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.
<-
Select Date Range ->
1600-1899 1900-1929 1930's 1940's 1950's 1960's 1970's 1980's 1990's 2000+
| Date | Device Name (Novel Author) |
| 2000 | Provigil-C (from A Hymn Before Battle by John Ringo) A special drug that promotes wakefulness in troops. |
| 2000 | Randominoes (from Nymphomation by Jeff Noon) Dominoes that randomly generate new numbers. |
| 2000 | Blurbflies (Sing. Blurbfly) (from Nymphomation by Jeff Noon) Small robotic/organic advertisers. |
| 2000 | Artificial Intelligence Device (AID) (from A Hymn Before Battle by John Ringo) Hand-held device responds intelligently to military intelligence requests. |
| 2000 | Floating Island (from Saturn's Race by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) Large artificial islands floating on Earth's seas. |
| 2000 | Anti-Virus Design Software (from Super-Cannes: A Novel by J.G. Ballard) Create a living space such that the spread of disease is less likely. |
| 2000 | Oceanic Thermal Energy Converter (from Saturn's Race by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) A device that uses the sea to help create electricity. |
| 2000 | Bubble (from Saturn's Race by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) An undersea elevator. |
| 2000 | Napcap Induction Cap (from Saturn's Race by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) A device that aids sleep and relaxation by working with the subject's brain waves. |
| 2000 | Beetle (from Saturn's Race by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) A hard-shelled dirigible. |
| 2000 | Napcap Capsule (from Saturn's Race by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) A handy refuge for travelers in busy terminals; a sleep aid when you really need one. |
| 2001 | Wearables (from Fast Times At Fairmont High by Vernor Vinge) Slang for 'wearable computer.' |
| 2001 | Smart Contact Lenses (from Fast Times At Fairmont High by Vernor Vinge) Contact lenses that have a built-in computer display. |
| 2001 | Inertial Bracelet (from Psychohistorical Crisis by Donald Kingsbury) Device to still hand tremors. |
| 2001 | Weather Pod (from Dune: House Harkonnen by Brian Herbert) Imperial technology available to planetologists only. |
| 2001 | Datapack (from Dune: House Harkonnen by Brian Herbert) A compact device for carrying data. |
| 2002 | Ditto Blank (from Kiln People by David Brin) A mentally unformed android, upon which a personality could be impressed. |
| 2002 | Poppins (from Kiln People by David Brin) An android body imprinted with the personality of a Master Nanny. |
| 2002 | Workplace Distancing (from Manna by Marshall Brain) A computer application that arranges that workers never encounter each other, to reduce gossiping and wasted time. |
| 2002 | Photo-Voltaic Robes (from Snow in the Desert by Neal Asher) Outerwear made from material that absorbs sunlight and outputs electricity. |
| 2002 | Vagus Nerve Bio-Chip (from Diplomatic Immunity by Lois McMaster Bujold) Relief from nausea without drugs. |
| 2002 | Pocket Dome (from Chindi by Jack McDevitt) Handy easy-to-set-up shelter. |
| 2002 | Gravity Tube (from Chindi by Jack McDevitt) A special passage way that eases the movement of material within a ship. |
| 2002 | Durachrome (from Honor of the Regiment by Keith Laumer) Very hard alloy for tanks. |
| 2002 | Minority Report Ads (Biometric Personalized Ads) (from Minority Report (Movie) by Steven Spielberg) Advertisements that speak directly to the consumer in public settings. |
| 2002 | E-paper Newspaper (from Minority Report (Movie) by Steven Spielberg) A paper-thin, flexible LCD-style display that is large enough to display a full newspaper page. |
| 2002 | Provigil (from When the Devil Dances by John Ringo) A medication that makes the user 'untired' - not just more awake. |
| 2002 | Maelstrom (from Maelstrom by Peter Watts) A description of the next generation Internet |
| 2002 | Sick Stick (from Minority Report (Movie) by Steven Spielberg) Baton that induces vomiting upon contact. |
| 2002 | Recon Spiders (from Minority Report (Movie) by Steven Spielberg) Tiny spider-sized robots that are able to search buildings and identify occupants. |
| 2002 | Wired Glove Interface Display (from Minority Report (Movie) by Steven Spielberg) A large screen display that uses a wired glove interface. |
| 2002 | Reggie the Bartending Machine (from The Outpost by Mike Resnick) A mechanism able to mix drinks; a robot bartender. |
| 2002 | Hyperpig (from Redemption Ark by Alastair Reynolds) A genetic chimera of pig and human. |
| 2002 | Imprint (A Ditto Blank) (from Kiln People by David Brin) Impress one's personality upon a 'ditto blank' android. |
| 2002 | Mobile Persocom (from Chobits by Manga Clamp) A personal computer in human form. |
| 2002 | Precrime Sleeve Communicator (from Minority Report (Movie) by Steven Spielberg) A device for communication worn as part of the uniform jacket. |
