Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |
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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| Date | Device Name (Novel Author) |
| 1970 | Food Brick (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Appropriate manufactured food for any species. |
| 1970 | Computer Virus (from The Scarred Man by Gregory Benford) A software program that copies itself to other computers. |
| 1970 | Stepping Discs (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Open air teleportation pads. |
| 1970 | Floating Castle (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) A vast building floating freely above the land surface of Ringworld. |
| 1970 | Jack In (from Tower of Glass by Robert Silverberg) To open one's nervous system to a computer's virtual world. |
| 1970 | Transmat (from Tower of Glass by Robert Silverberg) A teleportation device. |
| 1970 | Sonic Fold (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Force field that guides air around an air vehicle. |
| 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 | Nerve Machine (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) A device that delivers pure pain via neural currents. |
| 1970 | Squib (from Our Friends From Frolix 8 by Philip K. Dick) A simple form of ground transportation. |
| 1970 | Airmaker (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) A device that creates a specific breathable mix directly from the atmosphere. |
| 1970 | Sound Deadener (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Device that acts to damp excessive noise produced by different species. |
| 1970 | Trumps (from Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny) Magical Tarot cards that permitted both communication and transportation. |
| 1970 | Unichapel (Robotic Confession Booth) (from THX 1138 by George Lucas) Automated religious confessional with monotone, programmed responses. |
| 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 | 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 | Gaussrifle (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) Projectiles driven by electromagnetic forces. |
| 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 | Flycycle (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Combination flying motorcycle, kitchen and autodoc. |
| 1970 | Scrith (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) The material used to build Ringworld; has remarkable tensile strength |
| 1970 | Neck Radio (from Our Friends From Frolix 8 by Philip K. Dick) Commercial radio from an implanted device. |
| 1970 | Robotnik Automated Hotel (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) A fully-automated hotel; no human interaction required. |
| 1970 | Blackout Gas (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) Cuts input from the optic nerve. |
| 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 | Robutler (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) A robotic butler. |
| 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 | Transparent Overalls (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) Perfect for prisoners, because nothing can be concealed. |
| 1970 | Powdered Alcohol (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) Alcohol in non-liquid form. |
| 1970 | Holo (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Abbreviation of "hologram". |
| 1970 | Screamer (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) An acoustic weapon. |
| 1970 | Sleep Set (Sleep Headset) (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) An electronic device for inducing deep sleep. |
| 1970 | Kemplerer (Klemperer) Rosette (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Planets without a sun; they orbit a central point. |
| 1970 | Nearleather (from What's Become of Screwloose? by Ron Goulart) Fake leather. |
| 1970 | Sigfrid von Shrink (from Gateway by Frederik Pohl) An automated therapist. |
| 1970 | Light-Sword (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) A laser tuned for use as a cutting tool. |
| 1970 | Inert-Wear (from Say Goodby to the Wind by J.G. Ballard) Clothing made of dead fibers; clothing that is unmoving, static. |
| 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 | Shadow Square Wire (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Very fine, very light, very strong wire. |
| 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 | 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 | Osmosis Generator (Cziltang Brone) (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) A device that can render a solid permeable to matter. |
| 1970 | Shadow Square (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) An enormous blind that orbits a star. |
| 1970 | Variable Sword (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) A sword that could vary in length, and cut through anything. |
| 1970 | Tasp (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) A device that induces a current in the pleasure center of the brain, at a distance. |
| 1970 | Translator Discs (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Wearable devices that wirelessly connected to a speech translation computer. |
| 1970 | Tower of Glass (from Tower of Glass by Robert Silverberg) An enormous glass tower built to communicate outside the solar system. |
| 1970 | Slaver Disintegrator (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Sometimes used as a digging tool. |
| 1971 | Launching Laser (from The Fourth Profession by Larry Niven) A set of very high-powered lasers used to power spacecraft. |
| 1971 | Nowhen (from A Feast for the Gods by Poul and Karen Anderson) At no time. |
| 1971 | Robot Pope (from Good News From the Vatican by Robert Silverberg) An artificially intelligent robotic cardinal ascends to the Throne of St. Peter. |
| 1971 | Impact Suit (from The Flying Sorcerers by David Gerrold (w/L, Niven)) A body suit that is flexible, but upon a hard impact becomes rigid and impenetrable. |
