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
"We're about 20 minutes away from the point where Clarke's law kicks in and technology becomes indistinguishable from magic."
- Peter Watts
 |
| Solido Projector | ||
| Projects 3-dimensional images. |
As far as I know, the first use of the phrase occurs here.
| "Now, then, is everything functioning properly?" Mr. Pathis asked, setting his briefcase on a chair. "Everything in order? ...The Solido-projector all right? Enjoying the programs?"
"Absolutely perfect reception." He had watched a program just last month, and it had been startlingly lifelike. |
| Technovelgy from Cost of Living,
by Robert Sheckley. Published by Galaxy in 1952 Additional resources -
|
Most readers will be familiar with this term from Frank Herbert's Dune:
Paul leaned forward, staring at the machine. Scaled against the tiny projected human figures around it, the [factory crawler] ... was basically a long, buglike body moving on independent sets of wide tracks.
The glossary of terms at the back of Dune states that a solido is a three dimensional image using the 360 degree image imprinted on a shigawire reel, adding that "Ixian solido projectors are commonly considered the best" - essential information for those of you shopping today on Ebay.
Here's a larger image of the projection itself:
A solido tri-D projection appeared on the table surface about a third of the way down from the Duke. Some of the men farther along the table stood up to get a better look at it.
(Solido Projector from 'Dune' by Frank Herbert)
(Factory Crawler from 'Dune' by Frank Herbert)
Robert Silverberg gives a detailed description of this idea in his 1956 story The Rivals:
Michael Karren held the solido slide slightly to one side, tipped it up and down to see which was the proper way of inserting it, and slid it into the projector. Instantly the image of his wife Helen and their two young sons took form at the end of his living room, glowing and life-like in three dimensions. He could almost smell once again the sharp sea tang that had been in the air, and as he looked at the solido image he found himself recapturing every pleasant moment of that glorious vacation...“You’re very proud of this,” Jennerton said. “You think the mere ownership of a fancy solido-projector is an occasion for pride!”
“Of course I’m proud of it,” Karren retorted. “Not many people own a solidoprojector, and I’m proud to be able to demonstrate one in my own home.”
Compare to the solidograph from Gather, Darkness! (1943) by Fritz Leiber.
Comment/Join this discussion ( 0 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |
Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from Cost of Living
More Ideas
and Technology by Robert Sheckley
Tech news articles related to Cost of Living
Tech news articles related to works by Robert Sheckley
Solido Projector-related
news articles:
- Heliodisplay M2i - Interactive Midair Touchscreen
| I Need An Outdoor Spherical Display |
| Outdoor Video Screens Can Be Arbitrarily Large |
| iPhone Air Fulfils Jobs' Promise From 2007 - A Giant Screen! |
| Transparent 4K OLED Wireless TV From LG |
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
'It sounds to me as though you had invented a kind of metal earthworm.'
'I don't have to tell you about the seven two-mile-diameter orbital mirrors that circulate around the satellite, making it habitable.'
'The steel tortoise gave MacKinnon a feeling of Crusoe- like independence.'
'...then back to their work, though little enough it was on these automatic cultivators.'
't came out into plain view. Darkington glimpsed a slim body and six short legs of articulated dull metal.'
'The suit stands up and starts walking, gripping me round the calves and waist, taking the bulk of my weight off my throbbing feet.'
'Internally it’s made up of millions of components, but the most important ones are the thinking and memory parts of the Mind proper.'
