![]() |
Science Fiction
|
![]() |
Timeline
of Science Fiction Ideas, Technology and Inventions
|
Date | Device Name (Novel Author) |
1980 | Boosterspice (from Ringworld Engineers by Larry Niven) A substance that extends human life almost indefinitely. |
1980 | Wunderland Treatymaker (from Ringworld Engineers by Larry Niven) A weapon based on a power mining technique - a bit more advanced than a shovel. |
1980 | Jumble-Box (from Changeling by Roger Zelazny) A device that jumbles sensory input. |
1980 | Solar-Powered UAV (from Changeling by Roger Zelazny) An unmanned aerial vehicle that is entirely solar-powered. |
1980 | Autonomously Recharging UAV (from Changeling by Roger Zelazny) Unmanned aerial vehicles that recharge themselves automatically. |
1980 | Artificial Butterfly (from Changeling by Roger Zelazny) A mechanical, robotic butterfly. |
1980 | Wristband Viewer (from Changeling by Roger Zelazny) A device for viewing aerial surveillance images that fits on your wrist. |
1980 | Optic Prosthesis (from Changeling by Roger Zelazny) A replacement for a damaged eye. |
1980 | Fuligin (from The Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe) A material the color of which is blacker than black. |
1980 | Oort Cloud Processor (from Beyond the Blue Event Horizon by Frederik Pohl) An alien ship that processes Oort cloud into food. |
1980 | Watercouch (from Beyond the Blue Event Horizon by Frederik Pohl) A couch filled with water, rather than springs and cushions. |
1980 | Deep-Radar (from Ringworld Engineers by Larry Niven) Device to image within large objects, even within mountains. |
1980 | Tracer-Bird (from Changeling by Roger Zelazny) A prototype surveillance drone; a mechanical bird. |
1980 | Absolute Black (from Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams) A material so absolutely black that it absorbed all incident light. |
1981 | Iceberg Water Tub (from Oath of Fealty by Jerry Pournelle (w/L. Niven)) An enormous bag or tub that encloses an iceberg used to supply fresh water. |
1981 | Telepresence Bulldozer (from Oath of Fealty by Jerry Pournelle (w/L. Niven)) A bulldozer on the Moon that is operated remotely by a driver on Earth. |
1981 | Tapeworm Tranquilizer (from Revolution from Rosinante by Alexis Arnaldus Gilliland) Robotic suppository dispenses tranquilizer. |
1981 | Virtual world metaphor (from True Names by Vernor Vinge) use of fanciful imagery to represent real-world data systems in a virtual world. |
1981 | Virtual World Kiss (from True Names by Vernor Vinge) Kissing mediated by a computer system. |
1981 | Personality Simulator (Virtual Person) (from True Names by Vernor Vinge) A computer program that presents the appearance of being a person. |
1981 | Data Space (from True Names by Vernor Vinge) Computer storage and processor time rented by the user. |
1981 | Gravity Whip (from Dream Park by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) A roller coaster designe to provide riders with a 'zero G' experience. |
1981 | Big Noodle (from The Divine Invasion by Philip K. Dick) A vast artificial intelligence system used to process all of Earth's information. |
1981 | Dream Park (from Dream Park by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) A vacation theme park in which the visitors participated fully in the different environments. |
1981 | Cyborg Dolphin (Jones) (from Johnny Mnemonic by William Gibson) A heavily modified war surplus dolphin. |
1981 | Mattress Sleep Sensor (from Dream Park by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) Sleep problems? Make sure you get your body out of bed each day. |
1981 | Sensory Skinsuit (from Dream Park by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) A form-fitting garment with sensory connections. |
1981 | Robot Probes (Arr-twos) (from Oath of Fealty by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) Remote controlled robots that wander through a facility, bringing pictures and information to a central location. |
1981 | Underground MagLev Train (from Dream Park by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) Magnetic levitation train that travels through a tunnel; a vacuum reduces drag. |
1981 | Portal (from True Names by Vernor Vinge) Sensory experience of a data network. |
1981 | International Fantasy Gaming Society (IFGS) (from Dream Park by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) A group dedicated to playing live action role-playing games. |
1981 | Monitored In-Home Security Camera (from Oath of Fealty by Jerry Pournelle (w/L. Niven)) Security cameras mounted inside your home that are monitored by a person outside your house, and not a member of your family. |
1981 | Dictatel (from God Emperor of Dune by Frank Herbert) A thought-based dictating machine. |
1981 | Black square (from God Emperor of Dune by Frank Herbert) A device for secret communication. |
1981 | Mechanical Mole (from Oath of Fealty by Jerry Pournelle (w/L. Niven)) A self-contained device for digging large tunnels. |
1981 | Todos Santos Independency (from Oath of Fealty by Jerry Pournelle (w/L. Niven)) A city enclosed in a single building. |
1981 | Briefcase Console (from Oath of Fealty by Jerry Pournelle (w/L. Niven)) A notebook computer |
1981 | Communications Implant (from Oath of Fealty by Jerry Pournelle (w/L. Niven)) A surgically implanted device enabling the user to communicate with computer networks. |
1981 | Ridulian Crystal Sheets (from God Emperor of Dune by Frank Herbert) Exceptionally strong, surpassingly thin material. |
1981 | Sleeve Watch (from Dream Park by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) Temporary watch imprinted on the sleeve of a chosen garment. |
1982 | Cyberspace (from Burning Chrome by William Gibson) A computer technology that allowed people to see a computer network as an internal experience. |
1982 | Mindwipe (from Mindkiller by Spider Robinson) A process that selectively and effectively erases human memory. |
