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
 |
Timeline
of Science Fiction Ideas, Technology and Inventions
(sorted by Publication Date)
Most of these items are linked to information about similar real-life inventions and inventors; click on an invention to learn more about it.
<-
Select Date Range ->
1600-1899 1900-1929 1930's 1940's 1950's 1960's 1970's 1980's 1990's 2000+
| Date | Device Name (Novel Author) |
| 1980 | Artificial Butterfly (from Changeling by Roger Zelazny) A mechanical, robotic butterfly. |
| 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 | Boosterspice (from Ringworld Engineers by Larry Niven) A substance that extends human life almost indefinitely. |
| 1980 | Oort Cloud Processor (from Beyond the Blue Event Horizon by Frederik Pohl) An alien ship that processes Oort cloud into food. |
| 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 | Watercouch (from Beyond the Blue Event Horizon by Frederik Pohl) A couch filled with water, rather than springs and cushions. |
| 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 | Tracer-Bird (from Changeling by Roger Zelazny) A prototype surveillance drone; a mechanical bird. |
| 1980 | Fuligin (from The Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe) A material the color of which is blacker than black. |
| 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. |
| 1980 | Jumble-Box (from Changeling by Roger Zelazny) A device that jumbles sensory input. |
| 1980 | Deep-Radar (from Ringworld Engineers by Larry Niven) Device to image within large objects, even within mountains. |
| 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 | Virtual world metaphor (from True Names by Vernor Vinge) use of fanciful imagery to represent real-world data systems in a virtual world. |
| 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 | Tapeworm Tranquilizer (from Revolution from Rosinante by Alexis Arnaldus Gilliland) Robotic suppository dispenses tranquilizer. |
| 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 | Cyborg Dolphin (Jones) (from Johnny Mnemonic by William Gibson) A heavily modified war surplus dolphin. |
| 1981 | Sleeve Watch (from Dream Park by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) Temporary watch imprinted on the sleeve of a chosen garment. |
| 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 | Sensory Skinsuit (from Dream Park by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) A form-fitting garment with sensory connections. |
| 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | Gravity Whip (from Dream Park by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) A roller coaster designe to provide riders with a 'zero G' experience. |
| 1981 | Ridulian Crystal Sheets (from God Emperor of Dune by Frank Herbert) Exceptionally strong, surpassingly thin material. |
| 1981 | Todos Santos Independency (from Oath of Fealty by Jerry Pournelle (w/L. Niven)) A city enclosed in a single building. |
| 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 | Briefcase Console (from Oath of Fealty by Jerry Pournelle (w/L. Niven)) A notebook computer |
| 1981 | Mechanical Mole (from Oath of Fealty by Jerry Pournelle (w/L. Niven)) A self-contained device for digging large tunnels. |
| 1981 | Black square (from God Emperor of Dune by Frank Herbert) A device for secret communication. |
| 1981 | Dictatel (from God Emperor of Dune by Frank Herbert) A thought-based dictating machine. |
| 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 | 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 | Cutoff Switch (from 2010: Odyssey Two by Arthur C. Clarke) A means of instantaneously switching off an artificial intelligence. |
| 1982 | Esper Photo Analysis (from Blade Runner by Ridley Scott) A device that can find remarkable levels of detail from a photograph. |
| 1982 | Cyberspace (from Burning Chrome by William Gibson) A computer technology that allowed people to see a computer network as an internal experience. |
| 1982 | Matrix (from Burning Chrome by William Gibson) A shared virtual reality space; users project their consciousness into a representation of networked data. |
| 1982 | Advertising Airship (from Blade Runner by Ridley Scott) A dirigible capable of reproducing full-color video ads on its sides. |
| 1982 | Flying Car (from Blade Runner by Ridley Scott) Flying police car has VTOL. |
| 1982 | Voight-Kampff Test (from Blade Runner by Ridley Scott) A test intended to distinguish human beings from replicants. |
| 1982 | Hunter Program (from Mindkiller by Spider Robinson) Searching for occupied dwellings by monitoring electric power usage. |
| 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 | Designer Eyes (from Blade Runner by Ridley Scott) Genetic designers create better-than-perfect eyes for replicants. |
