Of Flying Carpets and Talking Mirrors

Illustration: Prithi Khalique

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” - Arthur C. Clarke
What was fairy tale just a few years ago seems to have lost its charm to us. Or has it? Are those magical items still magical, or are they on the list of things that scientists have cracked the codes of? RS takes a tour of fairy tale gadgets and their modern day counterparts.
The talking mirror: Basically talks more crazy into the already paranoid and slightly insane stepmother of Snow White. Usually answers her question, 'Mirror mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?' It is recognized today by the name of Siri or Google Voice Search. Also its essence is deep within the numerous computer screens of low self-esteemed tweens who post 'Am I ugly?' pictures on the interwebs.
The Flying Carpet: Aladdin had it, a lot of folks from the Arabian Nights also had what seems today as a poor man's Delorean. No protection against any types of weather, nor is there any storage capacity, little steering control, plus the safety system is non-existent. Also it cannot even time travel.
Invisibility Cap/Cloak: The only piece of enchanted item that we are actually looking forward to is still in the beginner stages of making. Scientists came up with something years ago, but it makes the wearer look like a green blob in the crowd. So unless you are in a forest and your enemies are blind, it would not be of any use.
The lamp and the genie: We'll be honest. The only things that can make a wish-granting spirit come out of a metal lamp are hallucinogens.
Pixie Dust: It already exists! Except it is not something the fairies leave behind, it is made from pig's bladder to rejuvenate limbs lost in wars. Takes the thrill out of it, we must say.
Rapunzel's Healing Hair: 21 meter long carbon fibres that are activated when a certain frequency is used to open their pores, or when Rapunzel sings.
Pipe of the pied piper of Hamelin: A mind-control device we don't have any sort of public knowledge of, yet.
Who said magic was impossible? Sure it took us hundreds of years and millions and millions of dollars to come up with anything close to what fairy tales told us in a few sentences, but hey, we are almost there!