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
 |
Technovelgy Top Stories For 2004
This past year, Technovelgy reported on hundreds of stories about real-life
events that were presaged by science fiction stories. The following ten stories
showed
the most remarkable correspondence between sf and reality in 2004. The stories
have been picked and ordered based on a combination of the number of years
between the dream and the reality, how exact is the correspondence between
science and fiction, and just exactly how incredibly improbable they
really are. 9. Proposal To Move An Asteroid Runner-up stories included Roboshiko!
Robot Masters Sumo And Linux, Motosk8
- Next Best Thing To Tele-Motor-Coasters, Humans
Teach Bacteria New Language, Polymeric
Nitrogen, Crime-Fighting
Computer - The Game's Afoot 24x7, and Sleep
Pods, What were your favorites?
1. Spaceflight
Club For Space Enthusiasts
The enthusiasm of the amateur space explorers in the Baltimore Gun Club has
been kept alive since 1867.
2. Rat Neurons Learn Flight Simulator
Talk about sheer slack-jawed "come on, no way" impossibility - the head
cheeses from Peter Watt's novel Starfish are here.
3. BrainGate - Earth Scientists Begin To Crack Krell Secrets
We saw the movie about fifty years ago - now scientists are working out
direct brain-computer interfaces.
4. Chips In Your Head - Artificial Brain Prosthesis Under Development
We all read about microsofts - chips you could just slide into your brain
to augment its functionality - twenty years ago.
5. NASA's New Radiation Shielding First Proposed
By John W. Campbell In 1936
Still a good idea after all those years.
6. Philips FluidFocus: Variable Focus Fluid Lens
Now, if we could just find some "hufhuf" oil, we'd be all set.
7. Philips Rollable Display (Active-Matrix)
These amazing thin, rollable displays bring us right to the era of poster
televisions and smart paper.
8. Microvision Laser Monocle: Technician Retina-Vision
Frederic Pohl thought about these in 1952.
A "bold new proposal" to defend us against asteroids was made last year
- but Robert Heinlein proposed it in 1939.
10. Frank
Herbert's Odalarm - Scent-Based Alarm Clock
Everybody has their favorites - yes, it's a 100% for-real Odalarm.What a
great year.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 1/18/2005)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| 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 - (" Media ")
'Facetime Facelift' Beautifies Video Chats
Always look your best - on Facetime.
Meeting Wendy Of Wendy's
Wendy of Wendys meet Rondald of McDonald's.
Narrative Science And Phil Dick's Homeostatic Newspaper
'The structure... was once a great homeostatic newspaper, the New York Times.'
BookTrack Adds Sound To Books
I really don't think this is a very good idea. Readers?
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
Mechazilla Arms Catch A Falling Starship, But Check Out SF Landing-ARMS
'...the rocket’s landing-arms automatically unfolded.'
A System To Defeat AI Face Recognition
'...points and patches of light... sliding all over their faces in a programmed manner that had been designed to foil facial recognition systems.'
Robot Hand Separate From Robot
'The crawling, exploring object was V-Stephen's surgeon-hand...'
Hybrid Wind Solar Devices
'...the combined Wind-Suncatcher, like a spray of tulips mounted fanwise.'
Is Optimus Autonomous Or Teleoperated?
'I went to the control room where the three other men were manipulating their mechanical men.'
Robot Masseuse Rubs People The Right Way
'The automatic massager began to fumble gently...'
Solar-Powered Space Trains On The Moon
'The low-slung monorail car, straddling its single track, bored through the shadows on a slowly rising course.'
Drone Deliveries Instead Of Waiters In Restaurants?
'It was a smooth ovoid floating a few inches from the floor...'
Optimus Robot Can Charge Itself
'... he thrust in his charging arm to replenish his store of energy.'
Skip Movewear Arc'teryx AI Pants
'...the terrible Jovian gravity that made each movement an effort.'
'Robovan' Name Already Taken - Elon, Try These
There are alternative names that are probably in the public domain by now.
How Old Are Tesla Designs?
You be the judge.
Is Your Autonomous Tractor Safe?
'The field-minder finished turning the top-soil of a two-thousand-acre field.'
Smart TVs Are Listening!
'You had to live -- did live, from habit that became instinct -- in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard...'
Police Drones In China Would Like To Have A Word With You
''OVERRIDE,' the City Fathers said suddenly, without being asked anything at all.'
Oh Great (Part 2), Fence-Climbing Robots
Please, no stingers.
