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"In WWII, they had a saying that there are no atheists in foxholes. I think the modern equivalent of that is that there are no jaded, bored people in the high-tech industry, in the land of really good hardcore geeks."
- Neal Stephenson
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| Protophason Amplifier | ||
| Detects brain activity of those in half-life. |
In Ubik, a technology called "cold-pac" allowed people to exist in a kind of life after death. Called "half-life" it slowly diminished over time, but you could still talk with your loved ones. Sort of.
| "Twill only be a moment," Herbert made his way back to the cold-pac bins to search out number 3054039-B.
When he located the correct party he scrutinized the lading report attached. It gave only fifteen days of half-life remaining. Not very much, he reflected; automatically he pressed a portable protophason amplifier into the transparent plastic hull of the casket, tuned it, listened at the proper frequency for indication of cephalic activity. Faintly from the speaker a voice said, "... and then Tillie sprained her ankle and we never thought it'd heal... Satisfied he unplugged the amplifier and located a union man to perform the actual task of carting 3054039-B to the consultation lounge, where the customer would be put in touch with the old lady. |
| From Ubik,
by Philip K. Dick. Published by Doubleday in 1969 Additional resources -
|
Compare to the brain-case from Murder in the Void (1938) by Edmond Hamilton.
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news articles:
- Facilitated Communication With Coma Man Bogus?
- Measuring Awareness In Comatose Patients
- Can Patients In A Vegetative State Communicate?
| Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence (METI) Workshop |
| Burner Generates Temporary Phone Numbers |
| HushMe Bluetooth Device Reinvents The Hush-A-Phone |
| Ubiquiti FrontRow Camera Records Your Life |
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'Merton... placed the electrodes of the sleep-inducer on his forehead.'
'... we can descend and live down there at one of those year-round aquatic resorts.'
'...she would have to be coaxed by another series of pats into a circular orbit.'
'The sleek, tapered space shuttle lay immobile upon the private landing field...'
Yes, people of the future, robots will dress you.
