Much like the one seen in the movie The Matrix, the consumer-available EMP (Electro-magnetic pulse) device will render all nearby electronics permanently or temporarily useless, depending on the nature of the device affected. Its primary use, once it becomes available in the near-future, will be to fend off attacks by evil octopus-looking machines bent on world domination and/or making babies.

It works by generating a powerful wave of EM energy which overloads electrical circuits. The circuits become overloaded because, by Faraday's law, the magnetic flux generates current in ALL of the circuits in a device at the same time, causing a general shutdown.

Also good for clearing hard disks!