Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket - io9 Comments

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

CodeCat — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 14:16:30 PST

How could they miss putting these gems on the list:

1. Gary Seven's pen from the "Assignment:Earth" episode of the original Star Trek.

2. Derek Flint's lighter from the "Our Man Flint" and "In Like Flint" movies.

3. The stopwatch that could stop time from the "A Kind of a Stopwatch" episode of the Twilight Zone series.

CodeCat

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

chrystlubitshi — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 12:01:33 PST

all this and no mention of the 'magic bullet'??

i mean.. 10 seconds away from any gourmet food one could want?? come on! chocolate moousse.. omlets... individual mixed/frozen drinks for up to four people at your studio party?? (can't forget the screw on top that covers the threads! in individual colours so you always know which drink is yours!!!!)

chrystlubitshi

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

assho — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 17:56:14 PST

www.Thinkgeek.com - sonic screwdriver for $14.99

assho

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

Electroqueen — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 13:25:41 PST

Nuts to the Sonic Screwdriver, I'd rather have that thing from "Star Trek" that seals wounds and holes. You know that thing the medics use.
I'd use to seal up people's buttcheeks for a good time.

Electroqueen

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

person65535 — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 08:45:45 PST

Sonic screwdriver but with an option to change the light colour depending on my mood

person65535

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

WickedGlee — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 08:42:24 PST

I'd take the flashy-thing any day. Just think of what you could do with it. "Here's your change." FLASH. "Uh, here's your change." FLASH. "Uh, here's your change..."

WickedGlee

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

strider_mt2k — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 06:35:11 PST

Sonic Screwdriver, absolutely.

It's what my Leatherman hopes to evolve into.

strider_mt2k

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

Mrrix32 — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 03:29:49 PST

@ Every one who is against me

Well OK series 1 her voice was a bit off-putting but series 2.... well I suppose it was the effect of the new Doctor after all! Oh and no where near as Chav as Lucie Miller.

@92BuickLeSabre:
I was speaking from the 2nd Xmas Special

Mrrix32

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

bgplpshep — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:22:43 PST

Why the heck wouldn't you want a neuralizer. With a neuralizer, you can keep trying every time you mess up a conversation.

Man: Boy you're hot!
Woman: Beat it, you jerk!
(Flash)
Man: Excuse me, miss, can I buy you a drink?
Woman: I'm here with my boy friend...
Man: When did you meet him?
Woman: Two weeks ago, why?
Man: Two weeks ago? (Fiddles with the dials on the neuralizer)
(Flash)
Man: Excuse me, miss, can I buy you a drink?

It's a device that could truly be of benefit to members of both sexes. Ladies could make those annoying guys forget that they ever met in the first place.

bgplpshep

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

aspiringexpatriate — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 21:20:40 PST

Mice aren't cylinder shaped. I'm going with phallic obsession. I mean if a gun is the standard phallic imagery, then of course empowering handheld sci-fi gadgets are. Doesn't make it gay, just phallic obsessed.

aspiringexpatriate

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

braak — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 20:41:59 PST

@Spaceboy: It's a coincidence, I think. Hands are good at holding onto cylinders. Hand-held things, it stands to reason, should be cylinder-shaped.

braak

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

Spaceboy — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:57:37 PST

hmm no self lubricating vibrating fleshlight here...but lots of phalic objects as has been pointed out. Is SF gay?

Spaceboy

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

FrnkSmth — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:23:14 PST

The sonic screwdriver is such a magic wand. But if I could have a toolbelt, I'd love to have a sonic laser too.

FrnkSmth

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

BartMack — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:16:56 PST

Wha-? I gotta really awesome *device* that fits in my pocket...... (oh, that's not what they meant, is it?)

BartMack

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

Dasyatis — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 18:07:57 PST

Not sure whether I`d count a lightsabre as pocket sized. Just a little too big. I`m sure it`d hang out by a sizable amount and keep falling into the toilet when I pulled my pants up.

Dasyatis

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

aspiringexpatriate — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:12:11 PST

I forgot all about Time Trax. I saw Darrian Lambert in some Sci-Fi channel disaster movie. I remember thinking it was good that he still finds work.

aspiringexpatriate

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

DeadWriter — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:01:15 PST

Ziggy was a super computer, I think it was the whole Quantum Leap site, so the Ziggy shown was only the interface.

I nominate SELMA, Specified Encapsulated Limitless Memory Archive, or from Time Trax. It was a super computer, it was a senescent AI, and it could project it's avatar as a sexy bikini woman if needed. Plus it was the size of a credit card.

