Isaac Asimov: Science Fiction Technology and Ideas

Isaac Asimov:
Science Fiction Technology and Ideas

Isaac Asimov was born in Petrovichi, Russia in 1920. He was awarded a PhD in Biochemistry in 1948 and joined the faculty of Boston University. He started writing science fiction in 1939. He wrote:

"at the age of nine, he found the love of his life (in the inanimate sense) when he discovered his first science-fiction magazine. By the time he was eleven, he began to write stories, and at eighteen, he actually worked up the nerve to submit one. It was rejected. After four long months of tribulation and suffering, he sold his first story and, thereafter, he never looked back."

His extraordinary output comprises some 500 volumes on every conceivable subject. His most famous science fiction works include the Foundation trilogy and I, Robot.

Invention/Technology	Source Work (Publication Date)
Machine Suicide A self-aware computer system wants to destroy itself.	All the Troubles in the World (1958)
Machine Test Scoring A device that scans a specially prepared grade sheet and determines a student's score.	The Fun They Had (1951)
Mechanical Jokester A vast computer system learns about humor.	Jokester (1956)
Mechanical Teacher - one for all A computer device able to teach children.	The Fun They Had (1951)
Mental Static Device Cloak the minds of individuals with a kind of 'noise'.	Second Foundation (1953)
Merc-Pool A device that stores information in vibration patterns on a mercury surface.	Caves of Steel (1953)
Microfarm Food creation without soil.	Prelude to Foundation (1988)
Miniaturization Making a physical object smaller in size.	Fantastic Voyage (Novel) (1966)
Mnemonic Service Dedicated humans who collected bits of data in hopes of catching key correlations between fields of study.	Sucker Bait (1954)
Morphogen A drug that party relieves the need for sleep.	Fantastic Voyage (Novel) (1966)
Multiple Robot Team - a squad plus leader A set of robots, with the leader able to coordinate the activities of less intelligent subsidiary robots.	Catch That Rabbit (1944)
Multivac A computer with millions of facts.	Franchise (1955)
Needle-Gun Small palm-sized weapon.	Lucky Starr and the Moons of Jupiter (1957)
Neuronic Whip - it delivers pain A weapon that stimulated the nerve endings to cause extreme discomfort.	The Stars, Like Dust (1951)
Nuclear Shears Device uses nuclear power to accomplish basic shop tasks.	Foundation (1951)
Nuclear-Field Depressor A device that causes nuclear-powered devices to stop working.	Foundation and Empire (1952)
Ovoid 3D Galactic Model A handheld display of a galaxy.	Second Foundation (1953)
Personal Capsule - for your eyes only An impenetrable device containing information for your eyes only.	Foundation (1951)
Personal Force-Shield - earliest mention? A portable force-shield small enough to be carried by a single man.	Foundation (1951)
Photo Crystal (Cube) A small handheld display for a picture	Foundation and Empire (1952)

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