| 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 | 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 | Micro Label (from Blade Runner by Ridley Scott) A serial number or logo so small it can only be seen under extreme magnification. |
| 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. |
| 1982 | Public Eye (from Friday by Robert Heinlein) A floating, free-roaming surveillance camera. |
| 1982 | Trip-Box (from Eye of Cat by Roger Zelazny) A teleportation device. |
| 1982 | Genetically Tailored Trees (from Eye of Cat by Roger Zelazny) Trees that had been genetically altered to produce and concentrate usable oil. |
| 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 | Shipstone (from Friday by Robert Heinlein) A lot of power in a small, manufactured package. |
| 1982 | Command Microphone (from Diplomat At Arms by Keith Laumer) A cloak that served as a microphone and public address system. |
| 1982 | Beanstalk (from Friday by Robert Heinlein) Clever name for the space elevator. |
| 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. |
| 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 Vault (from Millennium by John Varley) Lots of spare bodies. |
| 1983 | Nullboxing Bubble (from Streetlethal by Steven Barnes) The 'ring' used for a sport played out in free fall; essentially kickboxing in space. |
| 1983 | Cyberpunk (from Cyberpunk! by Bruce Bethke) A person who codes without concern about law or social norms; the term is used exclusively to name a sf genre of stories featuring such persons. |
| 1983 | People-Sorter (from Millennium by John Varley) A device able to sort human beings with incredible speed. |
| 1983 | Unobtainium (from Startide Rising by David Brin) A humorous reference to a substance both rare and unlikely. |
| 1983 | AM-280 Needle Rifle (from A Matter For Men by David Gerrold) Device shoots a stream of steel needles. |
| 1983 | Wimp (from Millennium by John Varley) A special-purpose body; grown without personality, but physically intact. |
| 1983 | Revitalizer Console. (from Millennium 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 Millennium by John Varley) Short for speed capsule (?); sometimes, going ballistic is the fastest way to get there. |
| 1983 | Post Office (from Millennium 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 Millennium by John Varley) A hollow block of metal, impervious to the elements, used by time travelers to send messages to the future. |
| 1983 | Timepress (from Millennium by John Varley) A device that makes time go more quickly in a limited area. |
| 1983 | Big Computer (from Millennium by John Varley) Just like it says; this computer knows it all. |
| 1983 | Skinsuit (from Millennium by John Varley) Wearable artificial, full-body skin. |
| 1983 | Gnome (from Millennium by John Varley) A person who requires so much life support, they are built into the chair. |
| 1983 | Sherman (from Millennium by John Varley) A sex robot. |
| 1983 | Cerebral Microprocessors (from Millennium by John Varley) Added boost for maxxed out minds. |
| 1983 | Twonky (from Millennium by John Varley) A futuristic artifact left by time travelers in the past which, if discovered, could cause a paradox. |
| 1983 | Luggage (from The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett) A trunk made from sapient pearwood. |
| 1983 | Smartcab (from Cyberpunk! by Bruce Bethke) An automated taxicab, fully self-driving, that can be summoned from a portable device. |
| 1983 | Microterm (from Cyberpunk! by Bruce Bethke) A very small computer system. |
| 1983 | Skull Alarm (from Millennium by John Varley) Implanted wakeup call. |
| 1983 | No Human Programmers (from Millennium by John Varley) The idea that computers are too complicated and too important to be programmed by human beings. |
| 1983 | Spark Plug (Systematician) (from Dream Thief by Stephen Lawhead) A person who draws information from diverse areas of knowledge. |
| 1984 | Computer-Created Dub (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Music created by an artificially intelligent computer for a specific audience. |
| 1984 | Proton Pack (from Ghostbusters by Harold Ramis) The business end of a mobile particle accelerator. |
| 1984 | Ghost Trap (from Ghostbusters by Harold Ramis) Device for capture and temporary storage of ectoplasmic entities. |
| 1984 | Implanted Microprocessor Monitor (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Chips that are implanted in people to ensure compliance with company rules. |
| 1984 | Kuang Grade Mark Eleven Penetration Program (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Chinese virus software for breaking the ICE. |
| 1984 | Vat Grown Meat (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Meat tissue for consumption, grown apart from an animal. |
