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) |
| 1990 | Garbage Mine (from Earth by David Brin) The idea that recycling can spawn entirely new industries. |
| 1990 | Bee Zapper (from Earth by David Brin) A laser-based insect remover. |
| 1990 | Bioform House (from Sparrowhawk by Thomas A. Easton) A house grown from a bioengineered plant. |
| 1990 | Leaf Screens (from Sparrowhawk by Thomas A. Easton) Bioform displays grown from plants offering flat surfaces - like leaves. |
| 1990 | Dormancy Switch (from Sparrowhawk by Thomas A. Easton) Essential device 'switches off' your cyborg animal, causing it to quickly drop off to sleep. |
| 1990 | Hanky Bush (from Sparrowhawk by Thomas A. Easton) A plant with leaves grown to resemble common, multipurpose tissues. |
| 1990 | Citizen Journalism (from Earth by David Brin) The notion that ordinary people can make use of technological tools like cellphone cameras and the Internet to provide information. |
| 1990 | Autosecretary (Autosec) (from Earth by David Brin) A software agent able to accept your query and then seach the public net for related information. |
| 1990 | Roachster (from Sparrowhawk by Thomas A. Easton) A genetically-engineered vehicle based on arthropod DNA; uses implanted control structures. |
| 1990 | Portable Ident-Plate (from Earth by David Brin) A small, thin device that will capture biometric data from a person's finger. |
| 1990 | Purza the Pukha (from The Rowan by Anne McCaffrey) A toy with sensors used to monitor children in hospitals. |
| 1990 | Personal Cache (from Earth by David Brin) An online data repository used to store personal data. |
| 1990 | Oxygen Hip Flask (from Earth by David Brin) A small, portable source of pure oxygen for breathing. |
| 1990 | Filter Program (from Earth by David Brin) Using programs to filter Internet results; a person need see only what they want to see. |
| 1990 | E-Document Distribution (from Earth by David Brin) A method of wirelessly distributing a document to a large group of people in an ad hoc setting. |
| 1990 | Genetic Ark (from Earth by David Brin) Enormous, multi-habitat enclosed spaces, used to conserve the animal gene pool. |
| 1990 | Mammontelephas (from Earth by David Brin) A 'mammoth' resurrected from the genes of the original. |
| 1990 | Assassin Bird (from Sparrowhawk by Thomas A. Easton) A bird genetically engineered to accept instructions on how to kill. |
| 1990 | Cannibal Grass (from Sparrowhawk by Thomas A. Easton) Genetically engineered grass that acts as a defense layer for a home. |
| 1990 | Vivisector (from Earth by David Brin) A program that takes another computer program apart, while it's running, to see what it does. |
| 1990 | Magnus-Effect Ambulance (from Earth by David Brin) A vehicle that can hover and fly using the Magnus Effect. |
| 1990 | Quantum Logic Thinker (QL) (from Heads by Greg Bear) A computer system that thinks about problems in unusual ways. |
| 1990 | Home Manager (from Queen of Angels by Greg Bear) A device that responds to verbal or other commands; serves as an intelligent telephone answering machine and other tasks. |
| 1990 | Monomol Mesh Armor (from Queen of Angels by Greg Bear) Material to protect selected areas that must bend (elbows, knees, and so forth). |
| 1990 | Dustmice (from Queen of Angels by Greg Bear) Tiny robotic sensors that police could set loose in a crime scene, looking for tiny clues. |
| 1990 | Eloi (from Queen of Angels by Greg Bear) People who have undergone treatments to extend their lives. |
| 1990 | Live Carpet (from Queen of Angels by Greg Bear) A carpet made of living fibers; the backing is a digestive system. |
| 1990 | Tracking Bracelet (from Shadowspeer by Patricia Jo Clayton) A security device armed with explosives. |
| 1990 | General Bodies Tortoise (from Sparrowhawk by Thomas A. Easton) A passenger vehicle genetically engineered from tortoise DNA and controlled by implanted electronics. |
| 1990 | Anti-Onc Cream (from Earth by David Brin) An ointment used to cure skin cancers. |
| 1990 | Reading Plaque (from Earth by David Brin) A tablet-sized display for reading. |
| 1990 | Dozer (from Earth by David Brin) A person with extreme susceptibility to the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. |
| 1990 | Sonomagnetic Fabric (from Earth by David Brin) Cloth that gathers sound energy. |
| 1990 | Lawyer Program (from Earth by David Brin) Software that could listen to legal argument. |
| 1990 | Subvocal Input Device (from Earth by David Brin) Attached sensors read nerve signals to determine what the user will say next. |
| 1990 | Predictions Registry (from Earth by David Brin) An organization that keeps track of predictions made by individuals. |
| 1990 | EmilyPost (from Earth by David Brin) An autonomous worm that searches the Net for lack of courtesy. |
| 1990 | Data-Retrieval Programs (from Earth by David Brin) Programs that searched the Net for specific information. |