| 1971 | Skin Suit (from Dinosaur Beach by Keith Laumer) A very tight-fighting spacesuit, or disguise. |
| 1971 | Selektrogel (from And All The Stars A Stage by James Blish) An over-the-counter gel to choose the sex of a child at conception. |
| 1971 | Pocket Display Projector (from The Anome by Jack Vance) A pocketsized projector capable of displaying high resolution images so they can be viewed by a group of people. |
| 1971 | Batacitor (from The Fabulous Riverboat by Philip Jose Farmer) A storage device for electricity that could be charged in a very short time. |
| 1971 | Verse Transcriber (from Studio 5, The Stars by J.G. Ballard) A device that would produce perfect poetry, given the necessary parameters. |
| 1972 | Hubrizine (from We Can Build You by Philip K. Dick) A drug that brings about greater alertness and cheerfulness. |
| 1972 | Artificial Muscles (from Cyborg by Martin Caidin) Replacement for organic muscle tissue. |
| 1972 | Window-Cleaner Robots (from Rendezvous With Rama by Arthur C. Clarke) Robots that perform the task of cleaning and polishing transparent surfaces. |
| 1972 | Stunwand (from Hellstrom's Hive by Frank Herbert) |
| 1972 | Displacement Booth (from Flash Crowd by Larry Niven) A teleportation portal. |
| 1972 | Flash Crowd (Flash Mob) (from Flash Crowd by Larry Niven) What you call a group of people who suddenly appear at an interesting location. |
| 1972 | Polawindow (from The Godmakers by Frank Herbert) A window-sized polarizer filter that allows changes in light intensity and color. |
| 1972 | Procreative Stump (from Hellstrom's Hive by Frank Herbert) A woman's torso, kept alive for the purpose of using the womb as an incubator. |
| 1972 | Transmit-Paper (from The Godmakers by Frank Herbert) Paper form with a built-in capability to transmit the information written with a stylus to a remote computer network. |
| 1972 | Go-Buggy (from The Godmakers by Frank Herbert) A ground-only vehicle. |
| 1972 | Selectacol (from The Godmakers by Frank Herbert) A device that automates the interior design process, providing a choice of color schemes for a roomful of furniture. |
| 1972 | Implanted Tranceiver (from The Godmakers by Frank Herbert) Device enables two-way communication with needing to carry a device. |
| 1972 | Bionic Legs (from Cyborg by Martin Caidin) Human legs rebuilt and improved. |
| 1972 | Atlotl/Gibiril Regimen (from The Godmakers by Frank Herbert) A method of altering the flow of energy in the body to aid in regrowth of damaged or missing tissue. |
| 1972 | Crechepod (from The Godmakers by Frank Herbert) A small, enclosed medical device providing full life support as well as advanced regrowth technologies. |
| 1972 | Biot (from Rendezvous With Rama by Arthur C. Clarke) A biological robot. |
| 1972 | Ironing Robot (from Iron (утюг) by Mikhail Mikheev) A robot that smooths the wrinkles out of clothing. |
| 1972 | Chemical Orders (from Hellstrom's Hive by Frank Herbert) Use of chemical triggers for behavior and behavior modification. |
| 1972 | Hive-Sign (from Hellstrom's Hive by Frank Herbert) Specialized sign language developed by an offshoot of humanity. |
| 1972 | Filter-Mask (from The Sheep Look Up by John Brunner) Perfect for dystopian future air pollution. |
| 1972 | P-Terminal Implant (from The Terminal Man by Michael Crichton) A device consisting of implanted power pack, control and electrodes placed near pleasure centers of the brain. |
| 1972 | Superluminal (from Patterns of Chaos by Colin Kapp) Faster than the speed of light. |
| 1972 | Cryosleep (from Flight of Exiles by Ben Bova) Use of extreme cold to cause suspended animation. |
| 1972 | Electrofriend (Artificial Friend) (from Automatthew's Friend by Stanislaw Lem) A tiny electric friend, which nestles in your ear, and provides advice and information. |
| 1972 | Dragonfly Sky-Bike (from Rendezvous With Rama by Arthur C. Clarke) An ultralight human-powered flyer. |
| 1972 | Autobutle (from The Godmakers by Frank Herbert) An automated servant. |
| 1972 | City of Glass (from The Godmakers by Frank Herbert) An entire city made of unique structural glass and ceramic. |
| 1972 | Rotating House (from The Godmakers by Frank Herbert) A single family home built upon a central pivot; it can be turned at will. |
| 1972 | Bionic Arm (from Cyborg by Martin Caidin) An artificial arm that responds in a manner similar to the 'original equipment' item. |
| 1972 | Spider Tripod Robot (from Rendezvous With Rama by Arthur C. Clarke) Three-legged alien robot. |
| 1972 | WatchdØg (Watchdog) (from WatchdØg by Jack C. Haldeman) |
| 1972 | Implant-Watch (from Cloak of Anarchy by Larry Niven) Subcutaneous timepiece; uses patterns of colored lights to show the time. |
| 1972 | Ilse (from Long Shot by Vernor Vinge) The first intelligent ship brain. |
| 1972 | Tickler (from Eurema's Dam by R.A. Lafferty) Clears smog and saves the residue for later use. |
| 1972 | Cyborg (from Cyborg by Martin Caidin) A cybernetic organism - man in union with machine |
| 1972 | The Krang (from The Tar-Aiym Krang by Alan Dean Foster) An enormous musical instrument (or weapon). |
| 1972 | Newstaper Gear (from Flash Crowd by Larry Niven) The devices used by a person who serves as a reporter, cameraman and story finder. |
| 1972 | King's Free Park (from Cloak of Anarchy by Larry Niven) A park in which anarchy reigned; a very long, narrow park. |
| 1972 | Ultraminiature Spy-Circuit (from The Unknown by Christopher Anvil) Tiny bits of 'smart dust' used as surveillance devices. |
| 1972 | Copseyes (from Cloak of Anarchy by Larry Niven) A small floating "eye-in-the-sky" surveillance drone used by police in an extensive park. |
| 1972 | Mini-Sneaker (from The Godmakers by Brian Herbert) A small, airborne surveillance device. |
| 1972 | Key Club (from Flash Crowd by Larry Niven) A social club made exclusive by teleportation booth; may be in a chain with other physically identical locations. |
| 1972 | Nightmask (from Hellstrom's Hive by Frank Herbert) Night vision mask (similar to a diving mask) with an infrared light source. |