| 1984 | Mirrorshades - Surgically Inset Glasses (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Glasses that were implanted in the face of the wearer. |
| 1984 | Freeside Orbital Resort (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) A resort that orbits the Earth. |
| 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 | Construct (Digital) (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) A stored version of a person's particular skills and personal approaches to problems. |
| 1984 | Talking Head (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) A mechanical head (with an analog voice) used as the output terminal for a computer. |
| 1984 | ICE (intrusion countermeasures electronics) (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Electronic protection for computer databases. |
| 1984 | JAL Shuttle (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Shuttle capable of attaining low earth orbit. |
| 1984 | Agony Box (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) A device for causing non-lethal, non-injuring pain by nerve induction. |
| 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 | Ixian Probe (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) A device that looks at brain tissue so carefully that memories can be seen. |
| 1984 | Coffin Rack Capsule Hotel (from The Science Fiction Yearbook (ed. Jerry Pournelle) by William Gibson) A hotel with very (very!) small rooms. |
| 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 | No-Ship (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) A ship that uses an Ixian field to be effectively invisible. |
| 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 | 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 | Joeboy (Muscle Grafts) (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Additional muscle tissue added through surgery. |
| 1984 | Nikon Eyes (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Artificially cultivated eyes that can be transplanted to replace (or repair) your original pair. |
| 1984 | Contact Venom (from Twenty Evocations by Bruce Sterling) A poison that is absorbed through the skin. |
| 1984 | Optic Television (from Twenty Evocations by Bruce Sterling) An eye that "sees" more than just its surroundings. |
| 1984 | Composite Expert System (from Twenty Evocations by Bruce Sterling) Intelligent teaching software - a computer interface with a heart. |
| 1984 | Selected Melanin Boosting (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) The only way to get a designer tan. |
| 1984 | Robot Crab (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) An automated gardener. |
| 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 | Intellectual Cell (from Blood Music by Greg Bear) A smart lymphocyte; a cell with enhanced capacity for memory, understanding and communication. |
| 1984 | Medically Applicable Biochip (from Blood Music by Greg Bear) A computer formed of organic components that is used for a medical purpose. |
| 1984 | Biologics (from Blood Music by Greg Bear) A computer that is made of organic (biological) components, rather than inorganic materials like silicon. |
| 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 | Comeye (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) A portable video camera, used by the mobile functionary to keep in touch with office. |
| 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 | House Records (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) The vast archival information management system of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood, covering millennia. |
| 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 | 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 | Toothbud Transplant (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Implanted teeth that mimic the dentition of other species. |
| 1984 | Nullentropy Bin (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) A compartment in which entropy was halted. |
| 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 | 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 | Pulse-Timer (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) A watch that uses your visual cortex for a read-out device. |
| 1984 | Datacase (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) A portable suitcase, containing useful electronics for the mobile business-person. |
| 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 | Interactive Suicide Note (from Press Enter by John Varley) A last message for the people you are leaving behind - that encourages their participation. |
| 1984 | Image-Amps (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Boost the signal from the eyes to see in the dark. |