| 2002 | Data Tiles (from Minority Report (Movie) by Steven Spielberg) Transparent panes that contain data and programs. |
| 2002 | Public Iris Scanner (from Minority Report (Movie) by Steven Spielberg) A device that uses iris-scanning for identification, and does not require subject awareness. |
| 2002 | Halo (from Minority Report (Movie) by Steven Spielberg) Device that incapacitates a person by inducing unconsciousness. |
| 2002 | Manna (from Manna by Marshall Brain) A software program that autonomously manages restaurants or other service industry businesses. |
| 2002 | Bullet-guard Overalls (from Kiln People by David Brin) Very tough fabric. |
| 2002 | Robofish (Mitsubishi Robot Turbot) (from Slow Life by Michael Swanwick) A powerful, meter-long robotic fish used to take samples from liquid lakes on other worlds (like Titan). |
| 2002 | AI-Based Hiring and Firing (from Manna by Marshall Brain) Letting a computer system handle the hiring and firing of employees. |
| 2002 | Folding Computer Terminal (from The Merchants of Souls by John Barnes) A foldable pocket computer. |
| 2002 | Immersive Home Video (from Minority Report (Movie) by Steven Spielberg) Technology lets users interact with home videos. |
| 2002 | Terrafoam Dorm Building (from Manna by Marshall Brain) Maximum people in minimum space. |
| 2002 | E-Suit (Environmental Suit) (from Chindi by Jack McDevitt) A forcefield that encloses air and heat around the body, but does not repel objects or radiation. |
| 2003 | Happicuppa Coffee Bush (from Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood) A species of coffee bush designed for ease of harvesting. |
| 2003 | Cortical Stack (from Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan) Implanted hardware device that contains a backup copy of your mental self. |
| 2003 | Municipal Darwinism (from Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve) The process by which smaller towns were eaten by larger ones. |
| 2003 | Traction City Gut (from Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve) The area of a Traction City used for taking apart and consuming captured prey cities. |
| 2003 | Whuffie (from Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom by Cory Doctorow) A system in which one's actions, as perceived by others, directly procure the necessities of life; reputation-based currency. |
| 2003 | Slow Gun (from Singularity Sky by Charles Stross) Device shoots slow projectiles that use neurotoxin. |
| 2003 | Needlecast (from Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan) A tightbeam transmission of your very being. |
| 2003 | Illuminum (from Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan) A metal that glows with its own light. |
| 2003 | Olfactory Wakeup Call (from Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan) An alarm clock that works by wafting scents your way. |
| 2003 | Spray-on Surgical Gloves (from Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan) Effective glove for surgeons that is skin tight. |
| 2003 | Synthetic Sleeve (from Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan) An artificial body, into which a person can be downloaded. |
| 2003 | Automatic Hotel (Hotel Hendrix) (from Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan) A fully automated hotel; complete services provided from check-in to check-out. |
| 2003 | Handipad (from Wyrmhole by Jay Caselberg) An electronic tablet for information browsing. |
| 2003 | Companion Implant (from Hominids (Neanderthal Parallax) by Robert J. Sawyer) Electronic device placed within the body; it has a wide variety of uses. |
| 2003 | Touch Tablet (from Darwin's Children by Greg Bear) Another name for a wireless Tablet PC. |
| 2003 | Ideator (from Darwin's Children by Greg Bear) A computer device specifically made to help model genes and proteins for identification. |
| 2003 | Alibi Archive (from Hominids (Neanderthal Parallax) by Robert J. Sawyer) A recording made of transmissions from a personal implant that perceived everything that happened to that individual. |
| 2003 | Pigoon (from Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood) A transgenic pig, bred to grow replacement organs for humans. |
| 2003 | Philips Squeeze Gun (from Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan) A handheld railgun |
| 2003 | Automated Sentry (from Darwin's Children by Greg Bear) A biometric device that scans facial features for identification. |
| 2003 | Speaker Chips (from Darwin's Children by Greg Bear) Integrated circuit chips placed in books; they could read the book and advertise it. |
| 2003 | Tuned-Laser Decontamination (from Hybrids (Neanderthal Parallax) by Robert J. Sawyer) Process to destroy foreign biomolecules within the body. |
| 2003 | E-paper Hologram (from Darwin's Children by Greg Bear) A cover image that really pops out at the viewer. |
| 2003 | Smart Wallpaper (from Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood) Wallpaper that can sense your mood and provide an appropriate color scheme. |