| 1973 | Monopole Mining (from Protector by Larry Niven) Looking for natural sources of monopoles. |
| 1973 | Ultramicrominiature Waldo (from Time Enough For Love by Robert Heinlein) A device for transforming ordinary human hand movements into extremely small-scale surgical motions. |
| 1973 | Welton Cube (from Time Enough For Love by Robert Heinlein) High-density storage device. |
| 1973 | Ram Field (from Protector by Larry Niven) A specialized version of the hydrogen-gathering field for a Bussard Ramjet. |
| 1973 | Artificial Gravity-Assisted Childbirth (from Time Enough For Love by Robert Heinlein) Using an artificial gravity field to assist (and accelerate) the process of childbirth. |
| 1973 | Light-Sculpture (from Light Verse by Isaac Asimov) A creative work that was both sculpture and light. |
| 1973 | Implanted Interface With Retinal Nerves (from The Continuous Katherine Mortenhoe (The Unsleeping Eye) by D.G. Compton) Circuitry that provides a 'look' at what the eye sees. |
| 1973 | Gravity Lens (from Protector by Larry Niven) An optical lens created using the lightbending properties of gravity. |
| 1973 | Slowboat (from Protector by Larry Niven) Slower than lightspeed spacecraft used for interstellar colonization. |
| 1973 | Decibel Alarms (from A Bridle for Pegasus by Anne McCaffrey) Alarms that would go off if the noise in public gathering places was rising to riotous levels. |
| 1973 | Frictionless Cups (from Protector by Larry Niven) Cups with a special surface to which liquid does not adhere. |
| 1973 | Hypno-Encyclopedic Techniques (from Time Enough For Love by Robert Heinlein) If you plan to live for centuries, you need to organize your memories. |
| 1973 | Moon Hopper (from Rider in the Sky by Raymond F. Jones) A jet-powered single-person vehicle for the Moon. |
| 1973 | Twing (from Protector by Larry Niven) Used in the hold of spaceships to keep articles all together, and to prevent them from floating around in free fall, or falling during periods of acceleration. |
| 1974 | Superconductor of Heat (from The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) A light metal that accepts heat applied to its surface, and then dissipates the energy throughout the material, leaving the temperature of the material unchanged. |
| 1974 | Flesh Gun (from The Computer Connection by Alfred Bester) A weapon that burns the skin and meat off the victim. |
| 1974 | Robotrix (from Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said by Philip K. Dick) A robot, female in appearance. |
| 1974 | Molemen (from The Computer Connection by Alfred Bester) |
| 1974 | Time Dingbat (from The Computer Connection by Alfred Bester) Nickname for a time machine; used for a kind of WPA-like program for the past. |
| 1974 | Placental Decanters (from The Girl Who Was Plugged In by James Tiptree, Jr.) Perfect human bodies with control implants for remote use. |
| 1974 | Powered Suit with Trauma Maintenance (from The Forever War by Joe Haldeman) A powered suit (or powered armor) that is set up to save as much of your body as possible in worse case scenarios. |
| 1974 | Eccentric Projection (from The Girl Who Was Plugged In by James Tiptree, Jr.) Remote manipulation of a body not your own. |
| 1974 | Assault Ship (from The Forever War by Joe Haldeman) A one-way, one-use spacecraft for depositing troops at the scene of a space battle. |
| 1974 | Collapsar Jump (from The Forever War by Joe Haldeman) Travel between collapsed stars in no time at all. |
| 1974 | Projection Commercials (from The Computer Connection by Alfred Bester) A three-dimensional advertisement that is placed in your path in a public place like a bar. |
| 1974 | Cushion Fence (from The Computer Connection by Alfred Bester) Gentle force field |
| 1974 | Metal Paste (from The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) A conductive metal that could be easily squirted from a tube. |
| 1974 | Testing For Human (from Inhuman Error by Fred Saberhagen) How can you distinguish the artificial from the real? |
| 1974 | Harvesting Saturn's Rings (from The Computer Connection by Alfred Bester) Mining the rings for industrial purposes. |
| 1974 | Home Ad Blocker (from The Computer Connection by Alfred Bester) Device insulates house against intrusion by 3D advertisements. |
| 1974 | Frictionless Toilet (from The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) A toilet bowl that does not require water, because its surface is frictionless. |
| 1974 | Fyunch(click) (from The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) An alien assigned to become an expert in just one person. |
| 1974 | Cryocapsule (from The Computer Connection by Alfred Bester) A spaceship capsule that contains astronauts in special coffins, in suspended animation. |
| 1974 | C-Plus Cannon (from Inhuman Error by Fred Saberhagen) Weapon fire that can skip past the speed of light and back. |
| 1974 | Cryonaut (from The Computer Connection by Alfred Bester) An astronaut placed in cryonic sleep. |
| 1974 | Pressor Field (from The Forever War by Joe Haldeman) A force field that pressed against anything that encountered it. |
| 1974 | Acceleration Shell (from The Forever War by Joe Haldeman) A special suit designed to help people survive accelerations of up to twenty-five gravities. |
| 1974 | Armor Cloth (from The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) Extremely tough synthetic fabric. |
| 1974 | Acceleration Couch (from The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) A chair designed for use in during periods of high acceleration (multiple gravities). |
| 1974 | Gee Bath (from The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) Essentially a waterbed designed to help older or untrained people cope with high acceleration aboard spacecraft. |
| 1974 | Acceleration Chair (from The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) A specially-designed chair used to help crew stay mobile during periods of high acceleration. |
