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"The wealth of the universe is all over your head. We need to take command of the solar system to gain that wealth..."
- Larry Niven
 |
| Calculator Pad | ||
| Used to make psychohistoric calculations |
Everyone has a PDA (personal digital assistant) these days; in some offices, the odd person is the one who does not have a Palm-based device or Pocket PC. The idea was somewhat more exotic in 1951, when the only computers were room-sized, and the first computer terminal had only been invented a few years before.
| Seldon removed his calculator pad from the pouch at his belt. Men said he kept one beneath his pillow for use in moments of wakefulness. Its gray, glossy finish was slightly worn by use. |
| From Foundation,
by Isaac Asimov. Published by Doubleday in 1951 Additional resources -
|
I have a Cassiopeia Pocket PC; its gray, glossy finish is also slightly worn by use. Just to give you some material for comparison, in 1951 the big news in computers was the use of vacuum tubes. CBS purchased a Universal Automatic Computer (UNIVAC) for use in predicting results in the 1952 presidential elections; it took up most of a 15'x15' room.
Bypassing the present, you might want to see the future view of this kind of device - the Control-Face, from William Gibson's Idoru.
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| Muscle-Controlled Interface Is Hands-Free |
| Online Banking Malware Rewrites Your Statements |
| Courier Tablet Computer Video Reveals Features |
| 'Mechanical Tumor' Meatspace Expression Of Computer Stress |
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Gerry was dubious. She had seen abortive attempts at paralysis rays before.
Let your fingers - uh - your robot do the walking. And hopping.