| 1990 | Fabricow (from Piecework by David Brin) Cattle and other creatures that create gene-designed biomachinery in their wombs. |
| 1990 | Deadman's Device (from Shadowspeer by Patricia Jo Clayton) A device implanted beneath the skin of an operative who is to be sent on a hazardous mission. |
| 1990 | Sunshade-Photocell Collector (from Earth by David Brin) A fanciful design for a device that gathers solar energy. |
| 1990 | Knife Missile (from Use of Weapons by Iain M Banks) A sharp-edged weapon that can maneuver in space. |
| 1990 | Dazer (from Earth by David Brin) A person who learned biofeedback techniques to float on his own endorphins. |
| 1990 | Credibility Rating (from Earth by David Brin) How believable are your blog posts? your emails? your tweets? |
| 1990 | True-Vu Lenses (Goggles) (from Earth by David Brin) Lenses that are worn as goggles, allowing the user to both see and record what is being viewed. |
| 1990 | Polar Ice (from The Ring of Charon by Roger MacBride Allen) Water ice at the poles of the Moon. |
| 1990 | Kinotrope (from The Difference Engine by William Gibson (w/B. Sterling)) Small bits of painted wood in a grid that spin around to form different pixelated images. |
| 1991 | Stimsuit (from Heavy Time by C.J. Cherryh) An elastic suit worn to decrease the effects of micro-gravity in space. |
| 1991 | Seeder Ramship (from Rammer by Larry Niven) A spacecraft designed to travel from one star system to another , terrafoming worlds for use. |
| 1991 | Screening Software (from The Moat by Greg Egan) Rules-based software trained to eliminate spam email. |
| 1991 | Flatscreen Movie (from Orbital Resources by John Barnes) Like holographic or three-dimensional recordings, but showing only two dimensions. |
| 1991 | Donnersprache (from Silent Thunder by Dean Ing) A hypnotic transceiver that enhances the charisma of speakers. |
| 1991 | Patient Bath Robot (from Roujin Z by Katsuhiro Otomo) Robot gives patient a bath. |
| 1991 | Law Expert System (LEX) (from The Moat by Greg Egan) Software capable of rendering a legal opinion. |
| 1991 | Spotlight of Heat (Orbital Microwaves) (from Fallen Angels by Larry Niven w/Pournelle, Flynn) Using an orbiting satellite microwave array to heat a specific portion of a planetary surface. |
| 1991 | Teaching Chair (from Rammer by Larry Niven) No-frills teaching machine. |
| 1991 | Roujin Z-0001 Robotic Bed (from Roujin Z by Katsuhiro Otomo) A fully automated hospital bed and transport robot. |
| 1991 | Tiersian Therapy (from Red Orc's Revenge by Philip Jose Farmer) A therapeutic discipline in which the patient chooses a character from a book and then attempts to be that character. |
| 1992 | Reality Graphics (from A Fire Upon The Deep by Vernor Vinge) One-stop design - the final design is the object. |
| 1992 | Smartwheels (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) Special "wheels" that are actually sets of spokes that telescope to be as long as they need to be for a smooth ride. |
| 1992 | EverRest Cryotorium (from Flare by Roger Zelazny) Rest forever in cryonic suspension among the stars. |
| 1992 | Metaverse (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) A virtual universe. |
| 1992 | Readout Skin (from Steel Beach by John Varley) Normal-appearing skin that can be used as an output device for text or graphics. |
| 1992 | Transdress (from The California Voodoo Game by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) A transparent dress upon which thousands of patterns may be projected. |
| 1992 | DreamTime Scleral Contact Lenses (from The California Voodoo Game by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) Full-size contact lenses that can provide an augmented reality view. |
| 1992 | Avatar (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) A computer-enhanced doppelganger; a computer-generated image that takes your place in a three-dimensional online encounter. |
| 1992 | High-Voltage Cuffs (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) Metallic shirt-sleeve cuffs capable of carrying a charge. |
| 1992 | Nanobot (from Steel Beach by John Varley) A robot constructed with nanotechnology. |
| 1992 | Deliverator Car (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) The vehicle for edgy pizza delivery. |
| 1992 | Data Goggles (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) Eyewear connected to a computer provides total immersion in the matrix. |
| 1992 | Arachnofiber Uniforms (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) Remarkable attire for a pizza delivery person; but given the violence of near future America, the protection offered by ordinary uniforms was insufficient. |
| 1992 | Hypercard (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) A virtual business card; what one avatar might hand another to introduce themselves. |
| 1992 | Metavirus (Digital Metavirus) (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) Binary code that can infect computers or even hackers, through the binary nerve. |
