‘Star Trek’ Technology That You Thought Would Never Exist, But It Does Today

Star Trek has provided viewers with a glimpse of the future for the past half-century. Viewers were transported to strange new worlds while seeking new beginnings and civilizations and exploring areas no one had ever imagined before.

Suppose there’s one thing we’ve learned from these televised journeys is that space is brimming with imaginary technical marvels. Some of which may have impacted real-world scientific advancements, discoveries, and inventions. But is it truly Star Trek?

We analyze data from Starfleet’s most sensitive files to find out which Star Trek technology has beamed into existence.

Warp Drive

In recent years, scientists have grown increasingly enthusiastic about the prospect of a warp propulsion system, which could one day give the blueprints for speedy interplanetary travel. One of the most recognizable Star Trek technologies, Warp Drive, works by creating warp fields that wrap the Starship Enterprise in a spacetime bubble.

This would distort the spacetime continuum and propel the ship forward at a faster-than-light speed. Surprisingly, NASA has stated that this utterly fictitious concept may be feasible.

Communicators

People have been utilizing real-life communicators, often known as cell phones, to communicate with one another for years. The crew of the Starship Enterprise used communicators to communicate with individuals onboard and offboard the ship in the fictional Star Trek world.

The handheld device allows crew members to communicate with other starships in orbit, valuable in emergencies. Martin Cooper, the man credited with inventing the first handheld cellular phone in the 1970s, has indicated that the device’s prototypes were influenced by Star Trek technology.

Replicators

The replicator serves a variety of tasks and purposes in the Star Trek universe, with some appearing to be more prominent than others. Captain Jean-Luc Picard, for example, routinely orders a cup of “Tea, Earl Grey, Hot” from the machine, which is then prepared from the ship’s stocks.

3D printers, which create 3D objects from a computer-aided design model, are now available as real-world replicators. While they may not be able to make the perfect cup of coffee, these machines have a variety of practical methods for producing complicated products.

Telepresence

The crew of the Starship Enterprise has access to unique telepresence technology that allows one person to interact with another in such a way that both parties feel as if they are in the exact location. However, they are separated by time and space.

Since its inception in 1966, this technology has become a more common and valuable communication tool in real-life situations. Cisco’s telepresence system, for example, provides an authentic experience by reflecting the surroundings of several users in a videoconference to make it appear as if they’re in the same room.

Tricorders

Another critical piece of equipment seen in the original Star Trek series is the tricorder. The multipurpose handheld device can sensor scan an environment or a person and save data for later examination.

In particular, Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy frequently uses it to diagnose and treat patients. A variety of comparable goods have been developed on Earth to duplicate the Star Trek device’s features. For example, QuantuMDx’s DNA Lab can scan a patient in 15 minutes and provide a diagnosis, while NASA uses LOCAD to detect organisms on the International Space Station.

Universal Translators

While planet-hopping aboard the Starship Enterprise, Captain Kirk and his crew come into contact with several alien races and species hailing from various exotic new worlds, thus, the universal translator is a vital piece of equipment for decoding these foreign languages.

Today, many technologies are vying for the same goal, albeit few have yet to reach Starfleet’s level. However, several companies are making significant progress in developing more advanced software to translate complicated words, mainly through mobile apps.

Hypospray

Because Leonard “Bones” McCoy is a doctor, the hypospray is a medical device that speeds up providing medicine by injecting it through the skin using a non-invasive conveyance mechanism.

Jet injectors have been around since the 1960s, and new technology is continually being developed, even if syringes have not yet been phased out. In the not-too-distant future, MIT researchers developed a next-generation technology that might make a trip to the doctor’s office less uncomfortable.

Conclusion

The Star Trek universe is known for breaking new ground. With various gadgets now at our fingertips, we want you to let us know if you think we’ve missed any other essential real-world Trek-nology. With multiple devices now at our fingertips, do you think we’ve missed any other essential real-world Trek-nology?