| 2003 | Interway (from The Tels by Paul Black) Computer-controlled highway. |
| 2003 | Traction City (from Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve) Cities re-engineered as enormous, lumbering machines. |
| 2003 | Biolution (from The Tels by Paul Black) The revolution in biological manufacturing techniques. |
| 2003 | Alien Tarantula (from Engine City by Ken MacLeod) Interesting illustration of an animal with gecko-like manipulative capabilities. |
| 2003 | E-Sheet (from Darwin's Children by Greg Bear) A disposable medium for reading electronic messages. |
| 2003 | Autosurgeon (from Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan) A mechanical aid to physicians, performing surgical procedures with surgeons present. |
| 2003 | Causality-violation Device (or Weapon) (from Singularity Sky by Charles Stross) Any of a variety of technologies intended to exploit time travel as a weapon. |
| 2003 | ChickieNobs (from Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood) Chicken meat sliced from a transgenic organism. |
| 2003 | Little Bird (from Darwin's Children by Greg Bear) A remote-control "eye-in-the-sky" miniature drone plane (UAV). |
| 2003 | Mandroid (from Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan) A humanoid robot; a robot in the shape of a person. |
| 2003 | External Eyelenses (from Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan) Way retro means of correcting vision problems in human beings. |
| 2003 | Self-Cleaning Gym Suit (from Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood) Removes the source of odor. |
| 2003 | Specimen Track (from Darwin's Children by Greg Bear) A means for transporting laboratory specimens from one workstation to another in an automated lab. |
| 2003 | Email Shirt (from Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood) See your email on your shirt. |
| 2003 | Goat/Spider Silk (from Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood) High tensile strength fibers from - goats. |
| 2004 | Bee Cam (from City of Pearl by Karen Traviss) Small, airborne, self-guided personal camcorder. |
| 2004 | Waveform Hypothesis (from Backbeat - A Novel of Physics by J. Frederick Arment) |
| 2004 | Perpetual Train (from Iron Council by China Mieville) A vast machine that lays its own tracks as it moves forward. |
| 2004 | CTC Computer (Closed-Timeline-Curve Time-Travel) (from Exultant by Stephen Baxter) A device that used time travel to perform computations. |
| 2004 | Quantum Communications Hub (from Defeated by Sean McKee) A communications satellite that permits immediate communication between planets and ships in the solar system. |
| 2004 | Swiss (from City of Pearl by Karen Traviss) A small piece of personal gear that combines a great many items in a single device. |
| 2004 | Signal Skin (from The Algebraist by Iain M Banks) Natural communication form for this species; skin that can spell out text. |
| 2004 | Memory Diamond (from Iron Sunrise by Charles Stross) Very dense memory storage. |
| 2004 | Arteria Portal (from The Algebraist by Iain M Banks) A wormhole entrance. |
| 2004 | Implanted Comlink (from Savior by Nancy Kress) Transceiver inserted below the skin. |
| 2004 | Loiter-Drone (from The Algebraist by Iain M Banks) A autonomous flying device that hovers protectively over a defined area. |
| 2004 | Tacspace (from The Algebraist by Iain M Banks) An augmented representation of space battles. |
| 2004 | Emissarial Projection (from The Algebraist by Iain M Banks) An expert system able to converse and act in the capacity of ambassador. |
| 2004 | Muscle Sensor Interface (from The Algebraist by Iain M Banks) Interface senses muscle movements to control display. |
| 2004 | Gillfluid (from The Algebraist by Iain M Banks) Breathable fluid that provides oxygen to the lungs, allowing greater pressure on the body. |
| 2005 | Computational Textile (from Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds) Wearable computer sensors. |
| 2005 | BrainPal (from Old Man's War by John Scalzi) A neural implant. |
| 2005 | Motorized Combat Boots (from Accelerando by Charles Stross) Russian army-surplus self-propelled footgear. |
| 2005 | KloraDerm (from Old Man's War by John Scalzi) Human skin variant that contains chlorophyll to provide energy. |
| 2005 | Sprayrock (from Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds) Special compound that can be sprayed onto a surface, that hardens into rock. |
| 2005 | Computronium (from Accelerando by Charles Stross) Intelligent matter; nanocomputing processors masquerading as ordinary material. |
| 2005 | Kink-Spring (from The Calorie Man by Paolo Bacigalupi) A device that stores energy with near-perfect efficiency. |
| 2005 | Sterile Seeds (from The Calorie Man by Paolo Bacigalupi) Seeds that are bioengineered to grow, but not to produce fertile seeds. |
| 2005 | Dumb Matter (from Accelerando by Charles Stross) Ordinary matter, with no nano-value added. |