| 1992 | MagnaPoon (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) To hitch a ride from a faster vehicle while riding a skateboard (from harpoon). |
| 1992 | Timeslip (from Red Mars by Spider Robinson) When humans keep time on Mars, they must work with the extra forty minutes in each day. |
| 1992 | Sven (from The Turing Option by Harry Harrison) Sven is an artificially intelligent computer detective. |
| 1992 | Smart Pizza Box (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) A container with microprocessor-based data processing capabilities built-in to the box. |
| 1992 | Disney Therapy (from Steel Beach by John Varley) Letting people retreat to a simpler time, for their mental health. |
| 1992 | Avatar Construction Set (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) A collection of software that allows the building of a complete avatar. |
| 1992 | Negative Matter Space Drive (from Timemaster by Robert Forward) A reactionless space drive using negative matter. |
| 1992 | Sintered Armorgel (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) A substance that is flexible when moved slowly, but which hardens upon external impact. |
| 1992 | CIC Virtual Earth (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) A software application that presents detailed information about the Earth. |
| 1992 | Rat Thing (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) A guard cyborg created from a living animal. |
| 1992 | Hoverlimo (from Steel Beach by John Varley) A hovercraft for hire, with servility built in. |
| 1992 | Handwriter (from Steel Beach by John Varley) A text input device implanted in your skin. |
| 1992 | Direct Interface (from Steel Beach by John Varley) A form of computer interface that inputs text into a computer by thinking. |
| 1992 | Padloid (from Steel Beach by John Varley) A tawdry news publication on a PDA, or notepad, device. |
| 1992 | Airbag Jacket (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) A jacket or coverall with inflatable air bags throughout for protection against impact. |
| 1992 | P-120 Reconnaissance Robot (from A Season for Slaughter by David Gerrold) A multi-legged robot built for speed and silence. |
| 1992 | Reason Hypervelocity Railgun (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) Multichamber weapon accelerates tiny splinters of metal. |
| 1992 | Loogie Gun (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) A non-violent weapon that shoots a gooey mass to immobilize a person judged to have criminal or violent intent. |
| 1992 | Skrode (from A Fire Upon The Deep by Vernor Vinge) A small mobile platform designed for a legless race. |
| 1992 | Burbclave (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) Contraction of suburban enclave; an extension of today's gated communities. |
| 1992 | U-Stor-It (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) A storage unit converted for use as an apartment. |
| 1992 | Dentata (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) An anti-rape device. |
| 1992 | Dataset (from A Fire Upon The Deep by Vernor Vinge) A portable computer with multiple screens and capabilities. |
| 1993 | Canola Oil (from Virtual Light by William Gibson) Vegetable oil refined for use as fuel |
| 1993 | Translation Program (from Deep Eddy by Bruce Sterling) A computer program that translates speech from one language to another, in real time, to aid in conversation. |
| 1993 | Wende (from Deep Eddy by Bruce Sterling) A change, a turning point, a reversal of culture and politics. |
| 1993 | Air-Conditioned Coat (from Deep Eddy by Bruce Sterling) An otherwise ordinary overcoat that fights the heat. |
| 1993 | Diagnostic Sleeve (from Gripping Hand by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) Worn on one arm, it diagnoses and adminsters medications. |
| 1993 | Fractal Knife (from Virtual Light by William Gibson) The blade uses a fractal geometry to increase its cutting surface. |
| 1993 | Antiturbulence Wings (from Deep Eddy by Bruce Sterling) Wings that are designed to buffer turbulence for passengers. |
| 1993 | Spex (Spexware) (from Deep Eddy by Bruce Sterling) Video glasses with computer assistance. |
| 1993 | Stealth House (from Virtual Light by William Gibson) A home that is entirely sealed, leading to toxic buildup. |
| 1993 | Chunker (from Virtual Light by William Gibson) A device that fires small cubes of rubber; a non-lethal form of riot control. |
| 1993 | Separated At Birth Database (from Virtual Light by William Gibson) Missing persons database uses similarity to famous people. |
| 1993 | Hood Hologram (from Virtual Light by William Gibson) A hologrammatic display on the outside surface of a car. |
| 1994 | AIRE (from Mother of Storms by John Barnes) A piece of software that can break through encryption to determine exactly how a compiled program accomplishes its tasks. |
