enough red-shirted crew members met their fate. The term most commonly used for this process is "beaming."

In the world of "Star Trek," the transporter was initially used only for non-living cargo. Disassembling and reassembling atoms of inanimate objects is one thing, but the idea of having your own atoms scattered and reassembled could be quite terrifying. Some renowned doctors within the "Star Trek" universe were particularly wary of using the transporter, preferring the safety of shuttles over dematerialization. However, in the face of a long, exhausting commute, who wouldn't consider it?

2: The Replicator

"Star Trek" also introduced the replicator, a device capable of producing objects as long as it has the molecular blueprint of those objects. If you possess the molecular recipe for lasagna, the replicator can whip up a fresh batch for you at a moment's notice.

Is it possible to create a real-life replicator? Some experts like K. Eric Drexler believe that nanotechnology could make this a reality. Nanotechnology could allow us to construct machines just a few billionths of a meter wide — so minuscule that they wouldn't be visible under a light microscope. These molecular machines could, in theory, build materials one molecule at a time. With a swarm of these machines, we could create practically anything, provided we have the right raw materials. However, other scientists, like Richard E. Smalley, argue that there are fundamental challenges that make molecular assemblers practically impossible to develop.

For now, here at Mytour.com, we still make our Earl Grey tea the traditional way. But we remain hopeful that one day nanotechnology will bring the replicator to life!

1: The Sonic Screwdriver

There may be no tool as versatile and indispensable as the Doctor's sonic screwdriver from "Doctor Who." This remarkable gadget can unlock anything from rusty padlocks to high-tech digital keypads. It can reprogram computers, mend faulty wiring, and when needed, serve as a weapon to knock out foes or channel energy to defeat Daleks or Cybermen. Is there anything it can't do?

Well, it can't unlock anything that's sealed with a deadlock. What's that? A plot device to make it harder for the Doctor to escape tight spots. In short, the sonic screwdriver works in nearly every situation — except when the plot requires otherwise. We'd love to have such a tool ourselves. It would be a perfect match for almost any problem. When it doesn’t work, you'll know you're facing a really big challenge.

Although the Doctor has honed his skill with the sonic screwdriver over decades, his human companions have also been able to use it effectively in tricky situations. This gives us hope that such a versatile device could work just as well in the hands of an amateur. We're eagerly awaiting the day when this tool is available for everyone – no toolkit should be without it.

Did we miss your favorite sci-fi gadget? Tell us which one you'd choose!