Science Fiction
Dictionary
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Timeline of Science Fiction Ideas, Technology and Inventions
(sorted by Publication Date)

Most of these items are linked to information about similar real-life inventions and inventors; click on an invention to learn more about it.

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1600-1899  1900-1929  1930's  1940's  1950's  1960's  1970's  1980's  1990's  2000+

Date Device Name (Novel Author)
1948 Memory Hole (from 1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four) by George Orwell)
A receptacle for unwanted documents.
1948 Moonquake-Proof Habitats (from Gentlemen, Be Seated by Robert Heinlein)
Moonbases that are built to withstand quakes on the Moon.
1948 High-Frequency Oven (from Space Cadet by Robert Heinlein)
This describes the essence of a microwave.
1948 Automatic Defensors (from The Rull by A.E. van Vogt)
Devices that follow along with you, providing extra viewpoints.
1948 Portable Telephone (from Space Cadet by Robert Heinlein)
The essence of a cell phone.
1948 Survey Craft (from The Rull by A.E. van Vogt)
Light duty ship for use in atmosphere, to explore planets.
1948 Novel-Writing Machines (from 1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four) by George Orwell)
A device that automatically produces fiction.
1948 Nerve Control Lines (from The Rull by A.E. van Vogt)
Designs that take control of human nervous systems.
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 Speakwrite (from 1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four) by George Orwell)
A dictation machine that also transcribes the speech into typed words.
1948 Atmospheric Braking (from Space Cadet by Robert Heinlein)
Using a planet's atmosphere to gradually decelerate a spacecraft.
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 Beltway (from The Faceless Men by Leo Zagat)
A moving sidewalk.
1948 Microwavable Food (from Space Cadet by Robert Heinlein)
Food that is prepared specifically for use in a microwave (high-frequency) oven.
1948 Space Ark (from Decision Illogical by N.B. Wilkinson)
A very large ship used to transport a large group of people.
1948 Moonbase (or Moon Base) (from 240,000 Miles Straight Up by L. Ron Hubbard)
A base of operations on Earth's moon.
1948 Asteroid Asylums (from The Square Pegs by Ray Bradbury)
Unique cultures mean unique opportunities to help the mentally ill.
1948 Versificator (from 1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four) by George Orwell)
A device that composes words to music.
1948 Rewriting History (from 1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four) by George Orwell)
Use of sophisticated technology to continuously rewrite the historical record.
1948 Tubecar (from The Faceless Men by Leo Zagat)
A pneumatic tube that carries people.
1948 Thiotimoline (from The Endochronic Properties of Resublimated Thiotimoline by Isaac Asimov)
Remarkable substance dissolves about 1.12 seconds before contact with a solvent.
1948 Brain Erasure (from The Knowledge Machine by Edmond Hamilton)
Deleting selected knowledge from the brain using electrical impulses.
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 Precog (v) (from Police Operation by H. Beam Piper)
To see the future.
1948 Electro-Education (from The Knowledge Machine by Edmond Hamilton)
The latest thing in electrically stimulated learning.
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 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 Rotohouse (from The Rotohouse by Margaret St. Clair)
A house that turns upon a central pivot.
1948 Vizi-math (from Aleph Sub One by Margaret St. Clair)
A device that accepts written equations and then provides a visualization of what it has been given.
1948 Dobridust (from The Dobridust by Margaret St. Clair)
A fully automated cleaning machine; it cleans till it runs out of energy.
1948 Star Drive (from Genius by Poul Anderson)
The propulsion unit for an interstellar space craft.
1948 Metal Lark (from The Metal Lark by Margaret St. Clair)
A device that adjusts the vocal chords and helps the user to be the best singer possible.
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 Solidograph-Projector (from Police Operation by H. Beam Piper)
A device that projected a 3D image of objects or a person.
1948 Learning-Cap (from The Knowledge Machine by Edmond Hamilton)
A special metal helmet for electro-education.
1949 Spacewarp Drive (from What Mad Universe by Frederic Brown)
A means of faster-than-light travel.
1949 Synthetigrav (from Agent of Vega by James Schmitz)
General term for any of the fields produced by synthetic gravity devices.
1949 Martian Canal Ice (from Red Planet by Robert Heinlein)
Open water ice on the fourth planet.
1949 Painted Respirator Masks (from Red Planet by Robert Heinlein)
Children choose to decorate otherwise uniform equipment masks.
1949 Repulsor (from What Mad Universe by Frederic Brown)
A device that inhibits the action of a spacewarp drive.
1949 Skimmer (from Lost Ulysses by W.L. Bade)
Low-flying, hovering vehicle.
1949 Robot Introspection (from Unforeseen by Roger P. Graham)
A robotic brain grows and learns about itself.
1949 Stationary Automatic Blaster (from Red Planet by Robert Heinlein)
An automated defensive blaster.
1949 Speedtalk (from Gulf by Robert Heinlein)
A constructed language that uses a single sound to stand for a word, achieving great improvements in communication speed.
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 Emergency Treatment Tank (Chamber) (from Agent of Vega by James Schmitz)
A fully enclosed regeneration device.
1949 Mind-Lock (from Agent of Vega by James Schmitz)
A device that confines a mind within its own shielded area.
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 Bubble Armor Space Suit (from Agent of Vega by James Schmitz)
Steel bubble-shaped space suit.
1949 Self-Igniter (from The Howling Bounders by Jack Vance)
A self-lighting cigarette.
1949 Mind-Parasite (from Agent of Vega by James Schmitz)
Takes over the cognition of a host organism.
1949 Visiglobe (from Agent of Vega by James Schmitz)
A display that provided a spherical, 3D visualization of a scene.
1949 Plastiskin (from Unforeseen by Roger P. Graham)
Artificial human skin to cover prosthetics.
1949 Vivo-Gel (from Agent of Vega by James Schmitz)
Semi-living material.
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 Fluor Strips (from Sacred Martian Pig (Idris' Pig) by Margaret St. Clair)
Lighting long narrow devices.
1949 'Fresher (from Gulf by Robert Heinlein)
Short for 'refreshing chamber', a device that performs various personal services.
1949 Herculoy (from The Howling Bounders by Jack Vance)
A very strong alloy like steel.
1949 Resilian (from The Howling Bounders by Jack Vance)
A natural fiber that is as strong as steel.
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 Spider Robot (from The Mystery of Element 117 by Milton K. Smith)
A mechanism in the form of a spider.
1949 Quizzer (from Agent of Vega by James Schmitz)
An autonomous mind-probe.
1949 Shari (from Sacred Martian Pig (Idris' Pig) by Margaret St. Clair)
A multipurpose net worn as clothing.
1949 Space Scurvy (Kenoalgia) (from Sacred Martian Pig (Idris' Pig) by Margaret St. Clair)
A wasting disease of space travel.
1949 Sound Analysis (from Gulf by Robert Heinlein)
Improving language teaching by showing the waveform of a spoken word or phrase, and comparing it to standard speech.
1949 Gee (from Sacred Martian Pig (Idris' Pig) by Margaret St. Clair)
Using the standard letter designation in physics for gravity.
1949 Telepath Transmitter (from Agent of Vega by James Schmitz)
A device for long distance communication that makes use of telepathy.
1949 Desert Cabbage (from Red Planet by Robert Heinlein)
A giant plant that regulates its internal temperature even on Mars.
1950 Robot Rabbit (from Robots Don't Bleed by J.W. Groves)
A robotic bunny.
1950 Robot Farm (from Let Freedom Ring by Fritz Leiber)
A farm staffed and run entirely by robots.
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 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 Two-Wheeled Ground Car (from First Lensman by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)
A gyro-stabilized vehicle like an enclosed motorcycle.
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 Diaheliper (from The Morning of the Day They Did It by E.B. White)
Offers delivery of diapers by air.
1950 Gravity Drive (from Star Ship by Poul Anderson)
A spaceship propulsion method that uses gravity or gravity waves.
1950 Haberman (from Scanners Live in Vain by Cordwainer Smith)
Modified humans controlled by cybernetic implants.
1950 Tri-D (from The Morning of the Day They Did It by E.B. White)
A remarkable pesticide.
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 Palm Key-Plate (from The Stars are The Styx by Theodore Sturgeon)
A plate that accepts palms that have been verified.
1950 Perm (Permanent Hookup) (from Spectator Sport by John D. MacDonald)
A lifetime of immersive entertainment.
1950 FTL (from The Enchanted Forest by Fritz Leiber)
Abbreviation for "faster than light".
1950 Repair Robots (from The Well-Oiled Machine by H.B. Fyfe)
Autonomous robots that carry out maintenance functions on a space ship.
1950 Yeast Steak (from The Evitable Conflict by Isaac Asimov)
Growing custom strains of yeast as food.
1950 Black Bag (from The Little Black Bag by C.M. Kornbluth)
A medical kit from the future.
1950 The Machines (from The Evitable Conflict by Isaac Asimov)
A few of these can run a planetary economy.
1950 Earther (from The Five Gold Bands by Jack Vance)
A person born on planet Earth.
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 Nucleocat Cureall (from Contagion by Katherine MacLean)
Only human cells can survive contact.
1950 Shipboard Medical Treatment (from Contagion by Katherine MacLean)
An elaborate system to guard against infection in returning space explorers.
1950 Culture Tank (from Needle by Hal Clement)
Germs that eat garbage and produce oil.
1950 Synthetic Rubberoid Skin (from One For The Robot - Two For The Same... by Rog Philips)
An artful recreation of a human face, indistinguishable from the original.
1950 Regeneration Tank (from Contagion by Katherine MacLean)
A nutrient bath large enough to enclose a person that preserved life and treated disease.
1950 Building With Lunar Materials (from The Moon is Hell by John W. Campbell)
Using a planet's materials to make what you need.
1950 Voice-Clock (from The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury)
A clock that could state the time out loud.
1950 Robot Mice (from The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury)
Tiny cleaning robots.
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 Fontema (from First Lensman by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)
A strange two 'wheeled' animal.
1950 Quickthaw (from Farmer in the Sky by Robert Heinlein)
A microwave oven to heat food items quickly.
1950 Helicab (from Heli-Cab Hack by John Weston)
A taxi cab that flies using helicopter rotors.
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 Aircoat (from Scanners Live in Vain by Cordwainer Smith)
A flying device.
1950 Great Pain of Space (from Scanners Live in Vain by Cordwainer Smith)
A kind of fatal space sickness afflicting humans who travel in space.
1950 Heat Trap (from Farmer in the Sky by Robert Heinlein)
Using the greenhouse effect to terraform a planet or moon.
1950 Colloid Dielectric (from One For The Robot - Two For The Same... by Rog Philips)
A non-living receptacle for a human mind.
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 Robotic Chess Expert (from Time Quarry by Clifford Simak)
A robot that plays chess at a level that no human can match.
1950 Self-Adjusting Furniture (from Time Quarry by Clifford Simak)
Automatic adjustment for a perfect fit.
1950 Syntho-Steak (from Farmer in the Sky by Robert Heinlein)
Artificially produced meat.
1950 Mass-Conversion Ship (from Farmer in the Sky by Robert Heinlein)
A spacecraft that uses the ultimate in fuel sources.
1950 Underpeople (from The Ballad of Lost C'Mell by Cordwainer Smith)
An animal modified to be human in shape and intellect.
1950 Talking Nail (from Scanners Live in Vain by Cordwainer Smith)
Used by scanners when not talking.
1950 Robotic Dishwasher (from The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury)
A fully automated solution to the dishwashing problem.
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 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 Tractatruck (from The Moon is Hell by John W. Campbell)
Combination tractor and truck used for hauling and exploration.
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 Walker Wagon (from Farmer in the Sky by Robert Heinlein)
Robotic vehicle with a trough-like body and many mechanical legs.
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 Suction Mail Tube (from The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury)
An evacuated tube system carrying mail to residences.
1951 Booklegger (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein)
A smuggler of books.
1951 Autocab (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein)
An fully automated taxi cab.
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 Molecule Matrix (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein)
Storing information in individual molecules and atoms.
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 Metal Foil Advertisement (from The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury)
An advertising circular made out of metal.
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 Microwire (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein)
A very thin wire used for recording purposes.
1951 Nuclear Shears (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov)
Device uses nuclear power to accomplish basic shop tasks.
1951 Coffee Cube (from The Marching Morons by C.M. Kornbluth)
Concentrated coffee that boils itself!
1951 Vat Meat (Albert) (from The End of the Line by James Schmitz)
Meat grown in a vat.
1951 Happylife Home (from The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury)
An automated multi-media home, which provided the good life to its inhabitants.
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 Air Speedster (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov)
Highly maneuverable air vehicle for hunting.
1951 Negative Molecular Motion (from The Universe Between by Alan E. Nourse)
A state of matter that has a temperature below absolute zero.
1951 Half-Sphere Force Field (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein)
A protective force field that can manifest even as a half-sphere.
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 Flavor-Fix Rheostat (from The Jester by William Tenn)
Technology makes sure that the flavor of automatically-produced food is perfect.
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 Oxygen Weeds (from The Sands of Mars by Arthur C. Clarke)
Plants that create oxygen on a planet with little breathable air.
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 Spinning Pressurized Drum (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein)
Put a spin on just a part of a space station.
1951 Vocalex Kitchen (from The Jester by William Tenn)
Voice command automatic kitchen.
1951 Martian Perambulator (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein)
A mechanized transport for heavy gravity environments for beings born in lower gravity environments.
1951 Planetruck (from The Slave Ship to Andrigo by Ross Rocklynne)
Huge vehicle for planetary surface transport.
1951 Variable Modifier (from The Jester by William Tenn)
Provides the capability of altering standard jokes to fit new circumstances.
1951 Personal Capsule (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov)
An impenetrable device containing information for your eyes only.
1951 Ultra-Light (from Rock Diver by Harry Harrison)
Allows the user to see into rock or other solid matter.
1951 Guided Missile Control Station (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein)
An orbital missile base.
1951 Butler-Valet Robot (from The Jester by William Tenn)
A gentleman's servant, roboticized.
1951 Space Transfer Station (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein)
An orbiting space station primarily used as a stepping-off point from Earth.
1951 Security Restraint Field (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein)
A force field that restricts personal movement.
1951 Retard-Jets (from Brother Worlds by Raymond Z. Gallun)
Rockets to slow down.
1951 Anti-Spying Device (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov)
Foolproof means of defending against spy beams.
1951 Star-Globe (Ship) (from Brother Worlds by Raymond Z. Gallun)
A spherical spacecraft.
1951 Teledar (from The Jester by William Tenn)
Three-dimensional television.
