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"Conspiracy theories are big because they're comforting. Any conspiracy is infinitely less multiplex than the real deal, which is multiplex to the point of being unknowable."
- William Gibson
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| Protophason Amplifier | ||
| Detects brain activity of those in half-life. |
In Ubik, a technology called "cold-pac" allowed people to exist in a kind of life after death. Called "half-life" it slowly diminished over time, but you could still talk with your loved ones. Sort of.
| "Twill only be a moment," Herbert made his way back to the cold-pac bins to search out number 3054039-B.
When he located the correct party he scrutinized the lading report attached. It gave only fifteen days of half-life remaining. Not very much, he reflected; automatically he pressed a portable protophason amplifier into the transparent plastic hull of the casket, tuned it, listened at the proper frequency for indication of cephalic activity. Faintly from the speaker a voice said, "... and then Tillie sprained her ankle and we never thought it'd heal... Satisfied he unplugged the amplifier and located a union man to perform the actual task of carting 3054039-B to the consultation lounge, where the customer would be put in touch with the old lady. |
| Technovelgy from Ubik,
by Philip K. Dick. Published by Doubleday in 1969 Additional resources -
|
Compare to the brain-case from Murder in the Void (1938) by Edmond Hamilton.
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Protophason Amplifier-related
news articles:
- Facilitated Communication With Coma Man Bogus?
- Measuring Awareness In Comatose Patients
- Can Patients In A Vegetative State Communicate?
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