What modern technology amazes you?

The ease and speed of modern communication. I can pick up my phone  and video call someone half a world away, with a few touches of the finger. For someone who remembers the first live transatlantic TV pictures sent using Telstar, which because it wasn't geostationary could only transmit for a few minutes, it is truly amazing.

 For me its the technology that has gone into batteries.I have a collection of vintage mobile phones from the 80,s and 90,s and the change in not just the physical size but the staying power of the modern battery is nothing short of incredible.Its technology that has been driven by the ever increasing need for mobile electronic devices and they are still developing even smaller longer lasting examples.Almost all the devices we use owe there usefullness to the modern battery.

v9

The ability to turn it all off and chill out whilst trying not to worry if the world is still working correctly without my input. 

The abacus

You mean despite the gross inefficiencies within it?

Anyway, it doesn't appear to be working, if their publicity agent (the BBC) are to be believed.

I remember watching the James Bond film 'Goldfinger' where he was tracking the villain across Europe using a screen in his Aston Martin, which also showed where he was himself.

Despite being a massive fan of those early films, I still remember thinking "Naaaahhh! That would never be possible.......it would require something way up in the sky to track them".

Now we have sat-nav for less than £100.....

SteveL, you have just said what I was going to say. Old fashioned I am, but the telephone for me. Yesterday I reached out for my phone, dialed and with a second I was talking to a lady in a pub 100's of miles away to arrange a meal.  Also, my grandson phoning me, he is only 18 months old and his mother had no idea what he was doing.

A few years ago we were on holiday in French France while No 1 daughter was in Ghana. We spoke on mobile phone from our field to her field as though we're at home. 30 odd years ago I used to have to use phone exchanges to make a call home from Spain, Denmark etc ...... Post Stanley was via a satalite phone & was bl00dy expensive

The Vacuum Flask

Not exactly a modern technology (invented by Sir James Dewar in1892 and originally known as the Dewar Flask)

If you put Ice-cream in it, it comes out Cold 

but if you put Tea or Coffee in it, that comes out Hot.

As it has no power source, no switches or programmable settings.

How does it know ???  

Like IanH, I recall the early 007 films showcasing new tech. I remember his 'extra curricular activities' being interrupted by a pager. Of course more recently Pierce Brosnan was driving a BMW with a phone. Although set up with a hidden driver, it is now actually feasible.