1951 Genetic Engineering (from Dragon's Island by Jack Williamson)
Direct manipulation of genetic material
1951 Mechanical Grease Monkey (from Flying Dutchman by Ward Moore)
1951 Automatic Fuel Hose (from Flying Dutchman by Ward Moore)
A robotic snakelike hose to refuel aircraft.
1951 Personal Force-Shield (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov)
A portable force-shield small enough to be carried by a single man.
1951 Jump Through Hyperspace (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov)
Device that makes faster-than-light travel possible.
1951 Psychohistory (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov)
Branch of mathematics describes the behavior of human beings en masses.
1951 Veldt (from The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury)
A nursery that comes alive for the viewer.
1951 Trantor (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov)
A city that covers the entire surface of the planet.
1951 Robass (from The Quest for Saint Aquin by Anthony Boucher)
A robotic beast of burden.
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 Finger Watch (from Key Decision by H.B. Fyfe)
A ring that contains a working timepiece and a display.
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 Automatic Loader (from Flying Dutchman by Ward Moore)
Entirely automated system for replenishing the arms on a bomber plane.
1951 Pail of Air (from A Pail of Air by Fritz Leiber)
A small bucket filled with (liquid) air.
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 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 Asteroid Garden (from Asteroid of Fear by Raymond Z. Gallun)
A method for building a greenhouse on a small, airless body.
1951 Agricultural World (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov)
Planet set aside for the production of food for another world.
1951 Helmet-Mounted Display Screen (from Rock Diver by Harry Harrison)
A small electronic display mounted for easy viewing.
1951 Calculator Pad (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov)
Used to make psychohistoric calculations
1951 Gravitic Repulsion Elevator (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov)
The elevator was of the new sort that ran by gravitic repulsion.
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 Vibratory Mass Penetrator (from Rock Diver by Harry Harrison)
A device that allows a person to walk through earth and even solid rock.
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 Flying Saucer (from The Puppet Masters by Robert Heinlein)
Spacecraft flown by the androgynes of Titan - under control of the Puppetmasters.
1951 Ultrawave Relay or Hyperwave Relay (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov)
Instantaneous, faster-than-light communication system.
1951 Pocket Nucleo-Bulb (Atomo Bulb) (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov)
A nuclear-powered pocket-sized flashlight.
1951 Plasto-Textile (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov)
A fabric that cannot be stained.
1951 Surrogate Skin (from The Puppet Masters by Robert Heinlein)
False skin that is sprayed onto damaged areas.
1951 Sun Dome (from The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury)
Used on Venus to give relief from the endless rain.
1951 Oxygen Concentrator (from Duel on Syrtis by Poul Anderson)
Gathers oxygen from a thin atmosphere until it is breathable, supporting life.
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 Telebook (from The Fun They Had by Isaac Asimov)
A book made available in text on a television screen.
1951 Single Vehicle Tunnel (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov)
A small diameter tunnel that accepts a single vehicle to a single destination.
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 Dirt-Farming (from The End of the Line by James Schmitz)
An archaic method of food production.
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 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 Mechanical Teacher (from The Fun They Had by Isaac Asimov)
A computer device able to teach children.
1951 Ant Evolution (from The Trouble With Ants by Clifford Simak)
Forcing ants to evolve out of their cul-de-sac.
1951 Force-Field Penknife (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov)
A pocket-sized knife, the blade of which is a force-field.
1951 Flea Robot (from The Trouble With Ants by Clifford Simak)
It was a tiny as a flea... but it ticked.
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 Gulbrandsen Machine (from No Dark Gallows For Me by John W. Jakse)
Device strips away every mediating impulse, leaving a person with only the most intense drives.
1951 Robot Detector (from Assignment in the Unknown by Frank Quattrocchi)
A device that can sense robotics.
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 Airtight Tent (from Asteroid of Fear by Raymond Z. Gallun)
A temporary structure for living on an airless moon or asteroid.
1951 Mobile Televisor Guard (from No Dark Gallows For Me by John W. Jakse)
An automated device that surveils and area, with a hook-up back to a central station.
1951 Neuronic Whip (from The Stars, Like Dust by Isaac Asimov)
A weapon that stimulated the nerve endings to cause extreme discomfort.
1951 Ontogenetic Adaptation (from The End of the Line by James Schmitz)
Immediate genetic-level ability to eat alien plants.
1951 Dominator (from The End of the Line by James Schmitz)
Device implants a psychological block.
1951 Automated Bomber (from Flying Dutchman by Ward Moore)
A bombing plane that automatically targets, drops, returns for fuel and more munitions, all automatically.
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.
1952 Magneslippers (from Accidental Flight by W.F. Wallace)
Shoes that adhere to metal space ship floors, useful in null gravity situations.
1952 Self-Repairing Robot (from Accidental Flight by W.F. Wallace)
A mechanism that can detect faults in itself and repair them.
1952 Self-Maintaining Circuit Monitoring and Repair (from Gramp and his Dog by Frank Quattrocchi)
A computer that monitors itself for repair.
1952 Plastissue (from Accidental Flight by W.F. Wallace)
Artificial flesh.
1952 Water Bulb (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth))
A zero-g way to enjoy water.
1952 Pocket Projector (from Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov)
A personal device for replaying media.
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 Esper (from The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester)
A person to perceive the contents of another person's mind.
1952 Chlorella Plantation (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth))
A skyscraper designed for food production.
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 Space-Weather Men (from Revenge of the Robots by Lawrence Chandler)
Predictors of the 'weather' in space.
1952 Leak Disk (from Islands in the Sky by Arthur C. Clarke)
Simple device to temporarily close a leak in a spacecraft.
1952 Airjeep (from Uller Uprising by H. Beam Piper)
A small military air vehicle.
1952 Lead-Bodied Android (from Robots of the World! Arise! by Mari Wolf)
A robot designed for use in the nuclear industry.
1952 Retinal Projection (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth))
A method for projecting advertisements directly on the retina.
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 Free Robot (from Robot Unwanted by Daniel Keyes)
A robot without a master.
1952 Vision Strip (from Orphans of the Void by Orville Shaara)
A circular vision strip for robots.
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 Tree-Grown Wood (from Gravy Planet by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth))
The natural product, obtained by cutting down a living tree.
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 Analogue Treatment (from Ticket to Anywhere by Damon Knight)
Hypnotic drug treatment that normalizes behavior in humans.
1952 Droid (First Use) (from Robots of the World! Arise! by Mari Wolf)
Contraction of "android".
1952 Kite-Copter Car (from The Kokod Warriors by Jack Vance)
An observation car suspended below a device that supplies lift.
1952 Flesh Men (from Robots of the World! Arise! by Mari Wolf)
Thinking beings that are not mechanical robots - human beings.
1952 Robot Strike (from Robots of the World! Arise! by Mari Wolf)
When robots refuse to work.
1952 Zero 'g' (Zero Gee) (from Islands in the Sky by Arthur C. Clarke)
In a ship in orbit, in free fall.
1952 Cylinder Space Suit (from Islands in the Sky by Arthur C. Clarke)
A mostly rigid, cylindrical space suit.
1952 Beeper (from Islands in the Sky by Arthur C. Clarke)
A handheld radar set, used to find items that have drifted off.
1952 Hydropathic bed (from The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester)
A heated bed that used something more comfortable than water.
1952 Tiny Nuclear Generator (from Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov)
A complete nuclear-based generator of power no bigger than a walnut.
1952 Law of Contact (from Orphans of the Void by Orville Shaara)
Non-interference in the development of other worlds.
1952 Robot Ramp (from Robot Unwanted by Daniel Keyes)
A special means of ingress and egress solely for use by mechanical help.
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 Gravital Unit (from Accidental Flight by W.F. Wallace)
Device that maintains Earth-comparable gravity on an asteroid.
1952 Tourist Rocket (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth))
A cheap, unpleasant way to do space travel.
1952 Panatrope (from Surface Tension by James Blish)
A device that modifies human dna to ensure survival in harsh alien environments.
1952 Airplane Window Ads (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth))
An airplane window that allows you to - see advertisements!
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 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 Automatic Pilot (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth))
A device to control the movement of aircraft using computer components.
1952 Plasticocoon (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth))
Holds a prisoner motionless.
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 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 Robot Manumission (from Robot Unwanted by Daniel Keyes)
The freeing of a robotic being from a state of being owned property.
1952 Water Bulb (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth))
A zero-gee dispenser of liquids.
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 Robodore (from Robot Unwanted by Daniel Keyes)
A robot specialized for use as a stevedore, emptying the contents of ships in port.
1952 Automated Wake-Up Call (from The Kokod Warriors by Jack Vance)
A device that provides automated wake-up calls.
1952 Coffiest (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth))
It's coffee that you can't live without.
1952 Toaster (from Accidental Flight by W.F. Wallace)
A handheld beam weapon.
1952 Hypnoteleset (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth))
A device that guarantees quick, surrogate sleep.
1952 Solar-powered Prefab House (from Ring Around the Sun by Clifford Simak)
A pre-built house that can live off the grid.
1952 Master-Operator (from Cost of Living by Robert Sheckley)
Takes over the functions of many different household robots.
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 Contraceptone (from Throwback by Miriam Allen deFord)
A contraceptive with 100% success, for men and women.
1952 Counselor (from Throwback by Miriam Allen deFord)
An electronic source of advice for humans.
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 Triple Airlock (from Uller Uprising by H. Beam Piper)
Special device to protect against extremely corrosive atmospheres.
1952 Robot Clerk (from Throwback by Miriam Allen deFord)
An autonomous clerical unit - a robot that could wait on you in a store.
1952 Engineered Plague (from The Hole in the Moon by Margaret St. Clair)
A virus that primarily attacks one sex.
1952 Tomato Babies (from Return Engagement by Margaret St. Clair)
Unusual fruit native to Iapetus, can hold electric soul.
1952 Monoline (from Big Planet by Jack Vance)
A wind-driven overland transport.
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 Photo Crystal (Cube) (from Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov)
A small handheld display for a picture
1952 Monowheel (from Firewater by William Tenn)
A single-wheeled police car.
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 Levitating Path (from A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury)
Anti-gravity metal used to make a floating walkway.
1952 Magnetized Cloth Pajamas (from Abercrombie Station by Jack Vance)
Sleeping in zero gee - just like on Earth!
1952 Warp-Speed (from Yachting Party by Fox B. Holden)
Faster than light spaceships.
1952 Robot Tennis Player (from Manners of the Age by H.B. Fyfe)
A purely mechanical, autonomous foe on the court.
1952 Supervisor Robot (from Manners of the Age by H.B. Fyfe)
A robot that watches over and gives orders to other robots.
1952 Spy-Eyes (from Manners of the Age by H.B. Fyfe)
Tiny robotic surveillance devices fly using propellers.
1952 Magnetic Coil Slippers (from Abercrombie Station by Jack Vance)
Maintain your footing in zero gravity.
1952 Personal Solar Plant (from Ring Around the Sun by Clifford Simak)
A single-home solar-powered energy source.
1952 Flavor-Capsule (from Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov)
A small pill used to turn ordinary water into a flavored beverage.
1952 Moon-Dome (from Last Blast by Eric Frank Russell)
A transparent hemisphere used as a habitat.
1952 Time Crystals (from Rocketeers at Bay by N.K. Heming)
Permits indefinite movement forward in time.
1952 Wall-Light (from Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov)
The walls of a room provide illumination.
1952 Mechanical Dentist (from Make Mine Mars by C.M. Kornbluth)
No human graduated from dental school here.
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 Flat Cat (from The Rolling Stones by Robert Heinlein)
A nearly two-dimensional furry little beast.
1952 Automatic Gun (from The Gun by Philip K. Dick)
A large artillery device that is entire automated.
1952 Pretentionists (from Ring Around the Sun by Clifford Simak)
People who took refuge in the past with their customs and lives.
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 Spray-On Gloves (from Abercrombie Station by Jack Vance)
Fashionable evening gloves that are sprayed onto the hand and arm.
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 Recorded Books (from Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov)
Electronically recorded books.
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 Telagog (from The Guided Man by L. Sprague de Camp)
Remote control excellence - guaranteed!
1952 Moonwalk (from Moonwalk by H.B. Fyfe)
To traverse the Earth's moon on foot, in a space suit.
1952 Solido Projector (from Cost of Living by Robert Sheckley)
Projects 3-dimensional images.
1952 Vacuum Tractor (from Moonwalk by H.B. Fyfe)
A small transport used on the surface of the moon, in vacuum.
1952 Barytrine Field (from Troubled Star by George O. Smith)
Very large scale stasis field.
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 Lunocycle (Lunar Bicycle) (from The Rolling Stones by Robert Heinlein)
A bicycle specially adapted for lunar travel.
1952 Stun Pistol (from Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov)
A hand-held device that causes unconsciousness.
1952 Broomstick (from Islands in the Sky by Arthur C. Clarke)
Device to ease movement in a zero-gravity environment.
1952 Nuclear-Field Depressor (from Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov)
A device that causes nuclear-powered devices to stop working.
1952 Psychic Probe (from Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov)
A device capable of discerning truthful information in a living human brain.
1953 Zero-G Cups (from Space Tug by Murray Leinster)
Cups that were specially designed to be usable under zero gravity conditions.
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 Garbage Screen (from Space Tug by Murray Leinster)
Use of bits of metal to confuse radar targeting of space stations.
1953 Positronic Motor (from Sally by Isaac Asimov)
A combination of motor and brain; an engine with a cerebellum and a carburetor.
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 Robot Door (from Colony by Philip K. Dick)
Automated door has some decision-making capabilities, in addition to speech recognition capabilities.
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 Robot Psyche Tester (from Colony by Philip K. Dick)
An automated psychiatric evaluation device.
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 Dressing Machine (from Roll Out the Rolov! by Christopher Anvil)
A robotic device to serve as a mechanical dresser.
1953 Leady (from The Defenders by Philip K. Dick)
A radiation-resistant robot.
1953 Permanent Skywriting (from Soap Opera by Alan Nelson)
Non-wispy skywriting letters.
1953 Planetary Globe (from Star of Wonder by Julian May)
A craftsman's model of a planet.
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 Breesk (from Expedition to Earth by Robert Zacks)
A unique dish best served with violet sauce.
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 Automatic Ticket Machine (from Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov)
Get your ticket to Trantor automatically.
1953 Watchbird (from Watchbird by Robert Sheckley)
Surveillance and punishment in one handy unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
1953 Space Wagon (from Space Tug by Murray Leinster)
A space vehicle without a cabin, used for short-range towing.
