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Science Fiction
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Timeline
of Science Fiction Ideas, Technology and Inventions
|
Date | Device Name (Novel Author) |
1948 | Crimestop (from 1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four) by George Orwell) The faculty of stopping short, as though by instict, at the threshold of any dangerous thought. |
1948 | Novel-Writing Machines (from 1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four) by George Orwell) A device that automatically produces fiction. |
1948 | Learning-Cap (from The Knowledge Machine by Edmond Hamilton) A special metal helmet for electro-education. |
1948 | Atmospheric Braking (from Space Cadet by Robert Heinlein) Using a planet's atmosphere to gradually decelerate a spacecraft. |
1948 | Brain Erasure (from The Knowledge Machine by Edmond Hamilton) Deleting selected knowledge from the brain using electrical impulses. |
1948 | Moonbase (or Moon Base) (from 240,000 Miles Straight Up by L. Ron Hubbard) A base of operations on Earth's moon. |
1948 | Solidograph-Projector (from Police Operation by H. Beam Piper) A device that projected a 3D image of objects or a person. |
1948 | Electro-Education (from The Knowledge Machine by Edmond Hamilton) The latest thing in electrically stimulated learning. |
1948 | Versificator (from 1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four) by George Orwell) A device that composes words to music. |
1948 | Precog (v) (from Police Operation by H. Beam Piper) To see the future. |
1948 | Personal Rocket Jet (from Space Cadet by Robert Heinlein) A small, handheld jet pack that can be used to maneuver freely in space. |
1948 | Beltway (from The Faceless Men by Leo Zagat) A moving sidewalk. |
1948 | High-Frequency Oven (from Space Cadet by Robert Heinlein) This describes the essence of a microwave. |
1948 | Tag-Along Balloon (from Gentlemen, Be Seated by Robert Heinlein) A bladder-like device that both finds and temporarily fixes leaks in moon tunnels or space station habitats. |
1948 | Portable Telephone (from Space Cadet by Robert Heinlein) The essence of a cell phone. |
1948 | Doublethink (from 1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four) by George Orwell) A mental discipline that is an exact contradiction to the basic principles of scientific inquiry. |
1948 | Moonquake-Proof Habitats (from Gentlemen, Be Seated by Robert Heinlein) Moonbases that are built to withstand quakes on the Moon. |
1948 | Tubecar (from The Faceless Men by Leo Zagat) A pneumatic tube that carries people. |
1948 | Gravity Centrifuge (from Space Cadet by Robert Heinlein) Used in low gravity environments to build up muscle for visits to Earth, or other high gravity worlds. |
1948 | Survey Craft (from The Rull by A.E. van Vogt) Light duty ship for use in atmosphere, to explore planets. |
1948 | Atomician Sign Language (from The Faceless Men by Leo Zagat) Specialized sign language used by those who work with atomics. |
1948 | Telescreen (from 1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four) by George Orwell) Very early use of the idea of using technology to monitor human activity at a distance. |
1948 | Automatic Defensors (from The Rull by A.E. van Vogt) Devices that follow along with you, providing extra viewpoints. |
1948 | Nerve Control Lines (from The Rull by A.E. van Vogt) Designs that take control of human nervous systems. |
1948 | Star Drive (from Genius by Poul Anderson) The propulsion unit for an interstellar space craft. |
1948 | Speakwrite (from 1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four) by George Orwell) A dictation machine that also transcribes the speech into typed words. |
1948 | Space Ark (from Decision Illogical by N.B. Wilkinson) A very large ship used to transport a large group of people. |
1948 | Memory Hole (from 1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four) by George Orwell) A receptacle for unwanted documents. |
1948 | Rewriting History (from 1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four) by George Orwell) Use of sophisticated technology to continuously rewrite the historical record. |
1948 | Microwavable Food (from Space Cadet by Robert Heinlein) Food that is prepared specifically for use in a microwave (high-frequency) oven. |
1948 | Asteroid Asylums (from The Square Pegs by Ray Bradbury) Unique cultures mean unique opportunities to help the mentally ill. |
1949 | Vivo-Gel (from Agent of Vega by James Schmitz) Semi-living material. |
1949 | Synthetigrav (from Agent of Vega by James Schmitz) General term for any of the fields produced by synthetic gravity devices. |
1949 | Stationary Automatic Blaster (from Red Planet by Robert Heinlein) An automated defensive blaster. |
1949 | Mind-Lock (from Agent of Vega by James Schmitz) A device that confines a mind within its own shielded area. |
1949 | Cybernetic Brain (from The Cybernetic Brain by Charles Recour) An artificial brain to control the movements of an prosthetic leg using nerve impulses. |
1949 | Gee (from Sacred Martian Pig (Idris' Pig) by Margaret St. Clair) Using the standard letter designation in physics for gravity. |
1949 | Visiglobe (from Agent of Vega by James Schmitz) A display that provided a spherical, 3D visualization of a scene. |
1949 | Emergency Treatment Tank (Chamber) (from Agent of Vega by James Schmitz) A fully enclosed regeneration device. |
1949 | Telepath Transmitter (from Agent of Vega by James Schmitz) A device for long distance communication that makes use of telepathy. |
1949 | Mind-Parasite (from Agent of Vega by James Schmitz) Takes over the cognition of a host organism. |
1949 | Spider Robot (from The Mystery of Element 117 by Milton K. Smith) A mechanism in the form of a spider. |
1949 | Painted Respirator Masks (from Red Planet by Robert Heinlein) Children choose to decorate otherwise uniform equipment masks. |
1949 | Quizzer (from Agent of Vega by James Schmitz) An autonomous mind-probe. |
1949 | Martian Canal Ice (from Red Planet by Robert Heinlein) Open water ice on the fourth planet. |
1949 | Space Scurvy (Kenoalgia) (from Sacred Martian Pig (Idris' Pig) by Margaret St. Clair) A wasting disease of space travel. |
1949 | Shari (from Sacred Martian Pig (Idris' Pig) by Margaret St. Clair) A multipurpose net worn as clothing. |
1949 | Bolt Anti-Grav (from Sacred Martian Pig (Idris' Pig) by Margaret St. Clair) This device produces a torus-shaped discharge that causes weightlessness. |
1949 | Fluor Strips (from Sacred Martian Pig (Idris' Pig) by Margaret St. Clair) Lighting long narrow devices. |
1949 | Repulsor (from What Mad Universe by Frederic Brown) A device that inhibits the action of a spacewarp drive. |
1949 | 'Fresher (from Gulf by Robert Heinlein) Short for 'refreshing chamber', a device that performs various personal services. |
1949 | Spacewarp Drive (from What Mad Universe by Frederic Brown) A means of faster-than-light travel. |
1949 | Desert Cabbage (from Red Planet by Robert Heinlein) A giant plant that regulates its internal temperature even on Mars. |
1949 | Skimmer (from Lost Ulysses by W.L. Bade) Low-flying, hovering vehicle. |
1949 | Bubble Armor Space Suit (from Agent of Vega by James Schmitz) Steel bubble-shaped space suit. |
1949 | Plastiskin (from Unforeseen by Roger P. Graham) Artificial human skin to cover prosthetics. |
1949 | Three Generation Work (Century Piece) (from The Sub-Standard Sardines by Jack Vance) An artwork created by three consecutive generations of artists, in exactly one century. |
1949 | Resilian (from The Howling Bounders by Jack Vance) A natural fiber that is as strong as steel. |
1949 | Robot Introspection (from Unforeseen by Roger P. Graham) A robotic brain grows and learns about itself. |
1949 | Herculoy (from The Howling Bounders by Jack Vance) A very strong alloy like steel. |
1949 | Metal Calculator Planet (from Limiting Factor by Clifford Simak) A planet covered entirely with machinery to a height of twenty miles and covered with a metal roof. |
1949 | Self-Igniter (from The Howling Bounders by Jack Vance) A self-lighting cigarette. |
1950 | Anti-Tri-D Shot (from The Morning of the Day They Did It by E.B. White) Counteracts the deadly pesticide Tri-D. |
1950 | Self-Adjusting Furniture (from Time Quarry by Clifford Simak) Automatic adjustment for a perfect fit. |
1950 | Zag House (from Time Quarry by Clifford Simak) A means of implanting dreams. |
1950 | Mentophone (from Time Quarry by Clifford Simak) A device that facilitates long-distance telepathy. |
1950 | Water From Lunar Gypsum (from The Moon is Hell by John W. Campbell) Extracting water (and therefore oxygen, by electrolysis) from apparently dry lunar material. |
1950 | Torch (from Farmer in the Sky by Robert Heinlein) The orifice from which issued the reaction mass of an atomic powered space craft. |
1950 | Quickthaw (from Farmer in the Sky by Robert Heinlein) A microwave oven to heat food items quickly. |
1950 | Syntho-Steak (from Farmer in the Sky by Robert Heinlein) Artificially produced meat. |
1950 | Automatic Light Switch (from The Man Who Sold The Moon by Robert Heinlein) A device that senses if an illuminated room is empty, and turns off the light. |
1950 | Gravity Drive (from Star Ship by Poul Anderson) A spaceship propulsion method that uses gravity or gravity waves. |
1950 | Earthport (from The Ballad of Lost C'Mell by Cordwainer Smith) A massive spaceport that reared up from the surface of the earth to the edge of the atmosphere. |
1950 | Nexialist (from Voyage of the Space Beagle by A.E. van Vogt) A person with a coordinative knowledge across a variety of sciences. |
1950 | Sand Ship (from The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury) A wind-powered vehicle in the desert. |
1950 | Computer-Controlled House (from The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury) A residence that is an autonomous robotic system. |
1950 | Space Platform (from The Morning of the Day They Did It by E.B. White) The Space Platform for Checking Aggression is a military orbital weapons platform. |
1950 | FTL (from The Enchanted Forest by Fritz Leiber) Abbreviation for "faster than light". |
1950 | Tri-D (from The Morning of the Day They Did It by E.B. White) A remarkable pesticide. |
1950 | Diaheliper (from The Morning of the Day They Did It by E.B. White) Offers delivery of diapers by air. |
1950 | Regeneration Tank (from Contagion by Katherine MacLean) A nutrient bath large enough to enclose a person that preserved life and treated disease. |
1950 | Shipboard Medical Treatment (from Contagion by Katherine MacLean) An elaborate system to guard against infection in returning space explorers. |
1950 | Walker Wagon (from Farmer in the Sky by Robert Heinlein) Robotic vehicle with a trough-like body and many mechanical legs. |
1950 | Stratovideo (Television Plane) (from The Morning of the Day They Did It by E.B. White) An aircraft with studios that continuously broadcast line-of-sight television. |
1950 | Earther (from The Five Gold Bands by Jack Vance) A person born on planet Earth. |
1950 | Nucleocat Cureall (from Contagion by Katherine MacLean) Only human cells can survive contact. |
1950 | The Machines (from The Evitable Conflict by Isaac Asimov) A few of these can run a planetary economy. |
1950 | Yeast Steak (from The Evitable Conflict by Isaac Asimov) Growing custom strains of yeast as food. |
1950 | Haberman (from Scanners Live in Vain by Cordwainer Smith) Modified humans controlled by cybernetic implants. |
1950 | Voice-Clock (from The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury) A clock that could state the time out loud. |
1950 | Two-Wheeled Ground Car (from First Lensman by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A gyro-stabilized vehicle like an enclosed motorcycle. |
1950 | Fontema (from First Lensman by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A strange two 'wheeled' animal. |
1950 | Perm (Permanent Hookup) (from Spectator Sport by John D. MacDonald) A lifetime of immersive entertainment. |
1950 | Robot Rabbit (from Robots Don't Bleed by J.W. Groves) A robotic bunny. |
1950 | Robotic Dishwasher (from The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury) A fully automated solution to the dishwashing problem. |
1950 | Repair Robots (from The Well-Oiled Machine by H.B. Fyfe) Autonomous robots that carry out maintenance functions on a space ship. |
1950 | Mass-Conversion Ship (from Farmer in the Sky by Robert Heinlein) A spacecraft that uses the ultimate in fuel sources. |
1950 | Palm Key-Plate (from The Stars are The Styx by Theodore Sturgeon) A plate that accepts palms that have been verified. |
1950 | Helicab (from Heli-Cab Hack by John Weston) A taxi cab that flies using helicopter rotors. |
1950 | Black Bag (from The Little Black Bag by C.M. Kornbluth) A medical kit from the future. |
1950 | Tractatruck (from The Moon is Hell by John W. Campbell) Combination tractor and truck used for hauling and exploration. |
1950 | Robot Mice (from The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury) Tiny cleaning robots. |
1950 | Robotic Chess Expert (from Time Quarry by Clifford Simak) A robot that plays chess at a level that no human can match. |
1950 | Hybrid Mass Driver (from The Man Who Sold The Moon by Robert Heinlein) A device for launching space craft on the first stage of a journey to space. |
1950 | Culture Tank (from Needle by Hal Clement) Germs that eat garbage and produce oil. |
1950 | Underpeople (from The Ballad of Lost C'Mell by Cordwainer Smith) An animal modified to be human in shape and intellect. |
1950 | Building With Lunar Materials (from The Moon is Hell by John W. Campbell) Using a planet's materials to make what you need. |
1951 | Variable Modifier (from The Jester by William Tenn) Provides the capability of altering standard jokes to fit new circumstances. |
1951 | Genetic Engineering (from Dragon's Island by Jack Williamson) Direct manipulation of genetic material |
1951 | Suspensine (from Duel on Syrtis by Poul Anderson) Slows biological functions enough to survive in airless space - for a time. |
1951 | Odorophonics (from The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury) A system capable of reproducing selected scents capable of fooling the human nervous system. |
1951 | Happylife Home (from The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury) An automated multi-media home, which provided the good life to its inhabitants. |
1951 | Oxygen Concentrator (from Duel on Syrtis by Poul Anderson) Gathers oxygen from a thin atmosphere until it is breathable, supporting life. |
1951 | Neuronic Whip (from The Stars, Like Dust by Isaac Asimov) A weapon that stimulated the nerve endings to cause extreme discomfort. |
1951 | Oxygen Weeds (from The Sands of Mars by Arthur C. Clarke) Plants that create oxygen on a planet with little breathable air. |
1951 | Nuclear Shears (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Device uses nuclear power to accomplish basic shop tasks. |
1951 | Boarding Space-Line (from Tyrann by Isaac Asimov) A method for two ships to connect at a distance, allowing a passenger to move safely between ships. |
1951 | Powered artificial exoskeleton (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein) A robotic device designed to support someone too weak to comfortably move in high gravity. |
1951 | Booklegger (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein) A smuggler of books. |
1951 | Spinning Pressurized Drum (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein) Put a spin on just a part of a space station. |
1951 | Guided Missile Control Station (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein) An orbital missile base. |
1951 | Space Transfer Station (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein) An orbiting space station primarily used as a stepping-off point from Earth. |
1951 | Force-Field Penknife (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A pocket-sized knife, the blade of which is a force-field. |
1951 | Teledar (from The Jester by William Tenn) Three-dimensional television. |
1951 | Negative Molecular Motion (from The Universe Between by Alan E. Nourse) A state of matter that has a temperature below absolute zero. |
1951 | Asteroid Homesteaders' School (from Asteroid of Fear by Raymond Z. Gallun) An institution of learning where regular folks learned how to start a farm on an asteroid. |
1951 | Movable Slideway (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein) A slideway (moving sidewalk) that can be extended to a spaceship to ease the debarkation process. |
1951 | Mechanical Teacher (from The Fun They Had by Isaac Asimov) A computer device able to teach children. |
1951 | Airtight Tent (from Asteroid of Fear by Raymond Z. Gallun) A temporary structure for living on an airless moon or asteroid. |
1951 | Self-Sealing Plastic (from Asteroid of Fear by Raymond Z. Gallun) Transparent sheeting with a layer of material that would flow to staunch tiny leaks. |
1951 | Asteroid Garden (from Asteroid of Fear by Raymond Z. Gallun) A method for building a greenhouse on a small, airless body. |
1951 | Psychohistory (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Branch of mathematics describes the behavior of human beings en masses. |
1951 | Polaron Beam (from Earthlight (Novella) by Arthur C. Clarke) A unique beam of energy that scatters some of its light at right angles to the direction of propagation. |
1951 | Metal Foil Advertisement (from The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury) An advertising circular made out of metal. |
1951 | Helmet-Mounted Display Screen (from Rock Diver by Harry Harrison) A small electronic display mounted for easy viewing. |
1951 | Trantor (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A city that covers the entire surface of the planet. |
1951 | Vibratory Mass Penetrator (from Rock Diver by Harry Harrison) A device that allows a person to walk through earth and even solid rock. |
1951 | Suction Mail Tube (from The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury) An evacuated tube system carrying mail to residences. |
1951 | Coffee Cube (from The Marching Morons by C.M. Kornbluth) Concentrated coffee that boils itself! |
1951 | Air Speedster (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Highly maneuverable air vehicle for hunting. |
1951 | Sun-Room (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) On a planet-wide city, the only way to get some sun without going to the roof. |
1951 | Anti-Spying Device (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Foolproof means of defending against spy beams. |
1951 | Space Station One (from The Sands of Mars by Arthur C. Clarke) Describes an early space station similar to the International Space Station, that grew over time by accretion. |
1951 | Flavor-Fix Rheostat (from The Jester by William Tenn) Technology makes sure that the flavor of automatically-produced food is perfect. |
1951 | Robot Comedian (from The Jester by William Tenn) Joke-telling feature added to a standard butler robot. |
1951 | Meson Filter (from The Jester by William Tenn) Provides robots with the ability to tell the difference between jokes that provide a chuckle and jokes that provide a belly laugh. |
1951 | Ultra-Light (from Rock Diver by Harry Harrison) Allows the user to see into rock or other solid matter. |
1951 | Directional Ticket (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A ticket that also has the property of glowing while you are going toward what you bought. |
1951 | Martian Perambulator (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein) A mechanized transport for heavy gravity environments for beings born in lower gravity environments. |
1951 | Audio Relay (from The Puppet Masters by Robert Heinlein) A communication device implanted behind the ear; also used as an alarm for wake-up calls. |
1951 | Molecule Matrix (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein) Storing information in individual molecules and atoms. |
1951 | Jump Through Hyperspace (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Device that makes faster-than-light travel possible. |
1951 | Single Vehicle Tunnel (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A small diameter tunnel that accepts a single vehicle to a single destination. |
1951 | Star-Globe (Ship) (from Brother Worlds by Raymond Z. Gallun) A spherical spacecraft. |
1951 | Vocalex Kitchen (from The Jester by William Tenn) Voice command automatic kitchen. |
1951 | Machine Test Scoring (from The Fun They Had by Isaac Asimov) A device that scans a specially prepared grade sheet and determines a student's score. |
1951 | Retard-Jets (from Brother Worlds by Raymond Z. Gallun) Rockets to slow down. |
1951 | Robot Detector (from Assignment in the Unknown by Frank Quattrocchi) A device that can sense robotics. |
1951 | Finger Watch (from Key Decision by H.B. Fyfe) A ring that contains a working timepiece and a display. |
1951 | Smarter People Having Fewer Children (from The Marching Morons by C.M. Kornbluth) The original argument that less suitable human pairs are having proportionally more children. |
1951 | Selector Card (from The Puppet Masters by Robert Heinlein) Pneumatic delivery of book films by using a mechanical form of data storage; selector cards - probably punch cards. |
1951 | Cold-Sleep (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein) A form of induced suspended animation, in which a person enters a state like hibernation. |
1951 | Static Field (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A defense against a spy beam. |
1951 | Spy Beam (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A surveillance device that projects energy into a room, revealing conversation taking place. |
1951 | Neutron Disruption Blaster (from The Complete Paratime by H. Beam Piper) Beam pistol which splits neutrons into protons and electrons, releasing enormous energy. |
1951 | Plasto-Textile (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A fabric that cannot be stained. |
1951 | Pail of Air (from A Pail of Air by Fritz Leiber) A small bucket filled with (liquid) air. |
1951 | Ultrawave Relay or Hyperwave Relay (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Instantaneous, faster-than-light communication system. |
1951 | Pocket Nucleo-Bulb (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A nuclear-powered pocket-sized flashlight. |
1951 | Surrogate Skin (from The Puppet Masters by Robert Heinlein) False skin that is sprayed onto damaged areas. |
1951 | Flying Saucer (from The Puppet Masters by Robert Heinlein) Spacecraft flown by the androgynes of Titan - under control of the Puppetmasters. |
1951 | Shuttle Ship (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein) A spacecraft that could take off from a planet, rendezvous with an object in orbit, and fly back to the surface like a glider. |
1951 | Dirt-Farming (from The End of the Line by James Schmitz) An archaic method of food production. |
1951 | Planetruck (from The Slave Ship to Andrigo by Ross Rocklynne) Huge vehicle for planetary surface transport. |
1951 | Sun Dome (from The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury) Used on Venus to give relief from the endless rain. |
1951 | Agricultural World (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Planet set aside for the production of food for another world. |
1951 | Telebook (from The Fun They Had by Isaac Asimov) A book made available in text on a television screen. |
1951 | Half-Sphere Force Field (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein) A protective force field that can manifest even as a half-sphere. |
1951 | Microwire (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein) A very thin wire used for recording purposes. |
1951 | Autocab (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein) An fully automated taxi cab. |
