Futuristic gadgets

Sunny

SF VIP
Location
Maryland
What gadget or appliance that you own would you say is the most "futuristic?" By which I mean, if you had foreseen such a thing in your youth, it would have made you go, "Wow!"

My own favorite is my Roomba irobot vacuum cleaner, which talks to me. The Roomba normally sits on its little dock, getting recharged. When you push the "Clean" button, it moves off the dock and starts making its way around the floor. Today, when I pushed it, it moved off the dock more slowly than usual, then suddenly stopped, as if it wasn't feeling well, and a female robot voice said, "Please charge Roomba." It turned out it hadn't been sitting on the dock properly, and its battery had run out. So I pushed the "Dock" button, and it returned to the dock, where it sat getting charged for several hours, after which it cleaned my carpet.

That's right out of a science fiction movie!
 

Mine would probably be the computer. Just the fact that we're able to communicate with people all over the world online just like we're doing here would have made me say "WOW"!!!!
 
Don't have anything futuristic that I can think of, but I just pulled up a video demo of that Roomba, and now I want one!!!! Cool.
 

I have a vacuum cleaner with electronic functions like I never saw before. It lights up and shuts down when the bag is full. It also needs to be overhauled because I don't think it knows exactly what it's doing.
 
A computer and the Internet. To be able to watch events in other countries as they are happening (or even afterwards) is totally cool! I still say Wow! now!
 
Maybe the toaster you programme that tends to pop up just perfectly toasted.

Not like the older ones where you stood there and either watched it burn, or give out half toasted bread.
 
What gadget or appliance that you own would you say is the most "futuristic?" By which I mean, if you had foreseen such a thing in your youth, it would have made you go, "Wow!"

My own favorite is my Roomba irobot vacuum cleaner, which talks to me. The Roomba normally sits on its little dock, getting recharged. When you push the "Clean" button, it moves off the dock and starts making its way around the floor. Today, when I pushed it, it moved off the dock more slowly than usual, then suddenly stopped, as if it wasn't feeling well, and a female robot voice said, "Please charge Roomba." It turned out it hadn't been sitting on the dock properly, and its battery had run out. So I pushed the "Dock" button, and it returned to the dock, where it sat getting charged for several hours, after which it cleaned my carpet.

That's right out of a science fiction movie!

How cute, Sunny....I have looked at those, but not sure they'll work for me with a lot of area rugs.

I have a new washing machine that senses how big the load is, no setting a dial....also in my new car I scynk my iphone to the radio and can call and talk hands free....so neat.
 
A computer and the Internet. To be able to watch events in other countries as they are happening (or even afterwards) is totally cool! I still say Wow! now!


Me too. I'm most wowed by the internet. To be able to communicate with people in foreign countries, reconnect with long lost friends I thought I'd never see again, get recipes, watch movies, comedy and sports on youtube. I couldn't have believed I would have done these things when I was a kid. It's awesome. :eek:
 
What gadget or appliance that you own would you say is the most "futuristic?" By which I mean, if you had foreseen such a thing in your youth, it would have made you go, "Wow!"

My own favorite is my Roomba irobot vacuum cleaner, which talks to me. The Roomba normally sits on its little dock, getting recharged. When you push the "Clean" button, it moves off the dock and starts making its way around the floor. Today, when I pushed it, it moved off the dock more slowly than usual, then suddenly stopped, as if it wasn't feeling well, and a female robot voice said, "Please charge Roomba." It turned out it hadn't been sitting on the dock properly, and its battery had run out. So I pushed the "Dock" button, and it returned to the dock, where it sat getting charged for several hours, after which it cleaned my carpet.

That's right out of a science fiction movie!

 
My latest "gadget" is my new wristwatch. Its analog and controlled by satellite in Colorado. I never have to wind it; its accurate to the split second.

BUT, it actually TALKS ! On the hour it says (in a man's voice), "The time now is (eg) 9:47 PM".

OR, when I press a button, it says whatever time it is. If its dark and I can't see the dial, I'll KNOW what time it is.

When I go to bed I have to put it in another room b/c I don't want it to awaken me in my sleep.

I KNOW it's a gadget but it IS handy.
 
For me, it would have to be the computer and, like others above have said, the ability to connect with folks all over the world, and access any information I want to. I certainly did not foresee that this would be possible. I learned to type on a manual typewriter and did all my school research for papers, etc. by trudging down to the library, hauling down books and taking notes.

I was quite amazed when electric typewriters came out, and it took me a while to learn not to automatically reach up to throw the carriage. I also thought correction tape was the most wonderful thing -- no more trying to erase a typo and making a hole in the paper and having to start over -- and copiers, not having to make carbon copies. WOW!
 


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