1953 Plasta-Skin (from Star Rangers (The Last Planet) by Andre Norton)
Artificial Skin
1953 Rolov (from Roll Out the Rolov! by Christopher Anvil)
A specialized robot for the bedroom.
1953 Learning Circuit (from Watchbird by Robert Sheckley)
The watchbirds can learn and teach each other.
1953 Torchship (from Sky Lift by Robert Heinlein)
A spaceship capable of high acceleration.
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 Dirtside (from Starman Jones by Robert Heinlein)
The surface of a planet.
1953 Science Fiction Restaurant (from Expedition to Earth by Robert Zacks)
Established by aliens, its waiters and food are out of this world!
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 Hawk Anti-Drone (from Watchbird by Robert Sheckley)
An autonomous unmanned air vehicle (UAV) designed to seek and destroy other UAVs.
1953 C/Fe (from Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov)
A culture that combines the best of humans and robots.
1953 R. Daneel Olivaw (from Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov)
A human-like robot, skilled in police work.
1953 Galactography (from Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov)
Geography on a galactic scale.
1953 Hammock Crutches (from Liberation of Earth by William Tenn)
How would worm-like creatures walk about under heavy gravity?
1953 Benevolent Ostracism (from Liberation of Earth by William Tenn)
Choosing not to contact primitive races.
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 Private Flyer (from Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke)
A privately-owned air vehicle that used no control surfaces for maneuvering.
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 Pushpot (from Space Tug by Murray Leinster)
An independent rocket motor that can attach itself to an object bound for space.
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 Automated Blood Test (from Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov)
Blood draw and test without human assistance.
1953 Inflatable Air Lock (from Space Tug by Murray Leinster)
Air lock making use of inflatable side walls to achieve large size.
1953 Emdee Doctor Robot (from Seasoned Traveler by F.L. Wallace)
An autonomous physician robot with many arms and built-in features.
1953 Sparkler (from Seasoned Traveler by F.L. Wallace)
Packs quite a charge.
1953 Control Screen (from Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke)
An alien display device.
1953 Adaptable Overcoat (from The Adventure of the Misplaced Hound by Poul Anderson (w/GR Dickson))
A disguise allowing an alien to walk amongst, well, other aliens without notice.
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 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 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 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 City Ship (from Star of Wonder by Julian May)
A generation ship, a spacecraft that carries a people to another star.
1953 Robotic Infiltrator (from Second Variety by Philip K. Dick)
A robot designed to appeal to a soldier's sense of mercy for children.
1953 Transcriber (from Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov)
A automated transcriptionist - a machine which perfectly translates human speech into words on paper.
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 Stinger (from The Hanging Stranger by Philip K. Dick)
A biological assassin.
1953 Legislation Analyzer (from The Trouble With Bubbles by Philip K. Dick)
Device analyzes potentially biased bills.
1953 Eetee (E.T. - extraterrestrial) (from Button, Button by Thomas Wilson)
A sentient being not of this Earth.
1953 Extee (from Mother by Philip Jose Farmer)
An uncommon abbreviation for "extraterrestrial"
1953 Robie Vending Robot (from A Bad Day For Sales by Fritz Leiber)
A robotic vending machine that seeks out customers.
1953 Self-Cleaning Autonomous Car (from Sally by Isaac Asimov)
An automatic vehicle that keeps itself clean.
1953 Magnetic-Soled Shoes (from Space Tug by Murray Leinster)
A means of walking on a surface in zero gravity.
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 Sliver Gun (from The Unreliable Perfumist by Margaret St. Clair)
A firearm that shoots fine darts.
1953 Vistascreen (from Assignment to Aldebaran by Kendall Foster Crossen)
Large screen entertainment.
1953 Planet Buster (from Assignment to Aldebaran by Kendall Foster Crossen)
A bomb so powerful it could destroy a planet.
1953 Voice-Activated Door (from Assignment to Aldebaran by Kendall Foster Crossen)
A door that opens upon verbal command.
1953 Morality Rating-Computer (from Assignment to Aldebaran by Kendall Foster Crossen)
A computer system able to determine moral deviancy.
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 The Shed (from Space Tug by Murray Leinster)
Enormous building needed to assemble giant space craft or space stations.
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 Birth of Alien to Human (from Freedom of the Race by Anne McCaffrey)
The birth of an alien individual to a human woman.
1953 Planoforming (from The Game of Rat and Dragon by Cordwainer Smith)
A form of "faster than light" travel allows for interstellar travel.
1953 Pilot's Tank (from Sky Lift by Robert Heinlein)
For high gee boosting.
1953 Buttered Toast Robot (from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury)
What it says on the tin.
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 Big Flue (from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury)
Enormous incinerators serviced directly by helicopter.
1953 Sub-C (from The Impossible Planet by Philip K. Dick)
Of ships, older models that travel at speeds below that of light.
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 Seashell Radio (Thimble Radios) (from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury)
Small radios that fit into the ears like hearing aids or ear buds.
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 Robot Pianist (from Virtuoso by Herbert Goldstone)
A robot learns the fine art of playing classical music on the piano.
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 Visicastor (from Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov)
A person who presents video broadcasts.
1953 Travel-Rug (from Roll Out The Rolov! by Christopher Anvil)
A rug that conveyed you around your house.
1953 Mechanical Hound (from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury)
An eight-legged robotic "hound" with hypodermic poison fangs.
1953 Pinlight (from The Game of Rat and Dragon by Cordwainer Smith)
Thimble-sized photonuclear bomb.
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 Synthony (from The Music Master by F.L. Wallace)
A musical performance by robots.
1953 Robant (from The Impossible Planet by Philip K. Dick)
A robotic servant.
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 Electronic-Eyed Snake (from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury)
A fully automated stomach pump.
1953 Space Phobia (from Let 'em Breathe Space! by Lester del Rey)
When astronauts have had enough.
1953 Lens Image (from Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov)
A presentation of the night sky, calculated for any planet or point in space.
1953 News Receptor (from If There Were No Benny Cemoli by Philip K. Dick)
Devices used by homeostatic newspapers to gather news autonomically.
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 Robotaxi (from Dugal Was A Spaceman by Joe Gibson)
A fully automated, driverless taxi.
1953 Hypertracer (from Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov)
A device that allows a pursuer to follow a spaceship through hyperspace.
1953 Farming Trantor (from Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov)
Taking apart a vast city, and returning to farming the land.
1953 Ring Road (from Starman Jones by Robert Heinlein)
A magnetically levitated train.
1953 Vapor Cloud (from The Cosmic Poachers by Philip K. Dick)
Corrosive gas destroys ships.
1953 Galactic Damping Field (from Brain Wave by Poul Anderson)
A vast field of force emanating from the center of the galaxy.
1953 Air-Propelled Train (from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury)
A silent means of mass transit.
1953 Claws (Attack Robot) (from Second Variety by Philip K. Dick)
Autonomous guard robots that attack living tissue.
1953 Ovoid 3D Galactic Model (from Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov)
A handheld display of a galaxy.
1953 Mental Static Device (from Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov)
Cloak the minds of individuals with a kind of 'noise'.
1953 Space Weakness (from Space Tug by Murray Leinster)
Early description of what happens to the human body in zero gravity.
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 Autonomous Car Intercommunication (from Sally by Isaac Asimov)
Automatic cars talk to each other about everything.
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 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 Time Scoop (from Paycheck by Philip K. Dick)
Retrieved objects from other points in time.
1954 Mechanical Tune-Maker (from Last of the Masters by Philip K. Dick)
An electromechanical device that created unique music.
1954 Relay (from Souvenir by Philip K. Dick)
A central information system used to coordinate all of human culture and technology.
1954 Spaceward Lunar Hemisphere (from Dawn of the Demigods by Raymond Z. Gallun)
Another name for the lunar far side.
1954 Mecho-Clothing (from Last of the Masters by Philip K. Dick)
Apparel created entirely by machines.
1954 Protoplast (from Dawn of the Demigods by Raymond Z. Gallun)
Artificial life, tougher than protoplasm.
1954 Shatter-Gun (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance)
A hand-held device that literally scrambles the brains of the victim.
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 Solar-Powered Ball (from Dawn of the Demigods by Raymond Z. Gallun)
An autonomous round toy that powers itself.
1954 Web (Data Network) (from Souvenir by Philip K. Dick)
An information network.
1954 Trace Web (from Souvenir by Philip K. Dick)
A small, handheld device that contacts (and even instantiates) the larger network.
1954 Control Helmet (from Dawn of the Demigods by Raymond Z. Gallun)
Direct control of a robot from the brain.
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 Retinal Vid-Screen (from Sales Pitch by Philip K. Dick)
A tiny display surgically implanted directly in the retina of the eye.
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 Stationmaster (from Many Dreams of Earth by Charles E. Fritch)
A human being is preserved for life in space, serving as the conscious mind running a space station.
1954 Oil Bath (from Hands Off by Robert Sheckley)
An alien method for surviving the high accelerations of space flight.
1954 Freeze-Blasters (from Hands Off by Robert Sheckley)
The ray it fires is cold - very cold.
1954 Heavy-Metal Detector (from Hands Off by Robert Sheckley)
Handy for a quick survey of a new planet.
1954 Programming Panel (from The Midas Plague by Frederik Pohl)
Setting up a new product for manufacture in a post-robotic plant.
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 Solar Window (from Noah by Charles B. Beckman, Jr.)
A transparent material that also collects solar energy.
1954 Snake Boring Truck (from Breakfast at Twilight by Philip K. Dick)
A long thin truck like a snake, with a boring tip.
1954 Rom (Robot Operated Missiles) (from Breakfast at Twilight by Philip K. Dick)
Intercontinental robotic weapons.
1954 Time Quake (from Breakfast at Twilight by Philip K. Dick)
Too much energy applied to a time-fault may have started this.
1954 Sceneshifter (from Last of the Masters by Philip K. Dick)
An automated display device that produced random pictorial presentations.
1954 Maid-Robot (from The Midas Plague by Frederik Pohl)
A mechanical automaton does the work of a lady's maid.
1954 Car Caravan (from Carry Me Home by Gordon R. Dickson)
A set of cars that will follow a lead car autonomously.
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 Memory Vault (from The End of Summer by Algis Budrys)
Your personal computer memory, that you can't live without.
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 Visual Ad (from Sales Pitch by Philip K. Dick)
An advertisement that forces its way directly into the brain of the viewer.
1954 Mechanical Bride (from The Mechanical Bride by Fritz Leiber)
A perfect robotic replica of a woman.
1954 Plastirobe (from Sales Pitch by Philip K. Dick)
A dress that varies in opacity by distance.
1954 Supercalculator (from Answer by Frederic Brown)
Connecting all the computing machines of the universe!
1954 Synapsis-Coils (from Last of the Masters by Philip K. Dick)
Human-like storage for computers.
1954 Roboscribe (from End as a Robot by Richard Marsten)
A robotic writer of hard-bitten detective yarns.
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 Guide-Beam (from Time Pawn by Philip K. Dick)
A wireless means of controlling and directing the movement of a passenger vehicle.
1954 The Test (from The Test by Richard Matheson)
An examination to guide those who would cap their population.
1954 Sales Robot (Robot Salesman) (from Sales Pitch by Philip K. Dick)
Fully automated robots giving untiring, incessant sales pitches to customers.
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 Histo-Research (from The Meddler by Philip K. Dick)
Historical research using a time machine.
1954 Law Clerk Robot (from The Midas Plague by Frederik Pohl)
A robotic lawyer.
1954 The Dip (from The Meddler by Philip K. Dick)
A device that randomly dredges up things from the past... or the future.
1954 House Trees (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance)
Living trees grown as houses; large hollow pods serve as living spaces.
1954 Boat-Tree (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance)
A tree, the pods of which can be grown as boats.
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 Automatic Companion Robot (from The Midas Plague by Frederik Pohl)
A robotic replacement for a pet or friend.
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 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 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 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 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 Dermal-Mist Spray (from Prominent Author by Philip K. Dick)
Very refreshing for suburbanites.
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 Music Sphere (from Controlled Experiment by Chad Oliver)
A beautiful white sphere full of your music.
1954 Bodyphone (from The Star Beast by Robert Heinlein)
A unique designation for a personal phone you can carry with you.
1954 Copter Harness (from The Star Beast by Robert Heinlein)
A single person flying machine.
1954 Truth Meter (from The Star Beast by Robert Heinlein)
A lie detector.
1954 Anti-Gerasone (from Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.)
Cheap immortality comes to your neighborhood convenience store.
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 Reading Plate (from The Star Beast by Robert Heinlein)
A flat screen that provided computer output for viewing.
1954 Spacelanes Traffic Jam (from Sales Pitch by Philip K. Dick)
Fanciful description of commuters in space.
1954 Suit-Shield Fabric (from The Golden Man by Philip K. Dick)
A kind of mesh fabric that could absorb energy bolts.
1954 Lash-Tube (from The Golden Man by Philip K. Dick)
Device emits an energy beam.
1954 Prethink (from The Golden Man by Philip K. Dick)
The ability to predict the future in a routine perceptual manner.
1954 Pod-Chair (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance)
A living chair, grown by the Iszc to perform its function.
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 One-Man Car (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance)
A small transport vehicle.
1954 Mother-Scanner (from The Turning Wheel by Philip K. Dick)
A device that can see your future through your next birth.
1954 Robot Farmer (from The Turning Wheel by Philip K. Dick)
A humanoid robot used for agriculture.
1954 Robot Guard (from The Turning Wheel by Philip K. Dick)
Very early reference to a guard robot.
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 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 Micro-Android (Micro-Robot) (from Dawn of the Demigods by Raymond Z. Gallun)
An extremely tiny robot or nanobot.
1954 Jiffi-scuttler (from Prominent Author by Philip K. Dick)
A device providing near instantaneous travel between two points.
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 Metal Insects (from The Invincible by Stanislaw Lem)
Small autonomous flying winged robots.
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 Space Capsule (from Space Capsule by E.R. James)
A minimal space craft.
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 Click-Band (from The Meddler by Philip K. Dick)
Worn on the wrist, it helps you locate your transport.
1954 Nanomachine Swarm (Black Cloud) (from The Invincible by Stanislaw Lem)
A cloud of tiny machines, able to work together autonomously.
1954 Airmakers (from The Big Rain by Poul Anderson)
Machine to create breathable air from the constituent materials on an alien planet.
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 Universal Dictionary (from The Star Beast by Robert Heinlein)
A machine that provided references to anything known.
1954 Feeler-Planes (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance)
Special sensors that make extremely detailed three-dimensional models.
1954 Voicewriter Screen (Computer Monitor) (from Granny Won't Knit by Theodore Sturgeon)
A screen that displays characters.
