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"The first thing that's wrong with being a science-fiction writer today is that the present has caught up with the future and surpassed it."
- Peter Watts
 |
| Solido Projector | ||
| Projects 3-dimensional images. |
As far as I know, the first use of the phrase occurs here.
| "Now, then, is everything functioning properly?" Mr. Pathis asked, setting his briefcase on a chair. "Everything in order? ...The Solido-projector all right? Enjoying the programs?"
"Absolutely perfect reception." He had watched a program just last month, and it had been startlingly lifelike. |
| Technovelgy from Cost of Living,
by Robert Sheckley. Published by Galaxy in 1952 Additional resources -
|
Most readers will be familiar with this term from Frank Herbert's Dune:
Paul leaned forward, staring at the machine. Scaled against the tiny projected human figures around it, the [factory crawler] ... was basically a long, buglike body moving on independent sets of wide tracks.
The glossary of terms at the back of Dune states that a solido is a three dimensional image using the 360 degree image imprinted on a shigawire reel, adding that "Ixian solido projectors are commonly considered the best" - essential information for those of you shopping today on Ebay.
Here's a larger image of the projection itself:
A solido tri-D projection appeared on the table surface about a third of the way down from the Duke. Some of the men farther along the table stood up to get a better look at it.
(Solido Projector from 'Dune' by Frank Herbert)
(Factory Crawler from 'Dune' by Frank Herbert)
Robert Silverberg gives a detailed description of this idea in his 1956 story The Rivals:
Michael Karren held the solido slide slightly to one side, tipped it up and down to see which was the proper way of inserting it, and slid it into the projector. Instantly the image of his wife Helen and their two young sons took form at the end of his living room, glowing and life-like in three dimensions. He could almost smell once again the sharp sea tang that had been in the air, and as he looked at the solido image he found himself recapturing every pleasant moment of that glorious vacation...“You’re very proud of this,” Jennerton said. “You think the mere ownership of a fancy solido-projector is an occasion for pride!”
“Of course I’m proud of it,” Karren retorted. “Not many people own a solidoprojector, and I’m proud to be able to demonstrate one in my own home.”
Compare to the solidograph from Gather, Darkness! (1943) by Fritz Leiber.
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Additional
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More Ideas
and Technology from Cost of Living
More Ideas
and Technology by Robert Sheckley
Tech news articles related to Cost of Living
Tech news articles related to works by Robert Sheckley
Solido Projector-related
news articles:
- Heliodisplay M2i - Interactive Midair Touchscreen
| Did Frank Herbert Predict E-Ink Displays? |
| I Need An Outdoor Spherical Display |
| Outdoor Video Screens Can Be Arbitrarily Large |
| iPhone Air Fulfils Jobs' Promise From 2007 - A Giant Screen! |
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