1951 | Winged Rocket Shuttle (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein) A sort of plane that briefly reached space while traveling between points on a planet. |
1951 | Calculator Pad (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Used to make psychohistoric calculations |
1951 | Dominator (from The End of the Line by James Schmitz) Device implants a psychological block. |
1951 | Security Restraint Field (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein) A force field that restricts personal movement. |
1951 | Butler-Valet Robot (from The Jester by William Tenn) A gentleman's servant, roboticized. |
1951 | Artificial Intelligence (from Moon of the Unforgotten by Edmond Hamilton) A machine or other created system able to respond in a human-like way to questions or problems. |
1951 | Ontogenetic Adaptation (from The End of the Line by James Schmitz) Immediate genetic-level ability to eat alien plants. |
1951 | Personal Capsule (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) An impenetrable device containing information for your eyes only. |
1951 | The Veldt (from The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury) A nursery that comes alive for the viewer. |
1951 | Vat Meat (Albert) (from The End of the Line by James Schmitz) Meat grown in a vat. |
1951 | Personal Force-Shield (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A portable force-shield small enough to be carried by a single man. |
1951 | Robass (from The Quest for Saint Aquin by Anthony Boucher) A robotic beast of burden. |
1951 | Gravitic Repulsion Elevator (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) The elevator was of the new sort that ran by gravitic repulsion. |
1952 | Kite-Copter Car (from The Kokod Warriors by Jack Vance) An observation car suspended below a device that supplies lift. |
1952 | Automated Wake-Up Call (from The Kokod Warriors by Jack Vance) A device that provides automated wake-up calls. |
1952 | Mnemiphot (from The Kokod Warriors by Jack Vance) A device used to search for information, which is then presented on a convenient screen. |
1952 | Toaster (from Accidental Flight by W.F. Wallace) A handheld beam weapon. |
1952 | Light Absorbing/Emitting Ink (from Gravy Planet by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) Ink that can absorb light and then emit it in a burst for advertising purposes. |
1952 | Hydropathic bed (from The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester) A heated bed that used something more comfortable than water. |
1952 | Compulsive Subsonics (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) An advertising agency works with every part of the audience's brain. |
1952 | Retinal Projection (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) A method for projecting advertisements directly on the retina. |
1952 | Automatic Pilot (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) A device to control the movement of aircraft using computer components. |
1952 | Coffiest (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) It's coffee that you can't live without. |
1952 | Hilsch Vortex Tube (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) A T-shaped device that admits air under pressure and outputs hot air from side and cold from the other. |
1952 | Prism Window (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) A device for getting a better view of the ground from inside an airplane. |
1952 | Silencer-Padding (from Robot Unwanted by Daniel Keyes) Robots need to have special padding on the bottoms of their lower limbs, so they don't clank as they walk. |
1952 | Medical Use for Weightlessness (from Accidental Flight by W.F. Wallace) Early reference to the idea of using a weightless environment for medical purposes. |
1952 | Robot Manumission (from Robot Unwanted by Daniel Keyes) The freeing of a robotic being from a state of being owned property. |
1952 | Self-Repairing Robot (from Accidental Flight by W.F. Wallace) A mechanism that can detect faults in itself and repair them. |
1952 | Magneslippers (from Accidental Flight by W.F. Wallace) Shoes that adhere to metal space ship floors, useful in null gravity situations. |
1952 | Plastissue (from Accidental Flight by W.F. Wallace) Artificial flesh. |
1952 | Airplane Window Ads (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) An airplane window that allows you to - see advertisements! |
1952 | Airjeep (from Uller Uprising by H. Beam Piper) A small military air vehicle. |
1952 | Animal-tissue Culture Vat (from Uller Uprising by H. Beam Piper) A means of producing artificial meat for food. |
1952 | Ullran Enunciator (from Uller Uprising by H. Beam Piper) Special prosthesis needed to aid humans in speaking an alien language. |
1952 | Off-Planet (from Uller Uprising by H. Beam Piper) Away from a planet, towards another or into space. |
1952 | Contragravity Suit (from Uller Uprising by H. Beam Piper) A suit with antigravity. |
1952 | Gravital Unit (from Accidental Flight by W.F. Wallace) Device that maintains Earth-comparable gravity on an asteroid. |
1952 | Flesh Men (from Robots of the World! Arise! by Mari Wolf) Thinking beings that are not mechanical robots - human beings. |
1952 | Chlorella Plantation (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) A skyscraper designed for food production. |
1952 | Tourist Rocket (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) A cheap, unpleasant way to do space travel. |
1952 | Nuclear-Field Depressor (from Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov) A device that causes nuclear-powered devices to stop working. |
1952 | Hypnoteleset (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) A device that guarantees quick, surrogate sleep. |
1952 | Plasticocoon (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) Holds a prisoner motionless. |
1952 | Water Bulb (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) A zero-gee dispenser of liquids. |
1952 | Beeper (from Islands in the Sky by Arthur C. Clarke) A handheld radar set, used to find items that have drifted off. |
1952 | Cylinder Space Suit (from Islands in the Sky by Arthur C. Clarke) A mostly rigid, cylindrical space suit. |
1952 | Robot Ramp (from Robot Unwanted by Daniel Keyes) A special means of ingress and egress solely for use by mechanical help. |
1952 | Robot Strike (from Robots of the World! Arise! by Mari Wolf) When robots refuse to work. |
1952 | Water Bulb (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) A zero-g way to enjoy water. |
1952 | Lead-Bodied Android (from Robots of the World! Arise! by Mari Wolf) A robot designed for use in the nuclear industry. |
1952 | Droid (First Use) (from Robots of the World! Arise! by Mari Wolf) Contraction of "android". |
1952 | Law of Contact (from Orphans of the Void by Orville Shaara) Non-interference in the development of other worlds. |
1952 | Tree-Grown Wood (from Gravy Planet by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) The natural product, obtained by cutting down a living tree. |
1952 | Depilatory Soap (from Gravy Planet by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) A labor-saving combination of soap and a agent that removes hair. |
1952 | Vision Strip (from Orphans of the Void by Orville Shaara) A circular vision strip for robots. |
1952 | Gas Giant (from Solar Plexus by James Blish) Large planet consisting primarily of gas with a solid core. |
1952 | Robodore (from Robot Unwanted by Daniel Keyes) A robot specialized for use as a stevedore, emptying the contents of ships in port. |
1952 | Robotic Law Tape Safety Valve (from Robot Unwanted by Daniel Keyes) A specific impulse that warns robots contemplating breaking the laws set forth for their behavior. |
1952 | Zero 'g' (Zero Gee) (from Islands in the Sky by Arthur C. Clarke) In a ship in orbit, in free fall. |
1952 | Levitating Path (from A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury) Anti-gravity metal used to make a floating walkway. |
1952 | Chicken Little (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) Very early reference to meat grown in a vat for food. |
1952 | Esper (from The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester) A person to perceive the contents of another person's mind. |
1952 | Tiny Nuclear Generator (from Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov) A complete nuclear-based generator of power no bigger than a walnut. |
1952 | Soot-Extractor Nostril Plugs (Antisoot Plugs) (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) A small device worn to filter industrial pollutants out of breathing air. |
1952 | Monoline (from Big Planet by Jack Vance) A wind-driven overland transport. |
1952 | Barytrine Field (from Troubled Star by George O. Smith) Very large scale stasis field. |
1952 | Visi-Sonor (from Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov) An entertainment device which appeared to create both sound and light by acting directly on brain cells. It also stimulated emotions directly. |
1952 | Menslator (from Troubled Star by George O. Smith) A translator that works by examining the mental image of what you are trying to say. |
1952 | Space-Weather Men (from Revenge of the Robots by Lawrence Chandler) Predictors of the 'weather' in space. |
1952 | Vacuum Tractor (from Moonwalk by H.B. Fyfe) A small transport used on the surface of the moon, in vacuum. |
1952 | Psychic Probe (from Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov) A device capable of discerning truthful information in a living human brain. |
1952 | Self-Maintaining Circuit Monitoring and Repair (from Gramp and his Dog by Frank Quattrocchi) A computer that monitors itself for repair. |
1952 | Space Beacon (from Troubled Star by George O. Smith) An ordinary sun is transformed into a beacon for use by spacecraft when in hyperspace. |
1952 | Spray-On Clothing Web (from Abercrombie Station by Jack Vance) A 'web' clothing foundation that can be sprayed on and then molded by a couturier. |
1952 | Spray-On Gloves (from Abercrombie Station by Jack Vance) Fashionable evening gloves that are sprayed onto the hand and arm. |
1952 | Moonwalk (from Moonwalk by H.B. Fyfe) To traverse the Earth's moon on foot, in a space suit. |
1952 | Ribbon World (from Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov) A planet that presents the same face to its sun has a small habitable area - the ribbon between light and dark. |
1952 | Magnetized Cloth Pajamas (from Abercrombie Station by Jack Vance) Sleeping in zero gee - just like on Earth! |
1952 | Magnetic Coil Slippers (from Abercrombie Station by Jack Vance) Maintain your footing in zero gravity. |
1952 | Broomstick (from Islands in the Sky by Arthur C. Clarke) Device to ease movement in a zero-gravity environment. |
1952 | Mechanical Dentist (from Make Mine Mars by C.M. Kornbluth) No human graduated from dental school here. |
1952 | Free Robot (from Robot Unwanted by Daniel Keyes) A robot without a master. |
1952 | Moon-Dome (from Last Blast by Eric Frank Russell) A transparent hemisphere used as a habitat. |
1952 | Triple Airlock (from Uller Uprising by H. Beam Piper) Special device to protect against extremely corrosive atmospheres. |
1952 | Supervisor Robot (from Manners of the Age by H.B. Fyfe) A robot that watches over and gives orders to other robots. |
1952 | Electronic Spy (from Ring Around the Sun by Clifford Simak) An autonomous device that kept itself hidden while keeping track of an individual's activity. |
1952 | Warp-Speed (from Yachting Party by Fox B. Holden) Faster than light spaceships. |
1952 | Panatrope (from Surface Tension by James Blish) A device that modifies human dna to ensure survival in harsh alien environments. |
1952 | Leak Disk (from Islands in the Sky by Arthur C. Clarke) Simple device to temporarily close a leak in a spacecraft. |
1952 | Wall-Light (from Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov) The walls of a room provide illumination. |
1952 | Recorded Books (from Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov) Electronically recorded books. |
1952 | Pocket Projector (from Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov) A personal device for replaying media. |
1952 | Robot Tennis Player (from Manners of the Age by H.B. Fyfe) A purely mechanical, autonomous foe on the court. |
1952 | Monowheel (from Firewater by William Tenn) A single-wheeled police car. |
1952 | Spy-Eyes (from Manners of the Age by H.B. Fyfe) Tiny robotic surveillance devices fly using propellers. |
1952 | Analogue Treatment (from Ticket to Anywhere by Damon Knight) Hypnotic drug treatment that normalizes behavior in humans. |
1952 | Photo Crystal (Cube) (from Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov) A small handheld display for a picture |
1952 | Personal Solar Plant (from Ring Around the Sun by Clifford Simak) A single-home solar-powered energy source. |
1952 | Singularity (from All The Time In The World by Arthur C. Clarke) In science, a condition in which spacetime breaks down; in society, a technological advance causes social conditions to break down. |
1952 | Flavor-Capsule (from Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov) A small pill used to turn ordinary water into a flavored beverage. |
1952 | Stun Pistol (from Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov) A hand-held device that causes unconsciousness. |
1952 | Solar-powered Prefab House (from Ring Around the Sun by Clifford Simak) A pre-built house that can live off the grid. |
1952 | Flat Cat (from The Rolling Stones by Robert Heinlein) A nearly two-dimensional furry little beast. |
1952 | Lunocycle (Lunar Bicycle) (from The Rolling Stones by Robert Heinlein) A bicycle specially adapted for lunar travel. |
1953 | Sound Analysis (from Assignment in Eternity by Robert Heinlein) Improving language teaching by showing the waveform of a spoken word or phrase, and comparing it to standard speech. |
1953 | Vistascreen (from Assignment to Aldebaran by Kendall Foster Crossen) Large screen entertainment. |
1953 | Salamander (from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury) Name given to the fire trucks of the future, which carry kerosene rather than water, and are used to burn houses. |
1953 | Sliver Gun (from The Unreliable Perfumist by Margaret St. Clair) A firearm that shoots fine darts. |
1953 | Planetary Globe (from Star of Wonder by Julian May) A craftsman's model of a planet. |
1953 | City Ship (from Star of Wonder by Julian May) A generation ship, a spacecraft that carries a people to another star. |
1953 | Planet Buster (from Assignment to Aldebaran by Kendall Foster Crossen) A bomb so powerful it could destroy a planet. |
1953 | Sideglance Robe (from The Trouble With Bubbles by Philip K. Dick) A dress that is invisible or opaque, depending on how you look at it. |
1953 | Worldcraft Bubble (from The Trouble With Bubbles by Philip K. Dick) An incredibly detailed mechanical simulation of a world. |
1953 | Robot Pianist (from Virtuoso by Herbert Goldstone) A robot learns the fine art of playing classical music on the piano. |
1953 | Speedtalk (from Assignment in Eternity by Robert Heinlein) A constructed language that uses a single sound to stand for a word, achieving great improvements in communication speed. |
1953 | Green Bullet (from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury) A very compact (for 1950) radio transceiver, worn in the ear like a hearing aid. |
1953 | Mechanical Hound (from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury) An eight-legged robotic "hound" with hypodermic poison fangs. |
1953 | Short-Wave Surgical Knife (from Boomerang (A Great Deal of Power) by Eric Frank Russell) A means of performing an internal cut without breaking the skin. |
1953 | Air-Propelled Train (from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury) A silent means of mass transit. |
1953 | Legislation Analyzer (from The Trouble With Bubbles by Philip K. Dick) Device analyzes potentially biased bills. |
1953 | R. Daneel Olivaw (from Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov) A human-like robot, skilled in police work. |
1953 | Garbage Screen (from Space Tug by Murray Leinster) Use of bits of metal to confuse radar targeting of space stations. |
1953 | Spacecraft Ejection Seat (from Space Tug by Murray Leinster) An ejection seat for spacecraft, to be used in the event of problems during launch. |
1953 | Zero-G Cups (from Space Tug by Murray Leinster) Cups that were specially designed to be usable under zero gravity conditions. |
1953 | Big Flue (from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury) Enormous incinerators serviced directly by helicopter. |
1953 | Pocket Phone (or pocketphone) (from Assignment in Eternity by Robert Heinlein) A telephone that is not hard wired to the network; a mobile or cell phone. |
1953 | Sunlight Blocker (from Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke) A roughly circular field which denies sunlight to an area of a planet. |
1953 | Machine Evolution (from Second Variety by Philip K. Dick) An early look at the idea that machines can evolve all by themselves, physically and intellectually. |
1953 | Learning Circuit (from Watchbird by Robert Sheckley) The watchbirds can learn and teach each other. |
1953 | Information Sharing (Watchbird Network) (from Watchbird by Robert Sheckley) Watchbird drones can see and learn and then share new information, methods and definitions. |
1953 | Watchbird (from Watchbird by Robert Sheckley) Surveillance and punishment in one handy unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). |
1953 | Hawk Anti-Drone (from Watchbird by Robert Sheckley) An autonomous unmanned air vehicle (UAV) designed to seek and destroy other UAVs. |
1953 | Breesk (from Expedition to Earth by Robert Zacks) A unique dish best served with violet sauce. |
1953 | Science Fiction Restaurant (from Expedition to Earth by Robert Zacks) Established by aliens, its waiters and food are out of this world! |
1953 | Voice in the Ear (from Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke) Project a voice or sound to one individual's ears only. |
1953 | Private Flyer (from Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke) A privately-owned air vehicle that used no control surfaces for maneuvering. |
1953 | Control Screen (from Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke) An alien display device. |
1953 | Ruum Spherical Robot (from The Ruum by Arthur Porges) An autonomous spherical robot, possibly liquid metal, self-energizing, of alien design; a collector. |
1953 | Pinlight (from The Game of Rat and Dragon by Cordwainer Smith) Thimble-sized photonuclear bomb. |
1953 | News Receptor (from If There Were No Benny Cemoli by Philip K. Dick) Devices used by homeostatic newspapers to gather news autonomically. |
1953 | Robant (from The Impossible Planet by Philip K. Dick) A robotic servant. |
1953 | Morality Rating-Computer (from Assignment to Aldebaran by Kendall Foster Crossen) A computer system able to determine moral deviancy. |
1953 | Message Tree (from A Case of Conscience by James Blish) A tree growing out of a huge cliff of crystal provides communication for a world. |
1953 | The Shed (from Space Tug by Murray Leinster) Enormous building needed to assemble giant space craft or space stations. |
1953 | Inflatable Air Lock (from Space Tug by Murray Leinster) Air lock making use of inflatable side walls to achieve large size. |
1953 | Magnetic-Soled Shoes (from Space Tug by Murray Leinster) A means of walking on a surface in zero gravity. |
1953 | Torchship (from Sky Lift by Robert Heinlein) A spaceship capable of high acceleration. |
1953 | Space Flight Simulator (from Space Tug by Murray Leinster) Very early description of a way to practice flying in space while still on Earth. |
1953 | Vapor Cloud (from The Cosmic Poachers by Philip K. Dick) Corrosive gas destroys ships. |
1953 | Lens Image (from Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A presentation of the night sky, calculated for any planet or point in space. |
1953 | Gravity-Simulator Harness (from Space Tug by Murray Leinster) Device that simulates gravity's effect on muscles to keep in shape while in space. |
1953 | Pilot's Tank (from Sky Lift by Robert Heinlein) For high gee boosting. |
1953 | Electronic-Eyed Snake (from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury) A fully automated stomach pump. |
1953 | Galactography (from Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Geography on a galactic scale. |
1953 | Voice-Activated Door (from Assignment to Aldebaran by Kendall Foster Crossen) A door that opens upon verbal command. |
1953 | Pushpot (from Space Tug by Murray Leinster) An independent rocket motor that can attach itself to an object bound for space. |
1953 | Autonomous Car Intercommunication (from Sally by Isaac Asimov) Automatic cars talk to each other about everything. |
1953 | Travel-Rug (from Roll Out The Rolov! by Christopher Anvil) A rug that conveyed you around your house. |
1953 | Merc-Pool (from Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov) A device that stores information in vibration patterns on a mercury surface. |
1953 | Yeast-Culture Vats (from Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov) Using cultured yeast as the basis for food production. |
1953 | Panoramic Viewer (from Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke) Permits observation at a distance, as well as the projection of a holographic image. |
1953 | Transcriber (from Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A automated transcriptionist - a machine which perfectly translates human speech into words on paper. |
1953 | Space Wagon (from Space Tug by Murray Leinster) A space vehicle without a cabin, used for short-range towing. |
1953 | Earplug Decision (Restraint of Advertising) (from Captive Audience by Anne Warren Griffith) A Supreme Court judgement that declared that earplugs used to block advertising were unconstitutional. |
1953 | Ovoid 3D Galactic Model (from Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A handheld display of a galaxy. |
1953 | Seashell Radio (Thimble Radios) (from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury) Small radios that fit into the ears like hearing aids or ear buds. |
1953 | Homeostatic Newspaper (from If There Were No Benny Cemoli by Philip K. Dick) An autonomous news-gathering and publishing entity; abbreviated as homeopape. |
1953 | Automatobile (from Sally by Isaac Asimov) An autonomous private car. |
1953 | Automatobus (from Sally by Isaac Asimov) An autonomous or self-driving bus seating a number of people. |
1953 | Leady (from The Defenders by Philip K. Dick) A radiation-resistant robot. |
1953 | Self-Cleaning Autonomous Car (from Sally by Isaac Asimov) An automatic vehicle that keeps itself clean. |
1953 | Buy-Me-Discs (from Captive Audience by Anne Warren Griffith) Tiny disks attached to products in stores that received transmitted ads to share with consumers. |
1953 | Time Scoop (from Paycheck by Philip K. Dick) Retrieved objects from other points in time. |
1953 | Galactic Damping Field (from Brain Wave by Poul Anderson) A vast field of force emanating from the center of the galaxy. |
1953 | Stardrive (from Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke) Propulsion method that quickly brings a ship's speed to nearly that of light. |
1953 | Visicastor (from Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A person who presents video broadcasts. |
1953 | Hypertracer (from Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A device that allows a pursuer to follow a spaceship through hyperspace. |
1953 | Buttered Toast Robot (from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury) What it says on the tin. |
1953 | Claws (Attack Robot) (from Second Variety by Philip K. Dick) Autonomous guard robots that attack living tissue. |
1953 | Preserving Machine (from The Preserving Machine by Philip K. Dick) A device that would create a unique animal from a piece of classical music. |