1954 Self-Selling Robot (from Sales Pitch by Philip K. Dick)
A robot that sells itself.
1954 Public Vehicle Tube (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance)
Underground transportation tubes.
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 Diabological Armory (from Diabologic by Eric Frank Russell)
A set of verbal tools based on a higher form of reasoning.
1955 Simulacrum Window (from Tunnel in the Sky by Robert Heinlein)
A 'window' that provides a realistic outdoor view in an interior room.
1955 Agile Recording Robot (from Solar Lottery by Philip K. Dick)
A recording machine that moves toward its subject.
1955 Schrieber Analyzer (from Diabologic by Eric Frank Russell)
Superior automatic air testing - for the discriminating space traveler.
1955 Scout-Base (from Diabologic by Eric Frank Russell)
Artificial sphere functions as a frontier outpost.
1955 Artigraft (from Solar Lottery by Philip K. Dick)
Artificial skin graft.
1955 Commute Disk (from The Chromium Fence by Philip K. Dick)
Flying autonomous commuter vehicle.
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 Robot Taxi (from Solar Lottery by Philip K. Dick)
A taxicab with a robotic driver.
1955 Multivac (from Franchise by Isaac Asimov)
A computer with millions of facts.
1955 Hand Wave Control (from Solar Lottery by Philip K. Dick)
Control an electronic or other device with gestures.
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 Landing-Grid (from Sand Doom by Murray Leinster)
A constructed landing area on a planetary surface for space craft.
1955 Automatic Factory (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick)
Manufacturing facility that functions entirely autonomously.
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 Chest-Lens (from War Veteran by Philip K. Dick)
Part of an automatic photograph-and-send system.
1955 Machines Colonize Universe (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick)
A brief description of a how automated machines might spread.
1955 Stiletto Beam (from Earthlight by Arthur C. Clarke)
A beam of molten metal, projected electromagnetically.
1955 Bore-Pellets (from Foster, You're Dead by Philip K. Dick)
Anti-underground bomb shelter ordinance.
1955 Juiciveal (from Lazarus by Margaret St. Clair)
Artificially grown veal.
1955 Dashboard TV (from The Chromium Fence by Philip K. Dick)
A television placed in the dashboard of your car or similar vehicle.
1955 Cold-Beam (from War Veteran by Philip K. Dick)
Puts a cloud of extreme cold around the target.
1955 Unit Analyst Robot (from The Chromium Fence by Philip K. Dick)
A robotic psychoanalyst.
1955 Artibase (from War Veteran by Philip K. Dick)
An artificial asteroid base between planets.
1955 Automatic Ore Cart (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick)
An autonomous truck for raw ore processing.
1955 Pizzled (Semantic Garble) (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick)
Use of nonsensical statements to deliberately confuse an artificial intelligence.
1955 Synthetic Milk (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick)
Milk made without cows.
1955 Synthimeat (Crop Protein) (from Lazarus by Margaret St. Clair)
A more general name for synthetic meat
1955 Robot Factory Representative (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick)
An ambulatory agent of an automatic factory.
1955 Raw Material-Tropic (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick)
Moves towards desirable raw materials.
1955 Autonomous Truck (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick)
A truck that drives itself and unloads itself.
1955 Mechanical Newsmachine (from Foster, You're Dead by Philip K. Dick)
An automated device that delivers on-the-spot news.
1955 Production Prescription (from The Magellanic Cloud by Stanislaw Lem)
A file that can be used to reproduce an object.
1955 Mechavalet (from The Angry House by Richard R. Smith)
An entirely automated dressing assistant.
1955 Anti-Burglar Installations (from The Angry House by Richard R. Smith)
Every electronic house should have automated defenses.
1955 Neck-Phone (from The Chromium Fence by Philip K. Dick)
An implanted telecommunications device.
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 Autofac (Nanorobots) (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick)
Very small robots working on self-replication
1955 Trion Library (from The Magellanic Cloud by Stanislaw Lem)
An early visualization of the Internet.
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 Finely Divided Dust Propellant (from Earthlight by Arthur C. Clarke)
Reaction mass to drive spacecraft.
1955 Search-Bug (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick)
An exploratory robot.
1955 Caterwheel (from Sand Doom by Murray Leinster)
A uniquely styled ground vehicle with fat, splayed out tires.
1955 Autonomous Lifeboat (from The Lifeboat Mutiny by Robert Sheckley)
A water-going craft whose AI is devoted to the safety of its passengers.
1955 Heat-Suit (from Sand Doom by Murray Leinster)
Perfect for those incredibly hot planets with breathable atmospheres.
1955 Slide Rule w/Radio Attachment (from Mission to the Stars by A.E. van Vogt)
Slide rule communicates results immediately with computer.
1955 Network Repair Team (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick)
Dispatched to collect remains of destroyed machines.
1955 Robot Gardener (from War Veteran by Philip K. Dick)
An autonomous gardening robot, taking care of plants in parks or fields.
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 Pocket Receiver (from The Magellanic Cloud by Stanislaw Lem)
An early visualization of the smartphone.
1955 Lunar Monorail (from Earthlight by Arthur C. Clarke)
A monorail constructed above the surface of the Moon.
1955 Spider-Vehicle (from World of the Drone by Robert Abernathy)
A multi-legged vehicle shaped like a spider, that is piloted by a person.
1955 Mob Violence Against Robots (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick)
Humans band together to damage or destroy robots.
1955 Generation Ship (from Star Ship by E.C. Tubb)
A spacecraft that carries a complete social group over many years.
1955 Scorpion (from World of the Drone by Robert Abernathy)
A war machine with a deadly tail gun, perfect for downing drones in the skies.
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 Robus (from Terror in the Stars by John A. Sentry)
A robotic bus.
1955 Human Habit Pattern Machines (from The Tunnel Under The World by Frederik Pohl)
Imposing human habits onto machines.
1955 Automatized Factory (from The Tunnel Under The World by Frederik Pohl)
A factory consisting of machines with imposed human abilities.
1955 Swibble (from Service Call by Philip K. Dick)
An artificially evolved telepathic metazoan-based mind control device.
1955 Light-Absorbing Paint (from Earthlight by Arthur C. Clarke)
Space stealth!
1955 Space Craft Rope Ladder (from Diabologic by Eric Frank Russell)
Equipment used for debarking from a space craft.
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 Nanny Robot (from Nanny by Philip K. Dick)
A child-care robot with a surprisingly competitive side.
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 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 Microscreen (from Bolden's Pets by F.L. Wallace)
An immaterial protective helmet.
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 Citizens Booth (from A Ticket to Tranai by Robert Sheckley)
A special location for citizens to register their displeasure with public officials.
1955 Electronic Voting (from Franchise by Isaac Asimov)
A system of elections that used the responses of a statistically average voter.
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.
1955 Composite Person (from The Mold of Yancy by Philip K. Dick)
A synthesis of basic personalities.
1955 Interviewed by a Computer (from Franchise by Isaac Asimov)
An interview conducted by a computer with a person.
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 Undercover Detective Robot (from The Velvet Glove by Harry Harrison)
Specialized robot masquerades as different robot types to spy on criminals.
1956 Disposal-Safe (from Exploration Team by Murray Leinster)
Device to store and, if necessary, destroy documents.
1956 Stasis (Cold Sleep, Hibernation) (from The Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein)
Hibernation for human beings, lasting for many years.
1956 Trolling Tether Cable (from Atom Drive by Charles Fontenay)
Simple fishing technique applied to moving cargo off-planet.
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 Saga (from The City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clarke)
You become a part of the great adventures of history.
1956 Radioactive Coding for Checks (from The Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein)
Special coding system to easily recognize checks.
1956 Mutated Kodiak Bears (from Exploration Team by Murray Leinster)
Animals modified for increased intelligence for defense and companionship.
1956 Metal BIrds (from Vulcan's Hammer by Philip K. Dick)
Surveillance robots that carried weapons, in addition to using their metal bodies.
1956 Central Computer (from The City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clarke)
A computer capable of running an entire city.
1956 Floating Lunar Dust (from Dust Rag by Hal Clement)
Electrostatically charged particles that float above the surface of the Moon.
1956 Fusion Power (from The Judas Valley by Gerald Vance)
Creating energy from nuclear fusion reactions.
1956 Tune-Maker (from The World Jones Made by Philip K. Dick)
Automated music production.
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 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 Eagle With Camera (from Exploration Team by Murray Leinster)
A live bald eagle equipped with a transmitting camera.
1956 Mechanical Jokester (from Jokester by Isaac Asimov)
A vast computer system learns about humor.
1956 Blue Collar Robot (Self-Repairing) (from The Velvet Glove by Harry Harrison)
An autonomous robot required to find its own work.
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 Boxing Robot (from Steel by Richard Matheson)
Robots that fight in exhibitions, in the ring, for spectators.
1956 Life Wand (from Double Star by Robert Heinlein)
Shoots a powerful ray of energy.
1956 Fottengill Process (from Gypped by Lloyd Biggle, Jr.)
An early mention of the idea that energy can be derived from random noise.
1956 Planet Rules (from Drop Dead by Clifford Simak)
Regulations governing the behavior of the away team on a new planet.
1956 Mechanotherapy (from Bad Medicine by Robert Sheckley)
A mechanism or device-based therapy that cures (or palliates) alcoholism.
1956 Bendix Anxiety Reducer (from Bad Medicine by Robert Sheckley)
Machine-based psychotherapy.
1956 Robot Fish (Metal Fish) (from Atom Drive by Charles Fontenay)
Fake flounders for sport fishermen on Martian canals.
1956 Robot Bartender (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester)
An automated, mechanical bar tending robot.
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 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 Precrime (from The Minority Report by Philip K. Dick)
A system by which criminal acts are known before they occur.
1956 Robot Tracking Device (from Vulcan's Hammer by Philip K. Dick)
Small UAV robot remotely operated by an artificially intelligent computer.
1956 Robot Watchdog (from The Rivals by Robert Silverberg)
A mechanical and mostly autonomous pet.
1956 Rainbow Dome (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester)
A planetary defense shield.
1956 Robot Interception Aerial Mines (from The World Jones Made by Philip K. Dick)
Loitering explosives overhead.
1956 Lethe-Mirror (from The World Jones Made by Philip K. Dick)
Induces sleepy mindedness.
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 Hammer (from Vulcan's Hammer by Philip K. Dick)
Flying blunt trauma weapon remote-controlled by an artificially intelligent computer.
1956 Vulcan 3 (from Vulcan's Hammer by Philip K. Dick)
Artificially intelligent self-modifying supercomputer.
1956 Dancing Robot (from The Instigators by Raymond E. Banks)
A humanoid robot able to perform dance moves.
1956 Interactive Blackboard (from Vulcan's Hammer by Philip K. Dick)
Early description of an interactive display device for lectures and demonstrations.
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 Alcoholic Reliever (from Bad Medicine by Robert Sheckley)
Mechanized relief from alcoholism.
1956 Teakettle (from Double Star by Robert Heinlein)
A standard rocket (uses hydrogen as a booster to leave the atmosphere).
1956 PyrE (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester)
A thermonuclear explosive that is detonated by thought alone.
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 Sympathetic Block (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester)
A way to keep certain mental contents from being spoken or revealed.
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 Drafting Dan (from The Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein)
The first computer software drafting program (Computer Aided Design - CAD).
1956 Rex Regenerator (Mechanotherapist) (from Bad Medicine by Robert Sheckley)
Mechanotherapy device cures homicidal urges.
1956 Juvenile (from The Man Who Japed by Philip K. Dick)
A robot designed to sneak around and spy on people.
1956 Vehicle Sleep Sensor (from The Velvet Glove by Harry Harrison)
Better stay awake, the machines know if you're sleeping.
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 Hired Girl Robot (from The Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein)
The amazing floor-cleaning robot!
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 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 Home Therapy Appliances, Inc. (from Bad Medicine by Robert Sheckley)
A store at which a variety of therapy devices are made available
1956 Pencil Beam (from Vulcan's Hammer by Philip K. Dick)
A thin tube-like laser beam weapon.
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 Hush Corner (from Double Star by Robert Heinlein)
A space made private by canceling sound waves in that area.
1956 Bug (from Brightside Crossing by Alan E. Nourse)
A compact vehicle for planetary surfaces - like Mercury.
1956 Electrotruck (from The Corkscrew of Space by Poul Anderson)
An autonomous, electric truck.
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 Window-Willie (from The Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein)
A robot that cleaned windows by electrostatic repulsion of dust and grime.
1956 Cider Press (from Double Star by Robert Heinlein)
Device used to make acceleration above 1 gravity more tolerable for groundhogs.
1956 Thorsen Memory Tube (from The Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein)
Computer component that allows a machine to learn through experience.
1956 Biltong Life Form (from Pay for the Printer by Philip K. Dick)
Remarkable organic manufacturing aliens, probably indigenous to the Centaurus system.
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 Slug (from Dragon in the Sea by Frank Herbert)
An underwater "barge", consisting of a giant tube for transporting oil.
1956 Dental Switchboard (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester)
A control device tied in with teeth and nerve endings.
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 Anti-Heptant (from To Live Forever by Jack Vance)
A compound that erases specific areas of the brain.
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 Infiltrators (from Vulcan's Hammer by Philip K. Dick)
Surveillance devices, small and insectile.
1956 Solido (from Chance of a Lifetime by Milton Lesser)
Abbr. for solidograph; a device that produced a solid three dimensional image.
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 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 Eager Beaver (from The Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein)
Your friendly robot helper.
1956 Regen-Buds (from The Velvet Glove by Harry Harrison)
Small collection of cells that can regrow into human limbs.
1956 Empath (from Empath by J.T. McIntosh)
A being capable of telepathic empathy with others.
1956 Planet-Busting Bomb (from Testing by J.J. Ferrat)
A munition with sufficient power to destroy an entire planet.
1956 Robots Earn For Individuals (from The Instigators by Raymond E. Banks)
The point at which humanoid robots with AGI can be purchased and then rented out by ordinary people, for a profit.
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 Sunpower Station (from The Last Question by Isaac Asimov)
An orbiting solar collector, beaming energy down to Earth.
1956 Invulnerable Wall (from Jackpot by Clifford Simak)
A material created by insects that grew stronger as it was compressed.
1956 Chronoscopy (from The Dead Past by Isaac Asimov)
Using a device to view different points in time.
1956 Internal Body Power Pack (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester)
A tiny battery used to power implants.
1956 Whisper Line (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester)
A means of communication between prisoners held in wide separation.
1956 Robotic Hand (from The Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein)
A dexterous manipulator for robots.
1956 Underwater Robot (from The Velvet Glove by Harry Harrison)
An autonomous mechanical for use underwater.