1982 | SAL 9000 (from 2010: Odyssey Two by Arthur C. Clarke) Successor to the HAL 9000. |
1982 | Command Microphone (from Diplomat At Arms by Keith Laumer) A cloak that served as a microphone and public address system. |
1982 | Designer Eyes (from Blade Runner by Ridley Scott) Genetic designers create better-than-perfect eyes for replicants. |
1982 | Voight-Kampff Test (from Blade Runner by Ridley Scott) A test intended to distinguish human beings from replicants. |
1982 | Micro Label (from Blade Runner by Ridley Scott) A serial number or logo so small it can only be seen under extreme magnification. |
1982 | Flying Car (from Blade Runner by Ridley Scott) Flying police car has VTOL. |
1982 | Advertising Airship (from Blade Runner by Ridley Scott) A dirigible capable of reproducing full-color video ads on its sides. |
1982 | Full-Motion Building Advertising Facade (from Blade Runner by Ridley Scott) An advertising display that covers an entire skyscraper; it provides full-motion video to onlookers. |
1982 | Hunter Program (from Mindkiller by Spider Robinson) Searching for occupied dwellings by monitoring electric power usage. |
1982 | Trip-Box (from Eye of Cat by Roger Zelazny) A teleportation device. |
1982 | UHF Shower (from Eye of Cat by Roger Zelazny) And ultra high frequency shower, which do used energy instead of water to wash off. |
1982 | Shipstone (from Friday by Robert Heinlein) A lot of power in a small, manufactured package. |
1982 | Esper Photo Analysis (from Blade Runner by Ridley Scott) A device that can find remarkable levels of detail from a photograph. |
1982 | Heritable Memories Bloodline (from The Time of the Dark by Barbara Hambly) Using magical means to tie specific memories to the bloodlines of selected families. |
1982 | Call Notification Unit (from Eye of Cat by Roger Zelazny) A small portable device that let you know that you had a phone call at your home. |
1982 | Virtual Reality (Virtual Matrix) (from The Judas Mandala by Damien Broderick) An early use of a term very similar to the idea of cyberspace. |
1982 | Cutoff Switch (from 2010: Odyssey Two by Arthur C. Clarke) A means of instantaneously switching off an artificial intelligence. |
1982 | Genetically Tailored Trees (from Eye of Cat by Roger Zelazny) Trees that had been genetically altered to produce and concentrate usable oil. |
1982 | Matrix (from Burning Chrome by William Gibson) A shared virtual reality space; users project their consciousness into a representation of networked data. |
1982 | Beanstalk (from Friday by Robert Heinlein) Clever name for the space elevator. |
1982 | Public Eye (from Friday by Robert Heinlein) A floating, free-roaming surveillance camera. |
1982 | Automated Travel Bureau (from Friday by Robert Heinlein) A computer program that allows individuals to book their travel arrangements themselves, with a credit card. |
1983 | Luggage (from The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett) A trunk made from sapient pearwood. |
1983 | Spark Plug (Systematician) (from Dream Thief by Stephen Lawhead) A person who draws information from diverse areas of knowledge. |
1983 | No Human Programmers (from Millenium by John Varley) The idea that computers are too complicated and too important to be programmed by human beings. |
1983 | Nullboxing Bubble (from Streetlethal by Steven Barnes) The 'ring' used for a sport played out in free fall; essentially kickboxing in space. |
1983 | Sherman (from Millenium by John Varley) A sex robot. |
1983 | AM-280 Needle Rifle (from A Matter For Men by David Gerrold) Device shoots a stream of steel needles. |
1983 | Microterm (from Cyberpunk! by Bruce Bethke) A very small computer system. |
1983 | People-Sorter (from Millenium by John Varley) A device able to sort human beings with incredible speed. |
1983 | Smartcab (from Cyberpunk! by Bruce Bethke) An automated taxicab, fully self-driving, that can be summoned from a portable device. |
1983 | Skull Alarm (from Millenium by John Varley) Implanted wakeup call. |
1983 | Timepress (from Millenium by John Varley) A device that makes time go more quickly in a limited area. |
1983 | Tether Space Station (from Tank Farm Dynamo by David Brin) A station in two parts, separated by a one hundred mile tether. |
1983 | Wimp (from Millenium by John Varley) A special-purpose body; grown without personality, but physically intact. |
1983 | Big Computer (from Millenium by John Varley) Just like it says; this computer knows it all. |
1983 | Revitalizer Console. (from Millenium by John Varley) A kind of automated medical marvel; it optimizes your body chemistry for better health, tops off your fluids, etc. |
1983 | Speedcap (from Millenium by John Varley) Short for speed capsule (?); sometimes, going ballistic is the fastest way to get there. |
1983 | Post Office (from Millenium by John Varley) A vault used to store time capsules left by travelers to the past; not your usual delivery service. |
1983 | Time Capsule (from Millenium by John Varley) A hollow block of metal, impervious to the elements, used by time travelers to send messages to the future. |
1983 | Twonky (from Millenium by John Varley) A futuristic artifact left by time travelers in the past which, if discovered, could cause a paradox. |
1983 | Gnome (from Millenium by John Varley) A person who requires so much life support, they are built into the chair. |
1983 | Wimp Vault (from Millenium by John Varley) Lots of spare bodies. |
1983 | Skinsuit (from Millenium by John Varley) Wearable artificial, full-body skin. |
1983 | Cerebral Microprocessors (from Millenium by John Varley) Added boost for maxxed out minds. |
1983 | Scooter (from Against Infinity by Gregory Benford) Biotechnology working to bring you a better solar system - a creepy crawly created to do terraforming work on Jupiter's moon. |
