[MacDriver]

I ask this question for two reasons, the first being application to my life (As an aspiring MacGyver ) and also in the context of the upcoming movie. Here is my question:

How technologically inclined is MacGyver in the 21st century?

MacGyver barely used computers, however for his time he understood science and technological concepts as a whole pretty well. In the 80's there wasn't widespread and easy access to the internet, GPS, complexity to home entertainment, smart phones/multipurpose cell phones, digital media, and complexity to home entertainment. Now, all of this stuff is in our face.

I would argue a lot of it is sterilizing mankind, removing the need (or perceived need) for basic life skills like navigation. On that side I think it is very healthy to feel like you can function fully independent of technology, if necessary, as MacGyver often did.

On the other hand, I think it's important to stay informed and even competent with various technologies. Things like the iPhone/iPod touch and the internet have enriched people's lives by bringing organization, access to information, and consolidation of technologies. So where is that line, what do you all think?

In the upcoming movie do we picture a former soldier who roughs it listening to the radio in his Jeep, and lives in a houseboat filled with VHS recorded westerns, or is 21st century MacGyver a little different. Is he driving a Jeep liberty with a GPS and MP3 player? Does his house have a flatscreen TV with Netflix, and does he use a high end PC with cable broadband?



Oh and does he use a good ol' SAK, or a Leatherman/plier based tool, as Zlotoff suggested? Has fashion changed in any ways that would accommodate or inhibit his ability to pocket-carry a knapsack worth of stuff? How has security since 2001 changed his ability to carry/purchase "questionable" materials that are deemed dangerous? It's amazing how much has changed in 25 years when you really think about it.

[MacGyverOnline]

Wow awesome questions we can get our teeth into.. so here are some of my thoughts.

We know from episodes like ugly duckling that he took computer science classes at school. This immediately tells us that he was very comfortable and enjoyed technology. There are also other episodes where we see him jump onto and use computers without hesitation. Also the fact that he had a computer in his home points to him spending some parts of his spare time playing around with or having a need to use a computer.

I think in today's world, MacGyver would be keeping up and enjoying all the technological developments we now have, but I think he would still keep to his realistic attitude of using technology to assist him. So he would still only have and use things he needed. I can't see him having all the latest gadgets just for the hell of it. I think he would probably have a decent but mostly basic phone and would probably only ever use it to call and maybe text some times. I can see him definitely loving the internet and all the information he could look up and have at his finger tips (probably a Mac computer )

As far as listening to music and big screen TV's go. We never saw him listening to music on Walkmans etc, so I can't see that changing, nor did he seem to really care about TV, other than to watch his western movies, so I can see him having a flat screen TV once his little CRT TV died, but only because that's the only kind of TV there is now. I could also see him copying his western movies onto DVR, if he couldn't find DVD versions to buy. Maybe that would be something he would do online, search out classic westerns on DVD, from amazon?

So to wrap it all up, I think he would continue to embrace technology and stay up with it, but I think he would only have the things he needed and update his own stuff as he needed to.

[Mac Jackson]

I agree. The thing to remember about MacGyver was that he isn't dependent on tech but the lack of it. The more, advanced tech we get in the world, the easier it would be for him or anyone else to do there job. If anything it makes him more amazing to the world that relies on the new, advanced things then the level of stuff we saw in the show. MacGyver is someone who thrives on no tech not the need for it:)

[MacGyverGod]

Just like Rock said, I think Mac would have everything a guy from the present have. Cell phone, internet, dvd and flatscreens. OK, I can't see him walk around on the street with an MP3 player or Iphone in his ears. But I wouldn't doubt about it if he replaced his jeep radio or jeep cassette player for an MP3 player but just for the car.

Mac retired from Phoenix on quite a early age. In the movies it still seemed he was retired and after that it's all speculation on what he's done with his further life. Find another job or any thing. But anyway, no matter how it turned out technology gained us in. Twenty years ago all this technology was so far out of reach. Unimaginable that we would be watching flatscreens, have cell phones, internet.

But Mac is someone who never stayed behind on all that. Especially not if he walks in the Phoenix Foundation every once in a while. The Phoenix Foundation already was a high tech think tank in the 80's. Imagine what you might see if you walk in nowadays.

[MacDriver]

THis is all very good to hear. I want to take it a step further now- what would MacGyver carry in his pockets now? Would it change, or stay the same?

For instance, now there is "Gorilla Tape" on the market- would Mac want the best and strongest duct tape out there (on the civilian market, anyway...)? Would he use a SAK or upgrade to a multitool (still Victorinox of course )? Would he carry anything new, like a USB drive?

I suppose this is off-topic, but lighting is pretty important, but the only episodes I remember him actually carrying a flashlight in were the Endangered and Live and Learn. Back then lights weren't very efficient, but now you can keep a pinch light on your keys, or carry compact LED lights that provide a LOT of light for the space it takes up.

Would he carry the newer styple of paper clips?

Totally joking, there's a lot less you can do with one of those
Then I would ask about matches vs. lighters but lighters were around back then. So what about Mac's "gear" and technology?

[MacGyverGod]

He'd probably changed the jeep locks with automatic and made his own unlocker key like he did with Jack's plane. If it worked on airplanes, it must work on cars.

[MacGyverOnline]

He's always been an improviser using what he finds along the way and carries a few very basic items which enable him to MacGyverise as he goes and I don't think that would change unless it had to.

Many states have now outlawed the sale of strike anywhere matches for safety reasons. So this might have converted MacGyver to carrying a mini lighter with him instead of matches. Likewise with a SAKs. There are now many places where he wouldn't be allowed to carry a SAK any more after 9/11 so he may have changed or modified that habit considerably also.

I guess the duct tape would be a personal preference thing. I dare say he would try various types, maybe upon suggestion from his local hardware store, and then go with which ever suited his use pattern.

I can't see him switching to a multi-tool instead of a SAK. Those multi's are big and heavy and certainly not conducive to being carried in your pocket, not to mention that opening them is like a jigsaw puzzle.

Would he carry a mobile phone with him? Good question.. I think he might actually find a smart phone quite useful if he was still doing assignments. - By smart phone I mean something which allows bluetooth connection to other equipment as well as internet connectivity and also external storage cards for holding data (so not an iPhone). This is a assuming he still does assignments, if he's retired from that line of work, then maybe he would just use something with basic phone functions and internet. I can totally see him using Google maps while traveling around on vacations etc.