1953 | Space Weakness (from Space Tug by Murray Leinster) Early description of what happens to the human body in zero gravity. |
1953 | Automatic Ticket Machine (from Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Get your ticket to Trantor automatically. |
1953 | Space Phobia (from Let 'em Breathe Space! by Lester del Rey) When astronauts have had enough. |
1953 | Planoforming (from The Game of Rat and Dragon by Cordwainer Smith) A form of "faster than light" travel allows for interstellar travel. |
1953 | Positronic Motor (from Sally by Isaac Asimov) A combination of motor and brain; an engine with a cerebellum and a carburetor. |
1953 | Farming Trantor (from Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Taking apart a vast city, and returning to farming the land. |
1953 | Parlor Wall (TV Parlor) (from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury) The original "big screen TV" takes up an entire wall of a room. |
1953 | Spot-Wavex Scrambler (from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury) Provides a more personalized experience of television, by letting the announcers talk to you personally. |
1953 | Robotic Conductor (from Paycheck by Philip K. Dick) A robot charged with conductor's duties aboard a bus or other public transportation. |
1953 | Self-Sufficient House (from Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke) A single family residence that required no surrounding infrastructure. |
1953 | Mental Static Device (from Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Cloak the minds of individuals with a kind of 'noise'. |
1953 | Master Ventriloquism Corporation (MV) (from Captive Audience by Anne Warren Griffith) A central source of product advertising, commercials sent out to every product. |
1953 | Ring Road (from Starman Jones by Robert Heinlein) A magnetically levitated train. |
1953 | Paint-to-Order Robot Artist (from The Music Master by F.L. Wallace) A robotic mechanism that could produce a unique picture, given subject and artistic style. |
1953 | Artificially Pulsating Star (from The Cosmic Blinker by Eando Binder) A star that has been modified to pulsate with a message to the entire universe. |
1953 | Dirtside (from Starman Jones by Robert Heinlein) The surface of a planet. |
1953 | Rolov (from Roll Out the Rolov! by Christopher Anvil) A specialized robot for the bedroom. |
1953 | Dressing Machine (from Roll Out the Rolov! by Christopher Anvil) A robotic device to serve as a mechanical dresser. |
1953 | Robot Door (from Colony by Philip K. Dick) Automated door has some decision-making capabilities, in addition to speech recognition capabilities. |
1953 | Permanent Skywriting (from Soap Opera by Alan Nelson) Non-wispy skywriting letters. |
1953 | Prime Radiant (from Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A projector that puts all of a vast collection of writings on the wall of a special conference room. You could interact with it by writing on the wall; changes were stored. |
1953 | Plasta-Skin (from Star Rangers (The Last Planet) by Andre Norton) Artificial Skin |
1953 | Brains (Computer) (from The Cosmic Blinker by Eando Binder) An electronic brain that is able to do problem solving. This idea seems to be the impetus behind current artificial intelligence that seeks to solve problems, rather than to simulate human intelligenc |
1953 | Synthony (from The Music Master by F.L. Wallace) A musical performance by robots. |
1953 | Robot Psyche Tester (from Colony by Philip K. Dick) An automated psychiatric evaluation device. |
1953 | Robotaxi (from Dugal Was A Spaceman by Joe Gibson) A fully automated, driverless taxi. |
1953 | Eetee (E.T. - extraterrestrial) (from Button, Button by Thomas Wilson) A sentient being not of this Earth. |
1953 | Sub-C (from The Impossible Planet by Philip K. Dick) Of ships, older models that travel at speeds below that of light. |
1954 | Relay (from Souvenir by Philip K. Dick) A central information system used to coordinate all of human culture and technology. |
1954 | Web (Data Network) (from Souvenir by Philip K. Dick) An information network. |
1954 | Synapsis-Coils (from Last of the Masters by Philip K. Dick) Human-like storage for computers. |
1954 | Trace Web (from Souvenir by Philip K. Dick) A small, handheld device that contacts (and even instantiates) the larger network. |
1954 | Mother-Scanner (from The Turning Wheel by Philip K. Dick) A device that can see your future through your next birth. |
1954 | Histo-Research (from The Meddler by Philip K. Dick) Historical research using a time machine. |
1954 | Mnemonic Service (from Sucker Bait by Isaac Asimov) Dedicated humans who collected bits of data in hopes of catching key correlations between fields of study. |
1954 | The Dip (from The Meddler by Philip K. Dick) A device that randomly dredges up things from the past... or the future. |
1954 | Human Quarter (from James P. Crow by Philip K. Dick) A ghetto for human beings; in this case, in a world of robots. |
1954 | Mecho-Clothing (from Last of the Masters by Philip K. Dick) Apparel created entirely by machines. |
1954 | Spacelanes Traffic Jam (from Sales Pitch by Philip K. Dick) Fanciful description of commuters in space. |
1954 | Robot Farmer (from The Turning Wheel by Philip K. Dick) A humanoid robot used for agriculture. |
1954 | Sceneshifter (from Last of the Masters by Philip K. Dick) An automated display device that produced random pictorial presentations. |
1954 | Mechanical Tune-Maker (from Last of the Masters by Philip K. Dick) An electromechanical device that created unique music. |
1954 | Robot Guard (from The Turning Wheel by Philip K. Dick) Very early reference to a guard robot. |
1954 | Self-Selling Robot (from Sales Pitch by Philip K. Dick) A robot that sells itself. |
1954 | Automatic Companion Robot (from The Midas Plague by Frederik Pohl) A robotic replacement for a pet or friend. |
1954 | Public Vehicle Tube (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) Underground transportation tubes. |
1954 | Hopper (from Lucky Starr and the Oceans of Venus by Isaac Asimov) A vehicle with a single leg and rotors to enhance 'hang time.' |
1954 | Pod-Chair (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) A living chair, grown by the Iszc to perform its function. |
1954 | Law Clerk Robot (from The Midas Plague by Frederik Pohl) A robotic lawyer. |
1954 | TBR (Talk Between Robots) Circuit (from The Midas Plague by Frederik Pohl) A special means of communications used by robots to speak with each other. |
1954 | Consumption Robots (from The Midas Plague by Frederik Pohl) Humanoid robots placed in the position of consuming material goods to relieve human beings of the burden. |
1954 | Gravity neutralizing paint (from Last of the Masters by Philip K. Dick) Paint or coating that neutralized the effects of gravity on whatever it was painted on. |
1954 | Anti-Gerasone (from Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.) Cheap immortality comes to your neighborhood convenience store. |
1954 | Radiant Shield (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) A device that would effectively prevent an implanted radiant from being detected or read. |
1954 | Compassion Circuit (from Compassion Circuit by John Wyndham) A special robotic component that allows the robot to weigh harm and benefit in carrying out commands. |
1954 | Feeler-Planes (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) Special sensors that make extremely detailed three-dimensional models. |
1954 | Escape Pod (from The Vanisher by Michael Shaara) A small automated ship attached to a larger ship or station, used in the event of an emergency. |
1954 | Time Quake (from Breakfast at Twilight by Philip K. Dick) Too much energy applied to a time-fault may have started this. |
1954 | Visual Ad (from Sales Pitch by Philip K. Dick) An advertisement that forces its way directly into the brain of the viewer. |
1954 | Snake Boring Truck (from Breakfast at Twilight by Philip K. Dick) A long thin truck like a snake, with a boring tip. |
1954 | Spaceward Lunar Hemisphere (from Dawn of the Demigods by Raymond Z. Gallun) Another name for the lunar far side. |
1954 | Temporal Paradox (from The Toy by Brian Berry) The paradoxical idea that making changes in the past results in changes in the present. |
1954 | Maid-Robot (from The Midas Plague by Frederik Pohl) A mechanical automaton does the work of a lady's maid. |
1954 | Sales Robot (Robot Salesman) (from Sales Pitch by Philip K. Dick) Fully automated robots giving untiring, incessant sales pitches to customers. |
1954 | Thought Pattern Divination (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) Attempting to construct the thoughts of a person by imitating their actions. |
1954 | Commute Ship (from Sales Pitch by Philip K. Dick) Spacecraft used for traversing daily grind between Earth and the planet you work on. |
1954 | Copter Harness (from The Star Beast by Robert Heinlein) A single person flying machine. |
1954 | Rom (Robot Operated Missiles) (from Breakfast at Twilight by Philip K. Dick) Intercontinental robotic weapons. |
1954 | Radiant (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) A chip that is injected into the shoulder, providing positioning and information about the subject. |
1954 | Beer Robot (from How-2 by Clifford Simak) A robot prepared and filled with draft beer. |
1954 | Lawyer Robot (from How-2 by Clifford Simak) An autonomous, robotic lawyer. |
1954 | Bodyphone (from The Star Beast by Robert Heinlein) A unique designation for a personal phone you can carry with you. |
1954 | Boat-Tree (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) A tree, the pods of which can be grown as boats. |
1954 | House Trees (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) Living trees grown as houses; large hollow pods serve as living spaces. |
1954 | Mechanical Bride (from The Mechanical Bride by Fritz Leiber) A perfect robotic replica of a woman. |
1954 | Control Helmet (from Dawn of the Demigods by Raymond Z. Gallun) Direct control of a robot from the brain. |
1954 | Space Capsule (from Space Capsule by E.R. James) A minimal space craft. |
1954 | Solar-Powered Ball (from Dawn of the Demigods by Raymond Z. Gallun) An autonomous round toy that powers itself. |
1954 | Micro-Android (Micro-Robot) (from Dawn of the Demigods by Raymond Z. Gallun) An extremely tiny robot or nanobot. |
1954 | Tri-Type Record (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) A printed card that stores information about a person, including a perfect three-dimensional representation. |
1954 | Airmakers (from The Big Rain by Poul Anderson) Machine to create breathable air from the constituent materials on an alien planet. |
1954 | Sentry Trees (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) A set of trees that will allow only those with the safe signal to pass. |
1954 | Protoplast (from Dawn of the Demigods by Raymond Z. Gallun) Artificial life, tougher than protoplasm. |
1954 | Roboscribe (from End as a Robot by Richard Marsten) A robotic writer of hard-bitten detective yarns. |
1954 | Click-Band (from The Meddler by Philip K. Dick) Worn on the wrist, it helps you locate your transport. |
1954 | Shatter-Gun (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) A hand-held device that literally scrambles the brains of the victim. |
1954 | Prethink (from The Golden Man by Philip K. Dick) The ability to predict the future in a routine perceptual manner. |
1954 | Retinal Vid-Screen (from Sales Pitch by Philip K. Dick) A tiny display surgically implanted directly in the retina of the eye. |
1954 | Voicewriter Screen (Computer Monitor) (from Granny Won't Knit by Theodore Sturgeon) A screen that displays characters. |
1954 | Hypno-Motor Control (from Sales Pitch by Philip K. Dick) A means of controlling the body remotely, cutting off the need for local control (ie, by your mind). |
1954 | Jiffi-scuttler (from Prominent Author by Philip K. Dick) A device providing near instantaneous travel between two points. |
1954 | Plastirobe (from Sales Pitch by Philip K. Dick) A dress that varies in opacity by distance. |
1954 | Guide-Beam (from Time Pawn by Philip K. Dick) A wireless means of controlling and directing the movement of a passenger vehicle. |
1954 | Lash-Tube (from The Golden Man by Philip K. Dick) Device emits an energy beam. |
1954 | Cephaloscope (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) A device used to detect lying. |
1954 | One-Way Passage (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) A different way to assure permanent egress. |
1954 | Tanglefoot Field (from The Star Beast by Robert Heinlein) A force field that would not harm but merely entangle and stop anyone (or anything) caught in it. |
1954 | Universal Dictionary (from The Star Beast by Robert Heinlein) A machine that provided references to anything known. |
1954 | Reading Plate (from The Star Beast by Robert Heinlein) A flat screen that provided computer output for viewing. |
1954 | Truth Meter (from The Star Beast by Robert Heinlein) A lie detector. |
1954 | Dermal-Mist Spray (from Prominent Author by Philip K. Dick) Very refreshing for suburbanites. |
1954 | Nanomachine Swarm (Black Cloud) (from The Invincible by Stanislaw Lem) A cloud of tiny machines, able to work together autonomously. |
1954 | Robot Cab Driver (from A Present for Pat by Philip K. Dick) You think you have problems? Robots have the worst problems of anyone. |
1954 | Polarized Window (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) Rather than curtains, use the window to control the light. |
1954 | Finger Jet Bath (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) The ultimate in luxury tubs. |
1954 | Central Guide-Beam (from Shell Game by Philip K. Dick) A kind of signal that demonstrates the best possible path to a destination in space and even provides motive power. |
1954 | One-Man Car (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) A small transport vehicle. |
1954 | Inorganic Evolution (from The Invincible by Stanislaw Lem) A process by which robots could alter their own structure, or the ways that they interact with other robots, to adapt to a changing world. |
1954 | Metal Insects (from The Invincible by Stanislaw Lem) Small autonomous flying winged robots. |
1954 | Suit-Shield Fabric (from The Golden Man by Philip K. Dick) A kind of mesh fabric that could absorb energy bolts. |
1955 | Schrieber Analyzer (from Diabologic by Eric Frank Russell) Superior automatic air testing - for the discriminating space traveler. |
1955 | Artigraft (from Solar Lottery by Philip K. Dick) Artificial skin graft. |
1955 | Scout-Base (from Diabologic by Eric Frank Russell) Artificial sphere functions as a frontier outpost. |
1955 | Hand Wave Control (from Solar Lottery by Philip K. Dick) Control an electronic or other device with gestures. |
1955 | Landing-Grid (from Sand Doom by Murray Leinster) A constructed landing area on a planetary surface for space craft. |
1955 | Robot Taxi (from Solar Lottery by Philip K. Dick) A taxicab with a robotic driver. |
1955 | Magnetic Grapple-Beams (from Solar Lottery by Philip K. Dick) Short range magnetic field to guide flying cars and park them properly. |
1955 | Protine (from Solar Lottery by Philip K. Dick) A mutant algae that can be engineered to look and taste similar to normal food. |
1955 | Diabological Armory (from Diabologic by Eric Frank Russell) A set of verbal tools based on a higher form of reasoning. |
1955 | Agile Recording Robot (from Solar Lottery by Philip K. Dick) A recording machine that moves toward its subject. |
1955 | Inflatable Lunar Resort (from Solar Lottery by Philip K. Dick) An inflatable structure on the moon, intended to provide rest and relaxation to lunar residents. |
1955 | Simulacrum Window (from Tunnel in the Sky by Robert Heinlein) A 'window' that provides a realistic outdoor view in an interior room. |
1955 | Ramsbotham Gate (from Tunnel in the Sky by Robert Heinlein) A means of getting from point A to point B without traversing the space in-between. |
1955 | Raw Material-Tropic (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick) Moves towards desirable raw materials. |
1955 | Mechanical Newsmachine (from Foster, You're Dead by Philip K. Dick) An automated device that delivers on-the-spot news. |
1955 | Synthetic Milk (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick) Milk made without cows. |
1955 | Automatic Ore Cart (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick) An autonomous truck for raw ore processing. |
1955 | Automatic Factory (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick) Manufacturing facility that functions entirely autonomously. |
1955 | Machines Colonize Universe (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick) A brief description of a how automated machines might spread. |
1955 | Search-Bug (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick) An exploratory robot. |
1955 | Nanny Robot (from Nanny by Philip K. Dick) A child-care robot with a surprisingly competitive side. |
1955 | Slide Rule w/Radio Attachment (from Mission to the Stars by A.E. van Vogt) Slide rule communicates results immediately with computer. |
1955 | Finely Divided Dust Propellant (from Earthlight by Arthur C. Clarke) Reaction mass to drive spacecraft. |
1955 | Chest-Lens (from War Veteran by Philip K. Dick) Part of an automatic photograph-and-send system. |
1955 | Water Brain Fountain (from War Veteran by Philip K. Dick) A drinking fountain that locates your mouth, rather than you having to lean down to the spout. |
1955 | Cold-Beam (from War Veteran by Philip K. Dick) Puts a cloud of extreme cold around the target. |
1955 | Autonomous Truck (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick) A truck that drives itself and unloads itself. |
1955 | Caterwheel (from Sand Doom by Murray Leinster) A uniquely styled ground vehicle with fat, splayed out tires. |
1955 | Anti-Burglar Installations (from The Angry House by Richard R. Smith) Every electronic house should have automated defenses. |
1955 | Mechavalet (from The Angry House by Richard R. Smith) An entirely automated dressing assistant. |
1955 | Robot Surgeon-Hand (from War Veteran by Philip K. Dick) A skilled surgical robot that attaches at the end of the surgeon's arm. |
1955 | Robot Gardener (from War Veteran by Philip K. Dick) An autonomous gardening robot, taking care of plants in parks or fields. |
1955 | Trion Library (from The Magellanic Cloud by Stanislaw Lem) An early visualization of the Internet. |
1955 | Autofac (Nanorobots) (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick) Very small robots working on self-replication |
1955 | Production Prescription (from The Magellanic Cloud by Stanislaw Lem) A file that can be used to reproduce an object. |
1955 | Artibase (from War Veteran by Philip K. Dick) An artificial asteroid base between planets. |
1955 | Heat-Suit (from Sand Doom by Murray Leinster) Perfect for those incredibly hot planets with breathable atmospheres. |
1955 | Network Repair Team (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick) Dispatched to collect remains of destroyed machines. |
1955 | Monocab (from Earthlight by Arthur C. Clarke) A single compartment monorail car. |
1955 | Central City (Lunar Habitat) (from Earthlight by Arthur C. Clarke) An early example of a non-military lunar habitat. |
1955 | Dashboard TV (from The Chromium Fence by Philip K. Dick) A television placed in the dashboard of your car or similar vehicle. |
1955 | Robot Factory Representative (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick) An ambulatory agent of an automatic factory. |
1955 | Pocket Receiver (from The Magellanic Cloud by Stanislaw Lem) An early visualization of the smartphone. |
1955 | Robot Disimprovement (from A Ticket to Tranai by Robert Sheckley) Once robots have reached a state of development where they are better than humans, they must be modified - for the worse. |
1955 | Badge Of Office Explosive (from A Ticket to Tranai by Robert Sheckley) Politicians wear what amounts to a bomb, which is controlled by citizen vote. |
1955 | Pizzled (Semantic Garble) (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick) Use of nonsensical statements to deliberately confuse an artificial intelligence. |
1955 | Automatized Factory (from The Tunnel Under The World by Frederik Pohl) A factory consisting of machines with imposed human abilities. |
1955 | Human Habit Pattern Machines (from The Tunnel Under The World by Frederik Pohl) Imposing human habits onto machines. |
1955 | Generation Ship (from Star Ship by E.C. Tubb) A spacecraft that carries a complete social group over many years. |
1955 | Electronic Voting (from Franchise by Isaac Asimov) A system of elections that used the responses of a statistically average voter. |
1955 | Swibble (from Service Call by Philip K. Dick) An artificially evolved telepathic metazoan-based mind control device. |
1955 | Space Craft Rope Ladder (from Diabologic by Eric Frank Russell) Equipment used for debarking from a space craft. |
1955 | Lunar Monorail (from Earthlight by Arthur C. Clarke) A monorail constructed above the surface of the Moon. |
1955 | Multivac (from Franchise by Isaac Asimov) A computer with millions of facts. |
1955 | Neck-Phone (from The Chromium Fence by Philip K. Dick) An implanted telecommunications device. |
1955 | Microscreen (from Bolden's Pets by F.L. Wallace) An immaterial protective helmet. |
1955 | Commute Disk (from The Chromium Fence by Philip K. Dick) Flying autonomous commuter vehicle. |
1955 | Visual Report Screen (from Nanny by Philip K. Dick) A device that allows a robot nanny to let the owners view what the robot sees from a remote location. |
1955 | Citizens Booth (from A Ticket to Tranai by Robert Sheckley) A special location for citizens to register their displeasure with public officials. |
1955 | Unit Analyst Robot (from The Chromium Fence by Philip K. Dick) A robotic psychoanalyst. |
1955 | Stiletto Beam (from Earthlight by Arthur C. Clarke) A beam of molten metal, projected electromagnetically. |
1955 | Juiciveal (from Lazarus by Margaret St. Clair) Artificially grown veal. |
1955 | Electronic Analogue of Living Brain (from The Tunnel Under The World by Frederik Pohl) Imposing the abilities of a human brain into a computer |
1955 | Bore-Pellets (from Foster, You're Dead by Philip K. Dick) Anti-underground bomb shelter ordinance. |
1955 | Grill-Screen Adaptor (from Foster, You're Dead by Philip K. Dick) Approved General Electronics Corporation solution for bomb shelters, in response to Soviet bore-pellets. |
1955 | Light-Absorbing Paint (from Earthlight by Arthur C. Clarke) Space stealth! |
1955 | Synthimeat (Crop Protein) (from Lazarus by Margaret St. Clair) A more general name for synthetic meat |
1955 | Guard Robot (from The Hood Maker ('Immunity') by Philip K. Dick) Early reference to a robot performing the functions of a security guard. |
1955 | Robus (from Terror in the Stars by John A. Sentry) A robotic bus. |
1955 | Interviewed by a Computer (from Franchise by Isaac Asimov) An interview conducted by a computer with a person. |
1955 | Composite Person (from The Mold of Yancy by Philip K. Dick) A synthesis of basic personalities. |
1955 | Probe Screen Hood (from The Hood Maker ('Immunity') by Philip K. Dick) A device that blocks attempts to see into the contents of the brain mind. |
1956 | Robot Bartender (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester) An automated, mechanical bar tending robot. |
1956 | Saga (from The City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clarke) You become a part of the great adventures of history. |
1956 | Central Computer (from The City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clarke) A computer capable of running an entire city. |
1956 | Internal Body Power Pack (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester) A tiny battery used to power implants. |
