|
Date |
Device Name (Novel Author) |
| 1705 |
Consolidator (from The Consolidator by Daniel Defoe)
A craft for embarking on voyages through space. |
| 1705 |
Cogitator (The Chair of Reflection) (from The Consolidator by Daniel Defoe)
A device which improves the rationality of the thinking processes. |
| 1726 |
Geometric Modeling (from Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift)
The first recorded use of geometric figures to directly represent, or model, living beings. |
| 1726 |
Knowledge Engine (from Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift)
The first reference to a machine that could create sentences or write books. |
| 1726 |
Bio-Energy (from Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift)
The first reference to extracting electricity from organic materials. |
| 1726 |
Laputa (from Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift)
A floating island or rock in the air. |
| 1727 |
Androide (from Cyclopaedia by Ephraim Chambers)
A device having the form or likeness of a man. |
| 1828 |
Stage Balloon (from The Mummy! A Tale of the Twenty-Second Century by Jane Webb Loudon)
A regular means of conveyance, like a train or carriage. |
| 1828 |
Mail-Post Letter-Ball (from The Mummy! A Tale of the Twenty-Second Century by Jane Webb Loudon)
A system of sending mail quickly from town to town via steam-cannon-powered hollow spheres. |
| 1828 |
Steam-Propelled Moving Houses (from The Mummy! A Tale of the Twenty-Second Century by Jane Webb Loudon)
Otherwise ordinary residences that move from place to place, powered by steam. |
| 1828 |
Barrels of Air (from The Mummy! A Tale of the Twenty-Second Century by Jane Webb Loudon)
A very early mention of a means for breathing once above the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1828 |
Automaton Steam Surgeon (from The Mummy! A Tale of the Twenty-Second Century by Jane Webb Loudon)
Mechanized surgery. |
| 1846 |
Forced Scholars (from Le Monde Tel Qu'il Sera (The World As It Shall Be) by Emile Souvestre)
Hothouse intellectuals. |
| 1846 |
Express Dolphin (from Le Monde Tel Qu'il Sera (The World As It Shall Be) by Emile Souvestre)
A most agreeable means of locomotion under the waves. |
| 1846 |
Feeding Room (from Le Monde Tel Qu'il Sera (The World As It Shall Be) by Emile Souvestre)
An automated child care. |
| 1846 |
Steam Horse (from Le Monde Tel Qu'il Sera (The World As It Shall Be) by Emile Souvestre)
A remarkable mechanical beast. |
| 1846 |
Passenger-Carrying Mortar (from Le Monde Tel Qu'il Sera (The World As It Shall Be) by Emile Souvestre)
A unique way of crossing a river, without a boat or a bridge. |
| 1864 |
Whispering Gallery (from Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne)
A means of communication in specifically shaped spaces. |
| 1866 |
Paper Steel (from Robur-the-Conqueror by Jules Verne)
Specially treated paper that forms material as hard as steel. |
| 1867 |
Retro-Rockets (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne)
Small boosters to provide a thrust counter to the current velocity of the spacecraft, slowing it down or stopping its progress altogether. |
| 1867 |
Weightlessness (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne)
The state experienced in free fall; a space traveler's weight is apparently reduced to zero. |
| 1867 |
Projectile-Vehicle (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne)
A projectile, or shot, capable of enclosing passengers and being safely hurled to the moon by an enormous cannon. |
| 1867 |
Light Pressure Propulsion (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne)
First mention of the idea that light itself could be a form of propulsion for spacecraft. |
| 1867 |
Communicate with Extraterrestrials (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne)
Early plan to communicate with life on planets removed from the earth. |
| 1867 |
Water-Springs (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne)
Using water to cushion the living space of a spacecraft from the effects of acceleration. |
| 1867 |
Air Renewal (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne)
Re-oxygenating the air within the projectile spacecraft. |
| 1867 |
Columbiad (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne)
An enormous cannon, sufficient in size to send a projectile to the Moon. |
| 1867 |
Free Return Trajectory (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne)
The idea that it would be possible for a projectile to go around the Moon and then return to Earth. |
| 1867 |
Launching Facility (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne)
A specific spot with support for a space launch. |
| 1867 |