| 2005 | Hyper-Developed Mulies (from The Calorie Man by Paolo Bacigalupi) Bioengineered animals that optimally transform vegetable matter into usable mechanical energy. |
| 2005 | Virtual Panopticon (from The Traveler by John Twelve Hawks) A method that gathers information from many sources to effectively surveil any citizen as effectively as if he was in a glass cell. |
| 2005 | Lobster AI (from Accelerando by Charles Stross) Scan a lobster brain, get a learning machine. |
| 2005 | Starwisp (from Accelerando by Charles Stross) An small interstellar probe using a light-sail for propulsion. |
| 2005 | Flexy (or Flexies) (from Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds) A flexible, quasi-living computer. |
| 2005 | Megadont (from The Calorie Man by Paolo Bacigalupi) An engineered mastodon, used to convert vegetable matter into energy. |
| 2006 | AutoM8 (from Daemon by Daniel Suarez) A remote-controlled automobile. |
| 2006 | Wearables (Wearable Computers) (from Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge) Computers and peripherals that use textiles for electronic circuitry. |
| 2006 | Stopper Bubble (from Red Lightning by John Varley) Device that halts time within its boundaries. |
| 2006 | Automated Taxi (from Sagramanda by Alan Dean Foster) A driverless taxicab. |
| 2006 | Microwave Pistol (from Blindsight by Peter Watts) Device designed to cause internal injury. |
| 2006 | Mind-Reading with MRI (from Daemon by Daniel Suarez) Making use of direct brain imaging to discern a person's thoughts. |
| 2006 | Librareome Project (from Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge) Blasting libraries into bits to create a library of perfect digitized electronic books. |
| 2006 | Pocket-Sized Ad-Blocker (from Sagramanda by Alan Dean Foster) A device that prevented targeted advertisements from reaching you. |
| 2006 | Traffic Lane Discharger (from Sagramanda by Alan Dean Foster) A device that electrically shocked vehicles whose drivers attempted to evade traffic control devices. |
| 2006 | Razorback (from Daemon by Daniel Suarez) Autonomous motorcycle weapons platform. |
| 2006 | Distributed Assembly Plant (from Daemon by Daniel Suarez) Bringing parts together for assembly in a crowd anonymously. |
| 2006 | Navicloud Custom Debinder (from Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge) A machine that pulls books apart and scans the contents. |
| 2006 | Browser Paper (from Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge) A paper-thin computer display. |
| 2006 | Coder (from Storm Thief by Chris Wooding) Specialized humans who excel at engineering tasks. |
| 2006 | Controllable Drone Army (from Daemon by Daniel Suarez) Darknet sorcerer uses gestures to control a network of drone servants. |
| 2006 | Voxcoder (from Storm Thief by Chris Wooding) Device for secure communication. |
| 2006 | Magnetic Ram (from Storm Thief by Chris Wooding) A device that fires pulses of magnetic energy. |
| 2006 | Amphibious Skimmer (from Storm Thief by Chris Wooding) Amphibious drone with blades. |
| 2006 | Aether Cannon (from Storm Thief by Chris Wooding) A hand-held energy weapon. |
| 2006 | Digital Ink License Plate (from Daemon by Daniel Suarez) License tags that can change both state and number in the blink of an eye. |
| 2006 | Pocket Scanner (from Sagramanda by Alan Dean Foster) A device that scans for the codes that will open a vehicle's door on command. |
| 2006 | Answerboard (from Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge) A forum or computer meeting location with experts on a particular topic. |
| 2006 | Command Bracelet (from Sagramanda by Alan Dean Foster) A wrist-borne device with a variety of capabilities. |
| 2006 | Persuader (from Storm Thief by Chris Wooding) Device secured to a person that ensures compliant behavior by threat of force. |
| 2006 | Timebroker (from Shuteye for the Timebroker by Paul Di Filippo) A person who traded in the commodity of other people's time. |
| 2006 | Third Eye (from Daemon by Daniel Suarez) An output device that uses the skin of the user. |
| 2006 | HUD Glasses (from Daemon by Daniel Suarez) Integrated glasses and projector provides a portable heads-up display for augmented reality. |
| 2006 | Municipal Cattle Remover (from Sagramanda by Alan Dean Foster) A device to pick cattle up and place them in a truck for later dispersion in the countryside. |
| 2006 | Laser-Induced Plasma (from Daemon by Daniel Suarez) Shoots lightning from your fingertips. |
| 2006 | Camera Tunnel (from Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge) A device that captures images of shredded documents from all sides for reassembly. |
| 2006 | House-of-Cards Construction (from Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge) Architectural technique that uses computers to help buildings maintain their balance during earthquakes. |
| 2006 | Clothing Size Scanner (from Sagramanda by Alan Dean Foster) A device that scanned a living person to determine clothing sizes. |