1984 | Neural Cut Out Chip (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) An electronic device which, when implanted in the brain of the subject, allows software to take over that person's body.. |
1984 | Mimetic Polycarbon Suit (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Clothing made from a fiber that could change colors based on either recorded images or real-time picture input. |
1984 | Tug (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) A small space vehicle, used to provide a push or pull to objects floating in space without propulsion systems. |
1984 | Ghost Trap (from Ghostbusters by Harold Ramis) Device for capture and temporary storage of ectoplasmic entities. |
1984 | Pseudo-Insects (Synsects) (from One Human Minute by Stanislaw Lem) A swarm of self-guided, programmed microarmies. |
1984 | Ixian Probe (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) A device that looks at brain tissue so carefully that memories can be seen. |
1984 | JAL Shuttle (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Shuttle capable of attaining low earth orbit. |
1984 | Vat Grown Meat (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Meat tissue for consumption, grown apart from an animal. |
1984 | Toothbud Transplant (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Implanted teeth that mimic the dentition of other species. |
1984 | Temporary Quarters (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Device used to separate a large interior space in an off-planet satellite into various living spaces. |
1984 | Freeside Orbital Resort (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) A resort that orbits the Earth. |
1984 | Intellectual Cell (from Blood Music by Greg Bear) A smart lymphocyte; a cell with enhanced capacity for memory, understanding and communication. |
1984 | Robot Crab (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) An automated gardener. |
1984 | Meat Puppet (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) A person with a neural cut out chip; the chip allows computer software to completely control their actions. |
1984 | Comeye (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) A portable video camera, used by the mobile functionary to keep in touch with office. |
1984 | Nullentropy Bin (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) A compartment in which entropy was halted. |
1984 | Agony Box (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) A device for causing non-lethal, non-injuring pain by nerve induction. |
1984 | House Records (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) The vast archival information management system of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood, covering millennia. |
1984 | Construct (Digital) (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) A stored version of a person's particular skills and personal approaches to problems. |
1984 | Datacase (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) A portable suitcase, containing useful electronics for the mobile business-person. |
1984 | Computer-Created Dub (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Music created by an artificially intelligent computer for a specific audience. |
1984 | No-Ship (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) A ship that uses an Ixian field to be effectively invisible. |
1984 | Implanted Microprocessor Monitor (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Chips that are implanted in people to ensure compliance with company rules. |
1984 | Shere (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) Destroys cells so that memory cannot be deduced from the cells of the person even in death. |
1984 | Razorgirl (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Surgically implanted blades under the fingernails. |
1984 | Kuang Grade Mark Eleven Penetration Program (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Chinese virus software for breaking the ICE. |
1984 | No-Globe (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) A large spherical living space that is concealed by special Ixian technology, making it impossible to detect by any known probe. |
1984 | Pulse-Timer (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) A watch that uses your visual cortex for a read-out device. |
1984 | Life-shield Blanket (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) A device that is capable of shielding the person using it against ordinary forms of detecting living beings. |
1984 | Biologics (from Blood Music by Greg Bear) A computer that is made of organic (biological) components, rather than inorganic materials like silicon. |
1984 | Medically Applicable Biochip (from Blood Music by Greg Bear) A computer formed of organic components that is used for a medical purpose. |
1984 | Mirrorshades - Surgically Inset Glasses (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Glasses that were implanted in the face of the wearer. |
1984 | Wintermute (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) An artificially intelligent computer system. |
1984 | Microsoft (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) A small piece of firmware inserted into the brain that provides data on a particular subject, or special features, for the user. |
1984 | Flexitime (from Master of Space and Time by Rudy Rucker) A work system that actually tells you when you've put in your time. |
1984 | Chirpsithra Supercomputer (from Niven's Laws by Larry Niven) An alien race thoughtfully provides mankind with blueprints for the most intelligent computer ever made. |
1984 | Joeboy (Muscle Grafts) (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Additional muscle tissue added through surgery. |
1984 | Gynoid (from Divine Endurance by Gwyneth Jones) A female android. |
1984 | Electromagnetic Shotgun (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) A device to shut down an artificial intelligence if it becomes dangerous. |