Splashdown (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne)
The use of water as a medium for landing one's space ship in. |
| 1867 |
Gourmet Space Cuisine (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne)
The finest in French cuisine, in outer space. |
| 1868 |
Burn the Ship (from Around the World in 80 days by Jules Verne)
Utilize parts of the ship as fuel for forward movement. |
| 1868 |
Steam Man (from The Steam Man of the Prairies by Edward S. Ellis)
A mechanical robot powered by steam. |
| 1869 |
Flywheel Launcher (from The Brick Moon by Edward Everett Hale)
Gigantic flywheels that build up enough power to launch a spacecraft - hurl it into the heavens! |
| 1869 |
Brick Moon (from The Brick Moon by Edward Everett Hale)
An artificial satellite or space station with living quarters for passengers. |
| 1871 |
Fossil Shell Coin (from The Coming Race by Edward Bulwer-Lytton)
The use of rare natural shells of an extinct species, for money. |
| 1872 |
Mechanical Consciousness (from Erewhon by Samuel Butler)
The notion that machines may develop a form of consciousness. |
| 1875 |
Undersea Mining (from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne)
Conducting mining operations on the sea floor. |
| 1875 |
Nautilus (from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne)
The wondrous submarine of Captain Nemo; the instrument of his escape from humanity and his revenge upon it. |
| 1875 |
Electrify the Rail (from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne)
Use of substantial electrical charge applied to outer hull to repel potential boarders. |
| 1875 |
Leyden Ball (from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne)
Device for hunting underwater; transfers a powerful electrical charge to the prey. |
| 1875 |
Diving Apparatus (from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne)
Equipment used to go for walks on the sea bed; the direct ancestor of modern scuba diving equipment. |
| 1877 |
Telepomp (Matter Transmission) (from The Man Without a Body by Edward Page Mitchell)
A device that transmitted matter from one place to another. |
| 1877 |
Sheep's Lozenge (from The Fatal Curiosity, or, A Hundred Years Hence by James Payn)
The nutritious portion of an entire sheep, in one pill. |
| 1879 |
Compact Food Pastilles (Food Pill) (from The Senator's Daughter by Edward Page Mitchell)
One small tablet is a month's worth of food. |
| 1879 |
Suspended Animation (Frigorific Process) (from The Senator's Daughter by Edward Page Mitchell)
Very early reference to cryogenic storage. |
| 1879 |
Home News Printer (from The Senator's Daughter by Edward Page Mitchell)
A device that prints out the newspaper of your choice right in your own home. |
| 1880 |
Apergy (Apergion) (from Across the Zodiac by Percy Greg)
An antigravity substance with sufficient power to propel a space ship from the Earth to Mars. |
| 1880 |
Astronaut (Ship) (from Across the Zodiac by Percy Greg)
The first instance of this phrase, it denotes a space-going vessel. |
| 1880 |
Trip to Mars (from Across the Zodiac by Percy Greg)
A voyage across space to the planet Mars. |
| 1881 |
Dutch Clock (Time Machine) (from The Clock That Went Backward by Edward Page Mitchell)
A tall Dutch clock with hands that move... backward. |
| 1881 |
Chemical Production of Food (from Mizora: A Prophecy by Mary E. Bradley Lane)
Creation of food in the laboratory rather than in the field. |
| 1882 |
Telephonoscope (from Le Vingtième Siècle (The Twentieth Century) by Albert Robida)
A device that effectively transmits pictures and sound over long distances. |
| 1885 |
Food Pills (from A Strange Trip by John Baker Hopkins)
A substitute for ordinary nutrition. |
| 1885 |
Electric-Yacht (from A Strange Trip by John Baker Hopkins)
A surface vessel powered entirely by electricity. |
| 1886 |
Ether Ship (from Aleriel or A Voyage to Other Worlds by W.S. Lach-Szyrma)
A space-going ship. |
| 1887 |
Food Pellets (from The Republic of the Future by Anna Dodd)
Sustenance in a concentrated form. |
| 1887 |
Anacronopete (Time Machine) (from El Anacronopete by Enrique Gaspar)
A flying electric-powered time machine. |
| 1888 |
Telephonic Music Room (from Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy)
Places where a person could go, at any time, to share in musical performances happening at some distance away. |
| 1888 |
Credit Card (from Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy)
A simple card that is used in place of money |
| 1888 |
Mall (Great City Bazaar) (from Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy)
An aggregation of shops under one roof. |
| 1889 |
Live News (from In the Year 2889 by Jules Verne)
The modern concept of a news broadcast. |