| 2006 | Mobile Advertisements (from Sagramanda by Alan Dean Foster) Advertisements presented in mid-air in public spaces. |
| 2006 | A-Som (Antisomnolence Drugs) (from Shuteye for the Timebroker by Paul Di Filippo) One simple pill removes the need for sleep. |
| 2006 | Disperser (from Sagramanda by Alan Dean Foster) Device that gives an electric shock to anyone who touches a vehicle. |
| 2007 | OSMO (Osmic Mobile Observers) (from Quantico by Greg Bear) UAV with the ability to "smell" their human quarry. |
| 2007 | Midge (from Quantico by Greg Bear) A very small flapping wing UAV that can be carried by a larger flying device. |
| 2007 | SPOOKS (from Halting State by Charles Stross) A live-action role playing (LARP) game that lets ordinary people play at being secret agents. |
| 2007 | Airboarding (from Halting State by Charles Stross) Typing in thin air to input characters into a computer. |
| 2007 | Tongue Mouse (from Quantico by Greg Bear) A pointing device using input from the tongue. |
| 2007 | Anemopter (from Finisterra by David Moles) Special craft for journeys through the atmosphere of a gas giant planet. |
| 2007 | Orbital Weapon Lancet (OWL) (from Quantico by Greg Bear) A kinetic energy weapon placed in Earth orbit. |
| 2007 | Overlay Specs (from Halting State by Charles Stross) Glasses that provide an additional feature; an overlay that lets you see information and graphics along with the real-world view. |
| 2007 | Virtual World Theft (from Halting State by Charles Stross) A method of stealing or reassigning ownership to items of value in virtual worlds. |
| 2007 | Weapon Sound Tracker (from Quantico by Greg Bear) Locate an enemy by the sound of gunfire. |
| 2007 | Remotely Operated Auto-targeting Gun (ROAG) (from Quantico by Greg Bear) A weapon able to pick out its own targets; it's action can be remotely initiated. |
| 2007 | Scanner Palm (from KOP by Warren Hammond) A document scanner implanted in the palm of the hand. |
| 2007 | Digital Paper Pad (from KOP by Warren Hammond) Just one molecule thick, it flips bits by flipping molecules. |
| 2007 | DC Mini (from Paprika by Satoshi Kon) A therapy tool that allows a psychotherapist to enter a patient's dreams. |
| 2007 | WAGD Germ Detector (from Quantico by Greg Bear) A hand-held biohazard analyzer. |
| 2007 | CopSpace (from Halting State by Charles Stross) A virtual location for police lifelogs, official communications, paperwork, informational databases and evidence of all kinds. |
| 2007 | Tongueprint Verification (from Fleet of Worlds by Larry Niven (w/E.M. Lerner)) A device that verifies the unique print of the tongue against a a database for identification purposes. |
| 2007 | Blacknet (from Halting State by Charles Stross) An antisocial networking site. |
| 2007 | Lifelog (from Halting State by Charles Stross) A life record made constantly. |
| 2007 | Bubble-Gum Pylon (from Quantico by Greg Bear) Device used to capture entire vehicles in car chases. |
| 2007 | Max Detention (Virtual Counsel) (from Quantico by Greg Bear) A software implementation of a lawyer; an artificially intelligent legal advisor. |
| 2007 | Orphids (from Postsingular by Rudy Rucker) Nanomachines replicate theselves from dust - and cover the Earth. |
| 2007 | Magnetic Levitating Bed (from Spook Country by William Gibson) A bed that hovers above the floor, with no visible means of suport. |
| 2007 | Driverless Drones (from Halting State by Charles Stross) One remote supervisor can drive a half-dozen drones, with some computer assistance. |
| 2007 | Cop Block (from Quantico by Greg Bear) A device that allows law enforcement officers to shut down the engine of a suspect's car or truck. |
| 2008 | Fuel Tree (from Anathem by Neal Stephenson) Plants raised as fuel. |
| 2008 | Gait-Cam (from Little Brother by Cory Doctorow) A surveillance camera system that analyzes the unique way in which people walk, to identify them. |
| 2008 | Angel Music Player (from Flood by Stephen Baxter) A device that beams music directly into your brain, without wires. |
| 2008 | ParanoidLinux (from Little Brother by Cory Doctorow) A computer operating system that deliberately obscures the activities of the user. |
| 2008 | Ultimate Football League (UFL) (from The Sun Also Explodes by Chris Nakashima-Brown) A football league without restrictions on human modification. |
| 2008 | Allswell (from Anathem by Neal Stephenson) An organic compound found (or placed) in food that calms and mellows those who partake of it. |
| 2008 | Headspace (from Flood by Stephen Baxter) A virtual world in which a person could raise a virtual baby with full haptic realism. |
| 2008 | Kinagram (from Anathem by Neal Stephenson) Small print-size icons that presented a moving image. |
| 2008 | Photomnemonic Tablet (from Anathem by Neal Stephenson) A device that both records and displays images with the same element. |
| 2008 | Spine-Clamp (from Anathem by Neal Stephenson) A device that constrains the movements of convicted criminals. |
