The future from sci-fi movies is much closer than it seems. New devices can dramatically change our world – they give back the ability to walk or see to people with disabilities, make us stronger, or simply add joy and comfort to our lives. Thanks to them we can replace regular cinemas with Netflix and land-based gambling establishments with a legit online casino.

Here are 11 inventions that have already entered our lives or will become a part of our lives soon.

Device Helping Paralyzed People Get Back on Their Feet

Scientists at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne are working on a device that will help paralyzed people regain control of their bodies. This small and very important device consists of two parts – one chip is placed in the brain and the other in the spinal cord.

After a spinal injury, nerve impulse conduction is impaired, but the brain continues to issue commands, although they do not reach the muscles. The spinal interface duplicates the signals from the nervous system and makes it possible to regain the ability to move. In the future, this will make a big difference in the lives of many people, and now the device is being tested.

Sensors for Portable Diagnostics

There are already apps that monitor the number of steps or teach proper nutrition, and in the near future with the help of biosensors smartphones will be able to measure the number of calories in the food we eat, monitor the amount of oxygen in the blood, do ECG, EEG, and much more. So, diagnostics will become easier and more accessible.

Companion Robots

Personal robots are already a reality, but Jimbo is much more than a stationary speaker with light indication. This robot is more like Eve from the Wally cartoon – it can move and express emotions. Jimbo can dance, laugh, come to your call, he can be a complete human companion, which takes our relationship with robots to a new level. Of course, Jimbo still has a lot to learn, but he’s ready for mass production today and can soon become part of our daily life.

Glasses That Allow the Blind to See

The eSight 3 is the world’s most powerful pair of glasses – when a person puts them on, the device records video, which, using various algorithms, is transformed into what a blind person can see. Over 1,000 patients have been able to empower themselves with these glasses.

Dentistry Without Drilling

Childhood dreams of the end of the drill era are coming true. The Brix 3000 gel softens the decay-affected area, preserving the healthy part of the tooth, after which the decay is easily removed and the dentist can place a filling immediately. The procedure is completely painless, and in the near future, drilling will be just a memory.

Artificial Intelligence Supercomputer for Disease Diagnostics

Correct diagnosis is the main factor of successful treatment. But even the most experienced doctor cannot keep in his head all the information about all diseases, all clinical trials and possible symptoms – remember, even the brilliant Dr. House was wrong. IBM decided to make up for the imperfections of human memory with a new invention, “Dr. Watson.” During the examination of a patient by a real doctor, “Watson” picks up all the global literature that might be relevant to the current case and gives his prognosis, after which the doctor looks at the machine’s calculations and makes a final diagnosis. Hopefully, with Watson’s help, medicine will become even more efficient.

Adaptive Wheels

Cars will also get their own cool gadget – airless wheels with adaptive tread. The Michelin wheel is made from porous, but durable material, it does not require pumping and is not afraid of punctures. The main feature of the company’s development is a 3D-printed tread, which can be changed to suit the road and weather conditions. It is not necessary to change the wheel itself.

Robot Surgeons

Even at this very minute, somewhere in the world, a surgical robot is already performing surgery. The daVinci company makes equipment that helps perform high-precision surgeries, even over long distances.

Today’s surgeons in medical schools are already being trained not only to operate a scalpel, but also to operate such machines. The robots, in turn, are being improved to accurately reproduce the movements of the doctor’s hand. On the one hand, surgery will become more complex, on the other hand, more reliable and more accessible, because one doctor will be able to perform operations anywhere by connecting to local equipment.

Pet Language Interpreters

We will immediately disappoint anyone who thinks that such an interpreter will allow you to have philosophical conversations with your pets – this is far from the case. The brains of dogs and cats are not as developed as that of humans. They do not even come close to the kind of thinking activity that is common to us. Still, being able to understand that your dog really wants to go to the bathroom right now, or your cat just wants to play, rather than begging for food, is very valuable.

As for the more intellectually advanced creatures like monkeys and dolphins, communication with them will be more structured, but still remain fragmented.

Nanomaterials

Already, carbon nanotubes have been invented that have properties unavailable to other materials. They are both strong, flexible, and withstand high loads and temperature fluctuations. In the future, when mankind invents more advanced nanomaterials, it will revolutionize all areas of activity. Just imagine that your clothes are no longer subject to wear and tear, that you can arrive in space via an orbital elevator, board a ship assembled in just a few weeks in a space shipyard, and fly into distant space. Nanomaterials can make all this real.

Space Lifts

The only problem with these grandiose constructions is the lack of suitable materials. But when the right nanomaterials are invented, humanity will be able to build space elevators that will allow cargo to be delivered to Earth orbit in minutes, without using chemical-fueled rockets. This will make flying much cheaper and truly usher in the space age of humanity.

We will be able to deliver tons of cargo into space almost for free, where they will be assembled into ships in orbital shipyards, which will also be cheaper due to the lack of gravity and the need to launch heavy structures into space.