Alfred Bester:
Science Fiction Technology and Ideas
Alfred Bester was born in Manhattan in 1913. He published his first short story in Thrilling Wonder Stories in 1939. He also wrote for comics, including Batman, Superman, and Green Lantern, and for radio, including The Shadow. His best known sf novels are The Demolished Man (winner of the first Hugo award in 1953) and The Stars My Destination. He died in 1987.
Invention/Technology Source Work (Publication Date)

Analogue - devolution through chemistry
A combination of a drug and a particular mental state allow a person to devolve to an animal level of their choice.

The Stars My Destination (1956)

Cryocapsule
A spaceship capsule that contains astronauts in special coffins, in suspended animation.

The Computer Connection (1974)

Cryonaut
An astronaut placed in cryonic sleep.

The Computer Connection (1974)

Cushion Fence
Gentle force field

The Computer Connection (1974)

Dental Switchboard - tongue switching
A control device tied in with teeth and nerve endings.

The Stars My Destination (1956)

Esper
A person to perceive the contents of another person's mind.

The Demolished Man (1952)

Flesh Gun
A weapon that burns the skin and meat off the victim.

The Computer Connection (1974)

Harvesting Saturn's Rings
Mining the rings for industrial purposes.

The Computer Connection (1974)

Home Ad Blocker
Device insulates house against intrusion by 3D advertisements.

The Computer Connection (1974)

Hydropathic bed - better than a waterbed
A heated bed that used something more comfortable than water.

The Demolished Man (1952)

Internal Body Power Pack - AAAAAAAA size
A tiny battery used to power implants.

The Stars My Destination (1956)

Jaunte Stage - a little space to teleport
A cleared space that existed to serve the needs of people who would jaunte (teleport) into that space.

The Stars My Destination (1956)

Landing Pit (Drydock and Construction)
A cylindrical hole with anti-gravity screens for use in spacecraft landings and repair.

The Stars My Destination (1956)

Living Advertising Character - meet Mr. Presto
Modifying an ordinary person to create a living likeness of a company's brand symbol or character.

The Stars My Destination (1956)

Molemen

The Computer Connection (1974)

Projection - be in two places at once
A means of projecting your image to a distant place.

The Computer Connection (1974)

Projection Commercials - 3D advertisements
A three-dimensional advertisement that is placed in your path in a public place like a bar.

The Computer Connection (1974)

PyrE - thought explosive
A thermonuclear explosive that is detonated by thought alone.

The Stars My Destination (1956)

Refurbished Nervous System - rewired for speed
Your nerves are rewired for 5-10 times the speed of a normal person.

The Stars My Destination (1956)

Retinal Light
An internal flashlight.

The Stars My Destination (1956)

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