Remember those futuristic gadgets from dystopian films that seemed light-years away? Guess what? The future is now! From helpful robot companions to mind-bending transparent screens, some of that once-imaginary tech is actually available. It feels like we’re stepping right into a sci-fi movie. Let’s explore 10 pieces of tech that suggest fiction is becoming fact.
10. Amazon Astro
Imagine a robot helper in your home, something straight out of a futuristic tale. That’s Amazon Astro for you. More like a friendly pet than a cold machine, Astro zips around on three wheels, learning the layout of your house. Its big, expressive eyes on its screen give it a cute, approachable look, far from any intimidating movie robot.
Astro is designed to be a versatile assistant. It can keep an eye on your home with security checks using facial recognition when you’re out. Need to send something to another room? Astro can deliver it. It can even play movies or TV shows. While it’s currently available by invitation only, you can request one, and it probably won’t be long before this home helper is a common sight.
9. Transparent TV Screens
Transparent screens are a staple in almost every movie set in the future – think Iron Man’s interface or displays in Divergent. If you’ve always dreamed of having one, good news! Several companies are now making these see-through marvels a reality.
LG is one of the leaders, offering 55-inch OLED screens that are completely transparent. While currently aimed at commercial displays for storefronts, it’s easy to imagine them in our living rooms soon. Chinese maker Xiaomi also launched a transparent TV for home use back in 2020. It was a 55-inch OLED panel that could turn fully clear, though its hefty $7,200 price tag made it a luxury. Still, the tech is here and evolving!
8. VR Headsets
Who hasn’t imagined escaping into a world of endless possibilities, like the characters in Ready Player One? With some of the real-world events we face, a little escape can be very tempting. Virtual Reality (VR) headsets, first invented way back in 1968, make this possible.
VR didn’t become truly popular until the mid-2010s, but now it’s widely used for fun and work. The pandemic even boosted its sales, with millions of headsets sold last year. VR is likely the future of gaming, offering incredibly immersive experiences. It’s also great for businesses, allowing deeper interactions with products for both customers and creators.
7. Self-Driving Cars
This one might seem obvious, but it fully deserves a spot. Robots are meant to make life easier, right? Imagine your daily commute, often the most stressful part of the day. Wouldn’t it be great to just sit back and let the car handle the driving?
We’re almost there. Tesla’s Autopilot is one of the most advanced systems, allowing the car to accelerate, slow down, and even change lanes for you. Mercedes-Benz is another pioneer, being the first to sell a car with level-3 autonomous driving in 2022. The big question remains: Do you trust the system completely, especially after hearing about incidents where autopilot was engaged and attention lapsed? The tech is impressive, but the human element is still key.
6. Smart Glasses
Wearable tech has been booming, with smartwatches and even self-lacing shoes. Now, that futuristic tech is moving to your eyewear. Smart glasses that display information right before your eyes are no longer just science fiction.
Several companies have dipped their toes into this market. Some smart glasses can take pictures or play music. The truly futuristic ones, however, project data onto the lenses. While some early models from companies like Google looked a bit cyborg-like, many people hope for designs that look like regular glasses. Today’s smart glasses often use augmented reality (AR) for watching movies, getting navigation, or other small tasks. Brands like Vusik offer Blade glasses with built-in cameras, though they tend to be chunky and pricey. With Apple rumored to enter this space, we might see some big leaps soon.
5. 3D Printers
Imagine being able to create almost anything you can design in just a few hours. This once seemed like something only possible with massive industrial machines. In the early 2010s, 3D printers were still very expensive for everyday users and hobbyists. Features like heated print beds were only on high-end models.
Then companies like Creality changed the game with products like their Ender line. Suddenly, hobbyist 3D printing became affordable, with printers offering premium features for under $200 – a price unheard of at the time. 3D printing technology has since transformed countless industries. Custom parts of any shape or size can be made quickly and cheaply. As long as you learn the software, the creative possibilities with these futuristic machines are truly endless.
4. Iris Scanning Smartphones
It’s a classic movie scene: a character approaches a top-secret door, leans in, and has their eye scanned for access. Well, that cool tech now exists in the device many of us use constantly – our smartphones!
Chinese phone maker Fujitsu was the first to put iris scanning into a smartphone back in 2015. While it hasn’t become a super common feature on the very latest phones, it’s definitely one of the coolest. Samsung included it on its popular Galaxy S9 and S9+ models. Today, biometric security like fingerprint readers and facial recognition are standard on most new flagship phones. Even if iris scanning isn’t the dominant method, it’s still amazing to see a feature once confined to sci-fi movies available on consumer devices.
3. Smart Refrigerators
Here’s a fun fact: refrigerators that connect to the internet have been around since the late 1990s! Early articles even joked about living like “The Jetsons.” But an internet-connected fridge – what’s the real point?
Today’s smart fridges can display useful info like the weather or news. Their most talked-about feature is often the ability to see inside without opening the door, usually via an internal camera. While this might not save much time (you could just open the door), it’s still a neat tech addition to a common household appliance. Plus, who wouldn’t find it a bit cool to watch TV or movies on their fridge? So far, smart fridges haven’t become a massive hit, as most of their features are already on your smartphone. But who knows? Maybe one day they’ll be smart enough to do your grocery shopping for you!
2. Smart…Rings?
Adding to the growing list of wearable tech from a seemingly dystopian future are smart rings. Sounds a bit odd, doesn’t it? But these tiny gadgets pack a surprising punch. Most smart rings on the market offer features similar to fitness trackers, like monitoring your heart rate and even blood oxygen levels.
The really cool factor comes with their other abilities. Health tracking is a great start, but making phone calls from a tiny ring? That’s a step up. The ORII smart ring, for example, lets you do just that. It’s a bit larger than other smart rings, but it could be perfect for those who don’t like wearing smartwatches but still want call functionality. Some smart rings can even control smart lights or blinds using gestures. An all-in-one ring that does as much as a phone but is a fraction of the size – now that’s some impressive tech!
1. Live Video Drones
The very idea of drones often feels like it flew straight out of a dystopian story. Delivery drones, security drones, drones that can explore places humans can’t reach – the list goes on. Drones have quickly become incredibly popular with consumers and hobbyists, as they can be bought for reasonable prices and are a lot of fun for those who enjoy building and flying them.
In today’s world, drones are already changing industries. They can monitor wildfire spread, survey and spray crops on farms, and even help law enforcement manage large events. The technology and agility in modern quadcopters are remarkable, allowing for many different uses. Not too long ago, drones were mostly seen in futuristic predictions. Now, they are everywhere, readily available for purchase at relatively low costs, truly a sign of the future arriving.
From your kitchen to the glasses on your face, technology once confined to the silver screen is rapidly becoming part of our everyday lives. These ten gadgets show just how blurred the lines between science fiction and reality have become. While undeniably cool, it makes you wonder what’s next and how these advancements will shape our future world. Will it be a utopia, or something a little more… dystopian?
What dystopian tech do you think will be common next? Or which of these gadgets surprised you the most? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