| 1994 | Flexible Car Map (from Heavy Weather by Bruce Sterling) A nonrigid map that extrudes from the dashboard of a car when needed. |
| 1994 | Smart Piston Spokes (from Heavy Weather by Bruce Sterling) A car that uses a set of pistons that feels and reacts to the surface to move around. |
| 1994 | Electronic Cash (from Heavy Weather by Bruce Sterling) A digital currency, like Bitcoin. |
| 1994 | VR Dyslexia (from Rim by Alexander Besher) Severe disorientation brought about by excessive use of virtual reality equipment. |
| 1994 | Wandering Mine (from Half the Day is Night by Maureen F. McHugh) A landmine with legs. |
| 1994 | Vai-Chi (from Rim by Alexander Besher) Tai-Chi movements translated into the virtual world |
| 1994 | Neuro-netsukes (from Rim by Alexander Besher) A small sculpture containing the personality of a living person. |
| 1994 | XV (from Mother of Storms by John Barnes) Allows anyone to directly experience another person's conscious awareness. |
| 1994 | Holo (License) (from Rim by Alexander Besher) A three-dimensional driver license and identification card. |
| 1994 | Virtual Reality Ceremony (from Rim by Alexander Besher) Don't just put your motion capture suit on - do it with style. |
| 1994 | Escalladder (from Crashlander by Larry Niven) A ladder that you don't have to climb to get to the top. |
| 1994 | Mass Pointer (from Crashlander by Larry Niven) Tells you where the really large (star-sized) masses are while you travel in hyperspace. |
| 1994 | Inflatable Expansion Bubble (from Crashlander by Larry Niven) Inflatable chamber to provide temporary additional space for cramped space craft. |
| 1994 | Crash Web (from Crashlander by Larry Niven) A simple mechanical linkage to activate a crash field. |
| 1994 | XV Wedge (from Mother of Storms by John Barnes) A piece of entertainment that consists of edited real experience. |
| 1994 | Stim-Crib (from Natulife by David Brin) A cradle that provides virtual reality experiences to tiny tots. |
| 1994 | Dope Mule Robot (from Heavy Weather by Bruce Sterling) A metal sphere that propels itself with a single piston-like foot. |
| 1994 | Smart Rope (from Heavy Weather by Bruce Sterling) Long 'rope' consisting of a variety of intertwined cables with different properties; controlled with special glove interface. |
| 1994 | Semisentient Plastic (from Ring by Stephen Baxter) A durable coating that protects and preserves objects. |
| 1994 | Tannin-Secretion Pills (from Crashlander by Larry Niven) Artificially darkens skin, for skin protection. |
| 1994 | Virtuality Helmet ('Virching' Helmet) (from Heavy Weather by Bruce Sterling) A helmet with a communication system and a display; a pilot wearing this helmet could sit on the ground and control a distant aircraft. |
| 1994 | Voice-Changing Bowtie (from Case Closed (Detective Conan) by Gosho Aoyama) Special device allows wearer to take on the voice of another person at will. |
| 1994 | Tracing Glasses (from Case Closed (Detective Conan) by Gosho Aoyama) Locate criminals by using glasses to pick up signals from special transmitters. |
| 1994 | Virtual Childrearing (from Natulife by David Brin) Learn childcare the virtual way; maybe long distance childcare, too. |
| 1994 | Accu-Terrain Floor (from Natulife by David Brin) A special floor for virtual reality environments that simulates any kind of surface. |
| 1994 | Auto-Treadmills (Needle-Gym) (from Natulife by David Brin) A simulation-exercise room floor that allows the user to walk and run on a consistently realistic surface. |
| 1994 | Yeast-Beast Machine (from Natulife by David Brin) A device for growing meat in a vat. |
| 1994 | Chemotactic Artificial Jellyfish (from Big Jelly by Rudy Rucker (w/B. Sterling)) Artificial device modeled on jellyfish capable of seeking specific components of liquid. |
| 1994 | Home Termite Habitat (from Natulife by David Brin) Edible insects raised fresh in your own kitchen! |
| 1994 | Embryo Visualization (from Daughter of Elysium by Joan Slonczewski) Special display technique lets researchers see cell development in three dimensions. |
| 1994 | Neotopological Metaeuclidean Adjacency (from The Hole in the Hole by Terry Bisson) A portal through space-time. |
| 1995 | Nurse Drone (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A larger flying platform to provide power to smaller drones. |
| 1995 | Chevaline (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) An open robotic vehicle for one person, shaped like a horse. |
| 1995 | Sky-Eye (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A football-sized flying surveillance device. |
| 1995 | Primer (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A special software program that teaches basic language skills. |
| 1995 | Cookie-Cutters (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) Very small (corpuscle-sized) devices that can enter the blood stream and destroy an enemy from within. |
