NASA and iPhone bring Star Trek Tricoder one step closer to reality.

[Msterbeau]

http://www.macworld.com/article/143788/2009/11/nasa_iphone.html

If you are in need of finding out if there is ammonia, chlorine gas or methane in the air around you, there’s an iPhone app for that. A researcher at NASA's Ames Research Center has developed what NASA calls a proof of concept of new technology that would bring compact, low-cost, low-power, high-speed nanosensor-based chemical sensing capabilities to cell phones.

[Troy Spiral (13)]

Interesting. Was reading something similar awhile back.

The PADDs "personal access display devices" from TNG/DS9/VOY are also essentially here already as (PDAs / Smartphones). Along with cell phones actually being MORE advanced (in a lose sense) than the communicators from the original series and lots of other less well known used-to-be-far-out but now already (or coming soon) predictions of sci fi. One thing that wont be comming pretty much ever, due to physical realities is the transporter. *sniffles*

[creatureofthenyte]

Damnit. That's what I get for posting before my morning coffee. The transporter would be the ultimate; although then everyone in the transportation industry would be out of work.

Edited November 12, 2009 by creatureofthenyte

[torn asunder]

...One thing that wont be comming pretty much ever, due to physical realities is the transporter. *sniffles*

check this out!!

[Fidget(+)]

Is it sad that since I'm such a Trekkie, I'm very excited for all this?

[StormKnight (1)]

Is it sad that since I'm such a Trekkie, I'm very excited for all this?

No, it just means you are part of the crowd here.

[Head Wreck]

check this out!!

that would so be on my wish lists, even if it were inanimate objects only, think of the baggage reduction on flights, the logistics of most vital things like medical aid and supplies to front-line troops without need of convoys that need protecting or intercepted

[AstralCrux]

Time to start saving for our Transporters. By the time they come out with one, as a group we might be able to afford one. But, we could make a killing as a travel service! :-)