"The future is now!" said every community college tech professor near your hometown. Seriously though, the future really is now in some ways, thanks to these ten futuristic gadgets that are either currently available or will be in the not-so-distant future.
Microsoft HoloLens
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All that stuff from the "Minority Report" we always wanted, you know, the holographic screens that jet out in front of us that we can tap like some kind of secret agent, scientific genius or superhero? Yeah, Microsoft has one of those, and it was just unveiled in January. HoloLens allows users to create and manipulate personalized holograms all with the use of goggles. Users can print their holograms using 3D printers and even transport themselves virtually via the HoloLens goggles. HoloLens will be available later this year after the Windows 10 release, and is expected to have a price tag below $500.
Copenhagen Wheel
![futuristic tech gadgets]()
Superpedestrian invented a bike rear wheel that contains a cheery red, smartphone savvy, circular motor, essentially giving your bike a brain, turning it into a smart bike. The motor uses wireless connectivity to track your personal speed and style of riding, then clicks on to boost your speed to make riding faster and easier. Based on terrain, how hard you pedal and how often you brake, the smart controls connected to the pedals assist you in a whole new electric hybrid way. The wheel just had its trial run with more than a hundred satisfied users. For now, they will be shipping in spring at a higher $949 price, but could drop as low as $699.
Breathometer's Mint
![futuristic tech gadgets]()
Say goodbye to morning breath! The lovely people at Breathometer who brought you the portable blood/alcohol level device for your safe driving convenience just came out with Mint, the portable fresh breath device for everyone else's convenience. Tired of people avoiding you for some strange reason you can't put your finger on? That's right, you just ate garlic knots after your third straight day of not brushing and your coworkers switched desk again. Mint is the little green tech wonder that provides fresh breath and hydration, which is directly related to your breath, and records data on your breath and hydration levels over time. Mint's anticipated release is summer 2015, to be priced just under $100.
Flexible Smartphone: Samsung Youm
![futuristic tech gadgets]()
Bendable phones seem like something you might only find aboard an antigravity machine in outer space, but Samsung begs to differ with their invention of the Youm. More flexible than your yogi girlfriend - okay, not that flexible - the Youm is virtually indestructible, made from OLED (organic light-emitting iodide) and featuring the new Windows operating system. It's the first of its kind, but don't be surprised if there is a vast array to choose from soon, as Samsung has the OLED market cornered. The phone was unveiled at CES 2014 and is expected to be available in 2015 around the same time as the Windows 10.
Haier's Transparent, Eye-Controlled TV
![futuristic tech gadgets]()
A high resolution screen you can see right through? And when it's on, you can change settings by moving your eyes? Say it ain't so. As far as innovation goes, this is a great solution to have a black box sitting awkwardly in your living room. But Haier's transparent screen makes leaving the TV off not such an odd thing. This is a hard one to wrap your head around as these screens get smaller and thinner, but now it can also be controlled by the user's eyes. With an OLED center, this unique prototype is reminiscent of Samsung's 14-inch transparent laptop and is expected for an upcoming release.
Solar Power Socket
![futuristic tech gadgets]()
We'd all take solar panels for Christmas and say goodbye to ridiculous energy bills, but we're not holding our breath when solar technology is so expensive, that is, until this sweet little socket was birthed. Designed by Kyuho Song & Boa Oh, the socket is a charger that sticks to your window - preferably one facing the sun, if you want it to work - and charges your basic electronics . It takes five hours to charge but works for up to 10 hours, essentially working as a power socket for basic needs. Hey, it's no solar panel, but it's a start. Maybe you can even work away from your desk. They're not the only ones though, as Apple has been rumored to be coming out with solar chargers too, amongst other big innovations.
ChefJet Pro: 3D Food Printer
![futuristic tech gadgets]()
Everybody talks about 3D printers like they're the next cloning devices, but it wasn't until someone mentioned the ChefJet Pro - the world's first certified, food preparing printer - that our ears perked up. Equipped to sculpt edible confections of all shapes and sizes, ChefJet has the ability to print recipes that include sugar, chocolate, watermelon and other kitchen goodies that basically make your grandma's baking obsolete. The ChefJet Pro is expected to be available the back half of 2015.
Ring
![futuristic tech gadgets]()
Sure you have rings, but nothing like Ring, the silver circle that controls your entire life with just one gesture, from music and television controls to uploading photos and giving you the weather. Available now at $130 after receiving the Innovation Award at CES 2015, the ring is a wearable device that has the wearer gesture using the finger the ring is on to manipulate an action. For example, if you want the TV on, just point your ring finger at the TV and make the symbol for the "on" button. It's much easier to see than explain, so hop on over to the Logbar website for an impressive demonstration.
Zcan+
![futuristic tech gadgets]()
It seems simple and practical enough that you wonder why you've never seen it before, but Zcan+ is the mouse with a built-in scanner. Just the same as your mouse lets highlights text or graphics on the screen, Zcan+ has a scanner button as well that enables the user to scan over any item on the screen and have immediately scanned, ready to send out or print. If 3-D printers are the future of printing, the Zcan+ seems like the future for the mouse, supporting nearly 200 languages. The software will be available in March 2015 for Mac users, starting at $159. A wireless version is ready for preorder as well.
PERSONAL ROBOT!
![futuristic tech gadgets]()
How could we give you futuristic gadgets without your very own personal robot. Like some sick joke out of the movie "Her," Robotbase has created an interactive, personalized robot - both smart and stylish - that helps you stay on task, as well as keep you company on those cold, winter nights when you're super horny. Instead of hiring a stylist, assistant, security guard and cleaning lady, just get Personal Robot (whose name you can likely personalize yourself). She/he also plays music, makes video calls, tracks your sleep, keeps your appointments, dresses you better than your mom and works with other household devices. You can have it all for $995 too. Let's just hope she doesn't cry too much when you hit her. Too soon? Okay, let's just say you won't be sleeping with it, at least not until they fix the bugs .
