One sign of nanotechnology’s ascendance in the public’s consciousness is the increasing reference to nanotechnology in mainstream television programming. One recent example is the re-imagination of the 1980s TV program "Knight Rider."
Recently, Popular Mechanics published an article comparing the new Knight Rider’s "KITT" (the talking car), a modified 2008 Ford Mustang Shelby, with the 1980s Trans Am "KITT." Aside from focusing on the real-life differences between a 1982 Trans Am and a 2008 Mustang, Popular Mechanics mentioned some of the fictional "features" of the new talking car:
Last week, NBC unveiled an all-new, controversial KITT, which is set to star in the made-for-TV Knight Rider movie in February. Based on the still-to-be-released Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR (click here for engine-revving video), this virtual Stang comes tricked out with a supercomputer that can hack almost any system; a very capable weapons system; and a body—thanks to nanotechnology—that’s able to shape-shift and change color at will. Like its predecessor, the 21st century KITT gets AI from digital effects wizards that makes it an ideal crime-fighting partner: logical, precise and infinitely smart.
While clearly science fiction, scientists in the real world are developing methods of leveraging nanotechnology to develop "cloaks" that refract light around objects to, in effect, allow those looking at the object to see around it.