1984 | Panther Modern (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Cyberterrorists for hire. |
1984 | Optic Television (from Twenty Evocations by Bruce Sterling) An eye that "sees" more than just its surroundings. |
1984 | Generate New Phone Number (from Press Enter by John Varley) A software program that creates a new phone number for each call. |
1984 | Nikon Eyes (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Artificially cultivated eyes that can be transplanted to replace (or repair) your original pair. |
1984 | Privacy Screen (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) A device that shields occupants from all possible forms of electronic intrusion and surveillance. |
1984 | Selected Melanin Boosting (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) The only way to get a designer tan. |
1984 | Sparkers (from Niven's Laws by Larry Niven) A device used to deliver small amounts of electric current to chirpsithra, who use it for the same reason humans use alcohol. |
1984 | Image-Amps (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Boost the signal from the eyes to see in the dark. |
1984 | Edgar (from Electric Dreams by Rusty Lemorande) Computer that falls in love with a human woman. |
1984 | Dermadisk (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) A means of quickly administering drugs directly through the skin. |
1984 | Coffin Rack Capsule Hotel (from The Science Fiction Yearbook (ed. Jerry Pournelle) by William Gibson) A hotel with very (very!) small rooms. |
1984 | Talking Head (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) A mechanical head (with an analog voice) used as the output terminal for a computer. |
1984 | Interactive Suicide Note (from Press Enter by John Varley) A last message for the people you are leaving behind - that encourages their participation. |
1984 | Proton Pack (from Ghostbusters by Harold Ramis) The business end of a mobile particle accelerator. |
1984 | Planck Juice (from Master of Space and Time by Rudy Rucker) A continuous pre-quark force-medium with no distinguishing characteristics (it's mostly gluons) |
1984 | ICE (intrusion countermeasures electronics) (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Electronic protection for computer databases. |
1984 | SimStim (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Stimulation of the brain and nervous system of one person using a recording (or live broadcast) of another person's experience. |
1984 | Composite Expert System (from Twenty Evocations by Bruce Sterling) Intelligent teaching software - a computer interface with a heart. |
1984 | Lado-Acheson System (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) A device for "pumping in" sunlight into an enclosed space habitat. |
1984 | Display-Induced Epileptic Seizure (from Press Enter by John Varley) A computer program that flashes a computer display to induce an epileptic seizure in the user. |
1984 | Low-Gravity Velodrome (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) A bicycle track in an orbital resort. |
1984 | Repair Drone (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Autonomous robots repair damage or sabotage. |
1984 | Contact Venom (from Twenty Evocations by Bruce Sterling) A poison that is absorbed through the skin. |
1984 | House Records Archivist (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) A specialist who correlated information within the House Records of the Bene Gesserit. |
1984 | Biological Circuit Fabrication (from The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe by Author Unknown) Creating an electronic circuit using biologically-based means. |
1985 | Millipede Train (from Eon by Greg Bear) A train that is able to move without tracks or other supports. |
1985 | Mechanist Drogue (from Schismatrix by Bruce Sterling) |
1985 | Deceleration Paste (from Schismatrix by Bruce Sterling) Antidote for deceleration trauma. |
1985 | Circumlunar (from Schismatrix by Bruce Sterling) A large space habitat orbiting the moon. |
1985 | Video-Manicuring Program (from Schismatrix by Bruce Sterling) Manipulates live video images in real time. |
1985 | Bat Wings (from Limits by Larry Niven) The dream of human-powered winged flight becomes a reality - in low gravity, of course. |
1985 | Michael (Orion Ship) (from Footfall by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) A spacecraft using nuclear bombs for propulsion. |
1985 | Microwave Beamer (from Limits by Larry Niven) A hand-held fast cooking device. |
1985 | Resting Pits (from Limits by Larry Niven) |
1985 | Beta Beam Satellite (from Limits by Larry Niven) |
1985 | Big Push (from Limits by Larry Niven) A linear accelerator built on a long track; a mass driver. |
1985 | Sours (from Schismatrix by Bruce Sterling) The odor created in enclosed space environments due to the need for bacilli for healthy soil. |
1985 | Desk (Personal Computer) (from Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card) A computer for students. |
1985 | Earmite (from Freezone by John Shirley) A small speaker that you can put in your ear. |
1985 | Sleep Tube (from Solstice by James Patrick Kelly) A short, cylindrical living space. |
1985 | Tube Rack (from Solstice by James Patrick Kelly) A hotel consisting of a set of stacked tube-like living spaces. |
1985 | Mnemotropin (from Stone Lives by Paul Di Filippo) A drug to improve the creation of long-term memories. |
1985 | Subdermal Microchannels (from Stone Lives by Paul Di Filippo) A means of personal adornment; think of day glow tattoos. |
1985 | CCD Eyes (from Stone Lives by Paul Di Filippo) Electronic eyes using charged-coupled devices provide a wide variety of functions. |
1985 | Reactive Walls (from Freezone by John Shirley) Wall surfaces designed for use in clubs; they reacted to the music played in the room. |
1985 | Self-Propelled Road Mine (from Runaway by Michael Crichton) A small, lightweight mine able to travel at highway speeds; guides itself to a marked target. |