| 1974 | Atmosphere Control (from The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) Recently terraformed planets require constant maintenance. |
| 1974 | Langston Field (from The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) A protective energy shield. |
| 1974 | Projection (from The Computer Connection by Alfred Bester) A means of projecting your image to a distant place. |
| 1974 | Talking Pamphlet (from Ellison Wonderland by Harlan Ellison) An instructional pamphlet that instructs you through ordinary speech. |
| 1974 | Robot Gas Station (from Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said by Philip K. Dick) An entirely automated station for dispensing fuel to consumer vehicles. |
| 1974 | Tramline (from The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) The line along which hyperspace (instantaneous travel) travel is possible. |
| 1974 | Skull Bug (from The Computer Connection by Alfred Bester) A small electronic device implanted in the cranium at birth; used for monitoring and control. |
| 1974 | Alderson Point (from The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) One end of a tramline, a path between stars that can be traversed using a hyperdrive engine. |
| 1974 | Numbitol (from The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) You guessed it, a topical anesthetic. |
| 1974 | Laser Finger (from The Forever War by Jack C. Haldeman) Special powered suit add-on makes you even quicker on the draw. |
| 1974 | Handbag Computer (from The Futurological Congress by Stanislaw Lem) Device capable of carrying on your conversation for you. |
| 1974 | Microtransmitter Dot (from Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said by Philip K. Dick) A tiny transmitter placed on ID cards, used to track ID holders. |
| 1974 | Seed Bomb (from Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said by Philip K. Dick) A tiny explosive that can be embedded under the skin. |
| 1974 | Picphone (from Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said by Philip K. Dick) A small telephone that has a screen to show pictures. |
| 1974 | Phone-Grid Transex Network (from Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said by Philip K. Dick) Addictive network-enhanced sexuality. |
| 1974 | Stimtab (from The Forever War by Joe Haldeman) A drug designed to keep the user awake and alert for long periods. |
| 1974 | EEG-Gram Projection (from Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said by Philip K. Dick) Detection of unique characteristics at a distance. |
| 1974 | Floating Building (from Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said by Philip K. Dick) An apartment building that floats a few feet off the ground. |
| 1974 | KR-3 (from Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said by Philip K. Dick) A drug that breaks down the ability of the brain to perceive space and physical objects properly, or in sequence; a new universe opens. |
| 1974 | Pressure Curtain (from The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) A force field that creates a barrier that people can pass through but air cannot - an airlock in a spacecraft. |
| 1975 | Hearing Aid (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) A service that allows people to anonymously talk with another person who only listens. |
| 1975 | Delphi Pool (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) A large group of people used as a statistical sampling resource; even if the correct answer is not known, responses tend to cluster around the correct answer. |
| 1975 | Data-Retrieval Mode (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) A system for getting the thoughts and images out of a person's mind; recovering the data from a brain storage device. |
| 1975 | Modded Dog (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) A canine whose ancestors were genetically modified for higher intelligence; the trait breeds true in offspring. |
| 1975 | Personal Smelter (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) A device used to reduce metallic objects (like coins, pots, cables) to an ingot with known value. |
| 1975 | Computer Worm (Tapeworm) (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) The first description of a set of computer codes that moves from one computer to another on a network as a coherent entity. |
| 1975 | Coley Group (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) A musical form that involves dancing in a field of weak microwaves. |
| 1975 | Net Shutdown Worm (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) A tapeworm designed to shut down a nationwide network in the event of national emergency. |
| 1975 | Paid Avoidance Zone (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) An area where the inhabitants agree, for a government-paid fee, to live without sophisticated services. |
| 1975 | Autoporter (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) A device that carries your bag for you at airports. |
| 1975 | Government Data Transparency (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) The idea that all of the information available to the government should be posted online and be easily accessible to everyone. |
| 1975 | Tiered Internet (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) The idea that some forms of Internet network traffic should be given priority over others. |
| 1975 | Computer Play Time (from Point of View by Isaac Asimov) Allowing a computer to take time off from serious problems improves its performance. |
| 1975 | Data-Net (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) An early mention of the idea of a nationwide data network. |
| 1975 | Retaliatory Tapeworm (Counter-Worm) (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) Using computers to deliberately damage another person's reputation and well-being. |
| 1975 | Inflatable Church (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) A church using an inflatable projection screen as an altar. |
| 1975 | National Network Surveillance (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) A system for providing the government with a way to monitor computer network use. |