| 1889 |
Recorded News (from In the Year 2889 by Jules Verne)
This is the basic idea behind Tivo and VCRs. |
| 1889 |
Phonotelephote (from In the Year 2889 by Jules Verne)
A means of transmitting and receiving both voice and picture for a personal conversation. |
| 1889 |
Straightening the Earth's Poles (from The Purchase of the North Pole (Topsy Turvy) by Jules Verne)
By means of a suitable force, push the Earth until the planet's axis of rotation is perpendicular to the ecliptic. |
| 1889 |
Atmospheric Advertising (from In the Year 2889 by Jules Verne)
A means of mass advertising to cities and countries. |
| 1889 |
Electrified Fence (from A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain)
A wire fence carrying an electrical charge sufficient to deter crossing the boundary. |
| 1893 |
Life Phial (from Improvements So Extraordinary The World Will Shudder by Mary Elizabeth Lease)
Similar to a food pill, food in concentrated form. |
| 1893 |
War-Balloon (Navigable Aerostat) (from The Angel of the Revolution by George Griffith)
Enormous dirigible airships used for war. |
| 1893 |
Air-to-Surface Missile (from The Angel of the Revolution by George Griffith)
Very early description of a projectile fired from an airship into a surface target. |
| 1893 |
Air-Ship (VTOL Airship) (from The Angel of the Revolution by George Griffith)
A flying machine capable of vertical take-off and landing. |
| 1894 |
Solar Power Generation (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV)
A very early description of the use of solar powered 'farms' for generating electrical power on a large scale. |
| 1894 |
Windmill Mast (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV)
Enclosed machinery in large masts powers ships. |
| 1894 |
Aeriduct (Rain Maker) (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV)
A specific means of producing rain. |
| 1894 |
Magnetic Eyes (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV)
A device that permits remote monitoring of people or other objects. |
| 1894 |
Double-Door Vestibule (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV)
A special doorway leading from the interior of a spacecraft leading out into space which maintains the air pressure within the craft. |
| 1894 |
Instantaneous Kodaks (Traffic Control) (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV)
Use of cameras to help police officers enforce speed limits. |
| 1894 |
Magnetic Railroads (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV)
A scheme for powering railroads using enormous electromagnets. |
| 1894 |
Vehicle Energy Reclamation (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV)
Reclaiming the energy gained by climbing a hill on the way back down. |
| 1894 |
Global Climate Control (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV)
Adjust the Earth's axis so the seasons are more temperate and uniform. |
| 1894 |
Electric Protection-Wires (Electrified Fence) (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV)
An electric fence. |
| 1894 |
Marine Spider (Hydrofoil) (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV)
A very early mention of the hydrofoil concept. |
| 1894 |
Space-ship (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV)
A space-going vessel. |
| 1894 |
Arctic Signal Light (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV)
A means of communicating with spacecraft from the surface of the Earth. |
| 1894 |
Rooftop Windmill (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV)
Renewable energy source for the home. |
| 1894 |
Electric Car Recharging Station (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV)
A public place for recharging electric cars. |
| 1894 |
Electric Phaetons (Electric Cars) (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV)
Vehicles whose motive power is entirely derived from electricity. |
| 1895 |
Government Lethal Chamber (from The Repairer of Reputations by Robert W. Chambers)
A legal suicide booth. |
| 1895 |
Time Machine (from The Time Machine by H.G. Wells)
A device allowing the rider to move freely in the temporal dimension, just as we ordinarily do in the two physical dimensions normal to gravity. |
| 1895 |
Atomic Microscopy (from The Crack of Doom by Robert Cromie)
A device that can actually visualize a individual molecule and its parts. |
| 1895 |
Manufactured Wife (from A Wife Manufactured to Order by Alice W. Fuller)
A wife made to order, programmed to meet her husband's requirements. |
| 1895 |
Undersea City (from The Crystal City Under the Sea by Andre Laurie)
A great city under the sea, covered by a crystal dome. |
| 1895 |
Submarine Tube (from An Express of the Future by Michel Verne)