1985 | Security Guard Robot (Sentry Robot) (from Runaway by Michael Crichton) A robot that takes the place of a security guard in an office environment. |
1985 | Flying Crowbars (from Footfall by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) Kinetic energy weapons deployed from space. |
1985 | Christmas Bush Motile Robot (from Rocheworld by Robert Forward) Repair robot with extra-sensitive hands. |
1985 | Car Sound Tape (from The Cat Who Walks Through Walls by Robert Heinlein) Otherwise silent vehicle uses a recorded engine sound. |
1985 | Wire Act (from Freezone by John Shirley) A person with special hardware modifications that allow him or her to create music by bodily movement. |
1985 | Digger Worm (from With Friends Like These by Connie Willis) A robot shaped like a fat snake, or worm; used for mining. |
1985 | Free Play (The Mind Game) (from Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card) A computer simulation that presents an enjoyable game for young people that is also used for psychological evaluation. |
1985 | Flash Suit (from Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card) Special suit for practice battles. |
1985 | Fieldstim (from Freezone by John Shirley) A device that used stimulation of a large skin area to impart images to the user. |
1985 | Skyball (from A Day For Damnation by David Gerrold) Remote-controlled UAV. |
1985 | Military Spider (from A Day For Damnation by David Gerrold) An eight legged telepresence robot. |
1985 | Imp Personal Robot (from Rocheworld by Robert Forward) A small 'subtree' robot that is designed for the personal use of astronauts. |
1985 | Plug-Ups (from Passage at Arms by Glen Cook) Tiny plastic balls that seal leaks on spacecraft. |
1985 | Adnix (from Contact by Carl Sagan) A device that muted the television to lessen the impact of commercials. |
1985 | Car Dashboard Drone Controller (from Runaway by Michael Crichton) A screen and controls for using a remote drone. |
1985 | Construction Robot (from Runaway by Michael Crichton) Autonomous robots work on construction sites. |
1985 | Threat Team (of sf writers) (from Footfall by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) Gathering together a group of science fiction writers to try to predict what will happen, or to understand an unknown threat. |
1985 | Interstellar Laser Propulsion System (from Rocheworld by Robert Forward) A means of traveling to the stars, using a Sol-based laser system and light sail-equipped ship. |
1985 | Home Robot (from Runaway by Michael Crichton) A robotic device designed to serve families in their homes. |
1985 | Spetsdöd (from The Man Who Never Missed by Steve Perry) A unique gun that is part of the shooter. |
1985 | Sentient Room (from Schismatrix by Bruce Sterling) A room constructed entirely of flesh, dominated by the personality of a geisha. |
1985 | Survival Bubble (Beach Ball) (from Footfall by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) Simplest possible space survival pod. |
1985 | Visor (from Freezone by John Shirley) A snap-down video screen for your eyes only. |
1985 | Spider Robot (from Runaway by Michael Crichton) Scuttling insect robots. |
1985 | Sniffer Robot (from Runaway by Michael Crichton) A small robot that gathers odors from a crime scene for analysis. |
1985 | Agricultural Robot Pest Controller (from Runaway by Michael Crichton) An agricultural robot specifically designed to perform pest control activities. |
1985 | Orbital Retirement Hotel (from Contact by Carl Sagan) A retirement home placed in low earth orbit. |
1985 | Freezone (from Freezone by John Shirley) A vast floating island in international waters. |
1985 | Drone Floater Camera (from Runaway by Michael Crichton) A one-foot square aerostat capable of hovering with a camera to transmit images back to a base station. |
1985 | Smart Bullet (from Runaway by Michael Crichton) Really a tiny missile capable of identifying and following a person. |
1985 | Battleroom (from Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card) A large, null-gravity space used for battle tactics training. |
1985 | Police Sketch Artist Software (from Runaway by Michael Crichton) A tablet-style computer with sketch pad software to help identify suspects. |
1986 | Blaupunkt Holostage (from Snake-Eyes by Tom Maddox) A three-dimensional tabletop display. |
1986 | Memory Biochip (from Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold) An implanted device that permits the user to 'play back' selected memories. |
1986 | Robot Gun (from Aliens by Alan Dean Foster) An automated gun; typically used for sentry duty. |
1986 | Polycarbon Phone Screen (from Count Zero by William Gibson) A telephone that provides videophone capability using a very thin screen that is folded away when not in use. |
1986 | Ghostwheel (from Blood of Amber by Roger Zelazny) A sentient computer partially built with magic. |
1986 | Biosoft (from Count Zero by William Gibson) A biography that includes actual life experience from the subject; a biographical download. |
1986 | Dustplug (from Count Zero by William Gibson) A cover specially made to protect one's microsoft socket; a tongue retainer for your brain. |
1986 | Slamhound (from Count Zero by William Gibson) An automated assassination device with a keen sense of smell. |
1986 | Orbital Terminus (from Count Zero by William Gibson) An airport in space; a terminal for low earth orbit flights. |
1986 | Uterine Replicator (from Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold) A device that simulates the functions of the human uterus. |
1986 | Shiftsuit (from Matadora by Steve Perry) A form of adaptive camouflage gear. |
1986 | Effective Human Implant Technology (EHIT) (from Snake-Eyes by Tom Maddox) Computer interface implanted directly into the human brain. |
