The Tricorder X-Prize is an international innovation challenge promising $US10 million to a team that can crack the elegantly elusive problem of the 'tricorder', the legendary handheld health analyser originally featured in Star Trek that has the 'tri-functionality' of sensing, computing and recording health.

A little black box with a screen and detachable probe, the tricorder could sense vital signs, analyse blood work and diagnose a range of medical conditions. Although it was able to send distress signals, the tricorder could not deliver treatment; it was a portable, easy-to-use diagnostic toolkit.