A means of transport between Europe and North America via underwater tubes. |
| 1895 |
Atomic Energy (from The Crack of Doom by Robert Cromie)
Splitting the atom to create a destructive force. |
| 1896 |
Monsters Manufactured (from The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells)
Dr. Moreau demonstrates the plasticity of the organic form. |
| 1896 |
Dimension (from The Plattner Story by H.G. Wells)
Describes a reality separate from our own. |
| 1896 |
Fulgurator (from Facing The Flag by Jules Verne)
An 'autopropulsive projectile'. |
| 1897 |
Artificial Silk (from In the Deep of Time by George Parsons Lathrop)
A fabric like silk produced entirely without silkworms. |
| 1897 |
Helium Metal (from In the Deep of Time by George Parsons Lathrop)
An ore with the spectroscopic line of Helium. |
| 1897 |
Electric Bicycle (from In the Deep of Time by George Parsons Lathrop)
A two-wheeled device utilizing stored electricity as motive power. |
| 1897 |
Electric Gun (Mass Driver) (from A Trip to Venus by John Munro)
A device that used electromagnetic energy to accelerated capsules into orbit. |
| 1897 |
Automatic Shell (from The Great Stone of Sardis by Frank Stockton)
A projectile that bores through obstacles - even the Earth! |
| 1897 |
Noninterference With Other Worlds (from In the Deep of Time by George Parsons Lathrop)
Earliest expression of the 'Prime Directive' idea. |
| 1897 |
Photic Borer (Artesian Ray) (from The Great Stone of Sardis by Frank Stockton)
A ray of energy that illuminates a cross-section of Earth as it goes through solid earth and rock. |
| 1897 |
Interstellar Express Car (from In the Deep of Time by George Parsons Lathrop)
Uses anti-gravitation metal to achieve terrific speeds in space. |
| 1897 |
Home Planet (from In the Deep of Time by George Parsons Lathrop)
Usually the birthplace of your species or simply your planet of origin. |
| 1897 |
Life-Brew (from In the Deep of Time by George Parsons Lathrop)
A non-alcoholic beverage, but similar to wine. |
| 1897 |
Glow-Worm Living (from In the Deep of Time by George Parsons Lathrop)
Alternated work, play and slumber without long periods of sleep. |
| 1897 |
Invisibility (from The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells)
The idea that it is possible to make a person invisible using some sort of optical technology to alter the body. |
| 1897 |
Sun-Telephone (from In the Deep of Time by George Parsons Lathrop)
Receives transmissions from the sun itself. |
| 1897 |
Magnetic Shell (from The Great Stone of Sardis by Frank Stockton)
A munition that is powerfully attracted to ferrous ships. |
| 1897 |
Walking Balloon (from In the Deep of Time by George Parsons Lathrop)
A means of efficiently traversing rough country. |
| 1897 |
Vivification (from In the Deep of Time by George Parsons Lathrop)
A process by which the body can be preserved for centuries at body temperature and then revived. |
| 1897 |
Planetary Telegraphing (from In the Deep of Time by George Parsons Lathrop)
A method for communicating with dwellers on other planets in the solar system. |
| 1897 |
Gravitational Wave Viewer (from Two Planets by Kurd Lasswitz)
A device used to see at astronomical distances. |
| 1898 |
Quasi-Muscles (Sham Musculature) (from The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells)
A means of giving motive power to robots or machines that is similar to animal musculature. |
| 1898 |
Heat Ray (from The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells)
First use of what appears to be a laser weapon. |
| 1898 |
Autonomous Digging Machine (from The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells)
A mechanical device able to excavate on its own. |
| 1898 |
Biological Warfare (from The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells)
The use of microorganisms to defeat an enemy; this is the first reference in science fiction that I can find to this concept. |
| 1898 |
Asteroid Mining (from Edison's Conquest of Mars by Garrett P. Serviss)
The mining of asteroid ore, accomplished by traveling to these tiny bodies. |
| 1898 |
Electrical 'Tether' (from Edison's Conquest of Mars by Garrett P. Serviss)
A device to make sure an astronaut could return from a free space walk. |
| 1898 |
Air-Tight Suit (from Edison's Conquest of Mars by Garrett P. Serviss)
An special outfit that would allow a person to survive in vacuum. |
| 1898 |
Robot Biomimicry (from The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells)
Endowing robots with an organic-appearing fluidity, rather than mechanical motion. |
| 1898 |
Metallic Spider (Handling Machine) (from The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells)
