MOVIE GADGETS YOU MIGHT SEE IN REAL LIFE
Article copyrighted to Dan Reilly, originally posted at Here, click to see original article
What happens when science catches up to all that cool technology we've seen in movies? Are bizarre Hollywood creations simply fiction or a sign of things to come? Here, Switched presents a collection of famous gadgets from your favorite films and tells you when, or if, you'll see them in reality. The answers might surprise you.
Iron Man
Suit
In the recent blockbuster 'Iron Man,' Robert Downey Jr. plays Tony Stark, a billionaire defense industry inventor who builds a suit that gives him extreme strength, an array of weapons, and the ability to fly. Surprisingly, calling it standard comic book fare would a mistake.
According to an article from Popular Science, an inventor named Steve Jacobsen and his company, Sarcos, are working on an exoskeleton for the military that would allow soldiers to pick up hundreds of pounds without breaking a sweat. The XOS uses a series of sensors and hydraulics controlled by a computer that's designed to mimic and minimize the strain on the user's muscles.
In actuality, the suit resembles Sigourney Weaver's from 'Aliens' more than Iron Man's, and the drawbacks are that it can only run on batteries for 40 minutes at a time. But hey, it's one powerful step closer to real-life superheroes.
Powered Rope
Ascender
After watching Batman scale large buildings with no real superpower, we all wanted to know if we could really get those wonderful toys. The closest answer comes from ATLAS Devices, manufacturers of the Powered Rope Ascender.
Created during a military sponsored contest at MIT, the gadget can haul a fully-laden soldier or fireman up a rope at up to 10 feet per second. Combined with other methods of hauling, the Ascender can lift up to 1000 pounds. While not yet commercially available, ATLAS hopes the ascender is used outside of military and law enforcement in areas such as tree trimming and construction.
Alas, the device doesn't come with a sweet boomerang or gun. Yet.
Force Fields
If 'Independence Day' or 'Star Trek' taught us anything, it's that we're screwed if our enemies invent force fields. Maybe that's why our military and many scientists around the world are putting so much money and effort into developing Plasma Shields, which have similar properties to their fictional counterparts.
The basic premise is this – plasma, which is gas with all its particles ionized, thickens at high temperatures. If properly focused and controlled, it could prevent objects from passing through. The US Military is currently developing the Plasma Acoustic Shield System, which creates mini explosions of plasma to both momentarily stun an attacker and deflect projectiles.
Still in development, the technology isn't yet at the point where it deflects bullets or even missiles, but it certainly looks to be on the horizon.
Transporter Beam
How many times have you been stuck in traffic or an airport and wished you had a Scottish friend who could beam you anywhere in the world? One recent scientific discovery proves that we're on the way to making this 'Star Trek' invention into reality, one particle at a time.
Using a theory called quantum entanglement, European scientists successfully teleported a block of data between telescopes 90 miles apart. The theory relies on the idea that two photons can be created to act identically to each other, no matter how far they apart. A third photon is teleported from the transmitter, acting upon the first in a way that will be duplicated by the second. Yes, it's complicated enough that even Albert Einstein referred to it as "spooky action at a distance."
The letdown of this experiment is that it's still nowhere near able to transport anything but the simplest forms of matter. It will more likely be used for communication rather than beaming anybody anywhere. Then again, who would've thought the Rockies would make the World Series?
Tractor Beam
Moving an object without physically touching it works well for both Imperial warships and couch potatoes. Since telekinesis doesn't seem to work, we'll have to rely on laser beams.
In 2001, scientists from St. Andrew's University in found that using two laser beams with an interference pattern can move and rotate molecules 100 times smaller than human hair. On such a scale, this means that researchers will not have to physically or chemically alter the particles to rearrange them. On a larger scale, it may mean that someday larger objects can be moved, such as motors and other rotating gadgets.
On a different note, if we're ever in danger of an earthbound asteroid, NASA speculates that the gravity from a spaceship parked near the rock for a year would significantly alter its course. Thankfully, Ben Affleck will not be involved.
Touch Computers
Before Tom went nuts, fans flocked to 'Minority Report' and came out saying, "I wish I had that computer." Now, there are a variety of different options that will be available in the near future.
In 2005, a defense company began working on a real version of the movie's computer for the military in conjunction with John Underkoffler, the researcher who proposed the idea to the filmmakers. The user wears reflective gloves monitored by a camera and manipulates the images on a projected screen. The idea is to cut down on time wasted by keystrokes and mouse clicks when sifting through large amounts of data.
More recently, Microsoft announced Surface, its new tabletop touch screen computer. Multiple users can manipulate the programs onscreen using their fingertips and have the computer recognize objects like a glass of wine or a paint brush. The device will cost $5,000 to $10,000 and be used mostly in entertainment business. Home versions will most likely be available in 3 to 5 years.
Apple, on the other hand, offers multi-touch interaction on the iPhone and iPod touch. There are also rumors that the company, which owns many multi-touch and flat touchscreen patents, will include the technology in upcoming notebooks and monitors.
Terminators
Falling somewhere in between a Terminator and the lovable Johnny 5 from 'Short Circuit,' a new South Korean robot might reduce human casualties in policing and warfare or simply wipe out mankind as we know it.
Last year, a South Korean conglomerate announced the Intelligent Surveillance and Guard Robot, a machine they hope will guard the border between them and their Northern neighbors. The robot can identify people, trees, and vehicles from up to 2.5 miles during the day and half that at night. When approached by a human, the bot will ask for a password. If the password is not given, it can either sound an alarm, fire rubber bullets, or say hello with its K3 machine gun.
The robots will cost $200,000 apiece and will be marketed to also protect civilian areas such as airports, pipelines, and power plants. Badass leather jackets not included.
The Matrix
Okay, so even though we haven't been enslaved by evil robots yet – that we know of, anyway – more and more people are forsaking regular human interaction in favor of virtual worlds. From email to IM to Myspace to Second Life, you have to wonder where the trend will stop.
Sure, games like World of Warcraft offer a universe where people can interact and live out fantasies, but now with Second Life and Google's forthcoming rival network, people can live entire lives online. If graphics and virtual reality technology improve to the point where they're widely available, how many people will focus on their created lives instead? Short of meeting basic human needs and procreating, it seems that the possibilities to these worlds are endless.
Invisibility Cloak
Fans of 'Harry Potter' and 'Predator' ask themselves the same question – what would you do if you were invisible? Luckily for peepers and creepers out there, scientists think they're close to achieving that goal.
Researchers around the world are experimenting with meta-materials, composites of polymers and coils or wires that manipulate electromagnetic radiation paths. In theory, they could be built to bend light so the viewer sees around it as if nothing is there. Unfortunately, movement cancels the effect and construction is extremely difficult.
More conventionally, a Japanese scientist created a coat with material that projects images from a camera mounted on the back. From the front you see exactly what is behind the coat. The material may have many uses, including medical and decorative purposes.
