The Future is Now: 5 Sci-Fi Gadgets for Everyday Life

You can show off your fan pride by buying stickers, or you can go a little futher. These sci-fi gadgets can immerse you in your favorite show or movie. Sometimes that’s because our technology finally caught up to Star Trek. Sometimes it’s just because  Who doesn’t want to feel like the Doctor or a Sith Lord? Okay, well, maybe not a Sith Lord, but here are five awesome products you’ll love.

Oculus Rift/HTC Vive

After a failed start in the 90s, virtual reality seemed like a distant dream.  But the dream came roaring back into the present with virtual reality sets like the Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive. These devices allow you to immerse yourself in your favorite video games, doing everything from gladiatorial combat to teaming up with your friends on a starship bridge. Just make sure you avoid wearing the red shirts to ensure your survival.

Star Trek TNG Bluetooth ComBadge

You need to talk to the bridge – stat! You obviously need this Bluetooth ComBadge for hands-free calling. Brought to you by Think Geek, this officially-licensed Star Trek gear connects to your phone and allows you to answer calls or listen to music with a push of your finger. It plays the classic chirp sound effect from the show and works well with Siri, Google Now, and Cortana. Now, all you have to do is resist pressing it several times just to hear the chirping noise. Captain out.

FlashForge 3D Printer

Anyone who loves Star Trek remembers the replicator. That crucial device had the ability to create and recycle objects seemingly out of thin air. Nowadays, you can actually do that with 3D printers. 3D printers have a ton of applications and can create nearly anything, from tools to toys – including a stellar martini glass. There are even 3D printers for food now – though they might not be quite ready to pour you a cup of Earl Grey. FlashForge’s 3D printer is a great starter option to make smaller objects or designs on a budget.

Lightsaber

Okay, fine. This one isn’t a real gadget. But if we can replicate tools and talk through our lapel pins it only seems fair that Star Wars get some love, too. And honestly, as realistic as Ultra Sabers are, you might forget for a second that it can’t really slice a hand off. Sites like Saber Forge and Ultra Sabers give you a breathtaking array of options, letting you build a lightsaber as unique as any in Star Wars. Ultra Sabers lets you choose the body and add claws, emitters, couplers, pommels, and even pick the sound it makes when you start it. Saber Forge lets you choose emitters, switch sections, and even whole sound fonts. Just…please stay away from the Younglings.

Sonic Screwdriver Programmable TV Remote

Nothing tool on TV was ever useful than the sonic screwdriver from Doctor Who. Who doesn’t want one of their own? Become a master of time and space with your very own sonic screwdriver. Unfortunately, it isn’t as versatile as the one in the show unless you’re navigating your television. ThinkGeek has a couple of models to choose from, with a gesture-based control scheme that you can program yourself. With up to 39 remote control codes that can be stored and a variety of gestures you can mimic, it’s hard not to feel like you’re in control of wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey.

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