| 1984 | Electromagnetic Shotgun (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) A device to shut down an artificial intelligence if it becomes dangerous. |
| 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 | Wintermute (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) An artificially intelligent computer system. |
| 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 | Generate New Phone Number (from Press Enter by John Varley) A software program that creates a new phone number for each call. |
| 1984 | Privacy Screen (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) A device that shields occupants from all possible forms of electronic intrusion and surveillance. |
| 1984 | Low-Gravity Velodrome (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) A bicycle track in an orbital resort. |
| 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 | Lado-Acheson System (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) A device for "pumping in" sunlight into an enclosed space habitat. |
| 1984 | Panther Modern (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Cyberterrorists for hire. |
| 1984 | Gynoid (from Divine Endurance by Gwyneth Jones) A female android. |
| 1984 | Pseudo-Insects (Synsects) (from One Human Minute by Stanislaw Lem) A swarm of self-guided, programmed microarmies. |
| 1984 | Biological Circuit Fabrication (from The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe by Author Unknown) Creating an electronic circuit using biologically-based means. |
| 1984 | Dermadisk (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) A means of quickly administering drugs directly through the skin. |
| 1984 | Edgar (from Electric Dreams by Rusty Lemorande) Computer that falls in love with a human woman. |
| 1984 | Razorgirl (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Surgically implanted blades under the fingernails. |
| 1984 | Repair Drone (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Autonomous robots repair damage or sabotage. |
| 1985 | Adnix (from Contact by Carl Sagan) A device that muted the television to lessen the impact of commercials. |
| 1985 | Plug-Ups (from Passage at Arms by Glen Cook) Tiny plastic balls that seal leaks on spacecraft. |
| 1985 | Imp Personal Robot (from Rocheworld by Robert Forward) A small 'subtree' robot that is designed for the personal use of astronauts. |
| 1985 | Military Spider (from A Day For Damnation by David Gerrold) An eight legged telepresence robot. |
| 1985 | Fieldstim (from Freezone by John Shirley) A device that used stimulation of a large skin area to impart images to the user. |
| 1985 | Freezone (from Freezone by John Shirley) A vast floating island in international waters. |
| 1985 | Visor (from Freezone by John Shirley) A snap-down video screen for your eyes only. |
| 1985 | Desk (Personal Computer) (from Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card) A computer for students. |
| 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 | Spetsdöd (from The Man Who Never Missed by Steve Perry) A unique gun that is part of the shooter. |
| 1985 | Car Sound Tape (from The Cat Who Walks Through Walls by Robert Heinlein) Otherwise silent vehicle uses a recorded engine sound. |
| 1985 | Skyball (from A Day For Damnation by David Gerrold) Remote-controlled UAV. |
| 1985 | Beta Beam Satellite (from Limits by Larry Niven) |
| 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 | Sours (from Schismatrix by Bruce Sterling) The odor created in enclosed space environments due to the need for bacilli for healthy soil. |
| 1985 | Video-Manicuring Program (from Schismatrix by Bruce Sterling) Manipulates live video images in real time. |
| 1985 | Car Dashboard Drone Controller (from Runaway by Michael Crichton) A screen and controls for using a remote drone. |
| 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 | Resting Pits (from Limits by Larry Niven) |
| 1985 | Home Robot (from Runaway by Michael Crichton) A robotic device designed to serve families in their homes. |
| 1985 | Big Push (from Limits by Larry Niven) A linear accelerator built on a long track; a mass driver. |
| 1985 | Bat Wings (from Limits by Larry Niven) The dream of human-powered winged flight becomes a reality - in low gravity, of course. |
| 1985 | Construction Robot (from Runaway by Michael Crichton) Autonomous robots work on construction sites. |
| 1985 | Smart Bullet (from Runaway by Michael Crichton) Really a tiny missile capable of identifying and following a person. |
| 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 | Christmas Bush Motile Robot (from Rocheworld by Robert Forward) Repair robot with extra-sensitive hands. |
| 1985 | Millipede Train (from Eon by Greg Bear) A train that is able to move without tracks or other supports. |