Second, Space Man's Spif's Transmogrification Gun. Screw making a single marshmallow, I want to turn my enemy into a pile of marshmallows and then roast them.

Pete has it right- the Omni from Voyagers a Time Machine in one's palm. Unfortunately for the Jon-Erik Hexum, who played Phineas Bogg in the show, he didn't know that prop guns could kill and that prop time machines don't work.

DeadWriter

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

SpeneyG — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 15:46:16 PST

Mobile Holographic emitter from Star Trek Voyager. Could drive your lambo to work every morning then shut it off ant put the emitter in your pocket.

SpeneyG

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

aspiringexpatriate — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 15:10:00 PST

@jennaw: Also, he needs a companion who won't think he's the dreamiest thing since, um... dreams. Hopefully when Freeya returns the writers will have stopped that.
@92buicklesabre: Everyone's stuck there. No new Doctor til spring 08, cept Kylie Christmas. Interestingly, BBCAmerica will be showing Torchwood Season 2 one week after it starts in the UK.

aspiringexpatriate

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

CJH_esper — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 15:02:37 PST

Completely overlooked:

* blitterstaff: an antiautomata weapon (Wil McCarthy, _The Collapsium_)
* universal translator (ST:TOS)

Both of these meet the clips-to-belt criterion.

And BTW, the chain knife also appears in Steven Barnes' _Streetlethal_, which IIANM predates John Varley's _The Golden Globe_ by several years.

CJH_esper

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

92BuickLeSabre — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 14:42:47 PST

@aspiringexpatriate and jennaw: I'm with you on Freema, but is it wrong that while I also think "ew, Chav" with Piper it kind of gets me all excited at the same time???

I can't speak beyond Freema because I'm stuck waiting on the Sci-Fi channel here in the U.S.

92BuickLeSabre

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

JChristopher — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 14:04:47 PST

I want a Phaser (Phazer?)! I belong to the NRA and it is my constitutional right to bear arms!!

Well, no, I really don 't belong to the NRA. But I would if I could get one.

And it fits in my pocket.

JChristopher

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

myotheralt — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 14:02:52 PST

@ltcmurray: You know that if there were a tricorder invented, someone would put linux on it.

myotheralt

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

EvilAng3la — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 13:53:41 PST

I just want Utility Fog.

EvilAng3la

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

JennaW, Internet Tough Girl — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 13:49:29 PST

@Mrrix32: *aghast*

@aspiringexpatriate: THANK YOU! I was speechless with shock at the Freema diss, but almost word-for-word went through my brain "Sally Sparrow! Freema! Kylie!"

And Donna has really interesting chemistry with David; she doesn't have to be the young, drop-dead gorgeous thing. The poor dear Doctor needs a friend who'll slap him upside the head when he needs it.

JennaW, Internet Tough Girl

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

braak — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 13:48:08 PST

@aspiringexpatriate: Yeah. Freema was way hoter than Piper.

braak

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

pete — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 13:44:58 PST

I'm gonna date myself with this one, but whatabout the Omni from "Voyagers"?

[www.imdb.com]

and

[replicaprops.com]

pete

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

aspiringexpatriate — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 13:39:37 PST

@MRRIX32
Freema is crazy hot! Now when I rewatch Piper eps, it's like... 'ew chav'

Also, we get Sally Sparrow and Miranda Raison (Jo from Spooks) doing a really humorous 20s New York accent. Oh, and well, Jack, but that's debatable.

aspiringexpatriate

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

Troglodad — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 13:28:07 PST

Oh, cmon! Are we going to be live action elitists? What about Green Lantern's Power Ring. If that's not the ultimate gadget I don't know what is. yes, yes, I know that techinically it's a ring and you wouldn't put it in your pocket, but would you put a lightsaber in there either?

Troglodad

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

NetSlut — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 13:19:59 PST

What about "Box" from Star Cops? A real computer for you...

To clear this up, BTW, Ziggy was both the name of the supercomputer and the engineer who was predominantly responsible for it. The hand-held link was indeed just a terminal.

NetSlut

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

Scazza — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 13:13:30 PST

Maybe I missed it, but I always thought Ziggy was a human that was constantly "googleing" shit about them.

I also want to nominate the handheld teleporter from Sliders... Cool little device that never worked...

Scazza

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

Mrrix32 — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 13:13:12 PST

@godai:
I got one of those things. I was disapointed when I found it didn't even undo locks!

