For decades, shows like "Star Trek" and novels like "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" have showcased fictional universal translators, capable of seamlessly converting any language into English and vice versa.

Now, those gadgets once limited to works of science fiction are inching close to reality.

During its iPhone unveiling event on Tuesday, Apple included a video of many travelers' dream scenario. It showed an English-speaking tourist buying flowers in an unnamed Spanish-speaking country. The florist addressed the tourist in Spanish, but what the tourist heard was in clear, coherent English.

"Today all the red carnations are 50% off," the tourist heard in English in her headphones, at essentially the same time that the clerk was speaking.

The video was marketing materia

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