| 1975 | Electronic Voting (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) Using computer terminals to register votes from citizens. |
| 1975 | Satellite Search and Destroy (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) Destroying satellites in orbit. |
| 1976 | Womb Room (from A World Out of Time by Larry Niven) The ultimate ship's bridge. |
| 1976 | Vaporator (from Star Wars by George Lucas) A device which extracted moisture from the air for use in farming. |
| 1976 | Landspeeder (from Star Wars by George Lucas) A small repulsion-based hovercraft capable of high speeds over flat terrain. |
| 1976 | Death Star (from Star Wars by George Lucas) The logical endpoint of a galactic empire. |
| 1976 | Restraining Bolt (from Star Wars by George Lucas) A device that makes sure a robot does what you want (rather than what it wants). |
| 1976 | Supralight Drive (from Star Wars by George Lucas) A propulsion system that allows a spacecraft to travel faster than light. |
| 1976 | Deflector Shield (from Star Wars by George Lucas) A energy field used to shunt the energy of offensive weapons aside. |
| 1976 | Remote (or Seeker Remote) (from Star Wars by George Lucas) A training aid for use by Jedi knights. |
| 1976 | Hangman (from My Name is Legion by Roger Zelazny) A telefactoring device that also was able to function independently. |
| 1976 | Empty Man (from A World Out of Time by Larry Niven) A fully-functioning body, the personality of which had been wiped clean. |
| 1976 | 3D 'Chess' Game Board (from Star Wars by George Lucas) A flatbed 3D display which is used to play chess-style board games in three dimensions. |
| 1976 | Poster TV (from A World Out of Time by Larry Niven) This display gives new meaning to the term "flat screen." |
| 1976 | Young-Forever (from A World Out of Time by Larry Niven) A very particular formula for human immortality, which solves the most serious attendant problem (population explosion). |
| 1976 | Zero-Time Jail (from A World Out of Time by Larry Niven) A building in which an energy field prevents time from passing. |
| 1976 | Bubble Car (from A World Out of Time by Larry Niven) Self-steering, hovering, this is the car of the future. |
| 1976 | Dog Suit (from Doorways in the Sand by Roger Zelazny) A disguise worn by an alien detective, allowing him to look just like a domestic canine. |
| 1976 | Sensor Arm (from Star Wars by George Lucas) An extendable multipurpose sensor cluster. |
| 1976 | Nemourlon (from West of Honor by Jerry Pournelle) Material for special body armor. |
| 1976 | RUMOKO (from My Name is Legion by Roger Zelazny) A project to create additional land surface by deliberate stimulation of undersea volcanoes. |
| 1976 | Star Stone (Speicus) (from Doorways in the Sand by Roger Zelazny) An artificial intelligence shaped like a rock, which can communicate with living organisms telepathically. |
| 1976 | R2-D2 (Artoo-Detoo) (from Star Wars by George Lucas) Now the generic term for a small, maneuverable robot. |
| 1976 | Droid (Star Wars) (from Star Wars by George Lucas) A contraction of "android", it actually describes one of a variety of robots. |
| 1976 | Habitable Exoplanet Moon (from Star Wars by George Lucas) An Earthlike moon that orbits a gas giant. |
| 1976 | Sandcrawler (from Star Wars by George Lucas) A very large mobile home, used by jawas on the deserts of Tatooine. |
| 1976 | Trans-Space Transmission (from The Moon Moth by Jack Vance) A curious method of communication between worlds. |
| 1976 | Sandtrout Glove (from Children of Dune by Frank Herbert) A living glove, formed of live creatures. |
| 1976 | Keyboard With Changing Keys (from Imperial Earth by Arthur C. Clarke) A computer keyboard with keys faced with little displays, so the label could change based on the application or language. |
| 1976 | Anabolic Protoplaser (from Spock, Messiah! by Theodore Cogswell (w/C. Spano)) Uses laser light to repair wounds. |
| 1976 | Automatic Control Car (from Imperial Earth by Arthur C. Clarke) An autonomous vehicle. |
| 1976 | Comsole (Home Communications Console) (from Imperial Earth by Arthur C. Clarke) A home computer, connected to data services. |
| 1976 | Lightsaber (from Star Wars by George Lucas) A sword the blade of which is formed by a beam of visible light which cuts like a laser. |
| 1976 | Biological Package Probe (from A World Out of Time by Larry Niven) |
| 1976 | Ion Cannon (from Star Wars by George Lucas) Fires blasts of charged particles. |
| 1976 | Comlink (from Star Wars by George Lucas) Short for communications link; a small portable communicator. |
| 1976 | Escape Pod (Life Pod, Boat Pod) (from Star Wars by George Lucas) A small ship used solely as a "life boat." |
| 1976 | Orbital Factory (from Bind Your Sons To Exile by Jerry Pournelle) Putting manufacturing in space, orbiting the planet. |
| 1976 | Ixian Sight Mask (from Children of Dune by Frank Herbert) Device to allow the blind to see. |
| 1976 | Smother-Charge (from My Name is Legion by Roger Zelazny) Molecularly-gimmicked explosive. |
| 1976 | Neuristor Brain (from My Name is Legion by Roger Zelazny) A computer device made up of neuristors. |
| 1976 | Gravity-assisted Subway (from A World Out of Time by Larry Niven) The fastest way between continents (that does not entail leaving the ground). |
| 1976 | Stimic (from The Moon Moth by Jack Vance) A musical instrument consisting of three flutelike tubes equipped with plungers; thumb and forefinger squeeze a bag to force air across the mouthpieces. |
| 1976 | Magnetic Projector (from The Space Beyond by John W. Campbell) Projects a vortex of magnetic force. |
| 1976 | Bussard Ramjet (from A World Out of Time by Larry Niven) Propulsion method that scoops hydrogen atoms from space via electromagnetic fields. |
| 1976 | Minisec (from Imperial Earth by Arthur C. Clarke) A device like a personal digital assistant (PDA) today. |
| 1976 | Moon Moth (from The Moon Moth by Jack Vance) A rather plain and timid mask. |
