Star Trek imagined the iPad… 23 years ago

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From the hella cool department, comes this feature on ARStechnica. It's a nifty article laying out how the PADD* used on Star Trek the Next Generation was the forerunner of Apple's 'magical device'.

We remember the clipbpoards they carried around and used on TOS!

This image described by iPad, iPhone, star trek, cool, william shatner, padd, clam shell, communicator, arstechnica, trekkies, star trekkers, star trek rules, chris pine, Uhura_elec_clipboard
 

We've seen this idea floated before and we heartily agree. Anyone who doesn't know how much Star Trek has influence real world tech has only too look at the flip phone, presagees by the Star Trek communicator.

Also: watch that How William Shatner Changed the World TV special, it ocuses on technological advancements and people in the real world that were inspired by the Star Trek phenomenon. Tru Fax! 

* Personal Access Display Device

Rumor: CDMA iPhone coming, iPad Update on the Way, 7-inch Model Also in the Works

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