1987 | Raisin (from Nanotime by Bart Kosko) A small device like a hearing aid that fits inside the external part of the ear; combines an intelligent agent and wireless access to the network. |
1987 | Robotic Butterfly (from I, Robot: The Movie by Harlan Ellison) A tiny, electromechanical flying robot. |
1987 | Hostage Gas (from The Uplift War by David Brin) A gas sprayed over a population; to survive, those who breathe it must report to centers for the antidote. |
1987 | Transport Walkers (from A Little Further Up The Fox... by George M. Ewing) Multilegged transport vehicles big enough to carry one person. |
1987 | Ice Dart (from Nanotime by Bart Kosko) A variation on an old locked door mystery idea. |
1987 | Hushicopter (from Fantastic Voyage II: Destination Brain by Isaac Asimov) A nearly-silent helicopter. |
1987 | Skydozer (from A Little Further Up The Fox... by George M. Ewing) Small spacecraft used to remove orbital debris. |
1987 | Smart Lanes (from Nanotime by Bart Kosko) Roadways that monitored, directed and controlled traffic. |
1987 | Superacid (from Nanotime by Bart Kosko) Smart acids that could be created to ignore particular compounds and dissolve others. |
1987 | Holodeck (from Encounter at Farpoint by David Gerrold) A computer-simulated environment. |
1987 | Birthing egg (from Nanotime by Bart Kosko) A chamber for in vitro fertilization (IVF), combining the DNA of two people to produce a child, without all the usual bother. |
1987 | Boomer Park (from Nanotime by Bart Kosko) Where the baby boomers all went to retire and die. |
1987 | Moddy (from When Gravity Fails by George Alec Effinger) A plug-in personality module; a firmware device that gives the user the personality desired - ROM to your brain's RAM. |
1987 | Webcast (from Armageddon Blues by D.K. Moran) A broadcast accomplished over a data network. |
1987 | Chiphead (from Nanotime by Bart Kosko) A person whose organic brain has been effectively superseded by a firmware (integrated circuit or more advanced technology) device. |
1987 | Predator Wrist Display (from Predator by John McTiernan) A wrist bracelet with a variety of useful functions. |
1987 | Electric Monk (from Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams) Robotic device provides belief services. |
1987 | Robot Cells (Crystal-Shaped Modules) (from Isaac Asimov's Odyssey : Robot City: Book1 by Michael P. Kube-McDowell) Minute dodecahedral units that could combine into different shapes to become full robots. |
1988 | Korsakov's (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) A type of mind control imposed on prisoners to make them more manageable during their prison time. |
1988 | Scop (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) Protein grown in bacteria-filled vats. |
1988 | High Tech Trash Can (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) The future of waste management. |
1988 | Gravitic Lift (from Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov) An elevator with no visible means of support. |
1988 | Dainties (from Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Flavor spheres artificially grown. |
1988 | Microfarm (from Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Food creation without soil. |
1988 | Jet-Down (from Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A spacecraft able to explore planetary surfaces. |
1988 | Air-Taxi (from Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A flying taxicab with autonomous features. |
1988 | Book-Film (from Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A storage medium for books. |
1988 | Head-Molding Skincaps (from Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Get a smooth pate without shaving. |
1988 | Steel Drugs (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) A name for recreational chemicals that were entirely synthetic. |
1988 | Projection Rig (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) A portable holographic projector. |
1988 | Video-Glasses (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) Special light-gathering elements allowed the end user to see omni-directionally. |
1988 | Suit Designer (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) |
1988 | High Orbit Archipelago (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) The habitable spaces in high earth orbit. |
1988 | Automated Space Factories (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) Manufacturing based in space. |
1988 | Hovercraft (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) A vehicle that moves about on a cushion of air. |
1988 | Brainlock (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) A technique to focus the attention of prisoners on a limited task, precluding the possibility of escape. |
1988 | Polycarbon Exo (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) Exoskeleton made of a strong, lightweight material. |
1988 | Sculpted Teeth (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) Go beyond teeth whitening to shaped teeth - for a more modern smile. |
1988 | Lunar Concrete (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) A building material using lunar dust or similar surface material as a main ingredient. |
1988 | Recorded Personalities (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) Computer firmware that saves a person's characteristics and reactions. |
1988 | SIN (Single Identification Number) (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) |
1988 | People-Mover (from Wetware by Rudy Rucker) A fixed mode of transporting people outside; and, they get to sit down. |
1988 | Powered Print-Book (from Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Part computer, part book. |
1988 | Print-Book (from Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov) You’ve seen them. |
1988 | Personality-Construct (Lazarus) (from Killing Gramps by Ann K. Schwader) A chip providing a robotic body with the attributes of the selected person. |