| 1976 | Asymptotic Drive (from Imperial Earth by Arthur C. Clarke) A propulsion drive that used a tiny black hole to generate energy. |
| 1976 | Lunar Disneyland (from The Phantom of Kansas by John Varley) A vast cavern excavated on the Moon - used for entertainment. Very large scale entertainment. |
| 1976 | Robot Surgeon (from The Bicentennial Man by Isaac Asimov) An autonomous robotic surgeon. |
| 1976 | Bubble City (from My Name is Legion by Roger Zelazny) Underwater domes provide living space for large communities. |
| 1976 | T.I.E. Fighter (Tie Fighter) (from Star Wars by George Lucas) A highly maneuverable fighter spacecraft using an ion drive propulsion system. |
| 1976 | Strakh (from The Moon Moth by Jack Vance) The prestige or social prominence which serves as a medium of exchange on the planet Sirene. |
| 1976 | Environmental Happening (from The Phantom of Kansas by John Varley) Weather created as a work of art. |
| 1976 | Tagalong (from In the Bowl by John Varley) A backpack with legs; a robot that will carry things for you and match your movements. |
| 1976 | Skyhook (from West of Honor by Jerry Pournelle) Part dirigible, part plane. |
| 1976 | Sonic Curtain (Sound Lock) (from My Name is Legion by Roger Zelazny) An undersea sound curtain that keeps larger animals out. |
| 1976 | RNA Shots (from A World Out of Time by Larry Niven) An injection prepared from the tissues of a person with knowledge or experience that you need. |
| 1976 | Rhennius Machine (from Doorways in the Sand by Roger Zelazny) Device of alien manufacture, which will reverse, or turn inside out, any object passed through its mobilator. |
| 1976 | Dray-Fish (from The Moon Moth by Jack Vance) Large fish trained to be harnessed to large houseboats. |
| 1977 | Daily Schedule (DS) (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) The DS was an artificially intelligent day planner, a schedule keeper with voice recognition features; it also talked back when necessary. |
| 1977 | Caleban Contact (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) A form of telepathy based on the use of unimaginably enormous amounts of energy. |
| 1977 | Holomist (from The Ophiuchi Hotline by John Varley) A means of projecting a commercial message onto a fine spray. |
| 1977 | Holo-Printing (from A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick) Errors introduced in data storage media when recording under improper conditions. |
| 1977 | Ghostsmoke (from The Ophiuchi Hotline by John Varley) An advertisement projected onto a fine mist. |
| 1977 | Bedog (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) A sentient creature designed to be a bed. |
| 1977 | Odalarm (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) An alarm clock that awakens the sleeper with a selected odor. |
| 1977 | Trimagniscope (from Inherit the Stars by James P. Hogan) A device that produced a usable cross-sectional image of any part of an object. |
| 1977 | Transmitter Eyes (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) Closed circuit cameras that provided sight and sound to remote viewers of the Courtarena who wish to remain anonymous. |
| 1977 | Holo-Cube (from A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick) A very large holographic display, that a person could walk into. |
| 1977 | Holo-Scanner (from A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick) A small portable device that acquired holographic surveillance images. |
| 1977 | Alien Zoo (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) A zoo that brings together plants and animals from many planets. |
| 1977 | Briefcase Computer (from Inherit the Stars by James P. Hogan) A portable computer workstation. |
| 1977 | Centrifuge Room (from The Ophiuchi Hotline by John Varley) A small room on a planetoid that is spun to create artificial gravity. |
| 1977 | Taprisiot (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) A kind of symbiote, which attuned itself to the user, allowing an expansion of consciousness - telepathic communication anywhere in the galaxy in real time. |
| 1977 | Flexible Sprung Boots (from Inherit the Stars by James P. Hogan) Boots designed to be flexible when walking, but upon a hard step, will have a spring characteristic. |
| 1977 | Substance D (from A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick) An addictive, psychoactive drug. |
| 1977 | Network Monitoring Detection (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) Detection of someone monitoring your computer workstation |
| 1977 | Javelin (from The Ophiuchi Hotline by John Varley) A spacer who modified herself to more easily live in space. |
| 1977 | Sonabarrier (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) A type of energy fence, used to keep birds away from particular areas. |
| 1977 | Uniflesh (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) A type of artificial skin and underlying flesh. |
| 1977 | Cephalochromoscope (Cephscope) (from A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick) A brain-scan device with a screen to display neural patterns. |
| 1977 | Zoo Fences (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) Caustic water moat |
| 1977 | Glowstone (from Dying of the Light by George RR Martin) A mineral that absorbs light by day and emits it by night. |
| 1977 | Personality Simulator (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) A device which, when fed enough data about a person, simulated their personality allowing the user to predict behavior in stated circumstances. |
| 1977 | Tracked Vehicle (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) A heavily armored vehicle, typical of those in use, with a remarkable agility. |
| 1977 | Graluz (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) A contained, concealed breeding pond for the frog-like Gowachin. |
| 1977 | Swimming Tubes (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) Used to connect buildings for use by amphibious species. |
