Computing Technologies
Existing Technologies
Encrypted USB Flash Drives / Programmable Keys
An encrypted flash drive was used in this movie when Natasha was downloading files from the Lemurian Star during the hostage rescue mission at the beginning of the movie. Eventually, this flash drive is given to Nick Fury, who entrusts Steve with it after he gets shot in Steve’s apartment. The flash drive is then hidden by Steve in a hospital vending machine and then taken by Natasha. Steve and Natasha go to an Apple store where Natasha attempts to hack into the encrypted flash drive to access the files on it. She’s unable to access the file information but instead finds the location where the file was created, a bunker in New Jersey [8].
Facial Recognition
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Facial Recognition is already widely used by the government to trace people who may be a threat by using biometrics to map and compare their faces against a master database [9].
S.H.I.E.L.D.'s encryption technologies
Not much is known about the S.H.I.E.L.D. encryption, however, based on various lines from characters discussing it, it seems the encryption is a much more advanced version of current asymmetric encryption software, which uses both public and private keys to encrypt every message or piece of information to ensure maximum discretion when communicating [10].
Emerging Technologies
Fury's Self-Driving Chevy
Nick Fury demonstrated the use of a car that had complete level-5 autonomous driving, meaning that the vehicle could drive itself as a person would using multiple sensors efficiently in any condition. Technology such as this is expected to be achievable in the future, however, at the moment we have only managed to achieve level 3 autonomous driving, where people can at most temporarily turn their attention away from the road and expect the vehicle to briefly continue driving without error in ideal conditions [11].
Quinjet / VTOL Aircrafts
Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) aircrafts already exist today as well, however, the Quinjet demonstrates hovering abilities that are more advanced than any available aircrafts today. This kind of tech is rumored to be in next-generation US Airforce Bell aircrafts that are expected to be released by 2030 [12].
Fictional Technologies
Zola's Brain
In the movie Cap. and Romanoff entered a bunker containing Zola's brain, which was preserved by being transformed into 200,000 ft of databanks. This kind of technology is virtually impossible for us at the moment, however, scientists believe that one of the first real artificial intelligence programs could most likely be created by digitalizing the workings of the human brain, which might be easier than trying to instead program the behavior that a real brain follows [13][14].
Photostatic Veil (Face-changing technology)
Romanoff used what Marvel calls a photostatic veil, that when placed on her face projects the look of any person just above the application, giving her the ability to look like anyone. Technology such as this is a combination made from more advanced versions of the projection tools and prosthetic polyester masks that we have today, so it is unlikely this will be possible in the future without large jumps in both these fields [15].
Plausible Technologies
Zola's Algorithm
Arnim Zola created an algorithm that uses people's pasts to predict their futures, analyzing past actions to determine the probability of an individual becoming a threat to HYDRA. Something like this isn't available at the moment, however, it would be fairly easy for someone to create something like this that determines a person's "threat level" from criminal records and other public data [16][17][18].
Project Insight Helicarriers
The helicarriers used in the movie are much more advanced than anything we have today, however, new theoretical propulsion technologies that use radiation to emit particles at a force greater than that of gravity would allow objects of any size to "fly" in theory. This is still however years from development and would require a fuel source greater than anything known today [15].
Bucky's Prosthetic Metal Arm
Bucky's arm is similar to prosthetic arms that exist today, however, it is made out of a much stronger material and is significantly more advanced, with a perfect connection between the user and the prosthetic that exceeds anything current muscle mapping technology can do today by simply analyzing the movements of already existing muscles below the attached area [19].
Holograms
There are several instances of holograms appearing in the movie, and this technology is actually very probable to exist within the coming years or decades as projection research grows as well [15].