| 1985 | Microwave Beamer (from Limits by Larry Niven) A hand-held fast cooking device. |
| 1985 | CCD Eyes (from Stone Lives by Paul Di Filippo) Electronic eyes using charged-coupled devices provide a wide variety of functions. |
| 1985 | Michael (Orion Ship) (from Footfall by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) A spacecraft using nuclear bombs for propulsion. |
| 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 | 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 | 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 | Agricultural Robot Pest Controller (from Runaway by Michael Crichton) An agricultural robot specifically designed to perform pest control activities. |
| 1985 | Police Sketch Artist Software (from Runaway by Michael Crichton) A tablet-style computer with sketch pad software to help identify suspects. |
| 1985 | Sniffer Robot (from Runaway by Michael Crichton) A small robot that gathers odors from a crime scene for analysis. |
| 1985 | Flash Suit (from Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card) Special suit for practice battles. |
| 1985 | Spider (Robotic Insects) (from Runaway by Michael Crichton) Scuttling insect robots. |
| 1985 | Survival Bubble (Beach Ball) (from Footfall by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) Simplest possible space survival pod. |
| 1985 | Subdermal Microchannels (from Stone Lives by Paul Di Filippo) A means of personal adornment; think of day glow tattoos. |
| 1985 | Mnemotropin (from Stone Lives by Paul Di Filippo) A drug to improve the creation of long-term memories. |
| 1985 | Tube Rack (from Solstice by James Patrick Kelly) A hotel consisting of a set of stacked tube-like living spaces. |
| 1985 | Sleep Tube (from Solstice by James Patrick Kelly) A short, cylindrical living space. |
| 1985 | Sentient Room (from Schismatrix by Bruce Sterling) A room constructed entirely of flesh, dominated by the personality of a geisha. |
| 1985 | Orbital Retirement Hotel (from Contact by Carl Sagan) A retirement home placed in low earth orbit. |
| 1985 | Earmite (from Freezone by John Shirley) A small speaker that you can put in your ear. |
| 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 | Reactive Walls (from Freezone by John Shirley) Wall surfaces designed for use in clubs; they reacted to the music played in the room. |
| 1985 | Battleroom (from Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card) A large, null-gravity space used for battle tactics training. |
| 1985 | Digger Worm (from With Friends Like These by Connie Willis) A robot shaped like a fat snake, or worm; used for mining. |
| 1985 | Flying Crowbars (from Footfall by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) Kinetic energy weapons deployed from space. |
| 1986 | Biosoft (from Count Zero by William Gibson) A biography that includes actual life experience from the subject; a biographical download. |
| 1986 | Ghostwheel (from Blood of Amber by Roger Zelazny) A sentient computer partially built with magic. |
| 1986 | Shiftsuit (from Matadora by Steve Perry) A form of adaptive camouflage gear. |
| 1986 | Uterine Replicator (from Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold) A device that simulates the functions of the human uterus. |
| 1986 | Lifebox (from Soft Death by Rudy Rucker) A device that captures a person's life experience in software. |
| 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 | 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 | Memory Biochip (from Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold) An implanted device that permits the user to 'play back' selected memories. |
| 1986 | Effective Human Implant Technology (EHIT) (from Snake-Eyes by Tom Maddox) Computer interface implanted directly into the human brain. |
| 1986 | Robot Gun (from Aliens by Alan Dean Foster) An automated gun; typically used for sentry duty. |
| 1986 | Orbital Terminus (from Count Zero by William Gibson) An airport in space; a terminal for low earth orbit flights. |
| 1986 | Blaupunkt Holostage (from Snake-Eyes by Tom Maddox) A three-dimensional tabletop display. |
| 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 | Skydozer (from A Little Further Up The Fox... by George M. Ewing) Small spacecraft used to remove orbital debris. |
| 1987 | Robotic Butterfly (from I, Robot: The Movie by Harlan Ellison) A tiny, electromechanical flying robot. |
| 1987 | Electric Monk (from Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams) Robotic device provides belief services. |
| 1987 | Cybercab (from Vacuum Flowers by Michael Swanwick) An autonomous taxi. |
| 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 | Boomer Park (from Nanotime by Bart Kosko) Where the baby boomers all went to retire and die. |