| 1977 | Armored Clothing (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) Ordinary apparel that contained both armor and muscle amplification devices. |
| 1977 | Grapple Tracks (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) A means of automating the process of parking and releasing passenger vehicles from a parking garage. |
| 1977 | Genoprinter (from The Ophiuchi Hotline by John Varley) A device that does a 'live capture' of a biometric skin sample. |
| 1977 | High Kavalaan Aircar (from Dying of the Light by George RR Martin) Flying SUV equipped with laser weapons. |
| 1977 | Antiholo Generator (from The Ophiuchi Hotline by John Varley) Dispels intrusive hologram advertisements. |
| 1977 | Sky-Scoot (from Dying of the Light by George RR Martin) A patch of antigravity foil used for flying. |
| 1977 | Chameleon Cloth (from Dying of the Light by George RR Martin) Clothing that changes color and pattern to match its surroundings. |
| 1977 | Darkdawn City (from Dying of the Light by George RR Martin) An entire city that is tuned to be played by the winds. |
| 1977 | Skitter (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) A small passenger vehicle, for two beings, which uses a steering bar. It is parked in a structure that parks and releases vehicles automatically. |
| 1977 | Memory Recording (from The Ophiuchi Hotline by John Varley) A means of recording the entirety of a person's experience and personality. |
| 1977 | Nullfield (from The Ophiuchi Hotline by John Varley) A field of energy that creates a barrier. |
| 1977 | Taprisiot Monitor Bead (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) A small bead to be swallowed that allowed the thoughts of a person to be transmitted and recorded during a specified interval. |
| 1977 | Null-Suit (from The Ophiuchi Hotline by John Varley) A device that projects a field of force that acts like a space suit. |
| 1977 | Rogue World (from Dying of the Light by George RR Martin) A celestial nomad, a planetary body that is not tied to a particular sun. |
| 1977 | Life Bank (from The Ophiuchi Hotline by John Varley) A storage facility with the genetic material that was produced by Earth's ecosystem. |
| 1977 | Gravity Train (from The Ophiuchi Hotline by John Varley) An underground railway system that utilizes gravity for acceleration. |
| 1977 | Pork Tree (from The Ophiuchi Hotline by John Varley) A plant that produces an analog to animal meat. |
| 1977 | Symb (from The Ophiuchi Hotline by John Varley) A symbiont life form that provides its human with life-giving energy. |
| 1977 | Scramble Suit (from A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick) A superthin membrane upon which are projected the characteristics of a million different people, it confers instant anonymity. |
| 1978 | CORA - Coronary Alarm (from The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke) An implanted (or worn) ECG monitor that warns the user of coronary events. |
| 1978 | Operation Cleanup (from The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke) The program that removed space debris in LEO that could harm the space elevator. |
| 1978 | 1D Diamond Crystal (from The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke) A continuous pseudo-one dimensional diamond crystal- maybe a nanotube? |
| 1978 | Spinnerettes (from The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke) A device that will unspool a nanowire filament and then pull it back in. |
| 1978 | Orbiting Factories (from The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke) Manufacturing centers in orbit around the Earth. |
| 1978 | Spider Space Elevator Test Vehicle (from The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke) A robotic testing device for the cables of a space elevator. |
| 1978 | Personal Interest Profile (PIP) (from The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke) A set of topics about which you would like to hear the latest news; known today as Google News Alerts. |
| 1978 | Structural Scanning (from Assassin by James P. Hogan) Essentially, a whole-object camera, that would take a detailed picture of the structure of an object. |
| 1978 | Deposition (3D Printing) (from Assassin by James P. Hogan) A method for creating any object, molecule by molecule. |
| 1978 | Holopad (from The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke) A small display like an iPad that shows 3D images. |
| 1978 | Hyperfilament (from The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke) A very high tensile strength material structured as a long thin line or ribbon. |
| 1978 | Space Elevator (Orbital Tower) (from The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke) A physical link between a point on the surface of the Earth and a satellite in geosynchronous orbit. |
| 1979 | Towel (from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams) A simple scrap of cloth with surprisingly many uses. |
| 1979 | Solar Flare System (from Mobile Suit Gundam by Yoshiyuki Tomino) Space-based parabolic reflector that focuses light for destructive purposes. |
| 1979 | Bulerite (from Macrolife by George Zebrowski) A building material, too good to be true, with hidden properties. |
| 1979 | Mobile Suit (from Mobile Suit Gundam by Yoshiyuki Tomino) A giant (typically 18 meters tall) humanoid-shaped armored combat vehicle. |
| 1979 | Whale Waldo (from Sundiver by David Brin) An electromechanical whale "suit" that obeys and amplifies your body's motions. |
| 1979 | Spider (from The Web Between the Worlds by Charles Sheffield) A robotic device that both extruded cable and climbed along it; a space construction robot. |
| 1979 | Gesture-Controlled Device (from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams) An electronic device that is controlled by hand gestures. |
| 1979 | Nutri-Matic (from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams) A drink dispenser that scans the person to determine what might go down well. |
| 1979 | Service Drones (from The Two Faces of Tomorrow by James P. Hogan) Small flying construction and repair robots. |
