The Coolest Star Trek Gadgets

Versions of Phasers, Communicators and Tricorders Now Exist

Star Trek's fantastic future debuted on NBC in 1966. Helping achieve an exciting futuristic look was a ton of awesome tools. These props simulated incredibly cool gadgets, which Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock employed to seek out new life and explore strange worlds. Versions of these terrific toys are now used in our own world.

A new Star Trek film from director JJ Abrams is now filming, with a scheduled release in December 2008. No doubt these gadgets will be in the new movie to thrill us once again.

Communicator

This one is all around us. Flip mobile phones remind us of Star Trek's walkie-talkie radios. With wireless headsets and bluetooth ear clips, using a cell phone like Kirk almost seems obsolete now. However if you recall Lt. Uhura's silver earpiece, you see a parallel between our current cell ear devices. Uhura's earpiece was larger, but in most respects it functioned much as cellular bluetooth sets.

Phaser

Many think this was a laser or ray gun. Although it was a deadly weapon, it could also be set to merely stun. For years now the similar sounding TASER, has enabled law enforcement professionals to take violent people into custody without using deadly force. Phasers can also be used as cutting tools or to provide heat to a chilly away team on a cold planet.

Tricorder

Tricorders were portable computers, but also much more. The name came from tri for three and corder for recorder. It basically meant a device, which could sense, record and process three main things: Geological for planet terrain, Biological for lifeform study and Meteorological for weather patterns and atmosphere. Companies have actually produced similar devices and although they're expensive and bulky, the constant shrinking of technology may see explorers using hand held devices to determine unknown elements during their own treks.

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