| 1987 | Webcast (from Armageddon Blues by D.K. Moran) A broadcast accomplished over a data network. |
| 1987 | Superacid (from Nanotime by Bart Kosko) Smart acids that could be created to ignore particular compounds and dissolve others. |
| 1987 | Ice Dart (from Nanotime by Bart Kosko) A variation on an old locked door mystery idea. |
| 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. |
| 1987 | Smart Lanes (from Nanotime by Bart Kosko) Roadways that monitored, directed and controlled traffic. |
| 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 | Hushicopter (from Fantastic Voyage II: Destination Brain by Isaac Asimov) A nearly-silent helicopter. |
| 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 | Transport Walkers (from A Little Further Up The Fox... by George M. Ewing) Multilegged transport vehicles big enough to carry one person. |
| 1987 | Holodeck (from Encounter at Farpoint by David Gerrold) A computer-simulated environment. |
| 1987 | Predator Wrist Display (from Predator by John McTiernan) A wrist bracelet with a variety of useful functions. |
| 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. |
| 1988 | Steel Drugs (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) A name for recreational chemicals that were entirely synthetic. |
| 1988 | Video-Glasses (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) Special light-gathering elements allowed the end user to see omni-directionally. |
| 1988 | Jackleg (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) Moving data around to avoid detection or capture. |
| 1988 | Watchphone (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) A combination cell phone and wrist watch. |
| 1988 | Didge-Ital (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) Digital music. |
| 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 | Videoshades (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) Sunglasses that let you watch what you want. |
| 1988 | Inert Resin (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) A special coating that eliminates maintenance on marine structures. |
| 1988 | Scop (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) Protein grown in bacteria-filled vats. |
| 1988 | Print-Book (from Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov) You’ve seen them. |
| 1988 | Powered Print-Book (from Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Part computer, part book. |
| 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 | Airchair (from Killing Gramps by Ann K. Schwader) A floating armchair. |
| 1988 | High Tech Trash Can (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) The future of waste management. |
| 1988 | BLIT (Secret Basilisk) (from Blit by David Langford) The Berryman Logical Image Technique can "shock" an AI trained to do pattern recognition. |
| 1988 | Digital Running Shoes (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) Shoes with a digital readout showing performance. |
| 1988 | Dornier (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) A small surveillance drone capable of hovering in midair. |
| 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 | 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 | SIN (Single Identification Number) (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) |
| 1988 | Projection Rig (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) A portable holographic projector. |
| 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 | Automated Space Factories (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) Manufacturing based in space. |
| 1988 | High Orbit Archipelago (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) The habitable spaces in high earth orbit. |
| 1988 | Bank Chip (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) A "smart" credit card. |
| 1988 | Hovercraft (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) A vehicle that moves about on a cushion of air. |
| 1988 | Suit Designer (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) |
| 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 | Microfarm (from Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Food creation without soil. |
| 1988 | Dainties (from Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Flavor spheres artificially grown. |
| 1988 | Gravitic Lift (from Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov) An elevator with no visible means of support. |
| 1988 | Trode-Net (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) |
| 1988 | Heartshirt (from Wetware by Rudy Rucker) A shirt that was able to detect heart sounds and display associated colors. |
| 1988 | Twist-Box (from Wetware by Rudy Rucker) A device that scrambles your sensory input, providing you with a different kind of experience. |