| 1995 | Soletta (from Green Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson) An array of solar sail mirrors that focus light onto a planetary surface for power. |
| 1995 | Solar Electric Paint - Black Power (from The Woman in Del Rey Crater by Larry Niven) A black-colored paint that can be sprayed on, making any surface a solar power generator. |
| 1995 | Implanted Credit Card (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A credit card system that could be surgically implanted; uses radio frequency identification to communicate with checkout hardware. |
| 1995 | Composite Living (from The Day the Aliens Came by Robert Sheckley) Forming a meld with other life forms. |
| 1995 | Mediatronic Display (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) Electronic paper comes in big sheets. |
| 1995 | Jodie Grid (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A 'tattoo' that provides points for mapping your face into a grid. |
| 1995 | Ballisticules (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) Nanotechnology devices that throw their weight around. |
| 1995 | Smart Paper (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A very slim thin-film transistor display. |
| 1995 | Toner (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) Dead bits of nanomachines. |
| 1995 | Aerostat Monitor (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A small flying platform, capable of maneuvering in three dimensions; can hover in place and communicate with others like it. |
| 1995 | Lithocule (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) Tiny intelligent building blocks. |
| 1995 | Fabricules (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) Tiny bits of fabric that were self-cleaning; gloves made of this material always stayed clean. |
| 1995 | Filter Wheel (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A device for filtering liquid or gas to obtain a pure sample of a selected molecule. |
| 1995 | Sights (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) Sunglasses-mounted crosshairs (you'll need one with your skull gun). |
| 1995 | Freedom Machine (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A birth control device developed using nanotechnology. |
| 1995 | Immunocules (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) Very small, lightweight objects able to move in three dimensions; they form a protective shield against airborne devices. |
| 1995 | Nanomachine Lidar (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) Radar-like system that uses electromagnetic radiation at optical frequencies (visible light) for range-finding and analysis. |
| 1995 | Mediaglyphic (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) Animated symbols to help those who haven't bothered to learn to read in a multimedia age. |
| 1995 | Clave (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) Short for enclave (see also burbclave - autonomous suburban enclave) |
| 1995 | Geotect (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A person who creates landforms and physical environments |
| 1995 | 'Sites (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) Small parasites that cause muscles to twitch in sequence for strength. |
| 1995 | Mediatron (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A paper-thin networked computer display. |
| 1995 | Phased Acoustical Array (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) An music system implanted right on your eardrum. |
| 1995 | Microde (from Armed Memory by Jim Smith) A tailored virus, that infects the selected person, and passes on whatever characteristics have been implanted in the virus. |
| 1995 | Smartcoral Reef (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) An artificial coral reef that pulls water in for use in large communities. |
| 1995 | Phantoscope (phenomenoscope) (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A device that provides you with a computer-operable display; can be worn or surgically implanted right on your own eyes. |
| 1995 | Skullgun (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A pistol that is concealed in your cranium. |
| 1995 | Matter Compiler (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A device that builds the desired article (such as a dress) atom by atom according to a specified design. |
| 1995 | Dog Pod Grid (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A swarm of quasi-independent aerostatic devices. |
| 1995 | Runcible (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A book made of smart paper; every page is a flexible LCD (liquid crystal display) screen. |
| 1995 | Ava (from The Calcutta Chromosome by Amitav Ghosh) A piece of learning software. |
| 1995 | Pedomotive (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A kind of stilt-like leg extenders; take longer strides, get there faster. Extreme sports gear. |
