Photo courtesy of k-ideas via Flickr Creative Commons
Next year, the movie ‘Back to the Future’ predicts that we’ll have flying cars and hoverboards as our modes of transportation. Unfortunately, from where we are standing now, it looks like there’s still a lot of technological advancements before we can reach that point in the future. We’re currently excelling in producing almost anything in touchscreen technology, from smartphones to washing machines with touch pads. But, unknown to many, there are many Sci-fi gadgets on the market that gives you a first hand idea on what to expect next in technology. To give you a heads up, here’s a roundup of the futuristic devices that you an try right now.
1. GE VScan
If you still remember the tricorder in Star Trek movies, which is used to provide efficient and painless diagnosis for patients, then you will be amazed with the GE VScan medical scanner. The electronics company has finally decided to invest in something that his competitors haven’t ventured on before – futuristic and portable medical equipment. It looks like a flip-top phone with a powerbank. Similar to an ultrasound, the GE VScan scans your internal body of any critical issues, especially around the heart. It only takes around two minutes to get the full results.
2. iPhone 5S: First 64-bit smartphone with fingerprint scanner
We’ve heard of the first fingerprint scanner smartphone before, with the silent (and very unnoticeable) launch of the Motorola Atrix. But, Apple has more surprises for us on its new flagship, the iPhone 5S. The handset’s page on O2 presented its ‘Forward Thinking’ features such as the PC-like processor (64-bit architecture) that performs twice faster than before and the M7 Co-processor that takes care of motion tasks to save battery life. The Touch ID sensor, which Motorola tries to sue Apple for, can unlock the device and provide access to the user when purchasing music and apps.
3. 4K TV Resolution (Sony quasi pro VPL-VW1100ES)
Goodbye HDTV and hello to 4K Ultra HD televisions. This new breed of television delivers four times better picture quality than your current 1080p HD TV, which means details of images will be clearer, the texture will be greater, and photo blend will be smoother. Steve May of TechRadar reported that all 4K UHD TVs on the market sport 50-inch screen and beyond. This is because smaller screens cannot handle 3840 x 2160 screen resolution, which is almost near to the digital cinema standard of 4096 x 2160 resolution.
4. Vuzix M100 Smart Glasses
We are expecting that Google Glass will somehow be included in this list, but unfortunately, the search giant is not yet ready to reveal is much-awaited virtual smart glasses. But, another contender took the spot for the first smart glasses on the market – Vuzix M100. Digital Trends’s Andy Boxall said it’s actually more of a hybrid of earpiece and monocle mounted over the head. The view is similar to images from a 4-inch screen viewed at 14-inch away. It runs the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, with 1GB RAM, 1 GHz processor, 4GB of internal memory, MicroSC slot, microphone, sensors and a speaker for voice command. The camera on the front can also take 5-megapixel still pictures or shoot 1080p videos.
5. Celluon Magic Cube Laser Projection Keyboard
If there’s one part of tomorrow that we’re certain that is the rise of projected items. Today, even a computer keyboard can be projected by a laser light through a small box — introducing Celluon Magic Cube. A plug and play device connected via Bluetooth, this cube sized box projects a laser keyword that you can use along with your laptop, smartphone, or tablet, as well as a multitouch sensor mouse.
6. LG Lifeband Touch Smartwatch
Smartwatches will emerge this century, and expect the mobile manufacturers to bring on their best games. LG presented their Lifeband Touch at the CES 2014 that pushes notifications from your Android or iOS smartphone, as well as become a fitness band that calculates your steps and heart rate. It works with the heart rate earphones from the same manufacturer that has a sensor that sends heart rate and oxygen consumption information via Bluetooth. CNET’s Editorial features said that “this (Lifeband Touch and Heart Rate Earphones) is like if Pebble and a Fitbit got married.”
7. 3D Optical Finger Mouse
Say goodbye to wires or wireless physical mice, when you can have your fingers do the touching. No, we are not talking about touchscreens, but a real invisible mouse for your laptop and PC. Mouse pad-free, this device is strapped on your finger and uses the optical lens to detect your hand movement. It also has an auto-roll and zooming function. The plug from the 2-button Ergonomic USB optical finger mouse is plug and play.
8. Underwater Digital Camera Mask
Another headpiece technology is this Underwater Digital Camera Mask that can take pictures and videos while submerge in water. It sports a 500-megapixel front camera that produces VGA format videos and 2560×1920 solutions photos. It saves all output in its built-in 16MB flash memory that expands up to 2GB of external MicroSC. Running two triple A batteries, the camera automatically turns off when not in use for more than 120 seconds to save battery life.
9. Super Mini SLR camera
Weighing only 11 grams, this super small single lens reflex (SLR) camera can produce a 36-minute long videos or 200 million pixel photos. It supports Micro SD or Trans Flash cards for data storage. All photos are in JPG format and can be transferred to your PC or laptop through a USB port, where you also charge the mini SLR camera.
10. Cyclone Power Technologies
First seen on Back to the Future movie where the car will be fueled with garbage, this gadget has finally come into a reality. The Cyclone Power Technologies is a power generator device that produces energy from biodegradable agents such as orange peels. It requires no fossil fuel oils, thus it’s certainly environmentally-friendly and safe to all users.
This is a quick roundup of the futuristic and sci-fi gadgets that are now available on the market. Try acquiring one of the items we listed above and be one of the first to experience the future at your fingertips.