1956 | Matter Organizer (from The City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clarke) A device that could cause a computer-generated image to be constructed as a real object. |
1956 | Hammer (from Vulcan's Hammer by Philip K. Dick) Flying blunt trauma weapon remote-controlled by an artificially intelligent computer. |
1956 | Hired Girl Robot (from The Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein) The amazing floor-cleaning robot! |
1956 | Diaspar Memory (from The City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clarke) The city's memory could store works of art, and reproduce them upon request. |
1956 | Bendix Anxiety Reducer (from Bad Medicine by Robert Sheckley) Machine-based psychotherapy. |
1956 | Stasis (Cold Sleep, Hibernation) (from The Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein) Hibernation for human beings, lasting for many years. |
1956 | Window-Willie (from The Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein) A robot that cleaned windows by electrostatic repulsion of dust and grime. |
1956 | Blue Collar Robot (Self-Repairing) (from The Velvet Glove by Harry Harrison) An autonomous robot required to find its own work. |
1956 | Robotic Hand (from The Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein) A dexterous manipulator for robots. |
1956 | Precrime Analytical Wing (from The Minority Report by Philip K. Dick) Contains the precognitives and the machinery need to hear and analyze their predictions of future crimes. |
1956 | Mechanotherapy (from Bad Medicine by Robert Sheckley) A mechanism or device-based therapy that cures (or palliates) alcoholism. |
1956 | Alcoholic Reliever (from Bad Medicine by Robert Sheckley) Mechanized relief from alcoholism. |
1956 | Rex Regenerator (Mechanotherapist) (from Bad Medicine by Robert Sheckley) Mechanotherapy device cures homicidal urges. |
1956 | Empath (from Empath by J.T. McIntosh) A being capable of telepathic empathy with others. |
1956 | Biltong Life Form (from Pay for the Printer by Philip K. Dick) Remarkable organic manufacturing aliens, probably indigenous to the Centaurus system. |
1956 | Solido (from Chance of a Lifetime by Milton Lesser) Abbr. for solidograph; a device that produced a solid three dimensional image. |
1956 | Thorsen Memory Tube (from The Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein) Computer component that allows a machine to learn through experience. |
1956 | Universal Checkbook (from The Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein) Fully electronic banking system, which allows easy withdrawal of funds from any bank. |
1956 | Drafting Dan (from The Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein) The first computer software drafting program (Computer Aided Design - CAD). |
1956 | Eager Beaver (from The Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein) Your friendly robot helper. |
1956 | Juvenile (from The Man Who Japed by Philip K. Dick) A robot designed to sneak around and spy on people. |
1956 | Anti-Heptant (from To Live Forever by Jack Vance) A compound that erases specific areas of the brain. |
1956 | Home Therapy Appliances, Inc. (from Bad Medicine by Robert Sheckley) A store at which a variety of therapy devices are made available |
1956 | Mutated Kodiak Bears (from Exploration Team by Murray Leinster) Animals modified for increased intelligence for defense and companionship. |
1956 | Sargasso Asteroid (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester) A planetoid built from natural rock and the salvaged wreckage of space craft. |
1956 | Radioactive Coding for Checks (from The Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein) Special coding system to easily recognize checks. |
1956 | Transdermal Drug Capsule (from Vulcan's Hammer by Philip K. Dick) A drug capsule that delivers medication by being placed on the skin. |
1956 | Vulcan 3 (from Vulcan's Hammer by Philip K. Dick) Artificially intelligent self-modifying supercomputer. |
1956 | Interactive Blackboard (from Vulcan's Hammer by Philip K. Dick) Early description of an interactive display device for lectures and demonstrations. |
1956 | Robot Tracking Device (from Vulcan's Hammer by Philip K. Dick) Small UAV robot remotely operated by an artificially intelligent computer. |
1956 | Flexible Frank (from The Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein) An all-purpose household robot. |
1956 | Space-Boat (Rocket Boat) (from Exploration Team by Murray Leinster) Small craft designed for descent and then take-off from a planetary surface. |
1956 | Living Advertising Character (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester) Modifying an ordinary person to create a living likeness of a company's brand symbol or character. |
1956 | Jaunte Stage (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester) A cleared space that existed to serve the needs of people who would jaunte (teleport) into that space. |
1956 | Disposal-Safe (from Exploration Team by Murray Leinster) Device to store and, if necessary, destroy documents. |
1956 | Undercover Detective Robot (from The Velvet Glove by Harry Harrison) Specialized robot masquerades as different robot types to spy on criminals. |
1956 | Post-Crime (from The Minority Report by Philip K. Dick) Criminal activities after they have actually happened. |
1956 | Precog (from The Minority Report by Philip K. Dick) A person with precognitive ability (can predict the future). |
1956 | Planet-Busting Bomb (from Testing by J.J. Ferrat) A munition with sufficient power to destroy an entire planet. |
1956 | Space-Beacon (from Exploration Team by Murray Leinster) Device used to guide a space craft into finding an inhabited planet or colony on a planet. |
1956 | Bounce Tube (from Double Star by Robert Heinlein) A people-sized pneumatic tube system used for short, quick trips in the vertical dimension. |
1956 | Lethe-Mirror (from The World Jones Made by Philip K. Dick) Induces sleepy mindedness. |
1956 | Infiltrators (from Vulcan's Hammer by Philip K. Dick) Surveillance devices, small and insectile. |
1956 | Retinal Light (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester) An internal flashlight. |
1956 | Virtual Immortality (from The City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clarke) A method for storing the mind and memories of a person, and recalling and reconstituting them at will. |
1956 | Fusion Power (from The Judas Valley by Gerald Vance) Creating energy from nuclear fusion reactions. |
1956 | Eagle With Camera (from Exploration Team by Murray Leinster) A live bald eagle equipped with a transmitting camera. |
1956 | Regen-Buds (from The Velvet Glove by Harry Harrison) Small collection of cells that can regrow into human limbs. |
1956 | Life Wand (from Double Star by Robert Heinlein) Shoots a powerful ray of energy. |
1956 | Robots Learn With Cameras (from The Instigators by Raymond E. Banks) Robots learn new actions by recording them with a camera, doing away with expensive programming. |
1956 | Boxing Robot (from Steel by Richard Matheson) Robots that fight in exhibitions, in the ring, for spectators. |
1956 | Hush Corner (from Double Star by Robert Heinlein) A space made private by canceling sound waves in that area. |
1956 | Vacutubes (from Double Star by Robert Heinlein) A system of public transportation that used partially evacuated tubes and capsules big enough for passengers. |
1956 | Cider Press (from Double Star by Robert Heinlein) Device used to make acceleration above 1 gravity more tolerable for groundhogs. |
1956 | Teakettle (from Double Star by Robert Heinlein) A standard rocket (uses hydrogen as a booster to leave the atmosphere). |
1956 | Fluid Metal Letters (from Vulcan's Hammer by Philip K. Dick) A smooth metal display able to display words. |
1956 | Hand Computer (from The Dead Past by Isaac Asimov) A small pocket-sized computing device. |
1956 | Slug (from Dragon in the Sea by Frank Herbert) An underwater "barge", consisting of a giant tube for transporting oil. |
1956 | Precrime (from The Minority Report by Philip K. Dick) A system by which criminal acts are known before they occur. |
1956 | Vehicle Sleep Sensor (from The Velvet Glove by Harry Harrison) Better stay awake, the machines know if you're sleeping. |
1956 | Maximum-security Booth (from Double Star by Robert Heinlein) A special phone booth for receiving high-security, scrambled telephone calls, calls which included 3D visuals. |
1956 | Bard (from Someday by Isaac Asimov) A machine that invents randomized stories and can read them out loud or animate them for viewing. |
1956 | Planet Rules (from Drop Dead by Clifford Simak) Regulations governing the behavior of the away team on a new planet. |
1956 | Refurbished Nervous System (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester) Your nerves are rewired for 5-10 times the speed of a normal person. |
1956 | Sympathetic Block (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester) A way to keep certain mental contents from being spoken or revealed. |
1956 | Analogue (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester) A combination of a drug and a particular mental state allow a person to devolve to an animal level of their choice. |
1956 | Tune-Maker (from The World Jones Made by Philip K. Dick) Automated music production. |
1956 | Pencil Beam (from Vulcan's Hammer by Philip K. Dick) A thin tube-like laser beam weapon. |
1956 | Robot Interception Aerial Mines (from The World Jones Made by Philip K. Dick) Loitering explosives overhead. |
1956 | Puddinged (from Pay for the Printer by Philip K. Dick) A poorly formed 3D printed copy, with an interior that was a mass of malformed material. |
1956 | Electrotruck (from The Corkscrew of Space by Poul Anderson) An autonomous, electric truck. |
1956 | Bug (from Brightside Crossing by Alan E. Nourse) A compact vehicle for planetary surfaces - like Mercury. |
1956 | Dental Switchboard (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester) A control device tied in with teeth and nerve endings. |
1956 | Robot Row - Robots For Consumers (from The Instigators by Raymond E. Banks) The adoption curve for personal robots will accelerate like the curve for automobiles. |
1956 | Invulnerable Wall (from Jackpot by Clifford Simak) A material created by insects that grew stronger as it was compressed. |
1956 | Landing Pit (Drydock and Construction) (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester) A cylindrical hole with anti-gravity screens for use in spacecraft landings and repair. |
1956 | PyrE (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester) A thermonuclear explosive that is detonated by thought alone. |
1956 | Underwater Robot (from The Velvet Glove by Harry Harrison) An autonomous mechanical for use underwater. |
1956 | Hypersee (from The Best of Fences by Gordon Randall Garrett) Faster than light. |
1956 | Mechanical Jokester (from Jokester by Isaac Asimov) A vast computer system learns about humor. |
1956 | Metal BIrds (from Vulcan's Hammer by Philip K. Dick) Surveillance robots that carried weapons, in addition to using their metal bodies. |
1956 | Trolling Tether Cable (from Atom Drive by Charles Fontenay) Simple fishing technique applied to moving cargo off-planet. |
1956 | Robot Fish (Metal Fish) (from Atom Drive by Charles Fontenay) Fake flounders for sport fishermen on Martian canals. |
1956 | Floating Lunar Dust (from Dust Rag by Hal Clement) Electrostatically charged particles that float above the surface of the Moon. |
1956 | Whisper Line (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester) A means of communication between prisoners held in wide separation. |
1956 | Fottengill Process (from Gypped by Lloyd Biggle, Jr.) An early mention of the idea that energy can be derived from random noise. |
1956 | Chronoscopy (from The Dead Past by Isaac Asimov) Using a device to view different points in time. |
1957 | Battle Tank Display (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) Three-dimensional display showing tactical information for space battles. |
1957 | Flying Cone (from Fugitive of the Stars by Edmond Hamilton) A vehicle for 1-3 persons that hovers and has mechanical arms. |
1957 | Machine Surveillance (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) The use of artificially intelligent computer systems to learn by monitoring all human interaction within a city. |
1957 | Brood Assembly (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) Artificially intelligent computers that can replicate themselves. |
1957 | Bats' Cave (from The Menace From Earth by Robert Heinlein) A natural cavern used by moon colonists for air storage - and entertainment. |
1957 | Accelerated Schooling Helmet (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) A device that stimulates the brain and imparts knowledge directly. |
1957 | Space Armor (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) Armored space suits for use in vacuum. |
1957 | Proselytizing Robot (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) A robotic preacher; designed for use where believers are unwelcome. |
1957 | Glass Bees (from The Glass Bees by Ernst Junger) Walnut-sized flying automata. |
1957 | Project X (from Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand) A device that produces sound rays that are intolerable to living things. |
1957 | Dropshaft (from Deeper Than the Darkness by Harlan Ellison) An elevator shaft with no elevator - the "lift" is from gravity or suppressed inertia. |
1957 | Phymech (from Wanted in Surgery by Harlan Ellison) A robotic physician. |
1957 | Crop Algae (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) Growing algae in tanks as a source of basic food stock. |
1957 | Gravity Well (from Life Cycle by Poul Anderson) If you visualize spacetime as a flat, elastic plane, a planet will deform it, and it sits at the bottom of its own hole. |
1957 | Oxygen Pill (from Get Out Of Our Skies! by E.K. Jarvis) Meets your need for oxygen without additional breathing. |
1957 | Eavesdropper (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) Device to detect the presence of recording devices. |
1957 | Lunar Advertisement (from Watch This Space by Arthur C. Clarke) An 'ad' on the lunar surface that can be seen by its audience on Earth. |
1957 | Magnetic Control of Nebulae (from The Black Cloud by Fred Hoyle) Controlling the structure and shape of nebulae using magnetic fields. |
1957 | Fenton Silencer (from Tales from the White Hart by Arthur C. Clarke) A device to cancel noise over a broad area. |
1957 | Stellar Analog Computers (from The Lady Was A Tramp by Rose Sharon) Special systems used to calculate safe "jumps" for interstellar trips. |
1957 | Dirac Transmitter (also Tranceiver or Communicator) (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) A device that provides instantaneous communication anywhere in the galaxy. |
1957 | Jump-Along (from The Lady Was A Tramp by Rose Sharon) Computer used for calculating jumps between stars. |
1957 | Galactovue (from Citizen of the Galaxy by Robert Heinlein) Star display. |
1957 | Jumpship (from The Lady Was A Tramp by Rose Sharon) A spaceship capable of making interstellar jumps, that is, it could move over vast distances instantaneously. |
1957 | Accelerated Schooling (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) Knowledge force-fed directly into the brain. |
1957 | Planetary Computer Network (from Dialogues by Stanislaw Lem) A global data net. |
1957 | Launching Cradle (from Needler by Gordon Randall Garrett) A place for a spherical space craft to sit in gravity. |
1957 | Storer-Gulls Wings (from The Menace From Earth by Robert Heinlein) Recreational aid for lunar colonists; lightweight wings for cave flying. |
1957 | Prosthetic Robotic Arm (Thought-Attuned) (from Bleekman's Planet by Ivar Jorgensen) A detachable robotic arm, controlled directly through neural linkage. |
1957 | Anti-agathic drugs (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) Drugs that indefinitely postpone death from old age. |
1957 | Toposcope (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) A special helmet used in a form of sleep teaching. |
1957 | Bethé blasters (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) Powerful enough to destroy a flying city. |
1957 | Spacefaring (from Citizen of the Galaxy by Robert Heinlein) A nation or people who explore and trade in space. |
1957 | Molecular Sieve (from Tales from the White Hart by Arthur C. Clarke) A device that can extract any element from seawater. |
1957 | The Machine (M) (from The Unreconstructed M by Philip K. Dick) An autonomous robot able to alter its appearance and functionality at will. |
1957 | Roller (from Shadow World by Clifford Simak) Two passenger vehicle designed for off-road use on alien planets. |
1957 | Tin Cabby (Flying Robotic Taxi) (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) An autonomously controlled flying taxi cab. |
1957 | Gravity-Polarized Explosive (TDX) (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) A chemical explosive that acts at an angle to the local gravitational field. |
1957 | Prime Command (from Robots Are Nice? by Gordon R. Dickson) A universal order or principle carried out by every robotic device. |
1957 | Peeper (from Shadow World by Clifford Simak) A device that unlocked the dreams and fantasies inherent in the user's brain. |
1957 | Police Detection Robot (from The Unreconstructed M by Philip K. Dick) An automated evidence-gathering robot. |
1957 | Robot-Referee (from Jingle in the Jungle by Aldo Giunta) An autonomous robot judge at athletic events. |
1957 | Jurymech (from Wanted in Surgery by Harlan Ellison) A robotic entity serving the function of a trial jury. |
1957 | Manshonyagger (from Mark Elf by Cordwainer Smith) An autonomous fighting robot. |
1957 | City Fathers (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) A set of computer systems which run every mechanical system in a city. |
1957 | Robobus (from Robots Are Nice? by Gordon R. Dickson) An autonomous vehicle for picking up some number of passengers. |
1957 | Spindizzy (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) A device that made use of a relationship between electron spin, electromagnetism and gravity allowed any object to leave the Earth's surface. |
1957 | Inter-Universal Messenger (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) A device intended to travel to another dimension. |
1957 | Automated Factories (from The Peacemongers by Poul Anderson) Manufacturing facilities that do not require human workers. |
1957 | Fight Machine (Boxing Robot) (from Jingle in the Jungle by Aldo Giunta) An autonomous boxer. |
1957 | Neural Door Lock (from The Unreconstructed M by Philip K. Dick) A device that provides access based on neurological data. |
1957 | Robot Situation Neurosis (from The Unreconstructed M by Philip K. Dick) Robots go mad when given competing instructions. |
1957 | Mechanical Cleaning Device (from The Unreconstructed M by Philip K. Dick) A small, ground-based autonomous robot doing basic janitorial work. |
1957 | Remote Control Taxicab (from The Unreconstructed M by Philip K. Dick) A cab that is piloted by a remote operator. |
1957 | Machine Psychologist (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) A computer that understands and uses its knowledge of human psychology to benefit human users. |
1957 | Teleoperated Beetle Car (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) A remotely-operated robotic vehicle that permitted telepresence. |
1957 | Death-Rattle (from The Unreconstructed M by Philip K. Dick) A device that sends a signal upon brain death of the user. |
1957 | Robocop (from Wanted in Surgery by Harlan Ellison) A robotic police officer. |
1957 | Robocide (from Robots Are Nice? by Gordon R. Dickson) Deliberate destruction of robots. |
1957 | Teleoperated Lab Robot (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) A robot is used to conduct experiments in an environment too extreme for humans. |
1958 | Chin Window (from Have Space Suit - Will Travel by Robert Heinlein) An aperture that allows an astronaut to see his own feet (greater field of view). |
1958 | Cone of Silence (from Cease Fire by Frank Herbert) Distortion field that limits the carrying power of voice or other vibration; it accomplishes noise reduction with an image-vibration 180 degrees out of phase. |
1958 | Life Detector (from Cease Fire by Frank Herbert) A device that was capable of detecting living tissue within a set radius. |
1958 | Circuit Inhibiting Destructiveness (from To Please The Master by Margaret St. Clair) Ensuring that robots take on the responsibility of pleasing their masters, and obeying their orders. |
1958 | Build A Planet With Asteroids (from And Then the Town Took Off by Richard Wilson) The idea that it is possible to gather up enough of the asteroids in the solar system to "build" a planet out of the scraps. |
1958 | Lunar Observatory (from We Have Fed Our Sea by Poul Anderson) Putting an observatory on the far side of the Moon could have advantages. |
1958 | Venus Cities Float In Atmosphere (from Bread Overhead! by Fritz Leiber) Cloud cities on Venus. |
1958 | Pressurized Penthouse (from Bread Overhead! by Fritz Leiber) A stratospheric perch - if buildings are tall enough, you'll need this. |
1958 | Walking Mill (from Bread Overhead! by Fritz Leiber) The ultimate combine - giant metal centipede walks through fields, harvesting wheat, threshing, grinding and finally baking bread right in the field. |
1958 | Ethical Suicide Parlor (from Welcome to the Monkey House by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.) A comfy environment in which you might commit ethical suicide, and thereby serve society. |
1958 | Firebulance (from Vector by Margaret St. Clair) An ambulance equipped to sterilize by fire. |
1958 | Machine Suicide (from All the Troubles in the World by Isaac Asimov) A self-aware computer system wants to destroy itself. |
1958 | Chin Plates (from Have Space Suit - Will Travel by Robert Heinlein) A means of control within a space suit helmet; switching between options with the chin. |
1958 | Magnetic Pinions (from Worlds of Origin by Jack Vance) Remote control electromagnetic handcuffs. |
1958 | Asteroid-Metal (from The Mechanical Monarch by E.C. Tubb) Metal mined from asteroids. |
1958 | Field-Minder (from But Who Can Replace A Man by Brian Aldiss) An agricultural robot. |
1958 | The Hub (from Worlds of Origin by Jack Vance) A large space resort consisting of inhabitable bubbles in a metal framework. |
1958 | Pocket Computer (from The Feeling of Power by Isaac Asimov) A pocket-sized computer. |
1958 | Skew-Flip Turnover (from Have Space Suit - Will Travel by Robert Heinlein) Used halfway to the destination by torch ships to slow for one's destination. |
1958 | Celestial Atlas (from No Planet Is Safe by Harlan Ellison) Planet-by-planet descriptions throughout known space. |
1958 | Edge Controls (from The Feeling of Power by Isaac Asimov) A pocket-sized device using controls on the edge of the device, leaving the face for display purposes only. |
1958 | Computers Improve Computers (from The Feeling of Power by Isaac Asimov) The idea that it will be possible for computers to design more advanced computers. |
1958 | Espionage Machine (from No, No, Not Rogov! by Cordwainer Smith) A machine that makes it possible to experience the sensations of another person at a distance. |
1958 | Gyro Two-Wheeled Truck (from The Sign of the Tiger by Alan Nourse (w/Meyer)) A gyroscopically-stabilized truck with just two wheels. |
1958 | Hypo Arm (from Simulated Trainer by Harry Harrison) A robotic arm used to autonomously deliver pharmaceuticals to patients. |
1958 | Life Detector Shield (from Cease Fire by Frank Herbert) An electronic field that is intended to shield living tissue from a Life Detector. |
1958 | Plastotek (from Menace From Vega by Robert Randall) False skin disguise. |