| 1995 | Mite (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A very small device (about the size of a dust mite) that has been manufactured for a particular purpose. |
| 1995 | Satellite Ion Cannon (from Command and Conquer by Westwood Games) Orbiting station armed with a particle beam weapon, used for surgical tactical strikes. |
| 1996 | Computer Translator (from Idoru by William Gibson) A computer translator; software that provides automatic translation when jacked into a data port. |
| 1996 | Eyephone(s) (from Idoru by William Gibson) A projection system using small goggles to project an image directly on your eye. |
| 1996 | Virtual Meeting (from Idoru by William Gibson) A meeting space that exists only in a computer; the descendant of today's web conferences. |
| 1996 | Hotdesk (from Idoru by William Gibson) A desk space that was itself ready for input. |
| 1996 | Wearable White-Noise Generator (from Idoru by William Gibson) A device worn when the wearer preferred not to be the subject of audio recordings. |
| 1996 | Control-Face (from Idoru by William Gibson) A small liquid crystal display (LCD) unit linked to a larger network; gives a window onto your larger network world. |
| 1996 | Synthespian (from Idoru by William Gibson) A synthetic media personality. |
| 1996 | Cybernetic Water Witch (from Idoru by William Gibson) A job that involves a lot of surfing for patterns in information. |
| 1996 | Webeye (from The Ringworld Throne by Larry Niven) Communications device with a camera, microphone, zoom lens, projector, etc.; can be sprayed on. |
| 1996 | Sandbenders (from Idoru by William Gibson) A highly customized computer system; the opposite of a box from Gateway or Dell. |
| 1996 | Headset (from Idoru by William Gibson) Wireless headsets provide computer language translation. |
| 1996 | Kitchen Korner (from Idoru by William Gibson) Just exactly what futurists say you're going to get, like or not, in a refrigerator. |
| 1996 | Video Unit (from Idoru by William Gibson) Video units attached directly to the optic nerve, giving sight to the blind. |
| 1996 | Flicker Drive (from Fremder by Russell Hoban) A space ship drive that allows instantaneous travel across the galaxy. |
| 1996 | Idoru (from Idoru by William Gibson) A virtual person like a video game character; an entity given specific characteristics, existing only in computer networks. |
| 1996 | Robotic Abattoir (from Freedom's Landing by Anne McCaffrey) Robots with knives in a meat-packing plant. |
| 1996 | Nanotech Buildings (from Idoru by William Gibson) Enormous buildings built with nanotech fibers. |
| 1996 | Combat Wasp (from The Reality Dysfunction by Peter F. Hamilton) Drone craft able to carry and direct a variety of submunitions. |
| 1996 | Micro-Bachelor (from Idoru by William Gibson) A small apartment carved out of an abandoned structure. |
| 1997 | Retinal Implant (from The Neutronium Alchemist by Peter F. Hamilton) An implanted device that can record and transmit what the person sees. |
| 1997 | Boink Biosensor (from The Cobra Event by Richard Preston) A hand-held sensor that detects the presence of hazardous biological material. |
| 1997 | Moldies (from Freeware by Rudy Rucker) Autonomous, intelligent, artificial life forms. |
| 1997 | Mook (from Bicycle Repairman by Bruce Sterling) Computer-based proxy that deals with communication. |
| 1997 | UPUD (from First to Fight by David Sherman (w/Cragg)) Universal Positionator Up-Downlink. |
| 1997 | Subtle Knife (from The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials, Book 2 by Philip Pullman) A knife able to cut through any material, and even cut through into different worlds. |
| 1997 | Automated DNA Typing (from Gattaca by Andrew Niccol) A device that takes quick samples of DNA and compares each sample to a database. |
| 1997 | Softlight (from Softlight Sins by Peter F. Hamilton) Personality erasure via laser imprinted subliminal commands. |
| 1997 | Helmet Visor Display (from The Tank Lords by David Drake) A heads-up display with a variety of advanced features. |
| 1998 | Magsail (from Falling Stars by Michael Flynn) An interplanetary craft that uses magnetic fields to catch the solar winds for propulsion. |
| 1998 | Desktop-TV (from Factoring Humanity by Robert J. Sawyer) Video available worldwide, prepared by everyone. |
| 1998 | Emblok (from Earth Made of Glass by John Barnes) A device that imparts memories into the regrown brain, just like uploading content into a computer's random access memory. |
| 1998 | Magship (from Falling Stars by Michael Flynn) A ship that uses magnetic fields to catch the solar wind for propulsion. |
| 1998 | Dime Disk (from The Best of all Possible Wars by Larry Niven) A very small data storage medium. |
| 1998 | Psypyx (from Earth Made of Glass by John Barnes) A way of gathering and recording mental impressions. |
| 1998 | Concrete Boxes (from Earth Made of Glass by John Barnes) Self storage for your body - living space designed for people who spend most of their time ignoring their surroundings anyway. |
