I recall a book written a few years ago (I can't remember the title--I'm too old!) which tells about how much of modern technology can be found in the old Star Trek TV show. I saw the instrument used to check one's blood sugar level in the Twin Cities @ 10 years ago, and they were testing the instrument which injected insulin into one's body--with NO needle--and I saw a teenaged boy (a patient at the International Diabetes Center, as was my dearly departed other half who did not have either of the devices)use the injection device @ 10 years ago too. One of my math professors in college had a friend who is a popular Sci Fi author (also a University prof), and he taught that Science Fiction is prophecy of the science to come, aka: Science Fact. Here's a page that tells about some stuff inspiried by Star Trek called "Dozens Of Star Trek Devices Now Reality" (sorry, I don't know how to make a link--ya gotta copy & paste!)link added by JoeClone