1958 | Robot Brother (from Brother Robot by Henry Slesar) A roboticist brings home a robot brother for his natural son. |
1958 | Nose Gun (from Arm of the Law by Harry Harrison) Weapon system located up high. |
1958 | Farside (from We Have Fed Our Sea by Poul Anderson) The portion of the Moon's surface that faces away from Earth. |
1958 | Para-Beam (from The Mechanical Monarch by E.C. Tubb) A beam of energy that paralyzes the victim. |
1958 | Neutronic Shielding (from The Sign of the Tiger by Alan Nourse (w/Meyer)) Very high density monomolecular shielding |
1958 | Thought-Record Helmet (from Menace From Vega by Robert Randall) A wearable history book. |
1958 | Photosight (from The Sign of the Tiger by Alan Nourse (w/Meyer)) An automotive device that automatically follows a painted white line on the roadway, letting the car drive itself. |
1958 | Police Robot (from Arm of the Law by Harry Harrison) A fully autonomous, man-shaped robotic police officer. |
1958 | Landing Legs (from No Planet Is Safe by Harlan Ellison) Projections from the base of a space craft that allow it to land upright in gravity. |
1958 | Impactor Determines Composition (from The Mechanical Monarch by E.C. Tubb) The use of an impactor to smash into a small celestial body; watching the impact can determine the composition of the small body. |
1958 | Flexible Wall Sheet Display (from The Mechanical Monarch by E.C. Tubb) A large clear sheet that displays information. |
1958 | Self-Service Cafeteria (from The Mechanical Monarch by E.C. Tubb) Food on demand. |
1958 | Palm Plate (from The Mechanical Monarch by E.C. Tubb) A device that scanned for a palm print prior to opening a door. |
1958 | Metamen (from The Mechanical Monarch by E.C. Tubb) A human brain placed in a purely mechanical, robotic body. |
1958 | Predictable Crime (from All the Troubles in the World by Isaac Asimov) A criminal act that computers were able to foresee in advance. |
1958 | Robot Conductor (from The Woman You Wanted by Robert Silverberg) A robot that serves as the conductor on a bus. |
1958 | Tik-Talker (from The Sign of the Tiger by Alan Nourse (w/Meyer)) A method of scrambling spoken speech for encoded transmission. |
1958 | Robot Snake (from Bait for the Tiger by Lee Chaytor) A mechanical reptile, with no legs. |
1958 | Space Suit Helmet Rearview Mirror (from Have Space Suit - Will Travel by Robert Heinlein) Having a way to easily see behind you while wearing a spacesuit. |
1959 | Powered Armor (or Powered Suit) (from Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein) An armored suit that magnifies the power of the soldier's muscles, along with other weapons. |
1959 | Metallic Marx (from The Robots Strike by Harry Harrison) A robot who strikes for better working conditions. |
1959 | Neodog (from Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein) Canine-derived animal, genetically engineered for increased intelligence and speech. |
1959 | Magnetically Floating Furniture (from The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.) Furniture that is suspended at the proper height using magnetic forces. |
1959 | Hands Free Helmet (from Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein) The helmet of a powered suit has controls activated by head movements. |
1959 | Mark IV Door Keeping Robot (from The Man Who Could Not Stop by A. Bertram Chandler) A robotic device for responding (and scanning) people who come to your door. |
1959 | Flying Eye (from The Repairman by Harry Harrison) A remote-controlled device for surveillance overflight. |
1959 | Robot Spectra Analyzer (from The Repairman by Harry Harrison) Device used to find ones position in real space. |
1959 | Hyperspace Beacon (from The Repairman by Harry Harrison) Located in real space, these devices provide reference points in hyperspace to make navigation possible. |
1959 | Robot Judge (from Robot Justice by Harry Harrison) Artificially intelligent legal machine - robes and all. |
1959 | Clone (from The Clone by Theodore L Thomas) The aggregate of individual organisms descended by asexual reproduction from a single sexually produced individual. |
1959 | Robotic Trash Can (from Robot Justice by Harry Harrison) A sensor-equipped waste can capable of autonomous cleaning - and legal judgement. |
1959 | Personality Death (from Robot Justice by Harry Harrison) Punishment leaves the body intact. |
1959 | Talking Bomb (from Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein) A psychological warfare weapon that talks to the enemy. |
1959 | Human Object Recognition (from Robot Justice by Harry Harrison) System uses human beings as an aid to robotic object recognition. |
1959 | Grass Carpet (from The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.) An indoor home or office floor covering - living grass. |
1959 | Electromechanical Educator (from The Fourth R by George O. Smith) An automated teaching machine. |
1959 | Toy Testing Dummy (from War Game by Philip K. Dick) A child-sized device used to test suspect toys. |
1959 | Robot Trash Collectors (from Robot Justice by Harry Harrison) Robots that drive and operate garbage trucks. |
1959 | Sentenced Man (from Robot Justice by Harry Harrison) A person who commits asocial actions and lives in society, but in reduced circumstances. |
1959 | Intelligent Trash Sorting (from Robot Justice by Harry Harrison) Robots sort the garbage - almost completely. |
1959 | Saddle (from The Big Front Yard by Clifford Simak) A comfortable riding saddle - minus the horse. |
1959 | Memo-Voice (from War Game by Philip K. Dick) Paper memos that read themselves out loud. |
1960 | Starlight Sail (Light Sail) (from The Lady Who Sailed The Soul by Cordwainer Smith) A light sail capable of sailing between solar systems. |
1960 | Indestructible Contract (from Dorsai! by Gordon R. Dickson) Legal document in which can't be easily altered or damaged. |
1960 | Spring-Rifle (from Dorsai! by Gordon R. Dickson) Projectile weapon designed to be resistant to countermeasures. |
1960 | Bacteria-Destroying Radiation (from Dr. Futurity by Philip K. Dick) A special beam that created a sterile field for operations. |
1960 | Ball and Hammer Ship (from Dorsai! by Gordon R. Dickson) Spaceship comprised of two sections connected by a shaft. |
1960 | Domed Mapviewer (from Dorsai! by Gordon R. Dickson) Illuminated hemispherical map display. |
1960 | Chameleon Battle-Dress (from Dorsai! by Gordon R. Dickson) Camouflage that allows its wearer to visually blend into the environment. |
1960 | Adiabatic Pods (from The Lady Who Sailed The Soul by Cordwainer Smith) Tiny space capsules large enough to hold one passenger. |
1960 | Semi-Conducting Graphite-Gel (from Callahan and the Wheelies by Stephen Barr) Computer brain structured like animal brain. |
1960 | Learning Robot (from Callahan and the Wheelies by Stephen Barr) A robot that learns from its own experiences. |
1960 | Dermal Spray (from Dr. Futurity by Philip K. Dick) A color coating for the skin, applied as a jet of vapor. |
1960 | Dixon Pump (from Dr. Futurity by Philip K. Dick) An temporary mechanical heart to circulate blood. |
1960 | Art-Derm (from Dr. Futurity by Philip K. Dick) Artificial skin sprayed directly on the body. |
1960 | Single Sheet Molecule (from Dorsai! by Gordon R. Dickson) A counterfeit-proof way to output unique documents. |
1960 | Self-Charging Robot (from Callahan and the Wheelies by Stephen Barr) A robot that is able to autonomously find an electrical outlet and plug itself in to recharge. |
1960 | Power Holster (from Deathworld by Harry Harrison) Puts the sidearm right in your hand. |
1960 | Bolo (from Combat Unit by Keith Laumer) An highly advanced combat tank controlled by a sophisticated Artificial Intelligence. |
1960 | Cold-Pack (from Dr. Futurity by Philip K. Dick) Technology for indefinite cold storage of human beings. |
1961 | Plexiskin (from A Spaceship Named McGuire by Gordon Randall Garrett) A means of disguise. |
1961 | Lecton (from Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem) A device that would read aloud an electronic text book. |
1961 | Igloo Inflatable Moon Habitat (from A Fall of Moondust by Arthur C. Clarke) An inflatable, portable lunar shelter that can be easily moved and set up. |
1961 | Electrosecretary (from A Fall of Moondust by Arthur C. Clarke) An automatic transcription device. |
1961 | Moondozer (from A Fall of Moondust by Arthur C. Clarke) A bulldozer for lunar conditions. |
1961 | Green Guk (from The Beat Cluster by Fritz Leiber) Algae that produces essential oxygen as a byproduct. |
1961 | Carniculture Plants (from Four-Day Planet by H. Beam Piper) Industrial plants that grow meat protein. |
1961 | Dust-Ski (from A Fall of Moondust by Arthur C. Clarke) Special vehicle adapted for quick travel over powdered lunar soil. |
1961 | Magnetic Soles (from A Spaceship Named McGuire by Gordon Randall Garrett) Magnetized footwear for easy walking on low gravity metal surfaces. |
1961 | Transmit Camera (from Four-Day Planet by H. Beam Piper) A camera that both takes pictures and uploads it directly to a news station. |
1961 | Skip-Glide (from The Planet Strappers by Raymond Z. Gallun) A means of using the atmosphere to delicately slow a space craft during re-entry. |
1961 | Sealingsilk (from The Beat Cluster by Fritz Leiber) Transparent and flexible material, even against hard vacuum in space. |
1961 | Teleprinter (from Four-Day Planet by H. Beam Piper) A device that printed out a copy of today's newspaper. |
1961 | IntruGrab (from The Hunch by Christopher Anvil) A system designed to capture intruders. |
1961 | Astroposit (from The Hunch by Christopher Anvil) Retro-style system provides a readout on your position anywhere in the galaxy. |
1961 | Flitterboat (from A Spaceship Named McGuire by Gordon Randall Garrett) A one-man cargo space craft. |
1961 | Recording Radio (from Four-Day Planet by H. Beam Piper) A handheld device that both recorded sound and transmitted it live to a remote broadcasting location. |
1961 | Inflatable Living-Globe (from The Beat Cluster by Fritz Leiber) An inflatable bubble in space, suitable for human habitation. |
1961 | Sun-Quilt (from The Beat Cluster by Fritz Leiber) A colorful fabric with a silvered backing used to shield the interior of a living-globe from excessive sunlight. |
1961 | Precipitrons (from The Beat Cluster by Fritz Leiber) Filtration system to remove dust and other particulates from the atmosphere in space stations. |
1961 | Dust-Cruiser (from A Fall of Moondust by Arthur C. Clarke) Specialized lunar transport able to negotiate dust-filled craters on the Moon. |
1961 | Taper (from Time is the Simplest Thing by Clifford Simak) A device that records details about a visit to a distant planet. |
1961 | Stereovision Tank (from Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein) Three dimensional mass media (the grandson of television). |
1961 | Jump Harness (from Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein) A device small enough to be worn as a backpack, that gave booster power for jumping. |
1961 | Dromozoa (from A Planet Named Shayol by Cordwainer Smith) Life forms that cause the human body to bud new parts for harvesting. |
1961 | Betrization (from Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem) An in utero method of reducing human aggression. |
1961 | Self-Guided Rocket Bullets (from The Planet Strappers by Raymond Z. Gallun) A rifle made for airless environments shoots rocket bullets. |
1961 | Hydroponics in Space (from The Planet Strappers by Raymond Z. Gallun) Growing plants for food without soil on a spacecraft. |
1961 | Reading Machine (from Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein) A projector which showed text on a screen or the ceiling for easy reading. |
1961 | Stellene (from The Planet Strappers by Raymond Z. Gallun) A tough, transparent material used to make domes or even spacecraft. |
1961 | Emotional Register (ER) (from The Primal Urge by Brian Aldiss) A small disk worn in the forehead that discloses the emotional state of the wearer. |
1961 | Electronic Book Store (from Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem) A place to pick up your electronic books. |
1961 | Stereo Tank (from Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein) A receiver for three-dimensional televised images. |
1961 | Air-Restorer Capsule (from The Planet Strappers by Raymond Z. Gallun) A device that re-oxygenates air in space suits. |
1961 | Space Bubble (Bubb) (from The Planet Strappers by Raymond Z. Gallun) An inflatable spacecraft. |
1961 | Living Grass Carpet (from Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein) An indoor area covered with grass, in the manner of a carpet. |
1961 | Transo (from Time is the Simplest Thing by Clifford Simak) Teleportation of objects and personnel, used as the basis for "Trading Post" stores across the planet. |
1961 | Calster (from Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem) A handheld device that printed legal currency on the spot. |
1961 | Interactive Map (from Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem) A small book with a 'touch-screen' paper interactive map. |
1961 | Grok (from Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein) To understand fully; become one with (from the Martial verb "to drink"). |
1961 | Opton (from Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem) Very early description of an electronic book, with storage media. |
1961 | Screensaver (Inventor of) (from Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein) Screen savers are used to prevent phosphor burnout in CRTs, and to provide restful entertainment on computer screens. |
1961 | Sun-Powered Ionic Drive Motor (from The Planet Strappers by Raymond Z. Gallun) A rocket propulsion system that takes solar energy to power an ion drive. |
1961 | Hunting Robe (from Time is the Simplest Thing by Clifford Simak) A very thin, furry hunter that captures by constriction. |
1961 | Crystal Corn (from Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem) Tiny data storage crystals. |
1961 | Gobathian (from Time is the Simplest Thing by Clifford Simak) An alien medical technology that enables full body healing in the event of traumatic injury. |
1961 | Sky Ceiling (from Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem) Ceilings that consist of large screens, on which are presented images of the sky. |
1961 | Dimensino (from Time is the Simplest Thing by Clifford Simak) An alien entertainment center that provides the ultimate in immersive experience. |
1961 | Butcher Vegetable (from Time is the Simplest Thing by Clifford Simak) A plant that grows steaks (protein). |
1961 | Star Machine (from Time is the Simplest Thing by Clifford Simak) A device that serves as a boost to psychokinetic powers of mind, enabling paranormals to send their awareness to distant planets. |
1961 | Waterbed (Hydraulic Bed) (from Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein) A bed that uses water instead of springs and stuffing. |
1961 | Spray-On Clothing (from Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem) Body coverings from a spray can. |
1961 | Mental Radio-Handicap (from Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.) A device that destroys concentration. |
1961 | Mind Destroyer (from A Planet Named Shayol by Cordwainer Smith) A method for wiping clean the mind of a human being, leaving only enough to run the body's functions. |
1961 | Pleasure Cap (from A Planet Named Shayol by Cordwainer Smith) A device that delivers amps of pleasure directly to the brain. |
1961 | Chlorophane (from The Planet Strappers by Raymond Z. Gallun) Similar to chlorophyll but synthetic and far more efficient. |
1961 | Electronic Image Intensifier (from A Fall of Moondust by Arthur C. Clarke) Much more sensitive than the human eye. |
1961 | Lyle Drive (from Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein) Propulsion system for use inside the solar system. |
1961 | Parastatics (from Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem) Means of completely eliminating injury in vehicles during crashes. |
1962 | Robot Librarian Filer (from The Robot Who Wanted to Know by Harry Harrison) A device that works as a librarian, automatically filing books in the stacks. |
1962 | Tand (from The Dragon Masters by Jack Vance) A metal sculpture, made in contemplation, which has great meaning for the initiates. |
1962 | Robot Earthworm (from War With The Robots by Harry Harrison) Autonomous swarming robots the size of earthworms, with similar earth-digging capabilities. |
1962 | Static House (from The Thousand Dreams of Stellavista by J.G. Ballard) A house that was once fully psychotropic and malleable, but which had been frozen in one configuration. |
1962 | Senso-Cells (from The Thousand Dreams of Stellavista by J.G. Ballard) Sensors that recorded personal characteristics of the owners of a house, to better serve their needs. |
1962 | Laminated Mouse Brain Computer (from Think Blue, Count Two by Cordwainer Smith) A computing device that makes use of neurons from a mouse. |
1962 | Psychotropic House (from The Thousand Dreams of Stellavista by J.G. Ballard) Buildings designed to sense, and mirror, the psychological state of their owners. |
1962 | Alcodote (from Space Viking by H. Beam Piper) A compound that maintains sobriety while drinking. |
1962 | Self-Healing Building (from The Thousand Dreams of Stellavista by J.G. Ballard) A building that responds to stresses or cracks in walls by healing the damaged portion. |
1962 | Photonic Sail (from Think Blue, Count Two by Cordwainer Smith) A sail that uses light pressure for propulsion. |
1962 | Freezebox (from Think Blue, Count Two by Cordwainer Smith) A chamber for long term sleep between the stars. |
1962 | Light-Sail Ship (from Think Blue, Count Two by Cordwainer Smith) A spacecraft that used a huge sail moved by light pressure. |
1962 | Diamagnetic Levitation (from The Currents of Space by Isaac Asimov) Levitation accomplished using magnetic field's interference with the motion of electrons orbiting the atoms or molecules of a material. |
1962 | Luminescent Vial (from The Dragon Masters by Jack Vance) A glass tube full of luminescent algae; used to provide some measure of light underground. |
1962 | Dumbler (from Hothouse by Brian Aldiss) Half-sentient spores of the whistle thistle. |
1962 | Veridicator (from Little Fuzzy by H. Beam Piper) A device that measured physiologic responses (biometric data) and translated it to a set of colors that unerringly reported whether or not the measured person was telling the truth. |
1962 | Plastex (from The Thousand Dreams of Stellavista by J.G. Ballard) A combination of plaster and latex, it allows houses to change shape for you. |
1962 | Serving Robot (from Space Viking by H. Beam Piper) A non-humanoid robot designed to serve. |
1962 | Cataclysmite (from Little Fuzzy by H. Beam Piper) A high explosive. |
1962 | Celestial Armamentarium (from The Dragon Masters by Jack Vance) A small crystal planetarium, in which the stars and planets surrounding Aerlith are seen. |
1962 | Facial Recognition (from Rogue Psi by James Schmitz) A device that scans a person, compares to a database, and brings out more stored information. |
1962 | Carniculture Vat (from Space Viking by H. Beam Piper) Technology to grow meat sans animal. |
1962 | Lunar Web (from Hothouse by Brian Aldiss) The moon ensnared by cobwebs. |
1962 | Rat-Robot (from Anything You Can Do by Gordon Randall Garrett) A small remotely-operated surveillance robot. |
1962 | Solar Sail (Light Sail) (from Sail 25 (Gateway to Strangeness) by Jack Vance) A form of propulsion for spacecraft; a sheet of lightweight material reflects light from the sun or other light source. |
1962 | Delivery Robot (from Podkayne of Mars by Robert Heinlein) A small autonomous device that will bring goods directly to a person or place. |
1963 | Talisman (from Way Station by Clifford Simak) Device that causes beings nearby to experience truth and peace; works only in the hands of rare adepts. |
1963 | Way Station Materializer (from Way Station by Clifford Simak) By sending impulses that describe a creature from star to star, transport across the galaxy is accomplished. |
1963 | Way Station (from Way Station by Clifford Simak) A device used to transport individuals across the galaxy. |
1963 | Free Telephone Call (from The Subliminal Man by J.G. Ballard) All telephone calls are free - in exchange for short commercials. |
1963 | Subliminal Billboards (from The Subliminal Man by J.G. Ballard) Enormous outdoor billboards that are totally blank - or are they? |
1963 | Tattletale (from The Game Players of Titan by Philip K. Dick) A device is attached to a criminal suspect, ensuring that his whereabouts are always known. |
1963 | Desk Secretary (from The Long Result by John Brunner) A desk with a computerized secretary built into it. |
1963 | Subtrain (from The Reefs of Space by Jack Williamson (w/F. Pohl)) A spherical passenger vehicle goes through an evacuated underground tube at interplanetary speeds. |
1963 | Rifle Range (Virtual Shooting Range) (from Way Station by Clifford Simak) Virtual skeet shooting gallery with clay pigeon traps created by aliens. |
1963 | Solar Yacht Periscope (from Sunjammer by Arthur C. Clarke) A device used in the small cabin of a solar yacht. |
1963 | Rabbit-Paper (from The Game Players of Titan by Philip K. Dick) A paper pregnancy test that showed immediate results. |
1963 | Alcohol-Sensing System (from The Game Players of Titan by Philip K. Dick) A vehicle subsystem that detected alcohol use in the driver, and then took control of the car away from the driver. |
1963 | Unicephalon 40-D (from Stand-By by Philip K. Dick) A problem-solving supercomputer. |
1963 | News Clown (from Stand-By by Philip K. Dick) A person who delivers specially selected light news. |
1963 | Perky Pat Layout (from The Days of Perky Pat by Philip K. Dick) A very special playset into which adults could project their very being. |
1963 | Jump Drive (from Ethical Engineer by Harry Harrison) A means of propulsion used on spacecraft that allows a ship to travel from point to distant point without actually needing to traverse the space in between. |
1963 | Ice-Nine (from Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.) A crystalline form of water so stable that in practical terms it would never melt. |
1963 | Transparent, Frictionless Coating (from Way Station by Clifford Simak) An absolutely frictionless, impenetrable coating. |
1963 | Multiverse (from The Sundered Worlds by Michael Moorcock) A set or series of universes in parallel with our own. |
1963 | Peace Dove (Metal Bird) (from The Reefs of Space by Jack Williamson (w/F. Pohl)) Robotic winged guardians. |
1963 | Fold Box (from Glory Road by Robert Heinlein) A chest that is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. |
1963 | Homotropic News Vending Machine (from The Game Players of Titan by Philip K. Dick) An autonomous news-selling robot, that was able to specifically seek out human beings. |
1963 | Solar Yacht (from Sunjammer by Arthur C. Clarke) A space craft whose motive power is light pressure on a solar sail. |
1963 | Sleep-Inducer (from Sunjammer by Arthur C. Clarke) A device that electronically imposes sleep on a human being. |
1963 | Iron Collar (from The Reefs of Space by Jack Williamson (w/F. Pohl)) Persons designated as "Risks" must wear explosives. |
1963 | Shadow People (from Way Station by Clifford Simak) Alien knowledge leads to alien results - for humans. |
1964 | Chairdog (from The Tactful Saboteur by Frank Herbert) A chair that is alive and partly sentient; it shapes itself to the person sitting in it. |
1964 | Flexible Stem (from The Killing Machine by Jack Vance) A long flexible tube that can expand and contract its length quickly. |
1964 | Identificator (from The Star King by Jack Vance) A hologram projector used to flash door signs. |
