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
Latest By
Category:
Armor
Artificial
Intelligence
Biology
Clothing
Communication
Computers
Culture
Data Storage
Displays
Engineering
Entertainment
Food
Input Devices
Lifestyle
Living Space
Manufacturing
Material
Media
Medical
Miscellaneous
Robotics
Security
Space Tech
Spacecraft
Surveillance
Transportation
Travel
Vehicle
Virtual
Person
Warfare
Weapon
Work
"I have been a soreheaded occupant of a file drawer labeled 'Science Fiction' and I would like out, particularly since so many serious critics regularly mistake the drawer for a urinal."
- Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
 |
| Stillsuit | ||
| It covers almost the entire body, provides cooling and ensures that almost no moisture is lost. |
This is yet another of the fascinating inventions of Dune, a desert planet with no bodies of surface water at all. In this desiccated environment, even moisture is precious. Hence, the stillsuit, which reclaims the moisture lost by the body during the course of the day.
It is a very clever idea, but as far as I can tell, there are no efforts to take advantage of the basic idea. (Water being plentiful here on planet Earth.)
However, there is a lot of interest in the idea of recovering power from the human stride. Engineers who are interested in powering wearable computers have investigated the idea; check out Parasitic Power Harvesting in Shoes by some guys back in the lab at MIT. The study mentions that
"In previous studies it has been calculated that up to 67 Watts of power are available from heel strikes during a brisk walk (68 kilogram person, 2 steps/second, heel moving 5 cm.) This level of power extraction from walking would certainly interfere greatly with one's gait."
| It's basically a micro-sandwich; a high-efficiency filter and heat-exchange system. The skin-contact layer is porous. Perspiration passes through it, having cooled the body. Motions of the body, especially breathing, and some osmotic action provide the pumping force. With a Fremen suit in good working order, you won't lose more than a thimbleful of moisture a day - even if you're caught in the Great Erg. |
| Technovelgy from Dune,
by Frank Herbert. Published by Putnam in 1965 Additional resources -
|
Here are some other quotes from Dune that illustrate different aspects of the stillsuit:
...When he had tightened the chest to gain maximum pumping action from the motion of breathing, he had known what he did and why. When he had fitted the neck and forehead tabs tightly, he had known it was to prevent friction blisters...
...He found his stillsuit's watertube in its clip at his neck, drew a warm swallow into his mouth, and he thought that here he truly began an Arrakeen existence--living on reclaimed moisture from his own breath and body. It was flat and tasteless water, but it soothed his throat...
...Paul crouched at the sphincter, his stillsuit hood adjusted for the open desert--forehead capped, mouth filter in place, nose plugs adjusted. Only his dark eyes were visible: a narrow band of face that turned once toward her and away...
...I must remember to fasten the boots slip-fashion to help my stillsuit's pumping action, she thought...
Although it conjures up an odd image, water was held so dear on Dune that even domesticated animals needed help:
Finally, here's one more quote from Dune Messiah, the first sequel to the original novel.
It's interesting to note that the matter of "gait" is very important to Fremen, since repetitive motion creates vibration that attracts the gigantic sandworms of Dune.
The sophisticated stillsuits hint that the Fremen, a culture that prefers not to participate in the feudal culture of Dune, are not merely simple tribespeople.
Compare to the transkin from Parasite Planet (1935) by Stanley Weinbaum. See also Harvest Power From Stray Energy from The Golden Girl of Munan (1928) by Harl Vincent and the Fottengill process from Gypped (1956) by Lloyd Biggle.
"...they stink to heaven in any closed space. It's from those suits they wear -- call them 'stillsuits' -- that reclaim the body's own water..."
The concern on Arrakis was not with water, but with moisture. Pets were almost unknown, stock animals rare. Some smugglers employed the domesticated desert ass, the kulon, but the water price was high even when the beasts were fitted with modified stillsuits.
...Paul sat on the edge of his bed and began stripping off his desert boots. They smelled rancid from the lubricant which eased the action of the heel-powered pumps that drove his stillsuit...
Comment/Join this discussion ( 9 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |
Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from Dune
More Ideas
and Technology by Frank Herbert
Tech news articles related to Dune
Tech news articles related to works by Frank Herbert
Stillsuit-related
news articles:
- Parasitic Power Harvesting - Dada Sprees Supreme Shoes
- NASA And Water Security Working On A Stillsuit
- Backpack Generator Harnesses Power Of Walking
- Nanogenerator Harvests Mechanical Energy
- Flexible Integrated Energy Device (FIED) - Wearable Rechargers
- Breath Powered USB Charger (And Stillsuit)
- Biomechanical Energy Harvester Is The Bee's Knees
- Piezoelectric Zinc Oxide Nanowire Fashions For Spring
- Breast Motion Power Harvesting iPod-Charging Bra
- NTT Energy-Generating Shoes Are Squishy
- Implantable Energy-Harvesting Rubber Sheets
- Nanogenerator Intros New Energy Unit - The Pinch
- NASA's Forward Osmosis Bag (For Stillsuits?)
- Energy-Harvesting Shoes With Reverse Electrowetting
- Generate Elecricity From Breathing With Microbelt PVDF Device
- 10 Exotic Human-Energy Harvesting Devices And Technologies
- Hydrolemic Systems Prepares For Water Shortages
- Sweat Be Gone! Non-Wetting Fabric
- Skin Wearable Harvests Power With Triboelectric Effect
- Sticker Harvests Energy From Your Skin
- Sip From Your Ford When Catchpocket Shows Dewsparkle
- Wear Your Self-Powered Generator
- Dune Fans! Power Your Devices With Sweaty Shirts
- Wearable Energy Harvester
- Space Exporers! Now, You Can Drink Your Own Urine
| Skip Movewear Arc'teryx AI Pants |
| Kolors Virtual-Try-On Predicted, And TRIED, By Harry Harrison |
| Qore IcePlates Are Personal Cooling Suits |
| Fabrican Dress Sprayed Directly Onto Model On Coperni Runway |
Want to Contribute an
Item?
It's easy:
Get the name of the item, a
quote, the book's name and the author's name, and Add
it here.
| <Previous | Next> |
|
|
|
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 Science Fiction 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
'...the rocket’s landing-arms automatically unfolded.'
'...points and patches of light... sliding all over their faces in a programmed manner that had been designed to foil facial recognition systems.'
'...the combined Wind-Suncatcher, like a spray of tulips mounted fanwise.'
'I went to the control room where the three other men were manipulating their mechanical men.'
'The low-slung monorail car, straddling its single track, bored through the shadows on a slowly rising course.'
'It was a smooth ovoid floating a few inches from the floor...'
'... he thrust in his charging arm to replenish his store of energy.'
'...the terrible Jovian gravity that made each movement an effort.'