Microsoft HoloLens
All that stuff from the "Minority Report" we always wanted, you know, the holographic screens that jet out in front of us that we can tap like some kind of secret agent, scientific genius or superhero? Yeah, Microsoft has one of those, and it was just unveiled in January. HoloLens allows users to create and manipulate personalized holograms all with the use of goggles. Users can print their holograms using 3D printers and even transport themselves virtually via the HoloLens goggles. HoloLens will be available later this year after the Windows 10 release, and is expected to have a price tag below $500.
Copenhagen Wheel
Superpedestrian invented a bike rear wheel that contains a cheery red, smartphone savvy, circular motor, essentially giving your bike a brain, turning it into a smart bike. The motor uses wireless connectivity to track your personal speed and style of riding, then clicks on to boost your speed to make riding faster and easier. Based on terrain, how hard you pedal and how often you brake, the smart controls connected to the pedals assist you in a whole new electric hybrid way. The wheel just had its trial run with more than a hundred satisfied users. For now, they will be shipping in spring at a higher $949 price, but could drop as low as $699.
Breathometer's Mint
Say goodbye to morning breath! The lovely people at Breathometer who brought you the portable blood/alcohol level device for your safe driving convenience just came out with Mint, the portable fresh breath device for everyone else's convenience. Tired of people avoiding you for some strange reason you can't put your finger on? That's right, you just ate garlic knots after your third straight day of not brushing and your coworkers switched desk again. Mint is the little green tech wonder that provides fresh breath and hydration, which is directly related to your breath, and records data on your breath and hydration levels over time. Mint's anticipated release is summer 2015, to be priced just under $100.
Flexible Smartphone: Samsung Youm
Bendable phones seem like something you might only find aboard an antigravity machine in outer space, but Samsung begs to differ with their invention of the Youm. More flexible than your yogi girlfriend - okay, not that flexible - the Youm is virtually indestructible, made from OLED (organic light-emitting iodide) and featuring the new Windows operating system. It's the first of its kind, but don't be surprised if there is a vast array to choose from soon, as Samsung has the OLED market cornered. The phone was unveiled at CES 2014 and is expected to be available in 2015 around the same time as the Windows 10.
Haier's Transparent, Eye-Controlled TV
A high resolution screen you can see right through? And when it's on, you can change settings by moving your eyes? Say it ain't so. As far as innovation goes, this is a great solution to have a black box sitting awkwardly in your living room. But Haier's transparent screen makes leaving the TV off not such an odd thing. This is a hard one to wrap your head around as these screens get smaller and thinner, but now it can also be controlled by the user's eyes. With an OLED center, this unique prototype is reminiscent of Samsung's 14-inch transparent laptop and is expected for an upcoming release.
Solar Power Socket
We'd all take solar panels for Christmas and say goodbye to ridiculous energy bills, but we're not holding our breath when solar technology is so expensive, that is, until this sweet little socket was birthed. Designed by Kyuho Song & Boa Oh, the socket is a charger that sticks to your window - preferably one facing the sun, if you want it to work - and charges your basic electronics . It takes five hours to charge but works for up to 10 hours, essentially working as a power socket for basic needs. Hey, it's no solar panel, but it's a start. Maybe you can even work away from your desk. They're not the only ones though, as Apple has been rumored to be coming out with solar chargers too, amongst other big innovations.
ChefJet Pro: 3D Food Printer
Everybody talks about 3D printers like they're the next cloning devices, but it wasn't until someone mentioned the ChefJet Pro - the world's first certified, food preparing printer - that our ears perked up. Equipped to sculpt edible confections of all shapes and sizes, ChefJet has the ability to print recipes that include sugar, chocolate, watermelon and other kitchen goodies that basically make your grandma's baking obsolete. The ChefJet Pro is expected to be available the back half of 2015.
Ring
Sure you have rings, but nothing like Ring, the silver circle that controls your entire life with just one gesture, from music and television controls to uploading photos and giving you the weather. Available now at $130 after receiving the Innovation Award at CES 2015, the ring is a wearable device that has the wearer gesture using the finger the ring is on to manipulate an action. For example, if you want the TV on, just point your ring finger at the TV and make the symbol for the "on" button. It's much easier to see than explain, so hop on over to the Logbar website for an impressive demonstration.
Zcan+
It seems simple and practical enough that you wonder why you've never seen it before, but Zcan+ is the mouse with a built-in scanner. Just the same as your mouse lets highlights text or graphics on the screen, Zcan+ has a scanner button as well that enables the user to scan over any item on the screen and have immediately scanned, ready to send out or print. If 3-D printers are the future of printing, the Zcan+ seems like the future for the mouse, supporting nearly 200 languages. The software will be available in March 2015 for Mac users, starting at $159. A wireless version is ready for preorder as well.
PERSONAL ROBOT!
How could we give you futuristic gadgets without your very own personal robot. Like some sick joke out of the movie "Her," Robotbase has created an interactive, personalized robot - both smart and stylish - that helps you stay on task, as well as keep you company on those cold, winter nights when you're super horny. Instead of hiring a stylist, assistant, security guard and cleaning lady, just get Personal Robot (whose name you can likely personalize yourself). She/he also plays music, makes video calls, tracks your sleep, keeps your appointments, dresses you better than your mom and works with other household devices. You can have it all for $995 too. Let's just hope she doesn't cry too much when you hit her. Too soon? Okay, let's just say you won't be sleeping with it, at least not until they fix the bugs .