1956 Precog (from The Minority Report by Philip K. Dick)
A person with precognitive ability (can predict the future).
1956 Hypersee (from The Best of Fences by Gordon Randall Garrett)
Faster than light.
1956 Post-Crime (from The Minority Report by Philip K. Dick)
Criminal activities after they have actually happened.
1956 Flexible Frank (from The Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein)
An all-purpose household robot.
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 Accelerated Schooling (from Cities in Flight by James Blish)
Knowledge force-fed directly into the brain.
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 Toposcope (from Cities in Flight by James Blish)
A special helmet used in a form of sleep teaching.
1957 Molecular Sieve (from Tales from the White Hart by Arthur C. Clarke)
A device that can extract any element from seawater.
1957 Tin Cabby (Flying Robotic Taxi) (from Cities in Flight by James Blish)
An autonomously controlled flying taxi cab.
1957 Inter-Universal Messenger (from Cities in Flight by James Blish)
A device intended to travel to another dimension.
1957 Storer-Gulls Wings (from The Menace From Earth by Robert Heinlein)
Recreational aid for lunar colonists; lightweight wings for cave flying.
1957 Magnetic Control of Nebulae (from The Black Cloud by Fred Hoyle)
Controlling the structure and shape of nebulae using magnetic fields.
1957 Eavesdropper (from Cities in Flight by James Blish)
Device to detect the presence of recording devices.
1957 Remote Control Taxicab (from The Unreconstructed M by Philip K. Dick)
A cab that is piloted by a remote operator.
1957 Bats' Cave (Lava Tube) (from The Menace From Earth by Robert Heinlein)
A natural cavern used by moon colonists for air storage - and entertainment.
1957 Fenton Silencer (from Tales from the White Hart by Arthur C. Clarke)
A device to cancel noise over a broad area.
1957 Peeper (from Shadow World by Clifford Simak)
A device that unlocked the dreams and fantasies inherent in the user's brain.
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 Crop Algae (from Cities in Flight by James Blish)
Growing algae in tanks as a source of basic food stock.
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.
1957 Brood Assembly (from Cities in Flight by James Blish)
Artificially intelligent computers that can replicate themselves.
1957 Manshonyagger (from Mark Elf by Cordwainer Smith)
An autonomous fighting robot.
1957 Roller (from Shadow World by Clifford Simak)
Two passenger vehicle designed for off-road use on alien planets.
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 Project X (from Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand)
A device that produces sound rays that are intolerable to living things.
1957 Anti-agathic drugs (from Cities in Flight by James Blish)
Drugs that indefinitely postpone death from old age.
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 Battle Tank Display (from Cities in Flight by James Blish)
Three-dimensional display showing tactical information for space battles.
1957 Robot-Referee (from Jingle in the Jungle by Aldo Giunta)
An autonomous robot judge at athletic events.
1957 Mechanical Cleaning Device (from The Unreconstructed M by Philip K. Dick)
A small, ground-based autonomous robot doing basic janitorial work.
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 Inverspace (from Deeper Than the Darkness by Harlan Ellison)
For faster than light travel.
1957 Death-Rattle (from The Unreconstructed M by Philip K. Dick)
A device that sends a signal upon brain death of the user.
1957 Automated Factories (from The Peacemongers by Poul Anderson)
Manufacturing facilities that do not require human workers.
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 Jurymech (from Wanted in Surgery by Harlan Ellison)
A robotic entity serving the function of a trial jury.
1957 Teleoperated Beetle Car (from Cities in Flight by James Blish)
A remotely-operated robotic vehicle that permitted telepresence.
1957 Prime Command (from Robots Are Nice? by Gordon R. Dickson)
A universal order or principle carried out by every robotic device.
1957 Neural Door Lock (from The Unreconstructed M by Philip K. Dick)
A device that provides access based on neurological data.
1957 Phymech (from Wanted in Surgery by Harlan Ellison)
A robotic physician.
1957 Galactovue (from Citizen of the Galaxy by Robert Heinlein)
Star display.
1957 City Fathers (from Cities in Flight by James Blish)
A set of computer systems which run every mechanical system in a city.
1957 Flying Cone (from Fugitive of the Stars by Edmond Hamilton)
A vehicle for 1-3 persons that hovers and has mechanical arms.
1957 Robot Situation Neurosis (from The Unreconstructed M by Philip K. Dick)
Robots go mad when given competing instructions.
1957 Oxygen Pill (from Get Out Of Our Skies! by E.K. Jarvis)
Meets your need for oxygen without additional breathing.
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 Bethé blasters (from Cities in Flight by James Blish)
Powerful enough to destroy a flying city.
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 Fight Machine (Boxing Robot) (from Jingle in the Jungle by Aldo Giunta)
An autonomous boxer.
1957 Police Detection Robot (from The Unreconstructed M by Philip K. Dick)
An automated evidence-gathering robot.
1957 Stellar Analog Computers (from The Lady Was A Tramp by Rose Sharon)
Special systems used to calculate safe "jumps" for interstellar trips.
1957 Prosthetic Robotic Arm (Thought-Attuned) (from Bleekman's Planet by Ivar Jorgensen)
A detachable robotic arm, controlled directly through neural linkage.
1957 Launching Cradle (from Needler by Gordon Randall Garrett)
A place for a spherical space craft to sit in gravity.
1957 Robobus (from Robots Are Nice? by Gordon R. Dickson)
An autonomous vehicle for picking up some number of passengers.
1957 Planetary Computer Network (from Dialogues by Stanislaw Lem)
A global data net.
1957 Spacefaring (from Citizen of the Galaxy by Robert Heinlein)
A nation or people who explore and trade in space.
1957 Robocop (from Wanted in Surgery by Harlan Ellison)
A robotic police officer.
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 Robocide (from Robots Are Nice? by Gordon R. Dickson)
Deliberate destruction of robots.
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 Lifescoot (from Deeper Than the Darkness by Harlan Ellison)
A spaceship's lifeboat.
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 Jump-Along (from The Lady Was A Tramp by Rose Sharon)
Computer used for calculating jumps between stars.
1958 Robot Conductor (from The Woman You Wanted by Robert Silverberg)
A robot that serves as the conductor on a bus.
1958 Field-Minder (from But Who Can Replace A Man by Brian Aldiss)
An agricultural robot.
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 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.
1958 Brain Class (from But Who Can Replace A Man by Brian Aldiss)
Class ten brain is the lowest.
1958 Para-Beam (from The Mechanical Monarch by E.C. Tubb)
A beam of energy that paralyzes the victim.
1958 Firebulance (from Vector by Margaret St. Clair)
An ambulance equipped to sterilize by fire.
1958 Asteroid-Metal (from The Mechanical Monarch by E.C. Tubb)
Metal mined from asteroids.
1958 Unlocker Robot (from But Who Can Replace A Man by Brian Aldiss)
An autonomous device that unlocked doors, as needed.
1958 Hypo Arm (from Simulated Trainer by Harry Harrison)
A robotic arm used to autonomously deliver pharmaceuticals to patients.
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 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 Pocket Computer (from The Feeling of Power by Isaac Asimov)
A pocket-sized computer.
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 Celestial Atlas (from No Planet Is Safe by Harlan Ellison)
Planet-by-planet descriptions throughout known space.
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 Metamen (from The Mechanical Monarch by E.C. Tubb)
A human brain placed in a purely mechanical, robotic body.
1958 Life Detector (from Cease Fire by Frank Herbert)
A device that was capable of detecting living tissue within a set radius.
1958 Pressurized Penthouse (from Bread Overhead! by Fritz Leiber)
A stratospheric perch - if buildings are tall enough, you'll need this.
1958 Self-Service Cafeteria (from The Mechanical Monarch by E.C. Tubb)
Food on demand.
1958 Police Robot (from Arm of the Law by Harry Harrison)
A fully autonomous, man-shaped robotic police officer.
1958 Flexible Wall Sheet Display (from The Mechanical Monarch by E.C. Tubb)
A large clear sheet that displays information.
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 Venus Cities Float In Atmosphere (from Bread Overhead! by Fritz Leiber)
Cloud cities on Venus.
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 Teaching a Robot (from Lenny by Isaac Asimov)
Giving instruction to a robot whose brain is not preprogrammed or otherwise fitted for a particular task.
1958 Farside (from We Have Fed Our Sea by Poul Anderson)
The portion of the Moon's surface that faces away from Earth.
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 Man Kills Servant Robot (from The Miserly Robot by R.J. Rice)
When a robot's master has come to the end of his rope.
1958 Thought-Record Helmet (from Menace From Vega by Robert Randall)
A wearable history book.
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 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 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 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 Neutronic Shielding (from The Sign of the Tiger by Alan Nourse (w/Meyer))
Very high density monomolecular shielding
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 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 Nose Gun (from Arm of the Law by Harry Harrison)
Weapon system located up high.
1958 The Hub (from Worlds of Origin by Jack Vance)
A large space resort consisting of inhabitable bubbles in a metal framework.
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 Machine Suicide (from All the Troubles in the World by Isaac Asimov)
A self-aware computer system wants to destroy itself.
1958 Tik-Talker (from The Sign of the Tiger by Alan Nourse (w/Meyer))
A method of scrambling spoken speech for encoded transmission.
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 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 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 Magnetic Pinions (from Worlds of Origin by Jack Vance)
Remote control electromagnetic handcuffs.
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 Robot Snake (from Bait for the Tiger by Lee Chaytor)
A mechanical reptile, with no legs.
1959 Saddle (from The Big Front Yard by Clifford Simak)
A comfortable riding saddle - minus the horse.
1959 Robot Trash Collectors (from Robot Justice by Harry Harrison)
Robots that drive and operate garbage trucks.
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 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 Human Supervision Of Robots (from Installment Plan by Clifford Simak)
The notion that there should be a rule that groups of robots should always have human supervision and direction.
1959 Sentenced Man (from Robot Justice by Harry Harrison)
A person who commits asocial actions and lives in society, but in reduced circumstances.
1959 Brain Bug (from Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein)
A caste specializing in intelligence.
1959 Neodog (from Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein)
Canine-derived animal, genetically engineered for increased intelligence and speech.
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 Robot Judge (from Robot Justice by Harry Harrison)
Artificially intelligent legal machine - robes and all.
1959 Robotic Trash Can (from Robot Justice by Harry Harrison)
A sensor-equipped waste can capable of autonomous cleaning - and legal judgement.
1959 Talking Bomb (from Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein)
A psychological warfare weapon that talks to the enemy.
1959 Toy Testing Dummy (from War Game by Philip K. Dick)
A child-sized device used to test suspect toys.
1959 Intelligent Trash Sorting (from Robot Justice by Harry Harrison)
Robots sort the garbage - almost completely.
1959 Electromechanical Educator (from The Fourth R by George O. Smith)
An automated teaching machine.
1959 Hands Free Helmet (from Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein)
The helmet of a powered suit has controls activated by head movements.
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 Spectra Analyzer (from The Repairman by Harry Harrison)
Device used to find ones position in real space.
1959 Transmog (from Installment Plan by Clifford Simak)
A small device easily installed in a robot to alter its skill set.
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 Grass Carpet (from The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.)
An indoor home or office floor covering - living grass.
1959 Human Object Recognition (from Robot Justice by Harry Harrison)
System uses human beings as an aid to robotic object recognition.
1959 Flying Eye (from The Repairman by Harry Harrison)
A remote-controlled device for surveillance overflight.
1959 Personality Death (from Robot Justice by Harry Harrison)
Punishment leaves the body intact.
1959 Metallic Marx (from The Robots Strike by Harry Harrison)
A robot who strikes for better working conditions.
1959 Memo-Voice (from War Game by Philip K. Dick)
Paper memos that read themselves out loud.
1960 Semi-Conducting Graphite-Gel (from Callahan and the Wheelies by Stephen Barr)
Computer brain structured like animal brain.
1960 Art-Derm (from Dr. Futurity by Philip K. Dick)
Artificial skin sprayed directly on the body.
1960 Cold-Pack (from Dr. Futurity by Philip K. Dick)
Technology for indefinite cold storage of human beings.
1960 Dermal Spray (from Dr. Futurity by Philip K. Dick)
A color coating for the skin, applied as a jet of vapor.
1960 Domed Mapviewer (from Dorsai! by Gordon R. Dickson)
Illuminated hemispherical map display.
1960 Bacteria-Destroying Radiation (from Dr. Futurity by Philip K. Dick)
A special beam that created a sterile field for operations.
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 Single Sheet Molecule (from Dorsai! by Gordon R. Dickson)
A counterfeit-proof way to output unique documents.
1960 Ball and Hammer Ship (from Dorsai! by Gordon R. Dickson)
Spaceship comprised of two sections connected by a shaft.
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 Bolo (from Combat Unit by Keith Laumer)
An highly advanced combat tank controlled by a sophisticated Artificial Intelligence.
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 Chameleon Battle-Dress (from Dorsai! by Gordon R. Dickson)
Camouflage that allows its wearer to visually blend into the environment.
1960 Power Holster (from Deathworld by Harry Harrison)
Puts the sidearm right in your hand.
1960 Adiabatic Pods (from The Lady Who Sailed The Soul by Cordwainer Smith)
Tiny space capsules large enough to hold one passenger.
1960 Learning Robot (from Callahan and the Wheelies by Stephen Barr)
A robot that learns from its own experiences.
1960 Dixon Pump (from Dr. Futurity by Philip K. Dick)
An temporary mechanical heart to circulate blood.
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 Lyle Drive (from Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein)
Propulsion system for use inside the solar system.
1961 Flitterboat (from A Spaceship Named McGuire by Gordon Randall Garrett)
A one-man cargo space craft.
1961 Electronic Image Intensifier (from A Fall of Moondust by Arthur C. Clarke)
Much more sensitive than the human eye.
1961 Interactive Map (from Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem)
A small book with a 'touch-screen' paper interactive map.
1961 Mental Radio-Handicap (from Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.)
A device that destroys concentration.
1961 Butcher Vegetable (from Time is the Simplest Thing by Clifford Simak)
A plant that grows steaks (protein).
1961 Crystal Corn (from Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem)
Tiny data storage crystals.
1961 Taper (from Time is the Simplest Thing by Clifford Simak)
A device that records details about a visit to a distant planet.
1961 Dimensino (from Time is the Simplest Thing by Clifford Simak)
An alien entertainment center that provides the ultimate in immersive experience.
1961 Calster (from Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem)
A handheld device that printed legal currency on the spot.
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 Magnetic Soles (from A Spaceship Named McGuire by Gordon Randall Garrett)
Magnetized footwear for easy walking on low gravity metal surfaces.