| 1998 | Pokkecon (from Maneki Neko by Bruce Sterling) A device tied into a good will network. |
| 1998 | Bugged Money (from Distraction by Bruce Sterling) American cash with embedded listening devices. |
| 1998 | Spook (from SOLACE by Jeff Noon) A drink that comes unflavored in a container; twist the cap to add flavor. |
| 1998 | Spaceplane (Clarke-class) (from A Quantum Murder by Peter F. Hamilton) An inexpensively powered flight to low earth orbit. |
| 1998 | Boob Cube (from The Best of all Possible Wars by Larry Niven) Device for showing three-dimensional news broadcasts. |
| 1998 | Netwar (from Distraction by Bruce Sterling) Making use of various means to disrupt the enemy's military and civilian information networks. |
| 1998 | Junkbot (from Distraction by Bruce Sterling) An automated email program that specializes in sending junk mail (spam) |
| 1998 | Profile Sniffers (from Distraction by Bruce Sterling) A software device that sifts Internet access records for patterns associate with particular personality types. |
| 1998 | Bambakias Hotel (from Distraction by Bruce Sterling) A hotel that wants to exist! It just needs a little help. |
| 1998 | Infowar Operation (from Distraction by Bruce Sterling) Making use of various means to disrupt the enemy's military and civilian information networks. |
| 1998 | Smart Bike (from Distraction by Bruce Sterling) A motorcycle with sophisticated systems for steering and balance. |
| 1998 | Aggressive-Response Service (from The Golden Globe by John Varley) An answering service with an attitude. |
| 1998 | Monobloc Dating System (from The Best of all Possible Wars by Larry Niven) A kind of pub with unique hardware and software for computer dating. |
| 1998 | D-9 Motherspinner (from The Golden Globe by John Varley) An enormous genetically engineered spider used to create large structures in space. |
| 1998 | Robot Handlers (from The Golden Globe by John Varley) Small robots used in spacecraft for a variety of useful tasks. |
| 1998 | Talking Tape (from Distraction by Bruce Sterling) Adhesive-backed network connection, global positioning, voice synthesis and speakers. |
| 1999 | Interactive Video Column (from All Tomorrow's Parties by William Gibson) A video display in a chain convenience store that shows random scenes from other stores in the chain around the world. |
| 1999 | Smart Tag (from All Tomorrow's Parties by William Gibson) A piece of graffiti, or a small sticker tag, that could survive being placed on walls designed to be self-cleaning. |
| 1999 | Graffiti-Eating Finish (from All Tomorrow's Parties by William Gibson) A wall covering that maintained itself, eating any graffiti placed on it. |
| 1999 | Smart Gel (from Starfish by Peter Watts) Intelligent paste made of neurons; spread upon a substrate for computing. |
| 1999 | Lucky Dragon ATM (from All Tomorrow's Parties by William Gibson) An automatic teller machine with attitude. |
| 1999 | Snake Contact Lens (from All Tomorrow's Parties by William Gibson) A pair of contact lenses designed to make you appear to have slit pupils, like a snake's. |
| 1999 | Palm Scan (from All Tomorrow's Parties by William Gibson) A means of positive identification, in this case, for an ATM machine. |
| 1999 | GPS Sunglasses (from All Tomorrow's Parties by William Gibson) Sunglasses that contain both global positioning system components and cell phone services. |
| 1999 | Bohemias (from All Tomorrow's Parties by William Gibson) A place where the ordinary rules of society don't apply; the "next big thing" often comes from these places. |
| 1999 | Motion Capture Suit (from All Tomorrow's Parties by William Gibson) A tight fitting garment that uses sensors at various positions to record movement in space; can be used as the basis for computer graphic creations. |
| 1999 | Nanofax (from All Tomorrow's Parties by William Gibson) Send a copy of a three-dimensional object to a distant place. |
| 1999 | Belt Sword (from All Tomorrow's Parties by William Gibson) A piece of very thin material sewn between the two leather sides of a belt. |
| 1999 | Dustmote (from A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge) A tiny sensor device that could also form networks with other motes. |
| 1999 | Quantum Power (from Alpha Centauri by Sid Meier) Power generation through photon fission. |
| 1999 | Ethical Calculus (from Alpha Centauri by Sid Meier) Mathematics used to determine positive social conduct. |
| 1999 | Silksteel (from Alpha Centauri by Sid Meier) Material that has high tensile strength as well as high flexibility. |
| 1999 | Cyberethics (from Alpha Centauri by Sid Meier) Philosophy detailing how computers work within human communities. |
| 1999 | Matter Editation (from Alpha Centauri by Sid Meier) Technology that enables the easy manipulation of atomic properties. |
| 1999 | Homo Superior (from Alpha Centauri by Sid Meier) A human subspecies created through radical applications of biotechnology. |