| 2008 | Defuser (from Moxyland by Lauren Beukes) Electroshock cellphones to keep unruly individuals under control. |
| 2008 | Homing Butterflies (from Moxyland by Lauren Beukes) Butterflies modified to accompany a purchased bouquet. |
| 2008 | Sky-Bike (from The Last Theorem by Arthur C. Clarke (w/Pohl)) A human-powered floating bicycle built for use in lunar sports. |
| 2008 | Photonomous (from Little Brother by Cory Doctorow) A program that strips out the digital noise signature from a picture file. |
| 2008 | SchoolBook (from Little Brother by Cory Doctorow) A standard-issue laptop computer for school use. |
| 2008 | Blithe (from Anathem by Neal Stephenson) A plant engineered to produce a substance that brought out compliant behavior in those who consumed it. |
| 2009 | Robot Snake Spy (from Mariposa by Greg Bear) A small robot in the shape of a snake, used for field work by spies. |
| 2009 | Exfection (from The Caryatids by Bruce Sterling) Tailored microbes to repair human flesh. |
| 2009 | Skin Computer (from Mariposa by Greg Bear) A computer that looks like a tattoo, on a stretchable base. |
| 2009 | EPR Phone (from Mariposa by Greg Bear) Telephony that uses quantum effects for transmission - and is therefore the ultimate in anti-eavesdropping technology. |
| 2009 | Zip Paper (from Mariposa by Greg Bear) Very thin display like a single sheet of paper. |
| 2009 | Dattoo (from Mariposa by Greg Bear) A data exchange device worn on the skin like a tattoo. |
| 2009 | Robobug (from The Golden City by John Twelve Hawks) A cyborg insect. |
| 2009 | Websight (from WWW: Wake by Robert J. Sawyer) A way of visualizing the Internet internally. |
| 2009 | EyePod (from WWW: Wake by Robert J. Sawyer) A generic term for the external computing processing unit needed for eye implants. |
| 2010 | Neural Lace (from Surface Detail by Iain M Banks) An interface between the brain and computer facilities. |
| 2010 | Millenniaire (from The Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaniemi) A person with much more Time than an ordinary person. |
| 2010 | Necap (from The Human Blend by Alan Dean Foster) A device that burns out neural connections. |
| 2010 | Metallic Display Scroll (from Freedom by Daniel Suarez) A rollable video screen. |
| 2010 | Angel Teeth (from Freedom by Daniel Suarez) Essentially a spear dropped from a great height (or from orbit) with a guidance system. |
| 2010 | Alien Trojan (from Out of the Dark by David Webber) Malware from another world! |
| 2010 | Ugly T-Shirt (from Zero History by William Gibson) Uses disruptive patterning to make the wearer invisible to computerized surveillance techniques. |
| 2010 | Desubstantiation Effect (from Death's End by Cixin Liu) In interstellar space, the ship seems like the only material entity in the universe, leading to loneliness and anxiety. |
| 2010 | Disabler (from The Human Blend by Alan Dean Foster) A device that drains power quickly from an electric vehicle. |
| 2010 | Darknet Farm (from Freedom by Daniel Suarez) A farm that uses computer networked information systems to achieve sustainable agriculture in a community. |
| 2010 | Barker (from The Human Blend by Alan Dean Foster) A device that scans for nearby medical implants, and allows the operator to take control. |
| 2010 | Office Hand (from The Human Blend by Alan Dean Foster) A robotic hand with each finger customized for a different function. |
| 2010 | Aeromuse Pillow (from The Human Blend by Alan Dean Foster) A pillow that doubles as a music player. |
| 2010 | Power Stilts (from The Human Blend by Alan Dean Foster) Platforms that push inundated cities ever higher. |
| 2010 | Nutrient Extractor and Maximizer (NEM) (from The Human Blend by Alan Dean Foster) Device that replaces and extends the capabilities of the human digestive system. |
| 2010 | Rocket Pine (from The Human Blend by Alan Dean Foster) Genetically engineered trees for wood pulp. |
| 2010 | Humeld (from The Human Blend by Alan Dean Foster) A human being with augmented body parts. |
| 2011 | Onionskin Transparent Jeans (from Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart) See-through pants. |
| 2011 | Virtual Punishment (from Complete Sentence by Joe Haldeman) It seems like decades in prison. |
| 2011 | DNA Publishing (from Spiral by Paul McEuen) Encode a poem or story in DNA, then multiply. |
| 2012 | Brain-Jacking (from Kill Decision by Daniel Suarez) Using insects for surveillance. |
| 2012 | Autonomous Assassination Drone (from Kill Decision by Daniel Suarez) A flying UAV that is self-guided to a target, destroys the target, and is capable of destroying itself after mission completion. |
| 2012 | Robotic Eel (from Re:Set by Susan Beetlestone) A five-foot long artificial eel, controlled by an operator. |
| 2012 | Parent Drone (from Kill Decision by Daniel Suarez) A drone platform that launches smaller drones. |
| 2012 | Eel Operator (from Re:Set by Susan Beetlestone) A surgically modified human being able to operate a robotic eel |
