Modern life would be almost unthinkable without having hundreds of TV channels to keep us entertained - and it's NASA we have to thank for that. NASA needed a way to communicate with astronauts in space, originally using high altitude balloons before eventually developing satellite communications technology in the 1960's.
NASA even invented the humble satellite dish, one of over 1,600 spin-offs that come out of the US space program.
Laptops
The Shuttle Portable On board Computer (SPOC) was debuted in 1983, helping astronauts on board the space shuttle with space navigation and other on board functions and was designed to be tough and powerful
The laptop was developed for NASA by GriD Systems, the first ever model being created by employee, and Brit, William Moggridge in 1979.
The Dustbuster
Although the first cordless power tool was invented by US firm Black and Decker in 1961, it was NASA who asked the company to develop a battery-powered drill astronauts could use to collect rock samples from the moon.
The tech know-how acquired during the project was commercialized by Black and Decker with The Dustbuster in 1979, and is the basis for many of the portable power tools we use today, such as the Black and Decker cordless chainsaw above.
Smoke/carbon monoxide detectors
Now used to detect gas leaks in many of our homes, this was originally developed to detect toxic fumes and fire on board the Skylab space station in the early 1970s.
NASA didn't invent the whole shebang, but it did make the devices much more reliable by enabling them to tell the difference between toxic fumes and ordinary water vapor using non-dispersive infrared spectroscopy.
Telemedicine
From programmable pacemakers to blood pressure monitors, the space program has been responsible for dozens of healthcare applications all designed to help astronauts stay healthy.
Of these, telemedicine - the ability to monitor a person's health remotely - will arguably have the biggest impact in future. It's already big business in the US, and the NHS is trialing possible uses for it here.
The Joy Stick
The joystick was originally invented for use on the Apollo Lunar Rover, helping astronauts to steer the moon buggy around the moon.
3D graphics and virtual reality
NASA was also instrumental in the development of 3D graphics, virtual reality and flight simulators, chiefly because it needed a way to visualize space-based environments here on earth. The smooth landing on the moon achieved by astronauts on board the Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) was largely the results of hours of practice using flight simulators.
Non-reflective displays
If you find high gloss displays on laptops and desktops a bit icky (thank you, Apple), at least you get hold of the alternative - monitors and TV screens with a non-reflective coating that enables you to see what's on screen without peering at your own mug.
The coating was originally developed for use on displays on the Space Shuttle, to stop astronauts from suffering similar problems. We also have NASA to thank for scratch-proof sunglasses - the carbon coating used was originally developed for the visor's on astronaut's space helmets.
Ear thermometers
Anyone who's ever had to take a child's temperature will appreciate this space race spin off Ear thermometers use infra-red technology originally developed by NASA to measure the temperature of stars.
The idea was commercialized by US company Diatek which recognized the need for an alternative to mercury thermometer for taking quick, accurate temperature readings of hospital patients.
Satellite navigation
NASA can't take the credit for inventing the Global Positioning System (GPS), but it arguably had a big hand in the device that sits on your dash. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory developed Global Differential GPS, which enables vehicles to be placed in three dimensional space with accuracy down to one meter.
The technology is used worldwide on commercial aircraft and also in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) currently being used by the US military.
NASA even invented the humble satellite dish, one of over 1,600 spin-offs that come out of the US space program.
Laptops
The Shuttle Portable On board Computer (SPOC) was debuted in 1983, helping astronauts on board the space shuttle with space navigation and other on board functions and was designed to be tough and powerful
The laptop was developed for NASA by GriD Systems, the first ever model being created by employee, and Brit, William Moggridge in 1979.
The Dustbuster
Although the first cordless power tool was invented by US firm Black and Decker in 1961, it was NASA who asked the company to develop a battery-powered drill astronauts could use to collect rock samples from the moon.
The tech know-how acquired during the project was commercialized by Black and Decker with The Dustbuster in 1979, and is the basis for many of the portable power tools we use today, such as the Black and Decker cordless chainsaw above.
Smoke/carbon monoxide detectors
Now used to detect gas leaks in many of our homes, this was originally developed to detect toxic fumes and fire on board the Skylab space station in the early 1970s.
NASA didn't invent the whole shebang, but it did make the devices much more reliable by enabling them to tell the difference between toxic fumes and ordinary water vapor using non-dispersive infrared spectroscopy.
Telemedicine
From programmable pacemakers to blood pressure monitors, the space program has been responsible for dozens of healthcare applications all designed to help astronauts stay healthy.
Of these, telemedicine - the ability to monitor a person's health remotely - will arguably have the biggest impact in future. It's already big business in the US, and the NHS is trialing possible uses for it here.
The Joy Stick
The joystick was originally invented for use on the Apollo Lunar Rover, helping astronauts to steer the moon buggy around the moon.
3D graphics and virtual reality
NASA was also instrumental in the development of 3D graphics, virtual reality and flight simulators, chiefly because it needed a way to visualize space-based environments here on earth. The smooth landing on the moon achieved by astronauts on board the Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) was largely the results of hours of practice using flight simulators.
Non-reflective displays
If you find high gloss displays on laptops and desktops a bit icky (thank you, Apple), at least you get hold of the alternative - monitors and TV screens with a non-reflective coating that enables you to see what's on screen without peering at your own mug.
The coating was originally developed for use on displays on the Space Shuttle, to stop astronauts from suffering similar problems. We also have NASA to thank for scratch-proof sunglasses - the carbon coating used was originally developed for the visor's on astronaut's space helmets.
Ear thermometers
Anyone who's ever had to take a child's temperature will appreciate this space race spin off Ear thermometers use infra-red technology originally developed by NASA to measure the temperature of stars.
The idea was commercialized by US company Diatek which recognized the need for an alternative to mercury thermometer for taking quick, accurate temperature readings of hospital patients.
Satellite navigation
NASA can't take the credit for inventing the Global Positioning System (GPS), but it arguably had a big hand in the device that sits on your dash. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory developed Global Differential GPS, which enables vehicles to be placed in three dimensional space with accuracy down to one meter.
The technology is used worldwide on commercial aircraft and also in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) currently being used by the US military.