1961 Opton (from Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem)
Very early description of an electronic book, with storage media.
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 Pinkness (from Time is the Simplest Thing by Clifford Simak)
An alien creature.
1961 Stereovision Tank (from Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein)
Three dimensional mass media (the grandson of television).
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 Electrosecretary (from A Fall of Moondust by Arthur C. Clarke)
An automatic transcription device.
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 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 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 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 Moondozer (from A Fall of Moondust by Arthur C. Clarke)
A bulldozer for lunar conditions.
1961 Sun Boat (from The Weather Man by Theodore L Thomas)
A device to manipulate energy emitted by the sun, to direct the weather of the Earth.
1961 Spray-On Clothing (from Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem)
Body coverings from a spray can.
1961 Plexiskin (from A Spaceship Named McGuire by Gordon Randall Garrett)
A means of disguise.
1961 Pseudopersonalities (from Terminus by Stanislaw Lem)
Fragments of distress, playing back in an autonomous robot's brain.
1961 Hunting Robe (from Time is the Simplest Thing by Clifford Simak)
A very thin, furry hunter that captures by constriction.
1961 Weather Room (from The Weather Man by Theodore L Thomas)
A global weather center.
1961 Teleprinter (from Four-Day Planet by H. Beam Piper)
A device that printed out a copy of today's newspaper.
1961 Pleasure Cap (from A Planet Named Shayol by Cordwainer Smith)
A device that delivers amps of pleasure directly to the brain.
1961 Precipitrons (from The Beat Cluster by Fritz Leiber)
Filtration system to remove dust and other particulates from the atmosphere in space stations.
1961 Grok (from Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein)
To understand fully; become one with (from the Martial verb "to drink").
1961 Inflatable Living-Globe (from The Beat Cluster by Fritz Leiber)
An inflatable bubble in space, suitable for human habitation.
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 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 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 Sealingsilk (from The Beat Cluster by Fritz Leiber)
Transparent and flexible material, even against hard vacuum in space.
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 Electronic Book Store (from Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem)
A place to pick up your electronic books.
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 Waterbed (Hydraulic Bed) (from Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein)
A bed that uses water instead of springs and stuffing.
1961 Lecton (from Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem)
A device that would read aloud an electronic text book.
1961 Stereo Tank (from Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein)
A receiver for three-dimensional televised images.
1961 Dust-Ski (from A Fall of Moondust by Arthur C. Clarke)
Special vehicle adapted for quick travel over powdered lunar soil.
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 Hydroponics in Space (from The Planet Strappers by Raymond Z. Gallun)
Growing plants for food without soil on a spacecraft.
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 IntruGrab (from The Hunch by Christopher Anvil)
A system designed to capture intruders.
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 Space Bubble (Bubb) (from The Planet Strappers by Raymond Z. Gallun)
An inflatable spacecraft.
1961 Astroposit (from The Hunch by Christopher Anvil)
Retro-style system provides a readout on your position anywhere in the galaxy.
1961 Betrization (from Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem)
An in utero method of reducing human aggression.
1961 Dromozoa (from A Planet Named Shayol by Cordwainer Smith)
Life forms that cause the human body to bud new parts for harvesting.
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 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 Stellene (from The Planet Strappers by Raymond Z. Gallun)
A tough, transparent material used to make domes or even spacecraft.
1961 Chlorophane (from The Planet Strappers by Raymond Z. Gallun)
Similar to chlorophyll but synthetic and far more efficient.
1961 Parastatics (from Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem)
Means of completely eliminating injury in vehicles during crashes.
1961 Air-Restorer Capsule (from The Planet Strappers by Raymond Z. Gallun)
A device that re-oxygenates air in space suits.
1961 Self-Guided Rocket Bullets (from The Planet Strappers by Raymond Z. Gallun)
A rifle made for airless environments shoots rocket bullets.
1962 Robot Earthworm (from War With The Robots by Harry Harrison)
Autonomous swarming robots the size of earthworms, with similar earth-digging capabilities.
1962 Cataclysmite (from Little Fuzzy by H. Beam Piper)
A high explosive.
1962 Delivery Robot (from Podkayne of Mars by Robert Heinlein)
A small autonomous device that will bring goods directly to a person or place.
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 Photonic Sail (from Think Blue, Count Two by Cordwainer Smith)
A sail that uses light pressure for propulsion.
1962 Carniculture Vat (from Space Viking by H. Beam Piper)
Technology to grow meat sans animal.
1962 Light-Sail Ship (from Think Blue, Count Two by Cordwainer Smith)
A spacecraft that used a huge sail moved by light pressure.
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 Rat-Robot (from Anything You Can Do by Gordon Randall Garrett)
A small remotely-operated surveillance robot.
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 Celestial Armamentarium (from The Dragon Masters by Jack Vance)
A small crystal planetarium, in which the stars and planets surrounding Aerlith are seen.
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 Freezebox (from Think Blue, Count Two by Cordwainer Smith)
A chamber for long term sleep between the stars.
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 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 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 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 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 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 Lunar Web (from Hothouse by Brian Aldiss)
The moon ensnared by cobwebs.
1962 Tand (from The Dragon Masters by Jack Vance)
A metal sculpture, made in contemplation, which has great meaning for the initiates.
1962 Serving Robot (from Space Viking by H. Beam Piper)
A non-humanoid robot designed to serve.
1962 Pocket Edition Law Library (from Novice by James Schmitz)
A complete reference section in the palm of your hand.
1962 Federal Bureau of Termination (from 2 B R 0 2 B by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.)
The door out of this life is always open - for you.
1962 Wrist-Talker (from Novice by James Schmitz)
A communications device worn on the wrist.
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 Laminated Mouse Brain Computer (from Think Blue, Count Two by Cordwainer Smith)
A computing device that makes use of neurons from a mouse.
1962 Dumbler (from Hothouse by Brian Aldiss)
Half-sentient spores of the whistle thistle.
1962 Robotic Undersea Turtle (from Epilogue by Poul Anderson)
A sea-going robot that resembles a turtle.
1962 Alcodote (from Space Viking by H. Beam Piper)
A compound that maintains sobriety while drinking.
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 Peace Dove (Metal Bird) (from The Reefs of Space by Jack Williamson (w/F. Pohl))
Robotic winged guardians.
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 Iron Collar (from The Reefs of Space by Jack Williamson (w/F. Pohl))
Persons designated as "Risks" must wear explosives.
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 Transparent, Frictionless Coating (from Way Station by Clifford Simak)
An absolutely frictionless, impenetrable coating.
1963 News Clown (from Stand-By by Philip K. Dick)
A person who delivers specially selected light news.
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 Fold Box (from Glory Road by Robert Heinlein)
A chest that is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside.
1963 Rifle Range (Virtual Shooting Range) (from Way Station by Clifford Simak)
Virtual skeet shooting gallery with clay pigeon traps created by aliens.
1963 Mechanical Marshal (from The Fastest Draw by Larry Eisenberg)
An automaton that functions like a quick-draw lawman of the Old West.
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 Solar Yacht (from Sunjammer by Arthur C. Clarke)
A space craft whose motive power is light pressure on a solar sail.
1963 Unicephalon 40-D (from Stand-By by Philip K. Dick)
A problem-solving supercomputer.
1963 Laser Rifle (from Nine Starships Waiting by Roger Zelazny)
A laser weapon shaped like a rifle, carried by one man, fired at the shoulder.
1963 Light Vests (Laser Tag) (from The Fastest Draw by Larry Eisenberg)
A vest and light gun combination used to score hits.
1963 Free Telephone Call (from The Subliminal Man by J.G. Ballard)
All telephone calls are free - in exchange for short commercials.
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 Rabbit-Paper (from The Game Players of Titan by Philip K. Dick)
A paper pregnancy test that showed immediate results.
1963 Multiverse (from The Sundered Worlds by Michael Moorcock)
A set or series of universes in parallel with our own.
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 Shadow People (from Way Station by Clifford Simak)
Alien knowledge leads to alien results - for humans.
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 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 Solar Yacht Periscope (from Sunjammer by Arthur C. Clarke)
A device used in the small cabin of a solar yacht.
1963 Sleep-Inducer (from Sunjammer by Arthur C. Clarke)
A device that electronically imposes sleep on a human being.
1963 Way Station (from Way Station by Clifford Simak)
A device used to transport individuals across the galaxy.
1964 Phantomatic Generator (Virtual Reality) (from Summa Technologiae by Stanislaw Lem)
A computer-generated experience.
1964 Uptime (from The Traps of Time by John Baxter)
Forward in time.
1964 Walking Fort (from The Killing Machine by Jack Vance)
A biomimetic fort based on the model of a centipede.
1964 Microrob (from A Game of Unchance by Philip K. Dick)
Small stature robots.
1964 Adjustment (from Placement Test by Keith Laumer)
Making sure the man fits the job!
1964 Flexible Stem (from The Killing Machine by Jack Vance)
A long flexible tube that can expand and contract its length quickly.
1964 Downtime (from The Traps of Time by John Baxter)
Traveling back in time.
1964 Identificator (from The Star King by Jack Vance)
A hologram projector used to flash door signs.
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 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 Fake-Meter (from The Killing Machine by Jack Vance)
A pocket-sized counterfeit currency detector.
1964 Very Large Black Boxes (from Summa Technologiae by Stanislaw Lem)
Creating a computer system that solves problems without specific programming.
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 Skin Toning (from The Star King by Jack Vance)
Using artificial means to effect a temporary change in skin color.
1964 Automated Laboratory (from The Shores of Death by Michael Moorcock)
A fully automated machinery of invention.
1964 Jet-Powered Aquaplane (from The Star King by Jack Vance)
Overpowered surface boat.
1964 Color Generator (from The Killing Machine by Jack Vance)
A variable spectrum light source
1964 Universal Technical Consultative Service (from The Star King by Jack Vance)
Interstellar travel plans calculated, reserved and confirmed.
1964 Chalf (Quick-Scribe Powder) (from The Tactful Saboteur by Frank Herbert)
A special powder that forms itself into words and symbols.
1964 Lawagon (from Into the Shop by Ron Goulart)
A police car with extra features.
1964 Power-skis (from Selection by Ursula Le Guin)
Just the accoutrement for exploration, depending on the world.
1964 Undersea Restaurant (from The Star King by Jack Vance)
A restaurant located in its entirety under the sea.
1964 Single Seat Scooter (from The Star King by Jack Vance)
A self-service monocycle.
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 Weary Deep-Sleep (from Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick)
Phildickian old-sleep.
1964 Rhetorizer (from The Penultimate Truth by Philip K. Dick)
A computerized assistant for writers.
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 Jump Point (from Bill for Delivery by Christopher Anvil)
A specific location in space where an interstellar jump can be accomplished.
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 Cephalic Sniffer (from Clans of the Alphane Moon by Philip K. Dick)
Device can locate an individual using brain patterns.
1964 Syn-Cof (from Cantata 140 by Philip K. Dick)
Synthetic coffee.
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 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 Auto Shovel (from The Simulacra by Philip K. Dick)
Automated mining equipment for use in space.
1964 Optical-Effect Suit (from The Hounds of Hell by Keith Laumer)
An invisibility garment.
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 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 Autonomic Food-Processing System (from Cantata 140 by Philip K. Dick)
Technology allows food to be prepared untouched by human hands.
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 Bug Chasers (from Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick)
Anti-surveillance devices.
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 Cholinesterase-Destroying Gas (from Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick)
Horrific anti-personnel poison.
1964 Nipple-Assist (from Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick)
A multi-purpose electronic device worn upon the nipple.
1964 Chalf-Memory Stick (from The Tactful Saboteur by Frank Herbert)
Device that organizes special dust in the shape of words and symbols.
1964 Suicide Tooth (from Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick)
A false tooth containing poison.
1964 Surgical Hand (from Clans of the Alphane Moon by Philip K. Dick)
A specialized robotic hand used for surgery.
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 Pry-Vie (Robotic Detective) (from Clans of the Alphane Moon by Philip K. Dick)
A robotic private eye; autonomic detection services.
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 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 Commercial Fly (from The Simulacra by Philip K. Dick)
An autonomous, fly-sized manufactured creature that presents commercial advertisements.
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 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 Reporting Machine (from The Simulacra by Philip K. Dick)
A robotic roving reporter.
1964 Creditor Jet-Balloon (from Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick)
A small, hovering device that hounds debtors.
1964 Artif-Org (from Cantata 140 by Philip K. Dick)
A mechanical version of a human organ.
1964 Poison-Bearing Invisible Glove (from Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick)
Membranous apparel for the hands, used to dispense poisons.
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 Robot Busboy (from Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick)
A robotic device able to autonomously clear tables in a restaurant.
1964 Court Robo-Clerk (from The Tactful Saboteur by Frank Herbert)
A robotic law clerk.
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 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 Adjustable Television (from The Simulacra by Philip K. Dick)
A television that allowed viewers to adjust the content of political speeches.
1964 Time-Warping Construct (from Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick)
A device that appears to cause alternate worlds or paraworld.
1965 Rachag (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
A caffeine-style stimulant.
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 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 Voice (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
Combines exceptional insight into personalty with voice modulation to achieve control over individuals.
1965 'Thopter (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
Describes any plane capable of wing-beat flight in the manner of birds.
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 Suspensor Chair (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
A chair that suspends itself above the floor.
1965 Boosterspice (from One Face by Larry Niven)
A substance that extends human life almost indefinitely.
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 Thumb Print Phone ID (from The Zap Gun (Project Plowshare) by Philip K. Dick)
Verifying identity on a phone call with thumb print.
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 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 Pain Box (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
A small box which induced pain into the nerves of the hand.
1965 Suspensor Lamp (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
A lamp that will float in mid-air, and will stay where you put it.
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 Handicloset (from The Zap Gun (Project Plowshare) by Philip K. Dick)
A self-organizing closet
1965 Cog Life (from The Zap Gun (Project Plowshare) by Philip K. Dick)
Life in the bureaucracy.
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 Heat-Removing Staff (from The Dead Lady of Clown Town by Cordwainer Smith)
Device absorbs all heat from its target.
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 Interchangeable Hands (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick)
Specialized manual extremities.
1965 Minimic Film (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
Very fine message medium.
1965 Shigawire (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
A very fine wire, used as a recording medium (among other things).
1965 Crysknife (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
A knife blade ground from the tooth of a giant sandworm of Dune.
1965 Steel Teeth (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick)
Artificial teeth welded to the bone.
1965 Luxvid Eyes (Jensen Wide-Angle) (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick)
Artificial, unmoving implanted eyes.
1965 Femfatalatron (from The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age by Stanislaw Lem)
A device that reverses an infatuation for a particular woman.