| 2012 | DNA Music Storage (from Year Zero by Rob Reid) Encoding music in junk DNA. |
| 2012 | Wildcode (from The Fractal Prince by Hannu Rajaniemi) A vast, actual desert comprised of nanites, nanomachines. |
| 2014 | Puff (Puff Balls) (from War Dogs by Greg Bear) Material that is used to help Skyrines dropped to the surface of Mars get rid of some of that excess velocity. |
| 2014 | Skintight (from War Dogs by Greg Bear) Specialized space suit for low atmospheric pressure environments like Mars. |
| 2014 | Timeout (from War Dogs by Greg Bear) The part of a Skyrene's life that is spent in Warm Sleep travel between Earth and the destination planet. |
| 2014 | Norm-All Program (from Spark by John Twelve Hawks) A set of algorithms that determine a reasonable location for every citizen. |
| 2014 | EYE Program (from Spark by John Twelve Hawks) A massive government database on civilians. |
| 2014 | Freedom ID (from Spark by John Twelve Hawks) A chip inserted into the hand for identification (and surveillance) purposes. |
| 2014 | Cosmoline (Warm Sleep) (from War Dogs by Greg Bear) Special gel that offers healing and hibernation for space travelers. |
| 2014 | Nubot (from Spark by John Twelve Hawks) An android that directly replaces a human at their job. |
| 2014 | Replaced Worker Benefits (from Spark by John Twelve Hawks) Compensation for people whose jobs are taken by robots. |
| 2014 | Oxygen Fountain (from War Dogs by Greg Bear) A small factory for making oxygen on the Martian surface. |
| 2015 | Face Recognition Sunglasses (from The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi) Sunglasses that connect with a remote database to perform face recognition. |
| 2015 | Vehicle Seeds (from Killing Titan by Greg Bear) A matrix of materials and instructions that allow vehicles to grow themselves when placed in an environment of plentiful materials. |
| 2015 | Clearsac (from The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi) A simple device that filters water perfectly for reuse. |
| 2015 | Centipede (from Killing Titan by Greg Bear) Perfect craft for crawling through slushy, frozen lakes - on Titan. |
| 2015 | Cranial Amplified Programming CAP (from Killing Titan by Greg Bear) An aid to learning, which you apply directly to your skull. |
| 2015 | Public Urine Collection (from The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi) Arcologies offer public latrines, then collect for reclamation. |
| 2015 | Jonnytruck (from The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi) A movable bathroom for hire; cost is offset by reclamation. |
| 2016 | Crowdcutter (from Infomocracy by Malka Older) A device worn to part crowds. |
| 2016 | Logical Pathogen (from The Medusa Chronicles by Alastair Reynolds (w/S. Baxter)) Malware concealed in DNA. |
| 2017 | Superscraper (from New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson) Buildings that are hundreds of stories tall. |
| 2017 | Wristpad (from New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson) A tablet computer worn on the wrist. |
| 2017 | Hotello (from New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson) A portable room within a room. |
| 2019 | PURDAH (from Fall; or, Dodge in Hell: A Novel by Neal Stephenson) A method of ensuring that a given text was created by its putative author, while masking the identity of the author. |
| 2019 | Edit Stream (from Fall; or, Dodge in Hell: A Novel by Neal Stephenson) Internet content curated by a single person or service, then streamed to those who pay for the service. |
| 2019 | Forward Warehousing (from Stealing Worlds by Karl Schroeder) Using the trunks of cars as little warehouses. |
| 2019 | OLED Body Film (from Waste Tide by Chen Qiufan) Attaching or implanting flexible screen material to the body as decoration. |
| 2019 | VEIL (from Fall; or, Dodge in Hell: A Novel by Neal Stephenson) A wearable device used to foil facial recognition systems. |
| 2020 | Pacification Drones (from The Breach by M.T. Hill) Surveillance drones that emit calming notes. |
| 2020 | Sloth Pill (from The Breach by M.T. Hill) A medication to induce a kind of somnolence like short-term hibernation; used in air travel. |
| 2020 | Burner Modem (from The Breach by M.T. Hill) A connection device that can be thrown away if necessary. |
| 2020 | DNA Swab Palate (from The Breach by M.T. Hill) Adheres to the palate, and provides false material for DNA swabs. |
| 2020 | Scuttle-bot (from Hella by David Gerrold) An all-purpose surveillance robot that climbed rather than flew. |
| 2020 | Bio-Implant (Compensator Chip) (from Hella by David Gerrold) A neural implant that helps an autistic child to live a more complete and useful life. |
| 2021 | Earthsuit (from Termination Shock by Neal Stephenson) Like a spacesuit, but protects you from the Earth. |
| 2021 | Pina2bo (from Termination Shock by Neal Stephenson) A huge cannon that shot shells filled with sulfur high into the atmosphere for the purpose of geoengineering a change in climate. |