| 1999 | Organic Superlubricant (from Alpha Centauri by Sid Meier) Advanced lube that can "learn" how to be more effective. |
| 1999 | Genejack (from Alpha Centauri by Sid Meier) A genetically-modified human ideally created for menial work. |
| 1999 | Punishment Sphere (from Alpha Centauri by Sid Meier) Used to bring disruptive elements of society into line. |
| 1999 | Chain Gun (from All Tomorrow's Parties by William Gibson) Device fires lengths of steel chain. |
| 1999 | Recycler (from Starfish by Peter Watts) A surgically implanted device that enables a diver to obtain oxygen directly from seawater. |
| 1999 | Focusing (from A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge) Psychoactive microbe improves the attention-focusing ability of those infected. |
| 1999 | Exoskeleton (from A Good Old-Fashioned Future by Bruce Sterling) Fighting suit |
| 1999 | Localizer (from A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge) Devices that work together to form ad-hoc networks. |
| 1999 | Video Wallpaper (from A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge) Very thin, large scale display. |
| 1999 | Neuroinduction Field (from Starfish by Peter Watts) Keeps the patient still without the use of cumbersome restraints or drugs. |
| 1999 | Sonar Pistol (from Starfish by Peter Watts) A device that divers can use to find seabottom and objects in extremely dark or murky water. |
| 1999 | Head Cheese (from Starfish by Peter Watts) Intelligent paste made of neurons; spread upon a substrate for computing. |
| 1999 | Medical Mantis (from Starfish by Peter Watts) A medical telefactoring device; allows a physician to remotely examine patients and perform procedures. |
| 1999 | Lucid Dreamer (from Starfish by Peter Watts) A machine that guarantees productive REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, and therefore dreams. |
| 1999 | Sentient Econometrics (from Alpha Centauri by Sid Meier) Use of artificial intelligence in economic forecasting. |
| 1999 | Face Seal (from Starfish by Peter Watts) A dive mask for deep sea diving. |
| 1999 | Eyecaps (from Starfish by Peter Watts) Corneal cap that acts as a pair of goggles for extreme depth diving. |
| 1999 | Diveskin (from Starfish by Peter Watts) Special wetsuit that allows a diver to function at extreme depths. |
| 1999 | Nano-Paste (from Alpha Centauri by Sid Meier) Nanobots that use the resources around it to create a desired product. |
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Mechazilla Arms Catch A Falling Starship, But Check Out SF Landing-ARMS
re: Edmond Hamilton
(11/3/2024)
A System To Defeat AI Face Recognition
re: Neal Stephenson
(11/1/2024)
Robot Hand Separate From Robot
re: Philip K Dick
(10/29/2024)
Hybrid Wind Solar Devices
re: Simpson Stokes
(10/27/2024)
Is Optimus Autonomous Or Teleoperated?
re: AG Stangland
(10/25/2024)
Robot Masseuse Rubs People The Right Way
re: AE van Vogt
(10/23/2024)
Solar-Powered Space Trains On The Moon
re: Arthur C. Clarke
(10/21/2024)
Drone Deliveries Instead Of Waiters In Restaurants?
re: H. Beam Piper
(10/19/2024)
Optimus Robot Can Charge Itself
re: William Morrison
(10/17/2024)
Skip Movewear Arc'teryx AI Pants
re: Edmond Hamilton
(10/17/2024)
'Robovan' Name Already Taken - Elon, Try These
re: Weinbaums
(10/15/2024)
How Old Are Tesla Designs?
re: Various
(10/13/2024)
Is Your Autonomous Tractor Safe?
re: Brian W. Aldiss
(10/11/2024)
Smart TVs Are Listening!
re: George Orwell
(10/9/2024)
Police Drones In China Would Like To Have A Word With You
re: James Blish
(10/7/2024)
Oh Great (Part 2), Fence-Climbing Robots
re: Michael Crichton
(10/5/2024)
Are The Thought Police Listening To Everyone All The Time?
re: George Orwell
(10/3/2024)
Finally, Robot Conductors On Autonomous Buses
re: Robert Silverberg
(10/1/2024)
RoboShiko! Sumo Exercises Still Good For Robots
re: Roger Zelazny
(9/29/2024)
Giant Robotic Hands At Gundam Next Future Science
re: Robert Heinlein
(9/27/2024)
JWST Finds Bucking Centaur 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1
re: Jack Williamson
(9/25/2024)
BeamBike Solar Power Canopy For Electric Bikes
re: David Brin
(9/23/2024)
California Fireman Arrested For Starting Fires
re: Ray Bradbury
(9/21/2024)
Robots Need A Better Sense Of Touch
re: AE van Vogt
(9/19/2024)
MouthPad Supports Head And Tongue Tracking
re: Alfred Bester
(9/17/2024)
REALLY Remote Control Excavators
re: Pournelle and Niven
(9/15/2024)
Disney Helping Robots Dance
re: Fritz Lang
(9/13/2024)
Kolors Virtual-Try-On Predicted, And TRIED, By Harry Harrison
re: Harry Harrison
(9/11/2024)
Detecting Drones In Ukraine With Candy (Sukork)
re: Frank Quattrocchi
(9/9/2024)
Nevada Will Use AI To Decide Worker Benefits
re: Marshall Brain
(9/7/2024)
Tether Cryptocurrency Flow Rate US$190Bn Per Day
re: Bruce Sterling
(9/5/2024)
First Trips To Mars Announced By Elon Musk
re: Percy Greg
(9/3/2024)
(See More Science Fiction in the News)