1965 Spatial-Postal Card (from Bill the Galactic Hero by Harry Harrison)
Mail from home - that hungry soldiers can also eat.
1965 Medical Mech (from Warrior by Gordon R. Dickson)
A medical robot designed to prevent death during emergencies.
1965 Dekon Type DCQ (from Subspace Explorers by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)
Decontamination foam.
1965 Catchpocket (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
A small container in a stillsuit that stored reclaimed water.
1965 Dew Gatherers (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
Devices used to gather morning dew as a source of drinking 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 Watertube (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
Carries water to and from the catchpockets in a Fremen stillsuit.
1965 Glowglobe (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
Floating spherical light bulb with organic energy source.
1965 Sheep Dip Isolator (from The Zap Gun (Project Plowshare) by Philip K. Dick)
A non-lethal malodorant weapon.
1965 Autonomic Interviewer (from The Zap Gun (Project Plowshare) by Philip K. Dick)
A robotic reporter.
1965 Spacebag (from Gree's Hellcats by C.C. MacApp)
A quick-and-dirty kind of space craft.
1965 Garbage-can Banger (from The Zap Gun (Project Plowshare) by Philip K. Dick)
An elaborate noise-based weapon.
1965 Commuter Cooling Unit (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick)
A portable air conditioner for commuters.
1965 Robomule (from Bill the Galactic Hero by Harry Harrison)
The robotic equivalent of a mule.
1965 AI Declares Godhood (from Destination: Void by Frank Herbert)
An artificial machine intelligence declares itself to be God, and demands worship from humans.
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 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 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 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 Paracompass (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
A very specialized compass that makes use of local magnetic anomalies.
1965 Stage Trees (from World of Ptavvs by Larry Niven)
Genetically modified trees with solid fuel rocket cores.
1965 Maula Pistol (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
A spring-loaded projectile device.
1965 Canyon World (from One Face by Larry Niven)
A world in which only a single scar in the landscape is habitable.
1965 Mnemonic Pulse (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
A feature of filmbook recordings that helps imprint knowledge on the mind of the user.
1965 Tractor-Mounted Robot (from One Face by Larry Niven)
A repair robot on tractor treads.
1965 Filmbook (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
A storage medium for information, both text and video.
1965 Jubba Cloak (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
An all-purpose garment in common use on Arrakis
1965 Robox (from Destination: Void by Frank Herbert)
Diagnostic and repair robots.
1965 Autonomic Cab (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick)
An automated taxicab (without robotic driver).
1965 Water Repellent Surface (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
A surface that water flows over without sticking at all.
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 Fencing Mirror (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
A dummy fighting instructor for the young Kwisatz Haderach-in-training.
1965 Hypno-Ligation (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
A means of psychological control over an individual.
1965 Spice (Melange) (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
The spice must flow.
1965 Imperial Handicraft Globe (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
Perfectly crafted globe for planetary governors.
1965 Filterable Virus (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick)
A special virus that is instantly carcinomatous.
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 Inter-Vehicle Communication (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick)
The ability to talk car-to-car directly.
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 Antithermal Shield (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick)
A material that protected against climate warming.
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 Implanted Steel Teeth (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick)
Replacement teeth implanted in the jaw.
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 Gigagnostotron (from The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age by Stanislaw Lem)
Enormously powerful computing device.
1965 Communinet (from Dune by Brian Herbert)
A public data network.i
1965 Poison Tongue Dart (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick)
Weapon surgically implanted in the tongue.
1965 Fanmetal (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
High tensile strength material; used in collapsible structures opened by "fanning" them out.
1965 Family Atomics (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
Noble houses had their own atomic weapons.
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 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 Distrans (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
Device produces a temporary neural imprint on the nervous system of Chiroptera or birds.
1965 Chowlock (from The Starfox by Poul Anderson)
A small opening in a space helmet for food insertion.
1965 Carryall (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
A flying wing (aircraft); used to pick up a sandcrawler (harvester factory)
1965 Doorseal (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
A portable plastic seal used in temporary camps to keep moisture from escaping from dwelling places.
1965 Rolem (Wrestling Robot) (from This Immortal by Roger Zelazny)
A robotic wrestling companion.
1965 Sapho Juice (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
Unique substance enhanced the cognitive performance of Mentats.
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 Radson Skimmer (from This Immortal by Roger Zelazny)
A small vehicle designed for a small number of passengers; capable of low, slow flight.
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 Lasgun (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
A continuous-wave laser projector; can be used as a weapon or as a cutting tool.
1965 Gom Jabbar (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
A needle with deadly poison, used to test for humans.
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 Oil Lens (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
Oil held in tension in an enclosing force field, used as an optical component.
1965 Suspensor (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
An energy field that can nullify gravity for small objects.
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 Mentat (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
A person who has been specially trained and conditioned for excellence in
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 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 Gauzy (from This Immortal by Roger Zelazny)
A feather-light tent, made of a fabric just one molecule thick.
1965 Sprung-Samser Treatment (from This Immortal by Roger Zelazny)
A medical treatment to extend human life.
1965 Robot Bar (from Bill the Galactic Hero by Harry Harrison)
A combination bartender and bar; a robot capable of dispensing beverages.
1965 Cutteray (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
A laser used in a range of tools - including mining equipment.
1965 Sleep Machine (from Short Trip to Nowhere by R.M. Williams)
A device guaranteeing a good night's sleep.
1965 Personalized Fashion Display (from Bill the Galactic Hero by Harry Harrison)
A set of displays that show you dressed in different uniforms.
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 Heighliner (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
Enormous starship used by the Spacing Guild for interstellar travel.
1965 Remote-Cast Snooper (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
A small, easily concealed poison snooper.
1965 Cephalic Pattern Door (from The Zap Gun (Project Plowshare) by Philip K. Dick)
A door that only opens for specific people.
1965 Dispensing Tooth (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
A device shaped like a tooth that dispenses gas.
1965 Humming-Code (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
A personal communication.
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 Stillsuit (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
It covers almost the entire body, provides cooling and ensures that almost no moisture is lost.
1965 Servok (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
An 'automatic' or clock-set mechanism to perform simple tasks.
1965 Poison Snooper (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
A device that checked food and drink for poisons.
1965 Amtal Rule (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
Testing to destruction
1965 Leybyrdite (from Subspace Explorers by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)
Extremely tough crystalline metal.
1965 Slaver Sunflowers (from World of Ptavvs by Larry Niven)
Plants evolved to reflect light to burn natural enemies.
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 Plasteel (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
Extremely tough form of steel, stabilized with stravidium fibers grown into its crystal.
1965 Wakeshot (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
An injection designed to bring a person out of sleep to full wakefulness.
1965 Golden Lights (from Dune by Frank Herbert)
Another unusual use of the suspensor field; lights are suspended in it.
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 Autodoc (from World of Ptavvs by Larry Niven)
An automated physician, a fully autonomous surgical robot.
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 Chemelectric Afferent Nerve-Analogues (from This Immortal by Roger Zelazny)
An engineered sensory skin.
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 Laserifle (from Door to Anywhere by Poul Anderson)
A laser weapon shaped (and fired) like a traditional rifle.
1966 Ansible (from Rocannon's World by Ursula Le Guin)
Faster-than-light communication.
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 Hush Hood (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein)
A device that cancels noise, ensuring that others cannot overhear.
1966 Drinking Bulb (from The Warriors by Larry Niven)
A small container, used for drinks.
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 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 Laser Cannon (from Neutron Star by Larry Niven)
A laser source powerful enough to provide significant light pressure to a "light sail."
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 Decorative Implant (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany)
Small devices that can be implanted subcutaneously in the body and then controlled consciously.
1966 Corpsicle (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl)
Cryogenically frozen person who could (hopefully) be revived later.
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 TANSTAAFL (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein)
There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.
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 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 Language Net (from The Sorceror Pharesm by Gerald Vance)
Endows the user with the ability to understand any language.
1966 Lunar Ice Mining (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein)
The practice of mining for ice on the moon.
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 Voice Dialing (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl)
Speak the name of the person and call them on the phone.
1966 Lunar Greenhouse Tunnel (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein)
A multipurpose conservatory on the Moon.
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 Simulogs (Simulated Playmates) (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by John Brunner)
Computer-generated playmates.
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 Big Screen Control (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl)
Display content from your personal device on a large shared screen.
1966 Life Recorder (from The Dream Master (He Who Shapes) by Roger Zelazny)
Record the details of your life.
1966 Virtual Keyboard (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl)
A keyboard that appears at the right moment in game play.
1966 Neuristor (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein)
A solid-state computer component that mimics the human neuron.
1966 Miniaturization (from Fantastic Voyage (Novel) by Isaac Asimov)
Making a physical object smaller in size.
1966 Stellarimeter (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany)
Used by space navigators.
1966 Ground-to-Orbit Ferry (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein)
A kind of space shuttle craft.
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 Garbage Device (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl)
Autonomous garbage collection device.
1966 Death-Reversal Equipment (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl)
Brings you back from losing a duel.
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 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 Voice-Enabled Smartphone (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl)
A smartphone capable of complete voice-enabled operation.
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 Robant Bill Collector (from Now Wait For Last Year by Philip K. Dick)
A robot designed to collect overdue bills, no matter what.
1966 Ebony Teeth (from Now Wait For Last Year by Philip K. Dick)
Completely black artificial teeth.
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 Sheem Spider Robot (from The Witches of Karres by James Schmitz)
A robotic spider.
1966 Martian Print Amoeba (from Now Wait For Last Year by Philip K. Dick)
An organism able to mimic consumer goods.
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 Antigravity Globe Arena (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany)
A spherical arena for wrestling.
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 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 Moon As Prison (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein)
The moon is a prison without bars.
1966 Eyes (from This Moment of the Storm by Roger Zelazny)
Flying remote-operated surveillance drones.
1966 Auto-Scan (from This Moment of the Storm by Roger Zelazny)
Automated control of remote surveillance drones.
1966 Adam Selene (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein)
A computer generates a human avatar for itself.
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 Ro-Womb (from The Dream Master (He Who Shapes) by Roger Zelazny)
Device enfolds the patient during therapy.
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 Flying Wire (from Make Room! Make Room! by Harry Harrison)
Barbed wire that seeks to expand to its remembered size and extent.
1966 Filing Crystal (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany)
Part kiosk, part storage system.
1966 Vivatape (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany)
Perfectly seals cuts also helps through-skin implants heal.
1966 Fusion Sunlight Tube (from At the Bottom of a Hole by Larry Niven)
Central light source for a spun cylinder space station.
1966 Morphogen (from Fantastic Voyage (Novel) by Isaac Asimov)
A drug that party relieves the need for sleep.
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 Caller Contact List (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl)
A list of callers kept on the phone instrument.
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 Discorporaphone (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany)
For speaking with the electronic dead.
1966 Self-Guided Tractors (from At the Bottom of a Hole by Larry Niven)
A farm vehicle that drives itself.
1966 Discorporate Sector (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany)
An electronic afterlife.
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 Interests Profile (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl)
An intelligent agent; a software program with your personal tastes on file.
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 Joymaker (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl)
A networked personal digital assistant - that really is an assistant.
1966 Right Angle Projectile (from The Mad Metropolis by Philip E. High)
A missile that turns at right angles after being fired.
1966 Camper-Model Spacecraft (from A Relic of the Empire by Larry Niven)
Space-going ships with expandable sections.
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 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 Cellphone Tranquilizing Spray (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl)
A mild sedative administered automatically by your cellphone.
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 Tru-Mem Systems (from We Can Remember It For You Wholesale by Philip K. Dick)
Organic process of recalling personal events.
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 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 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 Photosensitive Pigment (from Cry Hope, Cry Fury! by J.G. Ballard)
Special paint that stays 'blank' until exposed to a scene.
1966 Tensile Memory Polarized Matter (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany)
The same piece of material can take pre-determined shapes.
1966 TW-55 Spy (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany)
Conscious control of facial characteristics.
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 Morgue (Recall Stage) (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany)
Storage and retrieval of frozen bodies.
1966 Alternate Computer Personality (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein)
A computer system that can take on complete, alternate personalities.
1967 Fido (from Riders of the Purple Wage by Philip Jose Farmer)
Combination television, news camera and surveillance device.
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 Purple Wage (from Riders of the Purple Wage by Philip Jose Farmer)
Guaranteed subsidy paid to every citizen.
1967 Sleepshop (from Logan's Run by William Nolan (w/G.C. Johnson))
A quiet place to die.
1967 Fornixation (from Riders of the Purple Wage by Philip Jose Farmer)
Electrical stimulation of the pleasure centers of the brain.
1967 Energy-Cannon (from The Last Castle by Jack Vance)
Device projects destructive power.
1967 Lift Chair (from The Last Castle by Jack Vance)
A single occupant lifted by great birds.
1967 Shuttlecraft (from Star Trek by Author Unknown)
A small spaceship designed for short journeys.
1967 Organlegging (from The Jigsaw Man by Larry Niven)
Technology needed to deal in illicitly obtained body parts.
1967 Multifunction Gun (from Logan's Run by William Nolan (w/G.C. Johnson))
Offers a selection of lethal and non-lethal alternatives.
1967 Soft Weapon (from The Soft Weapon by Larry Niven)
A device that changes its shape to alter its function.
1967 AM (from I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream by Harlan Ellison)
A supercomputer that hates.
1967 Power-Wagon (from The Last Castle by Jack Vance)
Wagon powered by muscular creature from Etamin 9; uses carbohydrate syrup for fuel.
1967 Rogue Planet (from Satan's World by Poul Anderson)
A planet without a sun, it wanders through galactic space.
1967 Sub-microscopic Medical Robots (from These Savage Futurians by Philip E. High)
Tiny robots travel the bloodstream, killing bacteria.
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 Embryonic Robots (from Counter Clock World by Philip K. Dick)
Very small robots, possibly a very early reference to nanotechnology in science fiction.
1967 Flexible Armor Suit (from The Soft Weapon by Larry Niven)
A pressure suit that, while flexible, becomes rigid like armor upon impact.
1967 Specific Gene Weapon (from The Mannichon Solution by Irwin Shaw)
An organic or inorganic weapon aimed at a specific genetic population.
1967 Palm Flower (from Logan's Run by William Nolan (w/G.C. Johnson))
It's like a life clock.
1967 Cloud Sculpting (from The Cloud Sculptors of Coral D by J.G. Ballard)
Using gliders and chemical showers to shape clouds artistically.
1967 Slowboat (from The Ethics of Madness by Larry Niven)
An interstellar craft carrying people.
1967 Sleep Pod (from Mantis by Chris Boyce)
A special place for snoozing.