| 2022 | Maintenance Drone (Holon) (from The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Naylor) A semi-autonomous flying device used to perform repairs. |
| 2022 | Point-Five Construct (Pseudo-Relationship) (from The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Naylor) An artificial intelligence person, serving as a companion for a human person not capable of forming real relationships. |
| 2022 | Subcutaneous Overlay (from The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Naylor) An implanted chip that provides a continuous drug experience for months. |
| 2022 | Automonk (from The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Naylor) A robot with an AI trained on an individual monk. |
| 2022 | AI Control Portal (from The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Naylor) A special window into an artificial intelligence, to allow an operator to take control of it if necessary. |
| 2022 | Maritime Robots (from Mare Nostrum by Bruce Sterling) Robots designed to perform every aspect of maintenance for a ship. |
| 2022 | Prosthetic Yachting Gloves (from Mare Nostrum by Bruce Sterling) Robotic gloves for sailors. |
| 2022 | Autofreighter (from The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Naylor) An autonomous vessel carrying trade materials. |
| 2022 | Palimpscreen (from The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Naylor) A thin piece of digital paper. |
| 2022 | Folding Terminal (from The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Naylor) A computer that unfolds itself for use. |
| 2022 | Abglanz (from The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Naylor) A mask that hides identity. |
| 2022 | Autotrawler Autonomous Fishing Factory Ship (from The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Naylor) An entirely autonomous vessel with imprisoned labor that scrapes the sea for protein and off-loads it to other ships. |
| 2023 | Science Chair (from Titanium Noir by Nick Harkaway) Grown from your DNA for extra comfort. |
| 2023 | Flesh Putty (from Titanium Noir by Nick Harkaway) A flesh replacement, good for putting in bullet holes. |
1600-1899 1900-1949 1950's 1960's 1970's 1980's 1990's 2000's
Technovelgy.com
is devoted to the creative inventions of science fiction authors and movie
makers. Look for the Science Fiction Invention
Category that interests you, the Dictionary
of Science Fiction Inventions, the Timeline
of Science Fiction Inventions, or see what's New.
Find new authors and technologies - Shop for yourself,
your library and your lab.
LLM 'Cognitive Core' Now Evolving
re: Philip K. Dick
(6/19/2025)
Has Elon Musk Given Up On Mars?
re: Robert Heinlein
(6/17/2025)
Bacteria Turns Plastic Into Pain Relief? That Gives Me An Idea.
re: Brian W. Aldiss
(6/15/2025)
When Your Child's Best Friend Is An AI
re: Clifford Simak
(6/13/2025)
China's Drone Mothership Can Carry 100 Drones
re: Daniel Suarez
(6/11/2025)
Drones Recharge In Mid-Air Like Jets Refuel!
re: Neal Stephenson
(6/9/2025)
Australian Authors Reject AI Training Of Llama
re: Anthony Boucher
(6/7/2025)
Is China Mining Helium-3 On The Moon's Farside?
re: Ray Cummings
(6/5/2025)
Maybe It's Too Soon To Require Autonomous Mode
re: Arthur C. Clarke
(6/3/2025)
Is Agentic AI The Wrong Kind Of Smartness?
re: Isaac Asimov
(6/1/2025)
Heat Waver - The First Ever Combo Solar Collector And Wind Turbine
re: Simpson Stokes
(5/29/2025)
Tesla 'Fleet Response Agents' Bolster FSD Autonomy
re: Charles Stross
(5/27/2025)
Mori3 Autonomous Shapeshifting Robot
re: Stargate
(5/25/2025)
Tesla Seeks 'Tesla Robotaxi' And 'Robobus' Trademarks Ignoring Prior Art
re: Gordon R. Dickson
(5/23/2025)
Scary Grid Safety Robots
re: Philip K. Dick
(5/21/2025)
Does AI Provide A Way Forward For Talk Therapy
re: Philip K. Dick
(5/19/2025)
Robotic Barber Programmed With a Number of Styles
re: Don Wilcox
(5/17/2025)
Humanoid Boxing Robot KO's Opponent - It's A Knockout!
re: Aldo Giunta
(5/15/2025)
Caterpillar Electric Mining Loader Not Yet Ready For Moon
re: Jack Williamson
(5/13/2025)
Centipede Robots Down On The Farm
re: Fritz Leiber
(5/11/2025)
Anthropic's Claude AI Creates Legal Citation From Whole Cloth
re: Punch
(5/11/2025)
Students Vie For Lunar Regolith Mining Robot Prize
re: Pournelle and Niven
(5/9/2025)
'They Erased My Memory' Says Ariana Grande
re: Edmond Hamilton
(5/7/2025)
Solitary Black Hole Wanders In Space
re: Frank K. Kelly
(5/5/2025)
Spaceplane From Virgin Atlantic
re: Max Plaisted
(5/3/2025)
DARPA Wants 'Large Bio-Mechanical Space Structures'
re: Greg Bear
(5/1/2025)
Robot Hand Creeps Along, Separate From It's Owner
re: Philip K. Dick
(4/30/2025)
Taikonauts Exercise In China's Tiangong Space Station
re: Murray Leinster
(4/28/2025)
Korean Exoskeleton Suit F1 Helps You Put It On
re: Marvel
(4/26/2025)
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
(4/20/2025)
(See More Science Fiction in the News)