@jennaw:
You got Tennant for the girls, but what about us boys? The assistants are going downhill!
Piper=Hot!!! Freema=ok Tate=Na thanks

Mrrix32

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

TechnoDestructo — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 12:48:05 PST

How about the "Global" from "Earth: Final Conflict?"

Is it just too close to attainability, now? Or has the horror of the last couple seasons of that show blocked it from everyone's memory?

TechnoDestructo

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

keronian — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 12:33:35 PST

@DocGratis: You're right. The colorful translucent lego-thing was called a "hand link". I'm not sure if they ever really showed the size of Ziggy herself, but they did have a few scenes back in the "present" where they talked to Ziggy without use of the hand-link... The part they talked to was this swirling energy-sphere looking thing. - [www.quantumleap-alsplace.com]

keronian

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

BigViper — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 12:33:16 PST

i want to vote for the knock off mini light saber from HHGTTG that toasts bread as you slice it.... mmmmm toast

BigViper

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

Kevin Kelly — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 12:24:40 PST

@Seth L: I just didn't think it would fit in my pants. You know?

Kevin Kelly

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

EMoShunz — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 12:15:08 PST

@omg-ponies: #1 for sure!

EMoShunz

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

Seth L — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 12:10:27 PST

@Seth L:

Yes but it's the ideal of The Guide, something that's a limitless resource, without strings attached.

Seth L

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

TruculentandUnreliable — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 12:09:24 PST

@omg-ponies: I thought the same thing, but then thought, "Nah, it's a fish, not a gadget." Maybe I'm a little anal.

TruculentandUnreliable

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

Nicolars — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 12:04:33 PST

I am too distracted by the gigantic picture of David Tennant to say anything intelligent, however I will note that I like the Master's laser screwdriver better than the sonic screwdriver because you can kill people with it.

Nicolars

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

SeeingI — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 12:01:14 PST

It's a strange world in which Doctor Who is younger and cuter than I.

SeeingI

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

OMG! Ponies! — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 12:00:59 PST

Babel Fish. Not only fits in your pocket, it fits in your ear.

OMG! Ponies!

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

Bensnap — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:59:37 PST

What about Earthworm Jim's Pocket Rocket? That would come in handy if you needed to get to Saturn for delicious Saturn cakes.

Bensnap

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

braak — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:53:13 PST

@Seth L: Yeah, they've almost got a hitchiker's guide, though. It's all about the data--you just get yourself an iPhone, or a Kindle, or something, and plug into [www.bbc.co.uk]

@godai: That's not a real one, though. I wouldn't kill anyone to get that.

braak

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

godai — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:47:37 PST

I actually just bought my roomate a sonic screwdriver for xmas.

[www.thinkgeek.com]

godai

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

MarlboroTestMonkey7 — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:46:38 PST

Not exactly sci-fi, if only for the other dimensionality thing, but I'd would rather have a Lament-Lemarchand's Box.

MarlboroTestMonkey7

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

Seth L — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:45:30 PST

I've always wanted something like a jedi holocron.

just without a boring jedi programmed in.

Oh and how can you forget the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? It's a wholly remarkable book, you know?

Seth L

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

geekgrrl — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:45:25 PST

so THAT'S who that is. call me sleep-deprived, but it would have helped to have the pictures in some kind of order relating to the list. now that i'm taking a better look, that tennant fellow really is quite yummy. mm.

so, no hitchhiker thumb, then? i'd like to use it just to see where i'd end up. you never know what's in our slice of space at this very second.

geekgrrl

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

JennaW, Internet Tough Girl — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:40:54 PST

@aspiringexpatriate: And his real accent with the lovely Scottish brogue

*giggles foolishly*

*sighs*

*writes name + David Tennant on school notebook inside a heart*

*realizes is far too old to be in high school and gets back to work*

JennaW, Internet Tough Girl

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

nutbastard — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:40:04 PST

most awesome sci-fi LITERATURE pocktable gadgets:
Chain Knife (Golden Globe, John Varley)
"Poon", "REASON", and "Dentata" (Snow Crash, Neil Stephenson... he he, "pocketable")

nutbastard

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

aspiringexpatriate — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:34:46 PST

@jennaw and Braak:
Also his guest spot on Graham Norton. Where Graham places an ad in gay mag for a random hookup with him. Oh, and his spot on the Friday Night Project, where he cross dresses and hosts little games. Live TV isn't as good in the US anymore. Also, that ep was my first exposure to Amy Winehouse, so definitely well worth it.

aspiringexpatriate

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

JennaW, Internet Tough Girl — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:33:45 PST

@annalee: Yeah. I do not generally have these kinds of crushes, but I am SO in love with Ten.