1964 | Power-skis (from Selection by Ursula Le Guin) Just the accoutrement for exploration, depending on the world. |
1964 | Chalf (Quick-Scribe Powder) (from The Tactful Saboteur by Frank Herbert) A special powder that forms itself into words and symbols. |
1964 | Police Control-Override (from The Hounds of Hell by Keith Laumer) A device that allows police officers to take control of an otherwise normal vehicle. |
1964 | Single Seat Scooter (from The Star King by Jack Vance) A self-service monocycle. |
1964 | Fake-Meter (from The Killing Machine by Jack Vance) A pocket-sized counterfeit currency detector. |
1964 | Downtime (from The Traps of Time by John Baxter) Traveling back in time. |
1964 | Optical-Effect Suit (from The Hounds of Hell by Keith Laumer) An invisibility garment. |
1964 | Courtarena (from The Tactful Saboteur by Frank Herbert) A combination of a court of law, and an arena of combat, in which every participant could be called out and executed under legal circumstances. |
1964 | Undersea Restaurant (from The Star King by Jack Vance) A restaurant located in its entirety under the sea. |
1964 | Solar Updraft Tower (from Shortstack by Leigh and Walt Richmond) A renewable-energy scheme that generates power from air movement inside a tall chimney. |
1964 | Ident-Key (from The Penultimate Truth by Philip K. Dick) Allows the retrieval of a person's entire history of reading material, allowing the prediction of his future thinking. |
1964 | Court Robo-Clerk (from The Tactful Saboteur by Frank Herbert) A robotic law clerk. |
1964 | Walking Fort (from The Killing Machine by Jack Vance) A biomimetic fort based on the model of a centipede. |
1964 | Cephalic Sniffer (from Clans of the Alphane Moon by Philip K. Dick) Device can locate an individual using brain patterns. |
1964 | Control Harness (from A Game of Unchance by Philip K. Dick) Connects to the brain and nervous system of a host organism for control purposes. |
1964 | Artif-Org (from Cantata 140 by Philip K. Dick) A mechanical version of a human organ. |
1964 | Boulder (from Cantata 140 by Philip K. Dick) A device that homed in on a person's brain wave pattern; a very specific assassination device. |
1964 | Bibs (from Cantata 140 by Philip K. Dick) People who are put in cold-sleep because there is no niche for them in society. |
1964 | Jump Point (from Bill for Delivery by Christopher Anvil) A specific location in space where an interstellar jump can be accomplished. |
1964 | Microrob (from A Game of Unchance by Philip K. Dick) Small stature robots. |
1964 | Uptime (from The Traps of Time by John Baxter) Forward in time. |
1964 | Auto Shovel (from The Simulacra by Philip K. Dick) Automated mining equipment for use in space. |
1964 | Empathy Box (from The Little Black Box by Philip K. Dick) A device which allows a group of people to empathize with a single person (like television lets many people view the same broadcast). |
1964 | Phantomatic Generator (Virtual Reality) (from Summa Technologiae by Stanislaw Lem) A computer-generated experience. |
1964 | Autonomic Food-Processing System (from Cantata 140 by Philip K. Dick) Technology allows food to be prepared untouched by human hands. |
1964 | Pry-Vie (Robotic Detective) (from Clans of the Alphane Moon by Philip K. Dick) A robotic private eye; autonomic detection services. |
1964 | Word Tab (from Cantata 140 by Philip K. Dick) A feature of an e-paper document; touch the word tab and get more information. |
1964 | Automated Laboratory (from The Shores of Death by Michael Moorcock) A fully automated machinery of invention. |
1964 | Agfom Potent-Shot (from Clans of the Alphane Moon by Philip K. Dick) Special film allows user to take a picture of what happens in the next thirty minutes. |
1964 | Manual Closet (from Clans of the Alphane Moon by Philip K. Dick) An old-fashioned storage room for clothing, which required the user to place and organize articles of apparel by hand. |
1964 | Auto Course-Finding Pilot (from Clans of the Alphane Moon by Philip K. Dick) A device that not only pilots the craft, but will also plot out a course for you. |
1964 | Surgical Hand (from Clans of the Alphane Moon by Philip K. Dick) A specialized robotic hand used for surgery. |
1964 | Weary Deep-Sleep (from Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick) Phildickian old-sleep. |
1964 | Bug Chasers (from Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick) Anti-surveillance devices. |
1964 | Cholinesterase-Destroying Gas (from Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick) Horrific anti-personnel poison. |
1964 | Suicide Tooth (from Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick) A false tooth containing poison. |
1964 | Nipple-Assist (from Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick) A multi-purpose electronic device worn upon the nipple. |
1964 | Simulacrum (Sim) (from Clans of the Alphane Moon by Philip K. Dick) An autonomous construct that is a perfect likeness to a human person. |
1964 | Poison-Bearing Invisible Glove (from Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick) Membranous apparel for the hands, used to dispense poisons. |
1964 | Famnexdo (from The Simulacra by Philip K. Dick) A set of four simulacra, one adult male, one adult female and two children; the family next door. |
1964 | Live Memo (from The Simulacra by Philip K. Dick) A paper memo or short letter that reads itself and can even argue with or exhort its reader. |
1964 | Adjustable Television (from The Simulacra by Philip K. Dick) A television that allowed viewers to adjust the content of political speeches. |
1964 | Ampek F-a2 Recording System (from The Simulacra by Philip K. Dick) A device that incorporated a living protoplasm, used as a recording and playback system. |
1964 | Housefly Monitor (from Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick) A living fly that is outfitted with sensors for surveillance work. |
1964 | Time-Warping Construct (from Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick) A device that appears to cause alternate worlds or paraworld. |
1964 | Robot Busboy (from Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick) A robotic device able to autonomously clear tables in a restaurant. |
1964 | Syn-Cof (from Cantata 140 by Philip K. Dick) Synthetic coffee. |
1964 | Cephalotropic Dart (from Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick) A slim, short-range device that homes in on the brain wave pattern of the target. |
1964 | Adjustment (from Placement Test by Keith Laumer) Making sure the man fits the job! |
1964 | Creditor Jet-Balloon (from Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick) A small, hovering device that hounds debtors. |
1964 | Color Generator (from The Killing Machine by Jack Vance) A variable spectrum light source |
1964 | Reporting Machine (from The Simulacra by Philip K. Dick) A robotic roving reporter. |
1964 | Surface Slider (from The Star King by Jack Vance) A small, lightweight craft. |
1964 | Platform Flyer (from The Star King by Jack Vance) A small craft suitable for journeys close to the ground. |
1964 | Commercial Fly (from The Simulacra by Philip K. Dick) An autonomous, fly-sized manufactured creature that presents commercial advertisements. |
1964 | Skin Toning (from The Star King by Jack Vance) Using artificial means to effect a temporary change in skin color. |
1964 | Universal Technical Consultative Service (from The Star King by Jack Vance) Interstellar travel plans calculated, reserved and confirmed. |
1964 | Chalf-Memory Stick (from The Tactful Saboteur by Frank Herbert) Device that organizes special dust in the shape of words and symbols. |
1964 | Stick-Tight (from The Star King by Jack Vance) A general term for surveillance devices that will follow a subject and record speech or video. |
1964 | Autonomic Plow (from Clans of the Alphane Moon by Philip K. Dick) A set of farm implements able to combine and perform as a weapon. |
1964 | Rhetorizer (from The Penultimate Truth by Philip K. Dick) A computerized assistant for writers. |
1964 | Jet-Powered Aquaplane (from The Star King by Jack Vance) Overpowered surface boat. |
1965 | Humming-Code (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A personal communication. |
1965 | Autonomic Interviewer (from The Zap Gun (Project Plowshare) by Philip K. Dick) A robotic reporter. |
1965 | Thumb Print Phone ID (from The Zap Gun (Project Plowshare) by Philip K. Dick) Verifying identity on a phone call with thumb print. |
1965 | Dekon Type DCQ (from Subspace Explorers by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) Decontamination foam. |
1965 | Residual Poison (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A poison that, once administered, resides in the body; only regular intake of the antidote keeps the person alive. |
1965 | Orville (from The Zap Gun (Project Plowshare) by Philip K. Dick) Ask it questions verbally, and this plowshared guidance system will compute an answer, and provide it telepathically. |
1965 | Garbage-can Banger (from The Zap Gun (Project Plowshare) by Philip K. Dick) An elaborate noise-based weapon. |
1965 | Battery-Powered 3D Comic Book (from The Zap Gun (Project Plowshare) by Philip K. Dick) A comic book the pages of which were animated by battery power. |
1965 | Slaver Sunflowers (from World of Ptavvs by Larry Niven) Plants evolved to reflect light to burn natural enemies. |
1965 | Kingdom in a Box (from The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age by Stanislaw Lem) An entire civilization in miniature - in an interactive box. |
1965 | Amtal Rule (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Testing to destruction |
1965 | Handicloset (from The Zap Gun (Project Plowshare) by Philip K. Dick) A self-organizing closet |
1965 | N-e (Needle-eyeification) Weapon (from The Zap Gun (Project Plowshare) by Philip K. Dick) A class of weapons that had the most precise effect imaginable. |
1965 | Heighliner (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Enormous starship used by the Spacing Guild for interstellar travel. |
1965 | Death-rattle File (from The Zap Gun (Project Plowshare) by Philip K. Dick) A cache of information set to destroy itself upon the death of its owner. |
1965 | Interchangeable Hands (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick) Specialized manual extremities. |
1965 | Slow Pellet Stunner (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A projectile device that throws darts in a manner calculated to get past a force shield. |
1965 | Cog Life (from The Zap Gun (Project Plowshare) by Philip K. Dick) Life in the bureaucracy. |
1965 | Sheep Dip Isolator (from The Zap Gun (Project Plowshare) by Philip K. Dick) A non-lethal malodorant weapon. |
1965 | Luxvid Eyes (Jensen Wide-Angle) (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick) Artificial, unmoving implanted eyes. |
1965 | Steel Teeth (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick) Artificial teeth welded to the bone. |
1965 | Sleep Machine (from Short Trip to Nowhere by R.M. Williams) A device guaranteeing a good night's sleep. |
1965 | Civic Notification Distorter (from The Zap Gun (Project Plowshare) by Philip K. Dick) A device that subtly damages databases full of government information. |
1965 | Robomule (from Bill the Galactic Hero by Harry Harrison) The robotic equivalent of a mule. |
1965 | Krimskell Fiber (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A "claw" fiber which will rubs against itself in such a way that, the tighter the rope is pulled, the stronger the knot becomes. |
1965 | Autodoc (from World of Ptavvs by Larry Niven) An automated physician, a fully autonomous surgical robot. |
1965 | Rachag (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A caffeine-style stimulant. |
1965 | Dr. Smile (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick) A suitcase-sized analyst; a machine that served as a psychotherapist. |
1965 | Commuter Cooling Unit (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick) A portable air conditioner for commuters. |
1965 | Truffle Skins (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick) Genetically unique skins are the common currency; their special genetic makeup makes forgery impossible. |
1965 | Servok (from Dune by Frank Herbert) An 'automatic' or clock-set mechanism to perform simple tasks. |
1965 | Imperial Handicraft Globe (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Perfectly crafted globe for planetary governors. |
1965 | Bubblehead (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick) A person who as undergone E therapy, and achieved the frontal lobe of their dreams. |
1965 | Chemelectric Afferent Nerve-Analogues (from This Immortal by Roger Zelazny) An engineered sensory skin. |
1965 | Gnostotron (from The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age by Stanislaw Lem) Computing device capable of producing an informational model of absolutely everything in existence. |
1965 | Sietch (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A cave warren designed to protect a tribal community, with a population of thousands, with its own water supply in an endless desert. |
1965 | Personalized Fashion Display (from Bill the Galactic Hero by Harry Harrison) A set of displays that show you dressed in different uniforms. |
1965 | Battle Language (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A special-purpose language designed for both clear communication of information related to war, and difficulty of translation. |
1965 | Model the Universe (from The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age by Stanislaw Lem) A computer capacious enough to contain a representation of the entire universe. |
1965 | Semuta (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A combination of a specific drug and music, which penetrated to the deepest levels of consciousness. |
1965 | CAN-D (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick) Illegal narcotic chewed to alter the state of colonists. |
1965 | Robot Bar (from Bill the Galactic Hero by Harry Harrison) A combination bartender and bar; a robot capable of dispensing beverages. |
1965 | Sprung-Samser Treatment (from This Immortal by Roger Zelazny) A medical treatment to extend human life. |
1965 | Message Cylinder (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A small metal object containing some form of message media and a mechanism for either playing or extruding the medium; secured communication device. |
1965 | Communinet (from Dune by Brian Herbert) A public data network.i |
1965 | Palm Lock (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A lock or seal which can be opened only by contact with the palm of the human hand to which it has been keyed. |
1965 | Cephalic Pattern Door (from The Zap Gun (Project Plowshare) by Philip K. Dick) A door that only opens for specific people. |
1965 | Gauzy (from This Immortal by Roger Zelazny) A feather-light tent, made of a fabric just one molecule thick. |
1965 | Lasgun (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A continuous-wave laser projector; can be used as a weapon or as a cutting tool. |
1965 | Gigagnostotron (from The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age by Stanislaw Lem) Enormously powerful computing device. |
1965 | Medical Mech (from Warrior by Gordon R. Dickson) A medical robot designed to prevent death during emergencies. |
1965 | Spatial-Postal Card (from Bill the Galactic Hero by Harry Harrison) Mail from home - that hungry soldiers can also eat. |
1965 | Watertube (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Carries water to and from the catchpockets in a Fremen stillsuit. |
1965 | Catchpocket (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A small container in a stillsuit that stored reclaimed water. |
1965 | Radar Mesentery (from This Immortal by Roger Zelazny) A thick covering that supports a network of sensors. |
1965 | Sunshades (from This Immortal by Roger Zelazny) Sunglasses that darken and lighten based on ambient lighting. |
1965 | Diptray (from This Immortal by Roger Zelazny) A hovering tray of drinks, used for parties. |
1965 | Simicolor (from This Immortal by Roger Zelazny) Artificial coloring for the body. |
1965 | Filt-Plug (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A nose plug worn to collect moisture from exhaled air. |
1965 | Smart Dust (from The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age by Stanislaw Lem) Very tiny computers. |
1965 | Filmbook (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A storage medium for information, both text and video. |
1965 | Mnemonic Pulse (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A feature of filmbook recordings that helps imprint knowledge on the mind of the user. |
1965 | Voice (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Combines exceptional insight into personalty with voice modulation to achieve control over individuals. |
1965 | Heat-Removing Staff (from The Dead Lady of Clown Town by Cordwainer Smith) Device absorbs all heat from its target. |
1965 | Mentat (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A person who has been specially trained and conditioned for excellence in |
1965 | Femfatalatron (from The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age by Stanislaw Lem) A device that reverses an infatuation for a particular woman. |
1965 | 'Thopter (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Describes any plane capable of wing-beat flight in the manner of birds. |
1965 | Maula Pistol (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A spring-loaded projectile device. |
1965 | Fencing Mirror (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A dummy fighting instructor for the young Kwisatz Haderach-in-training. |
1965 | Crysknife (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A knife blade ground from the tooth of a giant sandworm of Dune. |
1965 | Ramscoop (from World of Ptavvs by Larry Niven) An enormous magnetic field precedes a spaceship moving through space, directing interstellar hydrogen inward for use as fuel. |
1965 | Shigawire (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A very fine wire, used as a recording medium (among other things). |
1965 | Minimic Film (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Very fine message medium. |
1965 | Jubba Cloak (from Dune by Frank Herbert) An all-purpose garment in common use on Arrakis |
1965 | Paracompass (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A very specialized compass that makes use of local magnetic anomalies. |
1965 | Glowglobe (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Floating spherical light bulb with organic energy source. |
1965 | Dew Gatherers (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Devices used to gather morning dew as a source of drinking water. |
1965 | Radson Skimmer (from This Immortal by Roger Zelazny) A small vehicle designed for a small number of passengers; capable of low, slow flight. |
1965 | Implanted Steel Teeth (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick) Replacement teeth implanted in the jaw. |
1965 | Gom Jabbar (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A needle with deadly poison, used to test for humans. |
1965 | Suspensor (from Dune by Frank Herbert) An energy field that can nullify gravity for small objects. |
1965 | Teddy Bear Robot (from I Always Do What Teddy Says by Harry Harrison) A special toy bear given to every child in the world. |
1965 | Electronic Bard (from The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age by Stanislaw Lem) A computing machine that is able to write original poetry. |
1965 | Stilltent (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A small, sealable enclosure which reclaimed moisture from the breath of occupants. |
1965 | Thumper (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A short stake with a spring-driven clapper at one end; used to call sandworms. |
1965 | Windtrap (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A device which precipitates water from the air for use by people. |
1965 | Factory Crawler (or Harvester Crawler) (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A mobile factory which filtered and processed the sands of Dune for the spice, mélange. |
1965 | Filament Paper Book (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Very small book, made for space travelers in an era when the smallest added weight was costly. |
1965 | Chowlock (from The Starfox by Poul Anderson) A small opening in a space helmet for food insertion. |
1965 | Oil Lens (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Oil held in tension in an enclosing force field, used as an optical component. |
1965 | Hunter-seeker (from Dune by Frank Herbert) An assassination device that floats in mid-air; kills by entering the body and following nerve pathways to vital organs. |
1965 | Solido Projector (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Projects 3-dimensional images. |
1965 | Family Atomics (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Noble houses had their own atomic weapons. |
1965 | Stillsuit (from Dune by Frank Herbert) It covers almost the entire body, provides cooling and ensures that almost no moisture is lost. |
1965 | Golden Lights (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Another unusual use of the suspensor field; lights are suspended in it. |
1965 | Suspensor Chair (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A chair that suspends itself above the floor. |
1965 | Pain Box (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A small box which induced pain into the nerves of the hand. |
1965 | Remote-Cast Snooper (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A small, easily concealed poison snooper. |
1965 | Poison Snooper (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A device that checked food and drink for poisons. |
1965 | Leybyrdite (from Subspace Explorers by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) Extremely tough crystalline metal. |
1965 | Suspensor Lamp (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A lamp that will float in mid-air, and will stay where you put it. |
1965 | Wakeshot (from Dune by Frank Herbert) An injection designed to bring a person out of sleep to full wakefulness. |
1965 | Sandsnork (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A device like a snorkel that would provide air to a tent buried by a sand storm. |
1965 | Dispensing Tooth (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A device shaped like a tooth that dispenses gas. |
1965 | Ornithopter (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Also called a 'thopter, it had adjustable wings and was jet-powered. Describes any plane capable of wing-beat flight in the manner of birds. |
1965 | Chromoplastic Dew Collector (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A small, egg-shaped device that uses a special surface to collect morning dew on the desert planet of Arrakis. |
1965 | Antithermal Shield (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick) A material that protected against climate warming. |
1965 | Fanmetal (from Dune by Frank Herbert) High tensile strength material; used in collapsible structures opened by "fanning" them out. |
1965 | Inter-Vehicle Communication (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick) The ability to talk car-to-car directly. |
1965 | Autonomic Cab (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick) An automated taxicab (without robotic driver). |
1965 | Filterable Virus (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick) A special virus that is instantly carcinomatous. |
1965 | Poison Tongue Dart (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick) Weapon surgically implanted in the tongue. |
1965 | Ego-Likeness (from Dune by Frank Herbert) An extremely detailed portrait played through a shigawire projector; capable of reproducing minute movements said to convey the ego essence of a person. |
