Technology
The Galaxy has attained an impressive level of technology by the 27th century. Access to technology, however, varies depending on region of the galaxy and affiliation. Generally, the best technology is owned and is developed by the Federation. The Old Earth Empires are capable of creating impressive technology, but it's level varies greatly amongst its various powers. The Empire lags behind in technological progress, but it makes up for it in volume.
Transportation
Interstellar transportation is achieved through the use of the Hyperspace Drive. The Hyperspace drive is capable of travelling at velocities many times the speed of light by warping space/time around the vessel.
In-system transportation is achieved using powerful Ion engines capable of generating tremendous amounts of thrust with little dangerous exhaust.
Planetary transporation uses Anti-Gravity technology. Though complicated and difficult to maintain, Grav vehicles are the most numerous vehicles in the galaxy. Typical low-power grav vehicles can only achieve an altitude of a few meters while high-power grav vehicles may attain atmospheric altitudes and high velocities. Wheeled and tracked vehicles are still available and are very common on some worlds where easy maintenance is a factor.
Anti-Gravity research in the 2200's which led to Grav Vehicles also created Artificial Gravity which is used on space vessels and installations. Artificial Gravity is relatively inexpensive and easily maintained compared to spin or accelleration-based gravity. Artificial Gravity also partially compensates for inertia.
Legged vehicles, known as Mecha, are also common on the Frontier where difficult terrain and conditions make wheeled, tracked, or even Grav vehicles impractical.
Medical
Medical technology has progressed such that death from natural causes is rare. Although anagathics exist, they are still relatively expensive and uncommon. Tissue regeneration technologies are common and can easily replace a lost limb or organ through cloning new tissue. However, tissue regeneration takes time, several months in fact. Unless the recipient has a tissue bank set up with stored clone parts on demand, they'll have to either go without the limb or organ or use an artificial replacement.
The technology exists to create full body clones and artificially enhance their growth. Although these clones are functionally unintelligent, they can be made to act and appear intelligent through the use of cybernetic implants. Growth-enhanced full-body clones are strongly controlled in the Federation, but not illegal. However, using the clone for any reason than tissue-bank replacement or research is illegal.
Artificial Bionic replacement of limbs or organs is also very common and is readily available. However, the cybernetic interface implants necessary to control the bionic replacement make cloned tissue replacement later on impractical. Although bionic replacements are more expensive and invasive than cloned tissue replacement, they are more immediately available. If one could afford the cost, one could have an expensive immediate bionic replacement while a natural replacement is cloned. Then, when the natural replacement is ready, the bionics can be removed at further great cost and the natural clone replacement attached.
Cybernetic technology has also yielded several brain-computer interfaces allowing a human brain to be directly connected to a computer interface. This allows direct access to computerized files, databases, and control mechanisms, but has the side-effect of eventually making the user think in an emotionless machine-like fashion. Cybernetic technology is heavily controlled by the Federation as a result.
Self-Defense
The most common weapons technology in the galaxy is the Blaster. The blaster fires a bolt of highly charged energy at its target. The result is localized electrical burn damage and cauterized tissue trauma. The blast is capable of penetrating most forms of ballistic armor but is not capable of rupturing the hull of a space vessel. Blasters also have the capability of being set to a lower "stun" setting. Ballistic weapons still exist and are widely available, though they are unpopular due to their ability to rupture hulls in space.
Most deadly concealable weapons are strictly controlled in Federation space. However, it is legal to own and carry an unconcealed weapon on a colony world. Regulations differ among the Old Earth Empires and all weapons are stricly forbidden to non-military subjects of the Empire.
Armor technology has produced several practical kinds of armor from lightweight suits of flexible ballistic cloth to armored plate suits to large suits of powered plate armor. Powered armor is so heavy it requires it's own internal monocoque musculature system to support and move its own weight. These suits are worn by the pilot as opposed to legged mecha in which the pilot controls the vehicle from a cockpit.
Computer Technology
Computers are everywhere controlling everything. Even personal clothing can be computer controlled for temperature, breathability, and fit. Although fully self-aware artificial intelligences exist, most of what are called AI's are, in actuality, very good simulations of them. Most computer systems larger than 5kg are capable of full interaction and comprehension, if not self-awareness. All computers also have the capability to connect to the Hypernet to either send and receive data anywhere in the galaxy.
Droids
Another product of computer technology are Droids. Droids are ambulatory robots. There are a wide variety of Droids in the galaxy. Most are not fully self-aware, but are fully interactive and can easily pass for being self-aware. Droids have replaced human labor and ability in many fields and, as such, are viewed with prejudice by most people. However, they do provide excellent service and are quite capable. The debate on the value of Droids is unresolved as some welcome their contribution and others resent it.
Technology does exist to creat fully life-like Androids. There are three classes of Androids: superficial, enhanced, full replicant. Superficial androids are effectively droids with a human-appearing outside. They are easily detected with casual medical scan. Enhanced droids use cloned and cybernetically controlled human tissue and can pass for a human on a casual medical scan, but a detailed examination will reveal it. A full replicant will pass for a human no matter how detailed the examination. Only a full dissection/autopsy will reveal it's true nature. Enhanced Androids and Full Replicants are heavily controlled by the Federation, not to mention very expensive.