Snabblegerat

Snabblegerat is a fictional handheld device that appears in German-language science fiction, cyberpunk literature, and role-playing game supplements. In these works it is described as a compact, modular tool designed for rapid data sampling, field diagnostics, and light manipulation of electronic or digital systems. The concept emphasizes portability and versatility rather than a single fixed specification, with different authors proposing varying sensor suites and interfaces.

The term itself is a neologism formed from the German word gerät (device) with an ascribed root snabble, a fictional verb indicating quick grabbing or sampling. There is no standardized real-world meaning for snabblegerat, and the name is used primarily within speculative contexts.

Typical design ideas in fiction include a palm-sized casing, swappable sensor modules (electrical, chemical, optical), a small display or heads-up projection, and a wireless or hardwired interface for data transfer. Some depictions add an onboard memory for logs, encryption, and rudimentary processing to run simple probes or scripts. Power is usually provided by compact batteries or a rechargeable cell.

In narrative use, snabblegerat functions as a versatile toolkit for technicians, investigators, or hackers: it can diagnose faulty circuitry, sample materials, extract digital fingerprints, or interface with nearby devices to read or influence signals. Because its capabilities are defined by story needs, different works present widely differing limits and safeguards for the device.

References to snabblegerat appear mainly in speculative fiction and gaming materials, with no canonical real-world specification.