Multipurpose device used almost as an extension of the Martian's own bodies. |
| 1898 |
Tripod (from The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells)
An enormous metallic robot. |
| 1898 |
Spacewalk (from Edison's Conquest of Mars by Garrett P. Serviss)
Going outside your space craft for a short time. |
| 1898 |
Aerial Telegraph (from Edison's Conquest of Mars by Garrett P. Serviss)
Communication between individuals in spacesuits. |
| 1898 |
Disintegrator (from Edison's Conquest of Mars by Garrett P. Serviss)
A device that causes objects to burst into molecular pieces. |
| 1898 |
Black Smoke (from The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells)
A smoke or vapor dispensed in canisters. |
| 1898 |
Steel Tentacle (from The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells)
Flexible robotic steel limbs that can both support a vehicle and grasp objects. |
| 1898 |
Red Weed (Terraforming Plant) (from The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells)
A plant brought by the Martians that grew on Earth. |
| 1899 |
Aerial Dynamite Ships (from Looking Forward: A Dream of the United States of the Americas in 1999 by Arthur Bird)
Using airplanes to drop explosives during war. |
| 1899 |
Automatic Valet (from Looking Forward: A Dream of the United States of the Americas in 1999 by Arthur Bird)
A robotic manservant. |
| 1899 |
Nutritious Pellets (from Looking Forward: A Dream of the United States of the Americas in 1999 by Arthur Bird)
Food in pill form. |
| 1899 |
Town In One Building (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells)
This is the basic idea behind an arcology, or other single structure that is intended to provide living space and mall. |
| 1899 |
Aerodrome (Ærodromes) (from Looking Forward: A Dream of the United States of the Americas in 1999 by Arthur Bird)
Flying machines. |
| 1899 |
Aerocycle (Ærocycle) (from Looking Forward: A Dream of the United States of the Americas in 1999 by Arthur Bird)
An aerial bicycle, human powered. |
| 1899 |
Nickalum (from Looking Forward: A Dream of the United States of the Americas in 1999 by Arthur Bird)
An alloy of aluminum crystalized within a magnetic field for exceptional strength. |
| 1899 |
Electrical Farming Implements (from Looking Forward: A Dream of the United States of the Americas in 1999 by Arthur Bird)
Labor-saving automatic farm equipment. |
| 1899 |
Moving Roadway (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells)
A roadway that is in motion, with seats and kiosks, that goes around curves. |
| 1899 |
Kinetiscope Appliance (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells)
A small object that could show a variety of artificially created or extrapolated images. |
| 1899 |
Automated Surface Measurement (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells)
A mechanical method of accurately measuring a surface. |
| 1899 |
Individualized Clothing Manufacture (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells)
A device that will produce suits of clothing based on measurement data gathered. |
| 1899 |
Automatic Door (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells)
A wall strip that rolls up automatically to let you through. |
| 1899 |
Babble Machine (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells)
Not just television - this describes what we call 'the idiot box' (technology and media). |
| 1899 |
DVD/VCR (Entertainment Player) (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells)
A device that accepts stored moving picture entertainment and makes it available for viewing. |
| 1899 |
General Intelligence Machine (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells)
News and information from one device. |
| 1899 |
Electric-Automatic Housemaid Robot (Automaton) (from Ely's Automatic Housemaid by Elizabeth Bellamy)
A very early description of a robot to help around the house. |
| 1899 |
Electric-Automatic Household Robot Cook (from Ely's Automatic Housemaid by Elizabeth Bellamy)
A robot chef - an Electric-Automatic Household Beneficent Genius! |
| 1899 |
Aeropile (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells)
A fluttering wing airplane for a few passengers. |
| 1899 |
Networked World (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells)
Very early description of our dependence on technology and communication. |
| 1899 |
Eadhamite (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells)
Synthetic material that creates extremely smooth roads. |
| 1899 |
Moving Picture Player (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells)
A machine that plays recorded pictures back for a single person - a combination DVD player and screen. |