1965 | Doorseal (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A portable plastic seal used in temporary camps to keep moisture from escaping from dwelling places. |
1965 | Distrans (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Device produces a temporary neural imprint on the nervous system of Chiroptera or birds. |
1965 | Plasteel (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Extremely tough form of steel, stabilized with stravidium fibers grown into its crystal. |
1965 | Sapho Juice (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Unique substance enhanced the cognitive performance of Mentats. |
1965 | Carryall (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A flying wing (aircraft); used to pick up a sandcrawler (harvester factory) |
1965 | Spice (Melange) (from Dune by Frank Herbert) The spice must flow. |
1965 | Hypno-Ligation (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A means of psychological control over an individual. |
1965 | Cardioplate (from 'Repent Harlequin' Said the Ticktockman by Harlan Ellison) A device that could take seconds or minutes off your life, one beat at a time (or all at once). |
1965 | Cutteray (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A laser used in a range of tools - including mining equipment. |
1965 | Water Repellent Surface (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A surface that water flows over without sticking at all. |
1965 | Rolem (Wrestling Robot) (from This Immortal by Roger Zelazny) A robotic wrestling companion. |
1966 | Laser Cannon (from Neutron Star by Larry Niven) A laser source powerful enough to provide significant light pressure to a "light sail." |
1966 | Ansible (from Rocannon's World by Ursula Le Guin) Faster-than-light communication. |
1966 | Extra-Factual Memory (from We Can Remember It For You Wholesale by Philip K. Dick) A "memory" placed in a person's mind by artifice, rather than by real life experience. |
1966 | Decorative Implant (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany) Small devices that can be implanted subcutaneously in the body and then controlled consciously. |
1966 | Drinking Bulb (from The Warriors by Larry Niven) A small container, used for drinks. |
1966 | Sleeping Plates (from Neutron Star by Larry Niven) A pair of plates that nullify gravity for the being(s) sleeping between them. Is null gravity the answer to your sleep problems? |
1966 | Laser Rifle (from Door to Anywhere by Poul Anderson) A laser weapon shaped (and fired) like a traditional rifle. |
1966 | General Products Hull (from Neutron Star by Larry Niven) Nearly indestructible outer skin for spaceships; pick your hull size and put what you want inside. |
1966 | Ramrobot (Ramscoop Robot) (from Bordered in Black by Larry Niven) An autonomous interstellar exploration craft using gathered hydrogen for fuel. |
1966 | Babel-17 (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany) An alien weapon in the form of a language. |
1966 | TANSTAAFL (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein) There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. |
1966 | Cloaking Device (from Balance of Terror by Paul Schneider) A force field that renders an object invisible to human eyes as well as other sensor devices. |
1966 | Corpsicle (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) Cryogenically frozen person who could (hopefully) be revived later. |
1966 | Mike (Mycroft Holmes - Fair Dinkum Thinkum) (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein) A large computer that woke up - an artificially intelligent, self-aware machine. |
1966 | Cyborg Pilot (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein) A combination of a human being (at least the thinking part) and a machine. |
1966 | Hush Hood (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein) A device that cancels noise, ensuring that others cannot overhear. |
1966 | Ro-Womb (from The Dream Master (He Who Shapes) by Roger Zelazny) Device enfolds the patient during therapy. |
1966 | Morphogen (from Fantastic Voyage (Novel) by Isaac Asimov) A drug that party relieves the need for sleep. |
1966 | Miniaturization (from Fantastic Voyage (Novel) by Isaac Asimov) Making a physical object smaller in size. |
1966 | Neuristor (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein) A solid-state computer component that mimics the human neuron. |
1966 | Virtual Keyboard (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) A keyboard that appears at the right moment in game play. |
1966 | Virtual Reality Video Game (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) A description of a computer game simulation played in real time as entertainment. |
1966 | Big Screen Control (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) Display content from your personal device on a large shared screen. |
1966 | Auto-Navigation (from The Dream Master (He Who Shapes) by Roger Zelazny) Automatic car navigation, provided on a video console in the dashboard. |
1966 | Voice Dialing (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) Speak the name of the person and call them on the phone. |
1966 | Networked Personal Device (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) The idea that the true power of a mobile device lies in it's backend network capabilities. |
1966 | Lunar Ice Mining (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein) The practice of mining for ice on the moon. |
1966 | Vision Implant (from The Dream Master (He Who Shapes) by Roger Zelazny) Photoelectric cell implanted in the forehead grants some vision to the blind. |
1966 | Sheem Spider Robot (from The Witches of Karres by James Schmitz) A robotic spider. |
1966 | Life Recorder (from The Dream Master (He Who Shapes) by Roger Zelazny) Record the details of your life. |
1966 | Right Angle Projectile (from The Mad Metropolis by Philip E. High) A missile that turns at right angles after being fired. |
1966 | Dream Console (from The Dream Master (He Who Shapes) by Roger Zelazny) Device allows a therapist to enter and create dreams in patients. |
1966 | Adam Selene (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein) A computer generates a human avatar for itself. |
1966 | Auto-Scan (from This Moment of the Storm by Roger Zelazny) Automated control of remote surveillance drones. |
1966 | Eyes (from This Moment of the Storm by Roger Zelazny) Flying remote-operated surveillance drones. |
1966 | Specialized Prosthetic Arm (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein) A set of prosthetics that provide different functionality in place of missing arm. |
1966 | Martian Print Amoeba (from Now Wait For Last Year by Philip K. Dick) An organism able to mimic consumer goods. |
1966 | Ebony Teeth (from Now Wait For Last Year by Philip K. Dick) Completely black artificial teeth. |
1966 | Robant Bill Collector (from Now Wait For Last Year by Philip K. Dick) A robot designed to collect overdue bills, no matter what. |
1966 | Surgical Homeostatic Unit (from Now Wait For Last Year by Philip K. Dick) An autonomous surgical robot, able to drill into the body and perform surgery. |
1966 | Voice-Enabled Smartphone (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) A smartphone capable of complete voice-enabled operation. |
1966 | Self-Assembling Robots (from The Witches of Karres by James Schmitz) Robots with the capacity to assemble themselves from components, and then switch themselves on. |
1966 | Auto-Driven Auto (Spinner) (from The Dream Master (He Who Shapes) by Roger Zelazny) A vehicle that accepts coordinates and proceeds to its destination automatically. |
1966 | TW-55 Spy (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany) Conscious control of facial characteristics. |
1966 | Language Net (from The Sorceror Pharesm by Gerald Vance) Endows the user with the ability to understand any language. |
1966 | Van Goom's Gambit (from Von Goom's Gambit by Victor Contoski) A chessboard pattern that unhinges the mind of any player who sees it. |
1966 | Kzinti Lesson - Propulsion As Weapon (from The Warriors by Larry Niven) The power of a craft's means of propulsion repurposed as an offensive weapon. |
1966 | Simulogs (Simulated Playmates) (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by John Brunner) Computer-generated playmates. |
1966 | Moon As Prison (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein) The moon is a prison without bars. |
1966 | Ground-to-Orbit Ferry (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein) A kind of space shuttle craft. |
1966 | Confinement Asteroid (from At the Bottom of a Hole by Larry Niven) A place where asteroid miner's babies stay to experience some needed gravity. |
1966 | Antigravity Globe Arena (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany) A spherical arena for wrestling. |
1966 | Transparent Platisplasm Cage (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany) A replacement framework for a body joint - in this case, the shoulder. |
1966 | Multi-View Surveillance Display (from This Moment of the Storm by Roger Zelazny) Lots of different video sources combined into one display. |
1966 | Stellarimeter (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany) Used by space navigators. |
1966 | Garbage Device (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) Autonomous garbage collection device. |
1966 | Alternate Computer Personality (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein) A computer system that can take on complete, alternate personalities. |
1966 | Death-Reversal Equipment (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) Brings you back from losing a duel. |
1966 | Tensile Memory Polarized Matter (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany) The same piece of material can take pre-determined shapes. |
1966 | Morgue (Recall Stage) (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany) Storage and retrieval of frozen bodies. |
1966 | Discorporaphone (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany) For speaking with the electronic dead. |
1966 | Filing Crystal (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany) Part kiosk, part storage system. |
1966 | Discorporate Sector (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany) An electronic afterlife. |
1966 | Fusion Sunlight Tube (from At the Bottom of a Hole by Larry Niven) Central light source for a spun cylinder space station. |
1966 | Self-Guided Tractors (from At the Bottom of a Hole by Larry Niven) A farm vehicle that drives itself. |
1966 | Bubbleworld (from At the Bottom of a Hole by Larry Niven) A rigid space station that is shaped like a cylinder, rotated to achieve centripetal gravity. |
1966 | Belter (from The Warriors by Larry Niven) A person who was born and raised in the asteroid belt around Sol. |
1966 | Gravity Planer (from The Warriors by Larry Niven) Device that creates a gravity field. |
1966 | Computer Humorist (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein) A computer acquires the ability to tell original jokes. |
1966 | Lunar Greenhouse Tunnel (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein) A multipurpose conservatory on the Moon. |
1966 | Vivatape (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany) Perfectly seals cuts also helps through-skin implants heal. |
1966 | Caller Contact List (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) A list of callers kept on the phone instrument. |
1966 | Artificial Gill Outfit (from We Can Remember It For You Wholesale by Philip K. Dick) A diving suit that pulls air from the water. |
1966 | Cellphone Credit Card (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) Cellphone that can act as a credit card. |
1966 | Online Job Search (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) Networked assets allow ordinary people to search through nationwide job listings upon providing a short set of qualifications. |
1966 | Erased Memory (from We Can Remember It For You Wholesale by Philip K. Dick) A procedure that deletes selected memories from the human mind. |
1966 | Cellphone Tranquilizing Spray (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) A mild sedative administered automatically by your cellphone. |
1966 | Online Employability Profile Testing (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) An online test that determines the best areas in which you might search for a job. |
1966 | Sand-Yacht (Land Schooner) (from Cry Hope, Cry Fury! by J.G. Ballard) A vehicle that used wind power upon its sails to move on the land. |
1966 | Mass-Driver Catapult (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein) An escape-speed induction catapult to launch material into orbit. |
1966 | Virtual Reality Construct (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) A means of projecting a virtual reality experience without special headsets. |
1966 | Reciprocal Name (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) A nickname or familiar name used to specify a more completely defined full name and telephone number. |
1966 | Virtual Kiss (Tactile Net) (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) A phone-like device that will communicate a kiss in a tactile manner. |
1966 | Cellphone Voice Mail (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) Callers speak into their instrument, and the content of the call is stored by the network for the user to replay at will. |
1966 | Flexible Armor Suit (from Neutron Star by Larry Niven) A pressure suit that, while flexible, becomes rigid like armor upon impact. |
1966 | Telepathic Transmitter (Telep-transmitter) (from We Can Remember It For You Wholesale by Philip K. Dick) A device using living alien tissue to transmit your thoughts. |
1966 | Interests Profile (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) An intelligent agent; a software program with your personal tastes on file. |
1966 | Joymaker (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) A networked personal digital assistant - that really is an assistant. |
1966 | Photosensitive Pigment (from Cry Hope, Cry Fury! by J.G. Ballard) Special paint that stays 'blank' until exposed to a scene. |
1966 | Tru-Mem Systems (from We Can Remember It For You Wholesale by Philip K. Dick) Organic process of recalling personal events. |
1967 | Embryonic Robots (from Counter Clock World by Philip K. Dick) Very small robots, possibly a very early reference to nanotechnology in science fiction. |
1967 | Vapor Charge (from Logan's Run by William Nolan (w/G.C. Johnson)) A bullet that discharges gas. |
1967 | Tangler (from Logan's Run by William Nolan (w/G.C. Johnson)) Strong webbing in a tiny capsule, it expands to a net, capturing a suspect. |
1967 | Pray-Machine (from Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny) A kind of energy receiver that could retrieve a soul from the radiation belt surrounding a planet. |
1967 | Energy-Cannon (from The Last Castle by Jack Vance) Device projects destructive power. |
1967 | Mechanical Cobra (from Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny) An assassination device; senses brain waves to find its victim. |
1967 | Multifunction Gun (from Logan's Run by William Nolan (w/G.C. Johnson)) Offers a selection of lethal and non-lethal alternatives. |
1967 | Scientific Reincarnation (from Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny) Technology to allow a person to transfer themselves to a new, healthy body. |
1967 | Homer (from Logan's Run by William Nolan (w/G.C. Johnson)) A device fired from a gun that ends the life of a citizen, based on the color of their palm flower. |
1967 | Shuttlecraft (from Star Trek by Author Unknown) A small spaceship designed for short journeys. |
1967 | Mining Disintegrator (from The Arsenal Out of Time by David McDaniel) A special-purpose boring machine. |
1967 | Cloud Sculpting (from The Cloud Sculptors of Coral D by J.G. Ballard) Using gliders and chemical showers to shape clouds artistically. |
1967 | Power-Wagon (from The Last Castle by Jack Vance) Wagon powered by muscular creature from Etamin 9; uses carbohydrate syrup for fuel. |
1967 | Win-Reducing Gambling Circuit (from Return Match by Philip K. Dick) Circuitry in a game that detects winning strategies and then alters the game to make winning more difficult. |
1967 | Full-Shift Set Variable (from Return Match by Philip K. Dick) Infinite possibilities built into a game machine. |
1967 | Soft Weapon (from The Soft Weapon by Larry Niven) A device that changes its shape to alter its function. |
1967 | Sub-microscopic Medical Robots (from These Savage Futurians by Philip E. High) Tiny robots travel the bloodstream, killing bacteria. |
1967 | Rogue Planet (from Satan's World by Poul Anderson) A planet without a sun, it wanders through galactic space. |
1967 | Pray-o-Mat (from Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny) A device that would offer prayers in exchange for a few coins properly deposited. |
1967 | AM (from I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream by Harlan Ellison) A supercomputer that hates. |
1967 | Palm Flower (from Logan's Run by William Nolan (w/G.C. Johnson)) It's like a life clock. |
1967 | Purple Wage (from Riders of the Purple Wage by Philip Jose Farmer) Guaranteed subsidy paid to every citizen. |
1967 | Lift Chair (from The Last Castle by Jack Vance) A single occupant lifted by great birds. |
1967 | Specific Gene Weapon (from The Mannichon Solution by Irwin Shaw) An organic or inorganic weapon aimed at a specific genetic population. |
1967 | Slowboat (from The Ethics of Madness by Larry Niven) An interstellar craft carrying people. |
1967 | Sleepshop (from Logan's Run by William Nolan (w/G.C. Johnson)) A quiet place to die. |
1967 | Organlegging (from The Jigsaw Man by Larry Niven) Technology needed to deal in illicitly obtained body parts. |
1967 | Sleep Pod (from Mantis by Chris Boyce) A special place for snoozing. |
1967 | Fornixation (from Riders of the Purple Wage by Philip Jose Farmer) Electrical stimulation of the pleasure centers of the brain. |
1967 | Skycycle (from Handicap by Larry Niven) A flying Harley; motorcycle of the skies. |
1967 | Floating Booths (from Handicap by Larry Niven) Comfortable bar booths that float around and come together for conversation. |
1967 | Syrup Sac (from The Last Castle by Jack Vance) A device used to provide an efficient source of nutrition to Meks, servants of the aristocrats of Earth. |
1967 | Dolphin's Hands (from Handicap by Larry Niven) Digital prosthetic for dolphins. |
1967 | Fido (from Riders of the Purple Wage by Philip Jose Farmer) Combination television, news camera and surveillance device. |
1968 | Voight-Kampff Empathy Test (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick) A test consisting of a set of images and questions, asked while the subject's biometric data are gathered; intended to separate humans from non-humans. |
1968 | Cheekplate Container (from A Specter is Haunting Texas by Fritz Leiber) Special compartment of an exoskeleton; provides easy access to medical supplies related to survive heavy gravity environments. |
1968 | Exoskeleton (Medical) (from A Specter is Haunting Texas by Fritz Leiber) Specially designed for Thins, eight-foot tall microgravity humans. |
1968 | Seven Vane Starship (from Nova by Samuel R. Delany) A faster-than-light ship with seven vanes of energy controlled by human nervous systems. |
1968 | Synthesist (from Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner) A person who did nothing but make cross-references between one field and another. |
1968 | Steam Rifle (from Omnivore by Piers Anthony) A gun that propels projectiles with steam. |
1968 | Penfield Wave Transmitter (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick) A device that directs some sort of energy wave into a person's brain, allowing them to experience a chosen (dialed) mood. |
1968 | Robot Bird (from Invader on My Back by Philip E. High) A small winged UAV that can mimic a bird in flight. |
1968 | Kipple (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick) The collection of useless bits of trash we wallow in; all the paper and junk that is not recycled. |
1968 | Loitering Micro-Missile (from Invader on My Back by Philip E. High) A small missile that does not need line-of-sight and can move at a slow pace until it finds its target. |
1968 | Electric Sheep (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick) An electronic farm animal; a non-organic robot covered with sheepskin that acts like a sheep. |
1968 | Mood Organ (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick) A device which allows you to dial the mood you would like to have. |
1968 | Nexus-6 Brain Unit (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick) The processing power behind android intelligence. |
1968 | Cyborg Collar (from A Specter is Haunting Texas by Fritz Leiber) A device worn around the neck that controls the person for the duration of a working day. |
1968 | Oat-Tropic Circuit (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick) A robotic feature that caused electronic animals to move toward offered food. |
1968 | Disease Circuit (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick) A feature of robotic animals which indicated a need to repair by emulating animal sickness. |
1968 | Total Environmental and Mental Simulator (from Crown of Infinity by John M. Faucette) An AI that could create and discard whole branches of science in pursuing the answer to a problem. |
1968 | Android Safety Mechanism (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick) A device that temporarily incapacitates an android. |
1968 | Artificially Grown Organs (from A Gift From Earth by Larry Niven) Human organs suitable for transplantation, grown outside the body. |
1968 | Icon Thumbsized Image (from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke) A very early reference to a screen icon. |
1968 | Sensory-Syrynx (from Nova by Samuel R. Delany) A complex musical instrument. |
1968 | Emergency Shelter (from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke) A small cubicle that provides a last refuge in case the spacecraft's atmosphere is lost. |
1968 | Sun Goggles (from Grendel by Larry Niven) Lenses darken in spots to block the brightness of alien suns. |
1968 | Wholographik (from Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner) Hologram-style picture. |
1968 | Auto-Seal (from Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner) Automatically deployed cover for power outlets; instant child-proofing. |
1968 | False Animal Repairman (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick) A specialized roboticist who repaired robotic animals. |
1968 | Nexus-7 Android (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick) The next version after the Nexus-6. |
1968 | Illyrion (from Nova by Samuel R. Delany) Super-heavy and super-stable elements with atomic numbers greater than 296. |
1968 | Mining Worm (Organic) (from A Gift From Earth by Larry Niven) Genetically altered earthworm created just for mining. |
1968 | Architectural Coral (from A Gift From Earth by Larry Niven) A structure grown to a specific shape using small coral-like organisms. |
1968 | Stasis Box (from There is a Tide by Larry Niven) A space entirely enclosed by a Slaver stasis field, in which time does not pass. |
1968 | Slow Glass (Scenedow) (from Light of Other Days by Bob Shaw) A window made of Bose-Einstein Condensate that slows light to a snail's pace. |
1968 | Grip Shoes (from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke) Shoes with velcro soles used to walk in weightless environments. |
1968 | Flex-Wheels (from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke) Special wheels designed for getting around on the Moon. |
1968 | Andy (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick) A slang term for "android" - an artificially created humanoid being. |
