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
Latest By
Category:
Armor
Artificial
Intelligence
Biology
Clothing
Communication
Computers
Culture
Data Storage
Displays
Engineering
Entertainment
Food
Input Devices
Lifestyle
Living Space
Manufacturing
Material
Media
Medical
Miscellaneous
Robotics
Security
Space Tech
Spacecraft
Surveillance
Transportation
Travel
Vehicle
Virtual
Person
Warfare
Weapon
Work
"...a market economy is essentially a genetic algorithm for solving resource allocation problems..."
- Charles Stross
 |
| Auto-Treadmills (Needle-Gym) | ||
| A simulation-exercise room floor that allows the user to walk and run on a consistently realistic surface. |
Using your feet is a great way to pick a direction - even in a virtual reality simulation space. But how can you keep walking - while staying in a limited area?
| The young, and breeding females, we let flash by without harm. But then,
trailing and already foaming with fatigue, came the old buck, its leap leaden,
unsteady, and I knew the program really was taking it easy on me today.
Long Stick howled. I sprinted from cover, swiftly taking the lead. The auto-treadmill's bumps and gullies matched whatever terrain the goggles showed me, so my feet knew how to land and thrust off again. The body suit brushed my skin with synthetic wind. Flared nostrils inhaled sweat, exhilaration, and for a time I forgot I was in a tiny room on the eightieth floor of a suburban Chitown con-apt, surrounded by fifty million neighbors. |
| Technovelgy from Natulife,
by David Brin. Published by Fantasy and Science Fiction in 1994 Additional resources -
|
Here's a description of what the floor actually consists of:
Cursing I tore off the helmet, gashing my cheek on the strap. The body suit
still formed a matrix of other-world sensations -- hot savannah wind and gritty
moccasins. But abruptly my eyes saw a tiny, off-white chamber, its coarse floor
of needles mimicking a steep hillside. Sense-conflict made me sway in confusion
as I dove for the door.
Take a look at the VirtuSphere Immersive Virtual Reality "hamster-ball" for one way to have your infinite directions in a limited spae. You might also take a look at the CirculaFloor (Smart Tile Holodeck?), which I saw demonstrated at Wired's NextFest 2005. If you maintained a slow, strolling pace, the little circula-floor tiles would rush along to give you a place to step; it was a trip.
Comment/Join this discussion ( 0 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |
Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from Natulife
More Ideas
and Technology by David Brin
Tech news articles related to Natulife
Tech news articles related to works by David Brin
Auto-Treadmills (Needle-Gym)-related
news articles:
- inFORM Dynamic Shape Output Device
- VirtualGreen Putting Simulator Like Brin's Needle-Gym
- Automated Treadmill Adjusts To Your Pace
- Augmented and-or Virtual Reality Shoes From Google
| Automatic Bot Traffic Is 38 Percent Of HTTP Requests |
| Neuroplatform Human Brain Organoid Bioprocessor Uses Less Electricity |
| AI Worms That Spread |
| Great. Now AIs Have Access To Hacking Tools |
Want to Contribute an
Item?
It's easy:
Get the name of the item, a
quote, the book's name and the author's name, and Add
it here.
| <Previous | Next> |
|
|
|
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Science Fiction Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
|
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
'What would you do,' Eric asked the robot cabdriver, 'if your wife had turned to stone, your best friend were a toad, and you had lost your job?'
'those suits they wear -- call them 'stillsuits' -- that reclaim the body's own water...'
'Now, except for weight and heat, the same conditions prevail in this chamber as in space.'
'there were so many worms and counterworms loose in the data-net...'
'Now, look, let's start with the three fundamental Rules of Robotics...'
'..the synthetic intellects at the Place of Knowledge had far outstripped the minds of men.'
'But after washing and drying clothes had to be smooth - free from fine lines and wrinkles ...'