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 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 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 Police Web (from The Soft Weapon by Larry Niven)
A kind of stasis field, which can be made portable.
1967 Scientific Reincarnation (from Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny)
Technology to allow a person to transfer themselves to a new, healthy body.
1967 Outsider Ship (from Flatlander by Larry Niven)
A very exotic, very fast space craft.
1967 Dolphin's Hands (from Handicap by Larry Niven)
Digital prosthetic for dolphins.
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 Floating Booths (from Handicap by Larry Niven)
Comfortable bar booths that float around and come together for conversation.
1967 Mechanical Cobra (from Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny)
An assassination device; senses brain waves to find its victim.
1967 Sick Bay Doctor (from The Iron Thorn by Algis Budrys)
An entirely automated robotic physician.
1967 Mining Disintegrator (from The Arsenal Out of Time by David McDaniel)
A special-purpose boring machine.
1967 Skycycle (from Handicap by Larry Niven)
A flying Harley; motorcycle of the skies.
1968 Crackers (from The Time Mercenaries by Philip E. High)
Bouncing, explosive mines.
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 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 Panic Alarm (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick)
Alarm senses intruders and instills mindless panic.
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 Sun Goggles (from Grendel by Larry Niven)
Lenses darken in spots to block the brightness of alien suns.
1968 Synthesist (from Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner)
A person who did nothing but make cross-references between one field and another.
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 Electro-Binox (from A Specter is Haunting Texas by Fritz Leiber)
Binoculars with electronic focusing.
1968 Secret Agent Robot (from Powers of Observation by Harry Harrison)
A robotic agent sent to uncover the Soviet threat.
1968 HAL 9000 (from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke)
The canonical example of an artificially intelligent computer.
1968 Architectural Coral (from A Gift From Earth by Larry Niven)
A structure grown to a specific shape using small coral-like organisms.
1968 Android Safety Mechanism (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick)
A device that temporarily incapacitates an android.
1968 Exoskeleton (Medical) (from A Specter is Haunting Texas by Fritz Leiber)
Specially designed for Thins, eight-foot tall microgravity 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 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 False Animal Repairman (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick)
A specialized roboticist who repaired robotic animals.
1968 Auto-Seal (from Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner)
Automatically deployed cover for power outlets; instant child-proofing.
1968 Wholographik (from Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner)
Hologram-style picture.
1968 Prowlie (from Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner)
A police vehicle.
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 Grip Shoes (from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke)
Shoes with velcro soles used to walk in weightless environments.
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 Artificially Grown Organs (from A Gift From Earth by Larry Niven)
Human organs suitable for transplantation, grown outside the body.
1968 Faked Video (from The Jagged Orbit by John Brunner)
Fraudulent video and audio file created from original materials to order.
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 End of Cars (from Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner)
Humanity finally sees sense and gets rid of personal cars.
1968 TMA-1 (from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke)
The Tycho Monolith.
1968 Sleep Generator (from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke)
An automated way to impose sleep on the brain.
1968 Icon Thumbsized Image (from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke)
A very early reference to a screen icon.
1968 Nexus-6 Brain Unit (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick)
The processing power behind android intelligence.
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 Robot Self-Assembly (from Meccano by Hugo Correa)
A robot separated into many pieces reassembles itself.
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 Steam Rifle (from Omnivore by Piers Anthony)
A gun that propels projectiles with steam.
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 Sinclair Molecule Chain (from A Gift From Earth by Larry Niven)
A monofilament fiber, used for strength.
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 Flex-Wheels (from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke)
Special wheels designed for getting around on the Moon.
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 Illyrion (from Nova by Samuel R. Delany)
Super-heavy and super-stable elements with atomic numbers greater than 296.
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 Newspad Electronic Newspaper (from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke)
An electronic version of a newspaper.
1968 Karatand (from Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner)
A special glove made of impact-sensitive plastic.
1968 Mobile Lab (from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke)
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 Nexus-7 Android (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick)
The next version after the Nexus-6.
1968 Andy (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick)
A slang term for "android" - an artificially created humanoid being.
1968 Mining Worm (Organic) (from A Gift From Earth by Larry Niven)
Genetically altered earthworm created just for mining.
1968 Mercy Rifle (from Grendel by Larry Niven)
Device fired slivers of anesthetic as darts.
1968 Robot Bird (from Invader on My Back by Philip E. High)
A small winged UAV that can mimic a bird in flight.
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 Replicant (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick)
An android; an artificial human being.
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.
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 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 Project Scoop (from The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton)
A space craft feature that collects dust for study.
1969 Singleship (from Death by Ecstasy by Larry Niven)
A spacecraft designed for use by one person.
1969 Nothing (from It was Nothing - Really! by Theodore Sturgeon)
A super-hard substance created by carefully removing material.
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 Bot (from We All Died At Breakaway Station by Richard Meredith)
The first use of this contraction for "robot".
1969 Voicecorder (from Whipping Star by Brian Herbert)
A device that records verbal output and determines truth or falsehood.
1969 Perimeter Robot (from The Cruel Equations by Robert Sheckley)
A purpose-designed robotic sentry, looking for aliens.
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 Drop-Capsule (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg)
Minimal spaceship.
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 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 Ubik Spray Can (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick)
One of many definitions of Ubik. Take only as directed.
1969 Automated Drone Probes (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg)
Human-sized robot probes for exploration.
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 Ghola (from Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert)
A living, functioning person who is regrown or recreated from the tissues of a dead person.
1969 Tleilaxu Eyes (Metal Eyes) (from Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert)
Tleilaxu eye surgery replaces natural eyeballs damaged or destroyed.
1969 Android Son (from Super-Toys Last All Summer Long by Brian Aldiss)
An android son for a childless couple.
1969 Device Replication (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg)
Manufacturing devices from a template to save space on space craft.
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 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 Rod (from Wolfling by Gordon R. Dickson)
In a fight, it is used in a manner similar to a sword and a flamethrower.
1969 Viewing Tank (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg)
A display monitor.
1969 Rubber Hoof (from The Warlock in Spite of Himself by Christopher Stasheff)
Silent running for robot horses.
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 Protective Field (Safety Field) (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg)
An static energy field used to protect a city.
1969 Breathing Balloon (from Get a Horse! by Larry Niven)
Like a helmet, but rather than being solid it can pass some gases.
1969 Flight Stick (from Get a Horse! by Larry Niven)
A kind of flying device.
1969 Mole Probe (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg)
Automated devices that seek underground routes, burrowing as they go.
1969 Cold-Pac Bin (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick)
A special coffin-sized chamber used to maintain half-life.
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 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 Memory Plastic (from Death by Ecstasy by Larry Niven)
Takes various shapes impressed into it on command.
1969 Homeopape (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick)
A automated device that produces a newspaper without human assistance.
1969 Multi-function Living Room (from Death by Ecstasy by Larry Niven)
A small living space with a variety of functions built-in.
1969 Face Dancer (from Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert)
Mimicry enhanced through genetic manipulation.
1969 Electrical Grandmother (Robot Grandma) (from I Sing The Body Electric! by Ray Bradbury)
A robotic companion.
1969 Spray-Foam Blouse (from Galactic Pot-Healer by Philip K. Dick)
Clothing that is sprayed on fresh.
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 Rapid-Transit Hover Blimp (from Galactic Pot-Healer by Philip K. Dick)
Public transportation for a paranoid age.
1969 Window Wavelength (from Super-Toys Last All Summer Long by Brian Aldiss)
Display's that provide 'views' as if they were windows.
1969 Synthetic Flesh (from Super-Toys Last All Summer Long by Brian Aldiss)
Provides robots with realistic coverings, not just 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 Vision Cube (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg)
A solid-state memory device.
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 Automated Apartment Maintenance (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick)
Automated devices that would oversee the maintenance of a rented apartment.
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 Weightless Work Area (from Galactic Pot-Healer by Philip K. Dick)
A small workspace within which there is no gravitational pull.
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 Teddy (from Super-Toys Last All Summer Long by Brian Aldiss)
A very intelligent and highly mobile robotic teddy bear.
1969 Flight Stick (from The Flight of the Horse by Larry Niven)
A personal flying vehicle, stripped down to the basics.
1969 Membrane Balloon Helmet (from The Flight of the Horse by Larry Niven)
A selectively permeable membrane worn as a helmet.
1969 Electronic Body Analyzer (from The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton)
A replacement for the human doctor.
1969 Toll Door (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick)
An apartment door that operates on a cash-only basis.
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 Self-Powered Broom (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick)
A broom for use in small apartments that cleans under its own power.
1969 Protophason Amplifier (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick)
Detects brain activity of those in half-life.
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 Plastic-Eating Bacteria (from The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton)
Mutated bacteria able to 'eat' or dissolve rubber and plastic.
1969 Stillsuit Desert Boots (from Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert)
Special boots that offered parasitic power harvesting.
1969 Padre Booth (from Galactic Pot-Healer by Philip K. Dick)
Device that provides religious aid and comfort on demand.
1969 Parenthood Lottery (from Super-Toys Last All Summer Long by Brian Aldiss)
A means of restricting population growth.
1969 Gyrocar (Gyro) (from The Ring by Piers Anthony (w/R. Margroff))
A gyroscopically stabilized car; a one-wheeled vehicle.
1969 Crosswell Tape Worm (from Super-Toys Last All Summer Long by Brian Aldiss)
Device that allows you to eat without gaining weight.
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 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 Vortal Tube (from Whipping Star by Frank Herbert)
An energy passage providing instantaneous transportation between points across the galaxy
1969 Automatic Sentry Gun (from The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton)
A sentry gun that could target and decide to fire without any human intervention.
1969 Ident Darts (from The Electric Ant by Philip K. Dick)
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that track individuals.
1969 Diagnostat (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg)
A device able to diagnose and treat most human ailments.
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 Artiforg (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick)
An artificial organ kept 'on line' in the body.
1969 Teep Rod (from Galactic Pot-Healer by Philip K. Dick)
A device that gathers the thoughts of an individual.
1969 Whologram (from Super-Toys Last All Summer Long by Brian Aldiss)
Presents a realistic illusion.
1969 Ultraflash (from The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton)
A device that sterilizes the skin by a pulse of light.
1969 Tranquilizing Gum (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick)
Chewing gum with a tranquilizing agent.
1969 Physiognomic Template (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick)
A method for changing the appearance of your face at will.
1969 Voice Encyclopedia (from Galactic Pot-Healer by Philip K. Dick)
Access to information via robotic voice recognition over the phone.
1969 Axolotl Tank (from Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert)
A device to regenerate or reshape organic material.
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 Webfoam Cradle (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg)
A means of softening the landing for humans inside spacecraft.
1970 Transmat (from Tower of Glass by Robert Silverberg)
A teleportation device.
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 Jack In (from Tower of Glass by Robert Silverberg)
To open one's nervous system to a computer's virtual world.
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 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 Shadow Square Wire (from Ringworld by Larry Niven)
Very fine, very light, very strong wire.
1970 Shadow Square (from Ringworld by Larry Niven)
An enormous blind that orbits a star.
1970 Sonic Fold (from Ringworld by Larry Niven)
Force field that guides air around an air vehicle.
1970 Tower of Glass (from Tower of Glass by Robert Silverberg)
An enormous glass tower built to communicate outside the solar system.
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 Brillo (from Brillo by Ben Bova (w/H. Ellison))
A police robot.
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 Sleep Set (Sleep Headset) (from Ringworld by Larry Niven)
An electronic device for inducing deep sleep.
1970 Osmosis Generator (Cziltang Brone) (from Ringworld by Larry Niven)
A device that can render a solid permeable to matter.
1970 Scrith (from Ringworld by Larry Niven)
The material used to build Ringworld; has remarkable tensile strength
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 Flywheel Cycle (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison)
A motorcycle powered by a flywheel.
1970 Gaussrifle (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison)
Projectiles driven by electromagnetic forces.
1970 Riding Robot (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison)
A single person means of bipedal transportation.
1970 Luggage Robot (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison)
Perfect helper at robotic hotels.
1970 Killalc Pills (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison)
Counteracts the effects of alcohol consumption.
1970 Blackout Gas (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison)
Cuts input from the optic nerve.
1970 Powdered Alcohol (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison)
Alcohol in non-liquid form.
1970 Robotnik Automated Hotel (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison)
A fully-automated hotel; no human interaction required.
1970 Nerve Machine (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison)
A device that delivers pure pain via neural currents.
1970 Flycycle (from Ringworld by Larry Niven)
Combination flying motorcycle, kitchen and autodoc.
1970 Trumps (from Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny)
Magical Tarot cards that permitted both communication and transportation.
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 Robutler (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison)
A robotic butler.
1970 Squib (from Our Friends From Frolix 8 by Philip K. Dick)
A simple form of ground transportation.
1970 Transparent Overalls (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison)
Perfect for prisoners, because nothing can be concealed.
1970 Sigfrid von Shrink (from Gateway by Frederik Pohl)
An automated therapist.
1970 Sound Deadener (from Ringworld by Larry Niven)
Device that acts to damp excessive noise produced by different species.
1970 Nearleather (from What's Become of Screwloose? by Ron Goulart)
Fake leather.
1970 Airmaker (from Ringworld by Larry Niven)
A device that creates a specific breathable mix directly from the atmosphere.
1970 Food Brick (from Ringworld by Larry Niven)
Appropriate manufactured food for any species.
1970 Unichapel (Robotic Confession Booth) (from THX 1138 by George Lucas)
Automated religious confessional with monotone, programmed responses.
1970 Stepping Discs (from Ringworld by Larry Niven)
Open air teleportation pads.
1970 Screamer (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison)
An acoustic weapon.
1970 Floating Castle (from Ringworld by Larry Niven)
A vast building floating freely above the land surface of Ringworld.
1970 Holo (from Ringworld by Larry Niven)
Abbreviation of "hologram".
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 Kemplerer (Klemperer) Rosette (from Ringworld by Larry Niven)
Planets without a sun; they orbit a central point.
1970 Light-Sword (from Ringworld by Larry Niven)
A laser tuned for use as a cutting tool.
1970 Slaver Disintegrator (from Ringworld by Larry Niven)
Sometimes used as a digging tool.
1970 Translator Discs (from Ringworld by Larry Niven)
Wearable devices that wirelessly connected to a speech translation computer.
1970 Computer Virus (from The Scarred Man by Gregory Benford)
A software program that copies itself to other computers.
1970 Neck Radio (from Our Friends From Frolix 8 by Philip K. Dick)
Commercial radio from an implanted device.

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(See More Science Fiction in the News)

 

 

 
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