The evolution of James Bond through gadgets (infographic)

7 Nov 2015

Be shaken not stirred by this detailed infographic chronicling James Bond's evolution through the gadgets that appeared throughout the films.

From the dagger shoe to the submarine sports car and the smartphone-controlled BMW, James Bond has always left us shaken and stirred by the sheer style and swagger of the gadgetry on display. Now, a handy infographic tells the James Bond story through all the gadgets that appeared in the movies.

Just as Spectre, the latest movie in the James Bond franchise, hits cinemas, we’re reminded that gadgets were always a vital accoutrement of the suave, debonair spy along with tailored suits, fast cars, beautiful women and the occasional medium-dry martini to calm the old nerves.

Like any decent spy, Mr Bond started off quite Spartan and humble, not drawing too much attention to himself and operated on behalf of Her Majesty’s Secret Service togged out in Dr No in a sharp suit and kitted out with his ever-trusty but discreet Walther PPK pistol.

The unforgettable dagger shoe emerged in From Russia With Love but Bond kept it fairly level until the seagull snorkel, the Aston Martin and villains started throwing razor-tipped hats in Goldfinger.

Breitling watches with Geiger counters, Bell Textron jetpacks, shooting cigarettes and miniature underwater breathing apparatus started showing an increasing sophistication of Bond gadgetry in Thunderball in 1966.

Also in Thunderball, a hint of our smartphone future arrived in the shape of a mini camera and a combination safe cracker/copying machine.

The gadgets took a turn for the zany in 1977’s The Spy Who Loved Me when the ski pole rifle and guillotine tea tray made an appearance alongside the audacious submersible Lotus Esprit.

Things got pretty explosive in the form of keychains, toothpaste bombs, and milk bottle grenades in The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill and continued with a ballpoint pen grenade in Goldeneye.

Bond joined the digital revolution with Goldeneye in 1995, making prodigious use of digital binoculars and an X-ray document scanner.

A hint of the future of hackable cars was suggested in Tomorrow Never Dies when in 1997 Bond used his Ericsson mobile phone to remotely control a BMW 750i in a parking lot.

In Die Another Day and Casino Royale, Bond showed his penchant for the finer vehicles on the road returning to the elegant and classic Aston Martin V12 Vanquish and Aston Martin DBS V12.

In this amazing and detailed infographic by UK website MyOffers, the evolution of James Bond through gadgets shows the audacity and daring of the spymaster along with his intuitive grasp of all things new in technology without being labelled a geek.

Recommend enjoying with a medium dry martini, lemon peel. Shaken, not stirred, naturally.

james-bond-gadgets-evolution-infographic

 

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com