Vulcan's Hammer by Philip K. Dick:
Science Fiction Inventions, Technology and Ideas

Outstanding novel describes a not-too-distant Earth run by the Unity organization, a totalitarian world bureaucracy; every move is dictated by Vulcan 3, a supercomputer that is self-aware. The story was published in an abbreviated form in Future Science Fiction magazine in 1956. Select an invention:

Fluid Metal Letters
A smooth metal display able to display words.

Hammer - weapon of AIs
Flying blunt trauma weapon remote-controlled by an artificially intelligent computer.

Infiltrators
Surveillance devices, small and insectile.

Interactive Blackboard
Early description of an interactive display device for lectures and demonstrations.

Metal BIrds
Surveillance robots that carried weapons, in addition to using their metal bodies.

Pencil Beam
A thin tube-like laser beam weapon.

Robot Tracking Device - preferred surveillance tool of AIs
Small UAV robot remotely operated by an artificially intelligent computer.

Transdermal Drug Capsule - slap it on
A drug capsule that delivers medication by being placed on the skin.

Vulcan 3 - endless self-modifying computer
Artificially intelligent self-modifying supercomputer.

 

Technovelgy.com is devoted to the creative inventions of science fiction authors and movie makers. Look for the Science Fiction Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary of Science Fiction Inventions, the Timeline of Science Fiction Inventions, or see what's New.
Find
new authors and technologies - Shop for yourself, your library and your lab.

 

 

 

 

Science Fiction
in the News

Cheap Drunk Driver Detection From UofM
re: Philip K. Dick
(3/4/2024)

Can A Human Land A SpaceX Rocket On Its Tail?
re: Stanley G. Weinbaum
(3/2/2024)

Robot Snakes No Longer Stopped By Stairs
re: Lee Chaytor
(2/28/2024)

Has Turkey Been Stealing Rain From Iran?
re: Neal Stephenson
(2/26/2024)

We Need To Build Anti-Drone Systems For Civilian Spaces
re: Neal Stephenson
(2/24/2024)

SensorWake Scent-Based Alarm Clock
re: Frank Herbert
(2/22/2024)

AI Worms That Spread
re: John Brunner
(2/20/2024)

Challenges Of Two-Armed Robots
re: Various
(2/18/2024)

FlexRAM Liquid Metal RAM And One Particular SF Movie Robot
re: Philip K Dick
(2/16/2024)

Ulm Sleep Pods For The Homeless
re: Larry Niven
(2/14/2024)

Prophetic Offers Lucid Dreaming Halo With Morpheus-1 AI
re: Peter Watts
(2/12/2024)

More Like A Tumblebug Than A Motorcycle
re: Robert Heinlein
(2/10/2024)

Tesla Camera-Only Vision Predicted In 1930's SF
re: Miles J. Breuer
(2/8/2024)

First Ever Proof Of Water On Asteroids
re: Raymond Z. Gallun
(2/6/2024)

More SF in the News

Home | Glossary | Invention Timeline | Category | New | Contact Us | FAQ | Advertise |
Technovelgy.com - where science meets fiction™

Copyright© Technovelgy LLC; all rights reserved.