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
"I would say 75% of the economy is now being run by ex-science-fiction fans."
- Greg Bear
 |
| Newsbox (News-Receptor) | ||
| Also referred to as a microviewer; could search media programming for news on a particular words used in the broadcast. |
| [He] was bending over the news-receptor, his
eyes pressed against the microfilm viewer.
Lazarus cleared his throat loudly and said, "Howdy." The man jerked his head and exclaimed, "Oh! Sorry-I was startled. Do y' a service?" "I was looking for the newsbox. Mind if we throw it on the screen?" "Not at all." The other man stood up, pressed the button to rewind the film, and reset the box to project on the screen. "Any particular subject?" "I wanted to see," said Lazarus, "if there was any news about us-the Families." "I've been watching for that myself. Perhaps we had better use the soundtrack and let it hunt." "O.K.," agreed Lazarus, stepping up to the receptor and changing the selector to audio. "What's the code word?' "'Methuselah.'" Lazarus punched the keys. The machine chattered and whined as it scanned and rejected track sped through it, then the film slowed with a triumphant click. "The DAILY DATA," it announced. "The only midwest news service subscribing to every major grid and private photophone to Luna City... |
| From Methuselah's Children,
by Robert Heinlein. Published by Astounding Science-Fiction in 1941 Additional resources -
|
I'm wondering if this is the first place anyone described the idea that has finally been implemented on PC television cards. With these cards in your PC, you can not only watch the program on your PC screen and capture (save) programs and screens, but you can put in keywords, and let the PC screen current program subtitles.
Heinlein's version is somewhat more advanced, since it apparently looked for spoken words based on text criteria.
Also, note that some units (although not this one) are equipped with scramblers to remove commercial messages. It seems able to put a broadcast on "hold", suggesting that it has a Tivo-like capability to pause in presenting information while continuing to record:
"Can't we scramble that commercial?" suggested Lazarus. His companion peered at the control panel. "Doesn't seem to be equipped for it."
See the automatic commercial deletion capability from Satellite Five by Arthur Burns (1938).
The machine hummed and clicked and again spoke up. "The DAILY DATA, the only midwest news-"
Comment/Join this discussion ( 0 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |
Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from Methuselah's Children
More Ideas
and Technology by Robert Heinlein
Tech news articles related to Methuselah's Children
Tech news articles related to works by Robert Heinlein
Newsbox (News-Receptor)-related
news articles:
- Blinkx.tv And Heinlein's Newsbox
- Nozzl Real-Time Local News
- Bespoke Clothing In 30 Minutes
- Sewbo Robot Perfect For Heinlein's Bespoke Kilts!
- Google's Remixed 'Your News Update' ala Heinlein, Clarke, Pohl
- Rid Thyself Of Ads On The Newsbox
| 'Courier Commons' By Tomorrow Lab, From Karl Schroeder (and Bruce Sterling?) |
| Mouth Haptics Invented By Frederik Pohl In 1965, CMU Now Has Prototype |
| True Crime Live Podcasting In Fiction |
| Zoom Adds Real-Time, Live Translation |
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
'LET ME TELL YOU HOW MUCH I'VE COME TO HATE YOU SINCE I BEGAN TO LIVE.'
'...a rolled-up sheet of a thin, dark metal strange to them.'
'... his contract with Space Industries required him to work summers in their orbital factory complex.'
'Space-weather men had been placed at their disposal...'
With each successive print, our model needed to incorporate more structural ingredients to minimize print failures.
'... Wendis stared thoughtfully at the brilliant lines on the spectroscope screen.'
'A special spot-wavex scrambler also caused his televised image, in the area immediately about his lips, to mouth the vowels and consonants beautifully.'
'... it was as if the upper part had been removed, like a cut deck of cards.'
Sumomo will get those office workers into good shape!
