The Computer Connection by Alfred Bester:
Science Fiction Inventions, Technology and Ideas

Remarkable book; the author sees it as a flawed work, but it shines all the way through with his wit and insight. The story centers around a small group of people who become effectively immortal. One of their group begins killing the others (possible with enough trauma); the group pulls together to get the criminal.

His use of 3D projection commercials was particularly prescient - he clearly visualized what you saw in the 2004 movie Minority Report in 1974. Select an invention:

Cryocapsule
A spaceship capsule that contains astronauts in special coffins, in suspended animation.

Cryonaut
An astronaut placed in cryonic sleep.

Cushion Fence
Gentle force field

Flesh Gun
A weapon that burns the skin and meat off the victim.

Harvesting Saturn's Rings
Mining the rings for industrial purposes.

Home Ad Blocker
Device insulates house against intrusion by 3D advertisements.

Molemen

Projection - be in two places at once
A means of projecting your image to a distant place.

Projection Commercials - 3D advertisements
A three-dimensional advertisement that is placed in your path in a public place like a bar.

Skull Bug - implanted RFID monitor
A small electronic device implanted in the cranium at birth; used for monitoring and control.

Time Dingbat - time machine welfare
Nickname for a time machine; used for a kind of WPA-like program for the past.

 

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