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

"Science fiction has gotten more accurate as we've gotten closer to the present, because science fiction stories have not only attracted, but also generated current scientists."
- Larry Niven

Robot Waiter  
  Robotic restaurant servitor.  

As far as I know, this is the first use of this phrase.

We made our way to a grill one level below the theatre floor, near the moving sidewalk.

I ordered some chops, toast and wine for two.

"To think," said Miss Dolly, her face flushed, while waiting for the robot waiter, "what a marvelous show, solely with robot artists."

I was glad to perceive that the entertainment had been so fascinating to her.

It did seem inconceivable that anything mechanical could act with such precision without one flaw.

At this juncture, the smiling face of the female robot waitress interrupted my musings and Miss Dolly's enthusiastic comments. The supper was delicious.

"I am grateful for these robots, Alonzo," Miss Dolly quaintly remarked.

"And, why?" 1 asked her.

"One does not have to be, er . . . jealous of you fascinating men even though the waitresses are so charming."

From Flamingo: A Drama of A.D. 1950, by Clarence Edward Heller.
Published by Amazing Stories in 1930
Additional resources -

Schachner and Zagat used this phrase just a year later in The Death Cloud (1931):

We sat, Eric Bolton and I, at a parapet table atop the 200-story General Aviation Building. The efficient robot waiter of the Sky Club had cleared away the remnants of an epicurean meal. Only a bowl of golden fruit remained—globes of nectar picked in the citrus groves of California that morning.

Comment/Join this discussion ( 0 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |

Additional resources:
  More Ideas and Technology from Flamingo: A Drama of A.D. 1950
  More Ideas and Technology by Clarence Edward Heller
  Tech news articles related to Flamingo: A Drama of A.D. 1950
  Tech news articles related to works by Clarence Edward Heller

Robot Waiter-related news articles:
  - Robotics Jobs In The Food Industry

Articles related to Robotics
EELS Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor For Enceladus
Helpful Robots In Science Fiction
SayCan with PaLM - Google's Robot Helper
Robot Gas Station Attendant Fills Tank - Which I Saw In 1962

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>

Google
  Web TechNovelgy.com   

 

 

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

Science Fiction in the News

I Didn't Know You Can Already Buy Flesh Putty
'I filled your bullet hole with flesh putty and the lattice.'

'A Sign in Space' Gives Practice In Decoding ET Messages
'... it will be easy to form an alphabet which shall enable us to converse with the inhabitants of the moon.'

Melting Permafrost Endangers Infrastructure
'From the tower's huge octagonal base radiate wide silvery strips...'

EELS Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor For Enceladus
'It was about five feet long... a black bullet head and red camera eyes.'

Lazy Lawyer's Trust In ChatGPT Misplaced
'The Law Society has strict rules on the use of pseudo-intelligent software...'

Paradromics Implant FDA 'Breakthrough Device'
'I used my implant to tell MILLIE what we wanted...'

Mice, At Least, Can Sober Up Quickly
'Then draw some aldodote-vitamin pills from the medic.'

Is It Time For Lunar Farside Telescopes?
'Mount Ambarzumian Observatory, on Farside.'

TM-62 Loitering Ground Landmine
Runaway movie comes to life!

More SF in the News

More Beyond Technovelgy

Home | Glossary | Science Fiction Timeline | Category | New | Contact Us | FAQ | Advertise |
Technovelgy.com - where science meets fiction™

Copyright© Technovelgy LLC; all rights reserved.