| 1979 | Deep Thought (from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams) The second-largest computer ever made. |
| 1979 | GPP Genuine People Personalities (from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams) Giving mechanisms their own unique affect. |
| 1979 | Needles (Chocolate and Vanilla) (from Sundiver by David Brin) Inflated towers reaching 20 miles out of Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1979 | Receptor Tape (from The Face by Jack Vance) A thin, flexible material that can pick up sounds. |
| 1979 | Conductive Film (from The Face by Jack Vance) A spray-on conductor capable of carrying a signal. |
| 1979 | Marvin the Robot (from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams) Another fine robot from the marketing division of the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation |
| 1979 | Gundarium (from Mobile Suit Gundam by Yoshiyuki Tomino) A very sturdy, high-tensile composite. |
| 1979 | Whoopee Drive (from Space Angel by John Maddox Roberts) Spacecraft propulsion. |
| 1979 | Sub-Etha Sens-O-Matic (from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams) A device which senses passing spacecraft; essential tool of interstellar hitchhikers |
| 1979 | Computer Generated DigItal Music (from The Moon Goddess and the Son by Donald Kingsbury) A computer composes music with a few simple inputs from the user. |
| 1979 | Powergun (from Hammer's Slammers by David Drake) A directed energy weapon. |
| 1979 | Minovsky Particles (from Mobile Suit Gundam by Yoshiyuki Tomino) A custom-generated subatomic particle with many technological applications. |
| 1979 | Supertank (from Hammer's Slammers by David Drake) An air-cushioned armored combat vehicle powered by a fusion generator. |
| 1979 | Joo Janta 200 Super-Chromatic Peril Sensitive Sunglasses (from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams) Sunglasses that darken at the sight of danger. |
| 1979 | Wire-Gun (from Mobile Suit Gundam by Yoshiyuki Tomino) Device that aids movement in microgravity. |
| 1979 | Mobile Armor (from Mobile Suit Gundam by Yoshiyuki Tomino) Heavilly armed spacecraft with limbs. |
| 1979 | Coal Mole (from The Web Between the Worlds by Charles Sheffield) Robotic device for asteroid mining chews through the interior, preparing raw materials for use |
| 1979 | Self-Satisfied Door (from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams) A door that is much more satisfied with its functionality than it has any right to be. |
| 1979 | Infinite Improbability Drive (from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams) Generates a field in which anything, no mater how improbable, can exist. |
| 1979 | Babel Fish (from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams) A living fish which, when placed in your ear, will live there and translate any form of language for you. |
| 1979 | Electronic Book (from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams) An early reference and description of electronic book hardware and operation. |
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Robot Hand Creeps Along, Separate From It's Owner
re: Philip K. Dick
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Taikonauts Exercise In China's Tiangong Space Station
re: Murray Leinster
(5/28/2025)
Korean Exoskeleton Suit F1 Helps You Put It On
re: Marvel
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Have AI Researchers Given Up On 'Bio-Babies'?
re: David Brin
(4/24/2025)
Bunker Busters and Bore-Pellets
re: Philip K. Dick
(4/22/2025)
'Spikeless' Brand Swizzle Stick Detects Spiked Drinks
re: Frank Herbert
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Heart Patches Grown In The Lab Repair Hearts
re: Larry Niven
(4/18/2025)
Humanoid Robots Spotted In Homes Performing Household Chores
re: Arthur Bird
(4/16/2025)
Musk Proposes Sites For Martian Cities
re: Percy Greg
(4/14/2025)
Bambot Open Source Cheap Delivery Robot
re: Robert Heinlein
(4/12/2025)
Robot Collective Acts Like A Smart Material
re: Jack Williamson
(4/10/2025)
Vipera Electric Skis From Frigid Dynamics
re: Ursula K. Le Guin
(4/8/2025)
Pixel Watch 'Loss of Pulse Detection' And Philip K. Dick
re: Philip K. Dick
(4/6/2025)
Nuclear Plant Restarted To Power AI To Feed Us Dreams
re: Raymond Z. Gallun
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SpaceX's Starman Tesla Roadster In Space
re: Theodore Sturgeon
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Pivotal Blackfly Electric Aircraft Lifts And Hovers
re: R.H. Roman
(3/29/2025)
CORLEO Robotic Horse Concept Looks Ready To Ride
re: Emil Souvestre
(3/27/2025)
Who First Thought Of A Tin Foil Hat?
re: Julian Huxley
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Warp Drive Tech Back On The Menu
re: RM Williams
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Huawei Pura X Folding Phattie Phone
re: William Gibson
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Sleep Pods At Daxing International Airport
re: Chris Boyce
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Robot Baristas Learn Their Trade Without Paying Royalties
re: Anthony Boucher
(3/17/2025)
JAXA Int Ball 2 Coming Right Along As Star Wars Remote
re: George Lucas
(3/15/2025)
Robot Bricklayer Or Passer-By Bricklayer?
re: Bruce Sterling
(3/13/2025)
Robot Gas Station Attendant Pumps Gas For You
re: Philip K. Dick
(3/11/2025)
Engineer Creates Crazy Motorized Track Hospital Bed
re: Katsuhiro Otomo
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Tiny Flying Robot Weighs Just One Gram
re: Neal Stephenson
(3/7/2025)
Some Ringworld Configurations Are Stable
re: Larry Niven
(3/5/2025)
TRANSFORM Dynamic Furniture Concept Becomes What You Need
re: Larry Niven
(3/3/2025)
Harvard Metamaterials Change Structure Instantly
re: Samuel R. Delany
(3/1/2025)
SnapBot Robots - You Choose Their Legs And They Choose Their Gaits
re: Milton K Smith
(2/27/2025)
Dino From Magical Toys An AI Companion To Children
re: Anne McCaffrey
(2/25/2025)
(See More Science Fiction in the News)