1968 | Electro-Binox (from A Specter is Haunting Texas by Fritz Leiber) Binoculars with electronic focusing. |
1968 | Robot Self-Assembly (from Meccano by Hugo Correa) A robot separated into many pieces reassembles itself. |
1968 | Replicant (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick) An android; an artificial human being. |
1968 | Panic Alarm (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick) Alarm senses intruders and instills mindless panic. |
1968 | Newspad Electronic Newspaper (from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke) An electronic version of a newspaper. |
1968 | Electric Cat (Robot Cat) (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick) A robot presenting the appearance of a common domestic cat. |
1968 | Sinclair Molecule Chain (from A Gift From Earth by Larry Niven) A monofilament fiber, used for strength. |
1968 | Karatand (from Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner) A special glove made of impact-sensitive plastic. |
1968 | Mercy Rifle (from Grendel by Larry Niven) Device fired slivers of anesthetic as darts. |
1968 | Mobile Lab (from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke) |
1968 | Newspad (from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke) A notebook-sized computer and display screen for reading news stories or other text matter. |
1968 | Crackers (from The Time Mercenaries by Philip E. High) Bouncing, explosive mines. |
1968 | HAL 9000 (from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke) The canonical example of an artificially intelligent computer. |
1968 | Sleep Generator (from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke) An automated way to impose sleep on the brain. |
1968 | Hibernaculum (from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke) A small, self-contained chamber in which a person could endure months of enforced sleep. |
1968 | TMA-1 (from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke) The Tycho Monolith. |
1969 | Automatic Gun (from The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton) A sentry gun that could target and decide to fire without any human intervention. |
1969 | Automated Apartment Maintenance (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick) Automated devices that would oversee the maintenance of a rented apartment. |
1969 | Toll Door (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick) An apartment door that operates on a cash-only basis. |
1969 | Singleship (from Death by Ecstasy by Larry Niven) A spacecraft designed for use by one person. |
1969 | Gyrocar (Gyro) (from The Ring by Piers Anthony (w/R. Margroff)) A gyroscopically stabilized car; a one-wheeled vehicle. |
1969 | Membrane Balloon Helmet (from The Flight of the Horse by Larry Niven) A selectively permeable membrane worn as a helmet. |
1969 | Robotic Horse - Faithful Cybernetic Companion (from The Warlock in Spite of Himself by Christopher Stasheff) A robot that is specifically designed to closely resemble a horse. |
1969 | Self-Powered Broom (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick) A broom for use in small apartments that cleans under its own power. |
1969 | Ident Darts (from The Electric Ant by Philip K. Dick) Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that track individuals. |
1969 | Project Scoop (from The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton) A space craft feature that collects dust for study. |
1969 | Protophason Amplifier (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick) Detects brain activity of those in half-life. |
1969 | Plastic-Eating Bacteria (from The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton) Mutated bacteria able to 'eat' or dissolve rubber and plastic. |
1969 | Book of the Kalends (from Galactic Pot-Healer by Philip K. Dick) The ever-changing book without a title; the documented history of a world. |
1969 | Stillsuit Desert Boots (from Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert) Special boots that offered parasitic power harvesting. |
1969 | Recording Eye (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg) A surveillance device that can survive being dropped from space; transmits images in a wide view. |
1969 | Parenthood Lottery (from Super-Toys Last All Summer Long by Brian Aldiss) A means of restricting population growth. |
1969 | Moratorium (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick) A place that kept people in cold-pac after death, providing them a kind of half-life. |
1969 | Geriatric Rooming-House (from Galactic Pot-Healer by Philip K. Dick) An apartment building with rooms built especially with the very senior citizen in mind. |
1969 | Crosswell Tape Worm (from Super-Toys Last All Summer Long by Brian Aldiss) Device that allows you to eat without gaining weight. |
1969 | Voicecorder (from Whipping Star by Brian Herbert) A device that records verbal output and determines truth or falsehood. |
1969 | Flying Robot Drone Probe (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg) A remote-controlled flying drone used for remote investigation and surveillance. |
1969 | Protective Field (Safety Field) (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg) An static energy field used to protect a city. |
1969 | Remote-Control Slavery (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg) Mental control (possibly mediated by radio waves) of individuals of other species. |
1969 | Drop-Capsule (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg) Minimal spaceship. |
1969 | Rapid-Transit Hover Blimp (from Galactic Pot-Healer by Philip K. Dick) Public transportation for a paranoid age. |
1969 | Ersatz Window (from Galactic Pot-Healer by Philip K. Dick) A display device used in a room without an actual view of the outside; it shows a projection of a real scene. |
1969 | Psycho-Lease Encephalic Gadget (from Galactic Pot-Healer by Philip K. Dick) A device that provided the conviction that a faked scene was, in fact, real. |
1969 | Spray-Foam Blouse (from Galactic Pot-Healer by Philip K. Dick) Clothing that is sprayed on fresh. |
1969 | Artificial Telepathy (from We All Died At Breakaway Station by Richard Meredith) Using technology to determine thoughts, and then translate it to speech that could be shared electronically. |
1969 | Automated Drone Probes (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg) Human-sized robot probes for exploration. |
1969 | Flight Stick (from The Flight of the Horse by Larry Niven) A personal flying vehicle, stripped down to the basics. |
1969 | Mole Probe (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg) Automated devices that seek underground routes, burrowing as they go. |
1969 | Device Replication (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg) Manufacturing devices from a template to save space on space craft. |
1969 | Viewing Tank (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg) A display monitor. |
1969 | Automatic City (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg) A city designed to protect itself and maintain itself over millions of years. |
1969 | Mass Detector (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg) Hunting aid. |
1969 | Weightless Work Area (from Galactic Pot-Healer by Philip K. Dick) A small workspace within which there is no gravitational pull. |
1969 | SSA Machine (from Galactic Pot-Healer by Philip K. Dick) A machine that compares two people for compatibility; it sees sub specie aeternitatis, literally 'under the aspect of eternity' or outside of time. |
1969 | Electronic Body Analyzer (from The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton) A replacement for the human doctor. |
1969 | Bot (from We All Died At Breakaway Station by Richard Meredith) The first use of this contraction for "robot". |
1969 | Teddy (from Super-Toys Last All Summer Long by Brian Aldiss) A very intelligent and highly mobile robotic teddy bear. |
1969 | Droud (from Death by Ecstasy by Larry Niven) A transformer to step down house current for the wire providing current directly to the pleasure center of the brain. |
1969 | Padre Booth (from Galactic Pot-Healer by Philip K. Dick) Device that provides religious aid and comfort on demand. |
1969 | Nothing (from It was Nothing - Really! by Theodore Sturgeon) A super-hard substance created by carefully removing material. |
1969 | Webfoam Cradle (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg) A means of softening the landing for humans inside spacecraft. |
1969 | Ubik Spray Can (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick) One of many definitions of Ubik. Take only as directed. |
1969 | Electrical Grandmother (Robot Grandma) (from I Sing The Body Electric! by Ray Bradbury) A robotic companion. |
1969 | Cold-Pac Bin (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick) A special coffin-sized chamber used to maintain half-life. |
1969 | Synthetic Flesh (from Super-Toys Last All Summer Long by Brian Aldiss) Provides robots with realistic coverings, not just plastic. |
1969 | Tranquilizing Gum (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick) Chewing gum with a tranquilizing agent. |
1969 | 'Pape Machine (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick) Yet another name for the homeostatic newspaper; this one has special features including news search. |
1969 | Physiognomic Template (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick) A method for changing the appearance of your face at will. |
1969 | Ultraflash (from The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton) A device that sterilizes the skin by a pulse of light. |
1969 | Homeopape (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick) A automated device that produces a newspaper without human assistance. |
1969 | Whologram (from Super-Toys Last All Summer Long by Brian Aldiss) Presents a realistic illusion. |
1969 | Reality Tape (from The Electric Ant by Philip K. Dick) The medium upon which the life experience of an electric ant - a robotic person - is presented. |
1969 | Vortal Tube (from Whipping Star by Frank Herbert) An energy passage providing instantaneous transportation between points across the galaxy |
1969 | Rubber Hoof (from The Warlock in Spite of Himself by Christopher Stasheff) Silent running for robot horses. |
1969 | Vision Cube (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg) A solid-state memory device. |
1969 | Axolotl Tank (from Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert) A device to regenerate or reshape organic material. |
1969 | Rod (from Wolfling by Gordon R. Dickson) In a fight, it is used in a manner similar to a sword and a flamethrower. |
1969 | Mnemonic Flutter System (Pulse-Sychronizer) (from Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert) A device to imprint particular facts from a book upon the brain of the reader. |
1969 | Artiforg (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick) An artificial organ kept 'on line' in the body. |
1969 | Construct (from Retief, the Long-Awaited Master by Keith Laumer) An artificial being, a pastiche of living and robotic pieces. |
1969 | Claim Beacon (from Retief, the Long-Awaited Master by Keith Laumer) A electronic device that proclaims that a planet has been claimed by a given party. |
1969 | Diagnostat (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg) A device able to diagnose and treat most human ailments. |
1969 | Sniggertrance (from Whipping Star by Frank Herbert) The state of a person receiving a call mediated by a Taprisiot; interiorized consciousness accompanied by spastic, jerking body movements. |
1969 | Automatic Vein Finder (from The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton) A device to automatically locate veins for intravenous needle insertion. |
1969 | Ecstasy Plug (from Death by Ecstasy by Larry Niven) An implanted module that allowed a wirehead to plug himself into ordinary house current. |
1969 | Stone Burner (from Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert) Atomic weapon which burrows deep into a planet; its radiation also attacks selected nerve tissues. |
1969 | Disruptor Bomb (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg) A bomb with a very special purpose; when detonated in space, it makes it impossible to detect the center of the explosion from the dispersion of the fragments. |
1969 | Ghola (from Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert) A living, functioning person who is regrown or recreated from the tissues of a dead person. |
1969 | Teep Rod (from Galactic Pot-Healer by Philip K. Dick) A device that gathers the thoughts of an individual. |
1969 | Face Dancer (from Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert) Mimicry enhanced through genetic manipulation. |
1969 | Voice Encyclopedia (from Galactic Pot-Healer by Philip K. Dick) Access to information via robotic voice recognition over the phone. |
1969 | Memory Plastic (from Death by Ecstasy by Larry Niven) Takes various shapes impressed into it on command. |
1969 | Float-home (from Whipping Star by Frank Herbert) Living entity genetically designed for use as a houseboat. |
1969 | Jumpdoor (from Whipping Star by Frank Herbert) The entrance to an energy passage providing instantaneous transportation between points across the galaxy. |
1969 | Gravity Web (from Whipping Star by Frank Herbert) Device for limiting the extent to which a person is subject to gravitational attraction. |
1969 | Caliban Beachball (from Whipping Star by Frank Herbert) Dwelling place for unusual lifeform who make jumpdoors possible. |
1969 | Pseudoflesh (from Whipping Star by Frank Herbert) Meat (protein) that is produced apart from an animal; great steaks without rumination. |
1969 | Tleilaxu Eyes (Metal Eyes) (from Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert) Tleilaxu eye surgery replaces natural eyeballs damaged or destroyed. |
1969 | Messagecraft (from The Faithful Messenger by George Scithers) An autonomous spacecraft and drone that serves as a communication node in a network that spans star systems. |
1969 | Window Wavelength (from Super-Toys Last All Summer Long by Brian Aldiss) Display's that provide 'views' as if they were windows. |
1969 | Multi-function Living Room (from Death by Ecstasy by Larry Niven) A small living space with a variety of functions built-in. |
1970 | Nearleather (from What's Become of Screwloose? by Ron Goulart) Fake leather. |
1970 | Ringworld (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) A 50 foot thick ribbon of matter around a star, a million miles across and as long as Earth's orbital circumference. |
1970 | Tasp (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) A device that induces a current in the pleasure center of the brain, at a distance. |
1970 | Variable Sword (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) A sword that could vary in length, and cut through anything. |
1970 | Shadow Square (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) An enormous blind that orbits a star. |
1970 | Crash Balloons (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Inflatable bags that would both cushion and hold a flycycle driver in the event of a crash. |
1970 | Osmosis Generator (Cziltang Brone) (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) A device that can render a solid permeable to matter. |
1970 | Sonic Fold (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Force field that guides air around an air vehicle. |
1970 | Transmat (from Tower of Glass by Robert Silverberg) A teleportation device. |
1970 | Refrigeration Tape (from Tower of Glass by Robert Silverberg) A strip of material that can be used to keep large tracts of tundra nicely frozen. |
1970 | Shadow Square Wire (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Very fine, very light, very strong wire. |
1970 | Bio-Fabric (from Say Goodby to the Wind by J.G. Ballard) Living cloth that constantly adapts itself to the personality and needs of its wearer. |
1970 | Inert-Wear (from Say Goodby to the Wind by J.G. Ballard) Clothing made of dead fibers; clothing that is unmoving, static. |
1970 | Stepping Discs (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Open air teleportation pads. |
1970 | Sleep Set (Sleep Headset) (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) An electronic device for inducing deep sleep. |
1970 | Slaver Disintegrator (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Sometimes used as a digging tool. |
1970 | Flashlight Laser (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Small cylindrical device that generates a green beam of variable intensity and focal length; can illuminate or cut. |
1970 | Tower of Glass (from Tower of Glass by Robert Silverberg) An enormous glass tower built to communicate outside the solar system. |
1970 | Scrith (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) The material used to build Ringworld; has remarkable tensile strength |
1970 | Kemplerer (Klemperer) Rosette (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Planets without a sun; they orbit a central point. |
1970 | Neck Radio (from Our Friends From Frolix 8 by Philip K. Dick) Commercial radio from an implanted device. |
1970 | Great Ear (from Our Friends From Frolix 8 by Philip K. Dick) An electronic telepathic listening device that monitors thousands of people simultaneously. |
1970 | Unichapel (Robotic Confession Booth) (from THX 1138 by George Lucas) Automated religious confessional with monotone, programmed responses. |
1970 | Food Brick (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Appropriate manufactured food for any species. |
1970 | Airmaker (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) A device that creates a specific breathable mix directly from the atmosphere. |
1970 | Sound Deadener (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Device that acts to damp excessive noise produced by different species. |
1970 | Holo (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Abbreviation of "hologram". |
1970 | Light-Sword (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) A laser tuned for use as a cutting tool. |
1970 | Killalc Pills (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) Counteracts the effects of alcohol consumption. |
1970 | Translator Discs (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Wearable devices that wirelessly connected to a speech translation computer. |
1970 | Sigfrid von Shrink (from Gateway by Frederik Pohl) An automated therapist. |
1970 | Slaver Stasis Field (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) A force field that protects everything inside it by creating a space in which time is suspended. |
1970 | Trumps (from Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny) Magical Tarot cards that permitted both communication and transportation. |
1970 | Squib (from Our Friends From Frolix 8 by Philip K. Dick) A simple form of ground transportation. |
1970 | Floating Castle (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) A vast building floating freely above the land surface of Ringworld. |
1970 | Robutler (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) A robotic butler. |
1970 | Nerve Machine (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) A device that delivers pure pain via neural currents. |
1970 | Jack In (from Tower of Glass by Robert Silverberg) To open one's nervous system to a computer's virtual world. |
1970 | Transparent Overalls (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) Perfect for prisoners, because nothing can be concealed. |
1970 | Computer Virus (from The Scarred Man by Gregory Benford) A software program that copies itself to other computers. |
1970 | Luggage Robot (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) Perfect helper at robotic hotels. |
1970 | Riding Robot (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) A single person means of bipedal transportation. |
1970 | Gaussrifle (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) Projectiles driven by electromagnetic forces. |
1970 | Flywheel Cycle (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) A motorcycle powered by a flywheel. |
1970 | Screamer (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) An acoustic weapon. |
1970 | Blackout Gas (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) Cuts input from the optic nerve. |
1970 | Robotnik Automated Hotel (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) A fully-automated hotel; no human interaction required. |
1970 | Flycycle (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Combination flying motorcycle, kitchen and autodoc. |
1970 | Electromagnetic Cannon (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) A set of devices on the Ringworld used to land spacecraft safely on the fast-moving rim. |
1970 | Powdered Alcohol (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) Alcohol in non-liquid form. |
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Russians Create Robot Tank Platoons
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3D-Printed Exoskeleton Learns From Your Hand
re: Fritz Leiber
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Smartwatch Powered By Slime Mold
re: Philip K. Dick
(7/11/2025)
Unmanned Boats Attack At Sea
re: Ray Naylor
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Carpentopod Walking Table
re: Terry Pratchett
(7/7/2025)
Iron Drone Raider Counter-UAV Operations
re: Robert Sheckley
(7/5/2025)
SpaceX Rocket Shuttle Point-To-Point On Earth
re: Robert Heinlein
(7/3/2025)
Quaise Uses Beams Of Energy To Dig Geothermal Wells
re: Frank Stockton
(7/1/2025)
Robots Repair And Modify Themselves
re: Harry Harrison
(6/29/2025)
Waymo And Tesla 'Autonomous Cabs' Are Piloted By Remote Drivers
re: Philip K Dick
(6/27/2025)
Robot Janitors Get To Work
re: Philip K. Dick
(6/25/2025)
Robots Learn To Install Charged Batteries Into Themselves
re: Not known.
(6/23/2025)
Robot Rabbits Entice Pythons
re: JW Groves
(6/21/2025)
LLM 'Cognitive Core' Now Evolving
re: Philip K. Dick
(6/19/2025)
Has Elon Musk Given Up On Mars?
re: Robert Heinlein
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Bacteria Turns Plastic Into Pain Relief? That Gives Me An Idea.
re: Brian W. Aldiss
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When Your Child's Best Friend Is An AI
re: Clifford Simak
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China's Drone Mothership Can Carry 100 Drones
re: Daniel Suarez
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Drones Recharge In Mid-Air Like Jets Refuel!
re: Neal Stephenson
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Australian Authors Reject AI Training Of Llama
re: Anthony Boucher
(6/7/2025)
Is China Mining Helium-3 On The Moon's Farside?
re: Ray Cummings
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Maybe It's Too Soon To Require Autonomous Mode
re: Arthur C. Clarke
(6/3/2025)
Is Agentic AI The Wrong Kind Of Smartness?
re: Isaac Asimov
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Heat Waver - The First Ever Combo Solar Collector And Wind Turbine
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Tesla 'Fleet Response Agents' Bolster FSD Autonomy
re: Charles Stross
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Mori3 Autonomous Shapeshifting Robot
re: Stargate
(5/25/2025)
Tesla Seeks 'Tesla Robotaxi' And 'Robobus' Trademarks Ignoring Prior Art
re: Gordon R. Dickson
(5/23/2025)
Scary Grid Safety Robots
re: Philip K. Dick
(5/21/2025)
Does AI Provide A Way Forward For Talk Therapy
re: Philip K. Dick
(5/19/2025)
Robotic Barber Programmed With a Number of Styles
re: Don Wilcox
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Humanoid Boxing Robot KO's Opponent - It's A Knockout!
re: Aldo Giunta
(5/15/2025)
Caterpillar Electric Mining Loader Not Yet Ready For Moon
re: Jack Williamson
(5/13/2025)
(See More Science Fiction in the News)
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