Science Fiction Dictionary
A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

Home | Dictionary | Timeline | New

iSphere Plastique Fantastique Face Mask Alternative

Tired of wearing those same boring fabric face masks? Do you long to show your face to the world again? Try the iSphere from Plastique Fantastique!

The Coronavirus is changing our relation to each other and affecting our perception of reality. In this time of lockdown, we wonder about the mutation of our social life and the effects of the deprivation of physical touch. iSphere represents the art installations of Plastique Fantastique on a smaller scale and the perspective into the post-pandemic world, beyond 2020.

The iSphere Starting from April 27th 2020, it is mandatory to cover mouth and nose in public transports in Berlin. The iSphere is an open-source project that everybody can produce, develop and improve. Additional gadgets can give a unique touch to any iSphere: it can have a sunshade, a mirrored layer, an integrated microphone, a speaker, a ventilator, or a snorkel. The iconic design is inspired by the science fiction comics of the 50s and the creations of the utopian movements of the 60s; it is pop, and it belongs to everybody. The iSphere is a funny and serious object that stimulates how to approach this exceptional situation.

(Via Plastique Fantastique.)

Perhaps you think that you've seen this idea before? Of course you have! But how long ago?

Take a look at this glassite space-helmet from Sargasso of Space, a 1931 story by Golden Age science fiction great Edmond Hamilton:

Kent and Liggett prepared to don their space-helmets, and before entering the airlock, Kent turned to Krell.

We also have a nice illustration, from the cover of Astounding Science Fiction.

('transparent glassite helmets' from Sargasso of Space)

Manly Wade Wellman is usually credited with the creation of the phrase "space helmet" (see space helmet) in his novella The Disc-Men of Jupiter. However, since both stories were published in September of 1931, I'd call it a tie, wouldn't you?

Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 8/19/2020)

| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |

Would you like to contribute a story tip? It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add it here.

Comment/Join discussion ( 0 )

Related News Stories - (" Clothing ")

Rigid Metallic Clothing From Science Fiction To You
'...support the interior human structure against Jupiter’s pull.' - Edmond Hamilton, 1932.

iPhone Pocket All Sold Out!
'A long, strong, slender net...' - Margaret St. Clair, 1949.

Skip Movewear Arc'teryx AI Exoskeleton Pants
'...the terrible Jovian gravity that made each movement an effort.' - Edmond Hamilon, 1930.

Kolors Virtual-Try-On Predicted, And TRIED, By Harry Harrison
'Bill blinked at his own face under the plumed helmet...' - Harry Harrison, 1965

	Web TechNovelgy.com

Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.

Science Fiction Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's   1950's
1960's   1970's
1980's   1990's
2000's   2010's

Current News

FTC: Says Ring Employees Illegally Surveilled Customers
'Then she looked up with a smile and moved closer to the camera.'

Switzerland May Cap Population At Ten Million
'The population of Castle Hagedorn was fixed...'

Project Silica Offers 'Long-Term' Digital Storage
'... folios and tapes and playable discs of platinum alloy.'

Can 'Tactical Umbrellas' Shield One From Drones
'... another corner of his mind began to think about the shields.'

Crystalline Structures In Space, You Say?
A massive space borne lifeform from ST:TNG.

Garçon! A Menu For Artemis II, S'il Vous Plaît
'Michel Ardan, as a Frenchman, was declared chief cook, an important function, which raised no rival.'

Amazing Photonic Crystal Light Sail
'That sail will be twenty thousand miles at the wide part.'

Blue Collar AI Goes To Work To Mine Its Own Crypto
Blue collar bot.

Rogue AI Replicated Itself
'Sapiro’s computer just kept dialing at random, hanging up on humans, until it got a fellow computer of the same type as itself.'

HandelBot Helps Two-Handed Robots Learn Piano
'I request that you feed the correlation between those dots and the levers of the panel into my memory banks.'

Woven Fiber Electronic Skin For Robots
'... all the feel and appearance of human flesh and epidermis.'

When AI Takes Its First Breath
Any suggestions?

Chinese Aircar Light And Airy, Not For Blade Runners
Daytime version.

The Morphing Wheel And The Smartwheel
'If you surf over a bump, the spokes contract to roll over it.'

Transporting Antimatter
'...drawing plans for the magnetic tongs and bed plates and relays.'

Polish Turns Your Nail Into A Stylus
'He wrote on it, using the pointed fingernail of his right forefinger...'

More SF in the News Stories

More Beyond Technovelgy science news stories