Nearly half a century after Star Trek first debuted, fans are still going crazy over beloved characters like Kirk, Spock, Bones, Uhura, Scotty, and many others. There has been a resurgence of interest due to the feature films, which are helping new fans get into the Star Trek fan frenzy. If you’re looking to pick up a gift for a new or seasoned Trekkie, then look no further than these truly awesome gadgets and accessories.
Decorative Combadge
Websites like ThinkGeek have decorative Combadge insignias that affix to your clothing with magnets. Instead of dressing up in full Starfleet duds, you can just stick this pin during Star Trek movie screening. Or if you’re super ambitious, use this as a prop in the filming of your own Star Trek series! Since each series has their own insignia style, you might even consider collecting them all!
Functional Combadge
How cool would it be if you could just talk into a wireless badge attached to your shirt, and then quickly hear the response, completely hands free? Well a company known as Commbadge has made this a reality, creating a wireless speakerphone that syncs with your mobile device using Bluetooth technology. The speakerphone isn’t crafted to look like the actual Star Trek insignia, probably due to copyright reasons. However, it achieves the same purpose, allowing you to quickly call friends and relatives without the use of a headset.
Tribbles
Don’t worry, these little critters won’t take over your home or office. The official Gene Roddenberry shop sells plush Tribbles, the adorable and fluffy critter aliens that quickly reproduced and started swarming the Enterprise back in the Original Series. They’re so popular, that they’ve also appeared in other series, including the Animated Series, Next Gen, Deep Space Nine, and a new Star Trek films.
Communicator Phone Case
Remember those little flip phone communicators with the chrome grating? Well you can pretend that your cellphone is a Star Trek communicator by getting a phone case with the communicator markings. These come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and designs from several phone case companies. It’s a sly way to meet other Trekkies, due to its unmistakable design.
The Star Trek franchise has made an immeasurable impact on the progression of current technology. Themes of space exploration, innovative marketing, and useful household gadgets have captured our imaginations, helping us strive toward a better future. Star Trek’s relevance in our current society continues to grow, as film reboots and new series episodes are made. These stories will help future tech developers boldly go where we haven’t gone before.