I'll have to disagree with the rest of the commenters here.
These concept devices are useful the same way (as they essentially are) science fiction is. Inspiration and a focus on new ideas instead of implementation. Too much focus on the latter can distract engineers from solving higher-level user problems.
You just have to look at them more as sci-fi than vaporware.
100% true, but as everyone is doing such concepts, the value of a particular one is rather low. Few ones get implemented, and these are what's really valued.
These concept devices are useful the same way (as they essentially are) science fiction is. Inspiration and a focus on new ideas instead of implementation. Too much focus on the latter can distract engineers from solving higher-level user problems.
You just have to look at them more as sci-fi than vaporware.