1988 | Cleaning Machine Warren (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) A room or space set aside for machinery when not in use. |
1988 | Twist-Box (from Wetware by Rudy Rucker) A device that scrambles your sensory input, providing you with a different kind of experience. |
1988 | Maas-Neotek Biochip (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) An integrated circuit chip (or equivalent) that provides hardware and firmware for creating a virtual entity. |
1988 | Trode-Net (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) |
1988 | Flickercladding (from Wetware by Rudy Rucker) A covering that allowed robots to absorb incident light or emit light, as needed. |
1988 | Boppers (from Wetware by Rudy Rucker) Self-reproducing robots; they did not obey Asimov's laws for robots (or any other man-made rules). |
1988 | Data Haven (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) A place where data that cannot legally be kept can be stashed for later use; an offshore web host. |
1988 | Heartshirt (from Wetware by Rudy Rucker) A shirt that was able to detect heart sounds and display associated colors. |
1988 | Airchair (from Killing Gramps by Ann K. Schwader) A floating armchair. |
1988 | Vizzyprint (from Wetware by Rudy Rucker) A printer attached to a video phone. |
1988 | Bank Chip (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) A "smart" credit card. |
1988 | Dornier (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) A small surveillance drone capable of hovering in midair. |
1988 | House Voice (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) A house-based system that mediates technologies (like phone) with a verbal interface directed to the inhabitants of the house. |
1988 | Digital Running Shoes (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) Shoes with a digital readout showing performance. |
1988 | Watchphone (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) A combination cell phone and wrist watch. |
1988 | Videoshades (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) Sunglasses that let you watch what you want. |
1988 | Didge-Ital (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) Digital music. |
1988 | Jackleg (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) Moving data around to avoid detection or capture. |
1988 | Inert Resin (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) A special coating that eliminates maintenance on marine structures. |
1988 | Week Trees (from Wetware by Rudy Rucker) Specially engineered bonsai that could grow in a week, instead of decades. |
1989 | Treeship (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) A single, enormous tree grown as a spacecraft. |
1989 | Datasphere (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) The entirety of computers and their information linked together, typically on a planet, in concept. |
1989 | Rotated Solid Space Habitat (from Iron by Poul Anderson) A solid version of a artifact rotated to achieve artificial gravity. |
1989 | Hawking Mat (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) About two meters long and one meter wide, made of shielded monofilaments, with a bright textile design - okay, it's a flying carpet. |
1989 | Worldweb All Thing (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) Network connects billions of people in real time. |
1989 | Internet Addiction (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) A state in which human beings experience addiction to computer access and data streams. |
1989 | Can City (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) A cylindrical space habitat. |
1989 | Credit Wake (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) The electronic trail of our transactions across the Net. |
1989 | Fatline (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) A communications technology that provides immediate communication between star systems; faster-than-light communication. |
1989 | Universal Card (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) A device that mimics every credit card and identification card you possess. |
1989 | Free-fall Couch (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) Furniture that achieves the comfort of free-fall, the weightless condition normally achieved only in space. |
1989 | Farcaster (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) A portal for traveling between distant stars; inexpensive, instantaneous travel to remote worlds. |
1989 | Cybrid (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) An organic body used by an artificial intelligence. |
1989 | Lifezone (from Tides of Light by Gregory Benford) An enclosed biosphere; a pod-like greenhouse attached to a space-going vessel. |
1989 | Kamikaze Andy (from Tekwar by William Shatner) An android that is designed as an assassination weapon. |
1989 | Voxbox (from Tekwar by William Shatner) An intelligent home agent. |
1989 | Orbiting Penal Colony (from Tekwar by William Shatner) A prison placed in orbit (better than Alcatraz). |
1989 | TechnoCore (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) A group of artificial intelligences with vast resources and the entirety of human dataspheres to access. |
1989 | Datumplane (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) The workspace of console cowboys - the matrix. |
1989 | Flat Photo (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) A two-dimensional pictorial representation of a three-dimensional real space. A picture. |
1989 | Micromind (from Tides of Light by Gregory Benford) A computer helper. |
1989 | Wrist Command (from Tides of Light by Gregory Benford) A wearable communications device; the logical endpoint of mobile computing. |
1989 | Schrön Loop (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) Small data storage device; a USB chip that stores terabytes. |
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.
