Gallery: Gifts from the Future: Nine Items That'll Take You to Tomorrow
01gifts-from-the-future
As 2011 comes to an end and our smartphones, tablets and thick, chunky laptops slowly lapse into obsolescence, we're forced to either refresh our hardware or fall behind. Staying current is no easy feat. Today, tablets are quickly growing as widespread consumer devices. Having a monster stereo speaker setup is more common than ever. Our phones are even capable of talking back in subtly reassuring tones (though not entirely devoid of sass). Rather than catch up to what's hip right now, here are our picks for top technologies for 2012.
02dmcev-photo-courtesy-of-grenex-media
What car is more future-proof than Doc Brown’s fly ride, from *Back to the Future*? DeLorean Motor Company teamed up with Epic Electric Vehicles to make this updated version of the time-traveling classic. It's sprightly enough to hit 88 miles per hour while still maintaining a gentle carbon footprint. Price: TBA
03art-of-shaving
Avoiding nicks and gnarly neck burn isn't about how many blades are hiding in your cartridge. Ask any barber worth his salt, and he'll tell you that the secret to a good shave is in the preparation. The Power Shave collection by *The Art of Shaving* features an oscillating badger-hair brush, which builds a thick lather of shaving cream while moisturizing your skin and hair. Take off the scruff with the Power Shave razor, which features a built-in light, a pulsating head that reduces friction, and a weighted handle. Price: $450
04black-luk
Pod-based coffee machines are wasteful, and Mr. Coffee is a relic of yesteryear. The Black Luk, on the other hand, rests elegantly against the wall, dispensing one cup at a time from its vertical perch. Pull the cup from its resting place, tilt it into the dispenser, and out comes much-desired java. The system produces less waste than a store-bought frappuccino, requires a minimal amount of clean-up time, and is an attractive adornment for the kitchen wall. A must for any modern bachelor(ette). Price: TBA
05constant-directivity-crt36
Go ahead and futz with internal drivers and cones all you want. Some audio designers claim coaxing the best acoustics from a speaker requires an entirely *new* architecture. The CBT –- or Constant Beamwidth Transducer –- is based on declassified military research of underwater sonic patterns. The 36-degree arc in the 5-foot unit keeps the same sonic balance regardless of where you’re sitting or standing in your apartment. Price: $8,500
Roberto Herrera Pellizzari / Flickr.06ciclotte
It’s not easy to make home exercise equipment look cool, but the Italian Ciclotte has somehow managed to turn the stationary bicycle into a work of art. The body is made of steel, carbon fiber and glass, and includes a touchscreen display to adjust pedal resistance. The big flywheel rotates four times for every pedal rotation, generating a magnetic field to provide adjustable resistance. Price: $11,500
07monolith-for-iphone-4
Many modern projectors have somehow retained the same bulky size since Kodak first introduced the slide carousel. Sure, resolution has improved, but waiting for a unit to warm up before manually focusing it is *so* 2011. The Monolith clips to the iPhone 4 and projects two-foot, 12-lumen images at a resolution of up to 640x360. Next stop, Princess Leia holograms. Price: $260
08sensu-brush
If the old masters were around today, they’d be painting on the iPad with this brush. The Sensu’s synthetic bristles taper and flex like a real brush, but with conductive fibers that provide accurate feedback whether you’re using virtual watercolors or oils. If you’re going to Giverny to paint Monet’s waterlilies, cap the brush and travel light, no palette required. Beret, of course, is optional. Price: $35
09aeroshots
If sipping coffee is too time consuming, a can of Red Bull too caloric, and a 5 Hour Energy too artificial, the Aeroshots will galvanize you from your afternoon slump right away. Developed by a Harvard professor, the shotgun cartrage-sized capsules contain about 100 mg of caffeine, the same as a large coffee. Pull the green tab, inhale from the other end, and huff between six to eight servings of energy. Resealable, if you want to save some for after your shuttle lands. $3 per shot
J.B. Spector10cybertecture-mirror
Still using a shower radio? Scrap it and install this, a bathroom mirror with hidden screens that’ll display everything from your Twitter feed to the weather, to your daily exercise schedule and health data. Edit your Facebook profile while applying your hair product so your coif falls just so. In the future, narcissism has no boundaries. $7,700