@braak: I've been TRYING. Netflix doesn't have it. I'm going to have to buy my own copy. I was in London when it aired originally but I missed most of it due to being in London to not watch TV in my hotel room. *sigh*

JennaW, Internet Tough Girl

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

braak — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:30:21 PST

@jennaw: Huhm. You should see that movie where he plays Casanova, then.

braak

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

braak — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:29:43 PST

@DocGratis: I believe that you are correct.

Also, can I just say how surprised I am at myself, to discover that I'd be willing to murder a stranger for a sonic screwdriver? I wasn't really expecting that reaction.

braak

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

Kevin Kelly — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:29:41 PST

@halloweenjack: That's a good point, Mother Boxes and Boom Tubes, FTW! However, I wouldn't mind having something in my pocket that could dish out hand-held food items. Although they'd have to be skinny food, like "One hot dog with everything, dear replicator. Thanks."

Kevin Kelly

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

DocGratis — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:26:39 PST

I thought... (having not watched since it aired) that Ziggy was not the colorful calculator, but rather a super computer of larger size, but the colorful calculator was link to ziggy...

I thought...

DocGratis

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

tetragami — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:26:24 PST

The Neutralizer is possibly the only thing on that list that could rival the usefullness of Save Points.

tetragami

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

ltcmurray — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:24:21 PST

thhe tricorder
analyze anything, or diagnose illnesses

ltcmurray

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

Annalee Newitz — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:24:03 PST

@jennaw: Srsly! I will admit out loud and in this forum that will be preserved forever that I had a romantic dream about the David Tennant doctor. I don't know what to say in my own defense.

Annalee Newitz

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

vuduboy — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:22:38 PST

you guys have overlooked the most awsome sci-fi pocketable device, the 32 gb ipod touch...

vuduboy

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

halloweenjack — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:20:59 PST

I'm not sure that the handheld replicator from STV should count; the film was such a mess that even Gene Roddenberry said that it shouldn't be in canon. I'd substitute the tricorder (gadget that could instantly tell Spock or whomever whether there was life on a planet, where they were, and if they were coming closer to finish off a redshirt or two) or communicator (original flip-style cell phone).

Also, I'd suggest extending a shout-out to the Mother Box from Jack Kirby's Fourth World comics series [en.wikipedia.org] ; it's not exactly pocket sized (at least not all the time; there were several different models), but is really cool.

halloweenjack

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

JennaW, Internet Tough Girl — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:19:46 PST

@NefariousNewt: Technowhatnow? I was *drooling* over the Doctor.

However, now that I am somewhat recovered, sonic screwdriver, please! Sarah Jane has one; I want one, too! And my own K9.

JennaW, Internet Tough Girl

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

TruculentandUnreliable — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:18:04 PST

I want a replicator and some marshmallows right now. I am too lazy to go get something to eat. And it's FUCKING COLD.

TruculentandUnreliable

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

tuckerch — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:16:43 PST

Kraft had a merchandising tie in with TREK V.

It was a marshmallow dispensor that clipped to the belt. It held, as I recall, five marshmallows. If my memory is correct, it also had hidden within it, a plastic knife and fork, so that one could eat ones marshmallows like a lady or gentleman.

tuckerch

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

NefariousNewt — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:16:14 PST

@braak: Hey, good use for the Lightsaber then...

NefariousNewt

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

NefariousNewt — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:15:53 PST

@jennaw: Could you look at the light, please? *FLASH* Now, you don't find these kinds of things sexy at all... in fact, you're a bit turned off by anyone lusting after bits of fake technology...

NefariousNewt

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

braak — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:14:31 PST

I would--absolutely, I am honest-to-god, here--absolutely KILL A MAN for a sonic screwdriver.

braak

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

NefariousNewt — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:13:51 PST

@92BuickLeSabre: Agreed. Sonic Screwdriver - the ultimate MacGyver gadget. Though the lightsaber has to be a close second. Mind you, the Sonci Screwdriver doesn't require a good command of The Force to be useful.

NefariousNewt

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

JennaW, Internet Tough Girl — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:13:15 PST

Can't post. Drooling.

JennaW, Internet Tough Girl

Six Awesomest Scifi Gadgets That Fit in Your Pocket

92BuickLeSabre — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:07:54 PST

Curious how many of these are so uber-phallic.

"Are you here to save/protect/destroy the world/my town/my life, or are you just happy to see me?"

That said - one sonic screwdriver please.

92BuickLeSabre