Wearable Energy Harvester
re: Frank Herbert
(11/23/2023)
Drones Participate In Buddhist Rites
re: Roger Zelazny
(11/21/2023)
Anna Indiana AI Singer-Songwriter
re: William Gibson
(11/19/2023)
Video Manicuring ala Schismatrix
re: Bruce Sterling
(11/17/2023)
'Feel the AGI' OpenAI Leader Now OpenWorship
re: Miles Breuer
(11/15/2023)
NASA Tests Prototype Europa Lander
re: Various
(11/13/2023)
Tailsitter Drone Aircraft For SAR
re: RH Roman
(11/11/2023)
Forward CarePod The AI Doctor's Office
re: Robert Silverberg
(11/9/2023)
Mika The Robot-Boss
re: David C. Cooke
(11/7/2023)
Yamaha Motoroid 2 No Handlebars Self-Balancing Motorcycle
re: Bruce Sterling
(11/5/2023)
San Francisco Autobus
re: Stanley G. and Helen Weinbaum
(11/3/2023)
Should Your Car Decide If You Can Drive?
re: Philip K. Dick
(11/1/2023)
Lucid Dreams On Demand From Prophetic and Card79
re: Clifford Simak
(10/29/2023)
Honda UNI-ONE Hands-Free Wheelchair Follows 100 Year-Old Design
re: David H. Keller
(10/27/2023)
EBS-260 Handjet Free Hand Dot Matrix Printer
re: Frank Herbert
(10/25/2023)
Sensitive, Soft Robot Skin
re: Harl Vincent
(10/23/2023)
BibleGPT - King James Version Padre Booth, ala Philip K. Dick
re: Philip K Dick
(10/21/2023)
Finger Sensors For Robot Hands
re: Ray Cummings
(10/19/2023)
LiquidView Ersatz Windows, ala Philip K. Dick
re: Philip K. Dick
(10/17/2023)
Omniphobic Liquid-like Surfaces And de Camp's Telelubricator (1940)
re: de Camp
(10/15/2023)
A Vacuum With An Arm - Engineers Create Heinlein's Hired Girl Robot
re: Robert Heinlein
(10/13/2023)
Iron Beam Laser Under Development To Shoot Down Missiles With Lasers
re: HG Wells
(10/11/2023)
Feel The Rhythm, Robots - Especially You Biomimics
re: Various
(10/9/2023)
NASA's Psyche Mission To Metal Asteroid Launches Thursday!
re: E.C. Tubb
(10/7/2023)
Peyton Manning's French Bread Olympics - Science Fiction Style
re: Fritz Leiber
(10/5/2023)
Tesla's Optimus Robot Now Sorts Objects (I've Got A Job In Mind)
re: Harry Harrison
(10/3/2023)
CADRE Robots To Work In Teams On Other Planets
re: Isaac Asimov
(10/1/2023)
18 Wheels Mutant Centipede Vehicle
re: Robert Heinlein
(9/29/2023)
Octopus Suckers Inspire Transdermal Patches
re: Philip K. Dick
(9/27/2023)
Robotic Hands Have More Than One Use
re: Philip K. Dick
(9/25/2023)
Space Weather To Universe Weather
re: Poul Anderson
(9/23/2023)
That's MOXIE! Terraforming Mars Baby Steps
re: Jack Williamson
(9/21/2023)
(See More Science Fiction in the News)
![]() |
Home | Dictionary
| Invention Timeline | Category | New | Contact
Us | FAQ | Advertise | ![]() Technovelgy.com - where science meets fiction™ Copyright© Technovelgy LLC; all rights reserved. |
![]() |