| 1988 | People-Mover (from Wetware by Rudy Rucker) A fixed mode of transporting people outside; and, they get to sit down. |
| 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 | Week Trees (from Wetware by Rudy Rucker) Specially engineered bonsai that could grow in a week, instead of decades. |
| 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 | Flickercladding (from Wetware by Rudy Rucker) A covering that allowed robots to absorb incident light or emit light, as needed. |
| 1988 | Head-Molding Skincaps (from Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Get a smooth pate without shaving. |
| 1988 | Air-Taxi (from Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A flying taxicab with autonomous features. |
| 1988 | Vizzyprint (from Wetware by Rudy Rucker) A printer attached to a video phone. |
| 1988 | Book-Film (from Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A storage medium for books. |
| 1988 | Cleaning Machine Warren (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) A room or space set aside for machinery when not in use. |
| 1988 | Jet-Down (from Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A spacecraft able to explore planetary surfaces. |
| 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 | Credit Wake (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) The electronic trail of our transactions across the Net. |
| 1989 | Schrön Loop (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) Small data storage device; a USB chip that stores terabytes. |
| 1989 | Datasphere (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) The entirety of computers and their information linked together, typically on a planet, in concept. |
| 1989 | Cybrid (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) An organic body used by an artificial intelligence. |
| 1989 | Farcaster (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) A portal for traveling between distant stars; inexpensive, instantaneous travel to remote worlds. |
| 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 | Treeship (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) A single, enormous tree grown as a spacecraft. |
| 1989 | Robot Fish (from At Kokomo Joe's by Brooke Stauffer) A mechanical fish. |
| 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 | Can City (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) A cylindrical space habitat. |
| 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 | 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 | Datumplane (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) The workspace of console cowboys - the matrix. |
| 1989 | Orbiting Penal Colony (from Tekwar by William Shatner) A prison placed in orbit (better than Alcatraz). |
| 1989 | Lifezone (from Tides of Light by Gregory Benford) An enclosed biosphere; a pod-like greenhouse attached to a space-going vessel. |
| 1989 | Wrist Command (from Tides of Light by Gregory Benford) A wearable communications device; the logical endpoint of mobile computing. |
| 1989 | TechnoCore (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) A group of artificial intelligences with vast resources and the entirety of human dataspheres to access. |
| 1989 | Rotated Solid Space Habitat (from Iron by Poul Anderson) A solid version of a artifact rotated to achieve artificial gravity. |
| 1989 | Internet Addiction (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) A state in which human beings experience addiction to computer access and data streams. |
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.
Nuclear Plant Restarted To Power AI To Feed Us Dreams
re: Raymond Z. Gallun
(4/4/2025)
SpaceX's Starman Tesla Roadster In Space
re: Theodore Sturgeon
(4/2/2025)
Pivotal Blackfly Electric Aircraft Lifts And Hovers
re: R.H. Roman
(3/29/2025)
CORLEO Robotic Horse Concept Looks Ready To Ride
re: Emil Souvestre
(3/27/2025)
Who First Thought Of A Tin Foil Hat?
re: Julian Huxley
(3/25/2025)
Warp Drive Tech Back On The Menu
re: RM Williams
(3/23/2025)
Huawei Pura X Folding Phattie Phone
re: William Gibson
(3/21/2025)
Sleep Pods At Daxing International Airport
re: Chris Boyce
(3/19/2025)
Robot Baristas Learn Their Trade Without Paying Royalties
re: Anthony Boucher
(3/17/2025)
JAXA Int Ball 2 Coming Right Along As Star Wars Remote
re: George Lucas
(3/15/2025)
Robot Bricklayer Or Passer-By Bricklayer?
re: Bruce Sterling
(3/13/2025)
Robot Gas Station Attendant Pumps Gas For You
re: Philip K. Dick
(3/11/2025)
Engineer Creates Crazy Motorized Track Hospital Bed
re: Katsuhiro Otomo
(3/9/2025)
Tiny Flying Robot Weighs Just One Gram
re: Neal Stephenson
(3/7/2025)
Some Ringworld Configurations Are Stable
re: Larry Niven
(3/5/2025)
TRANSFORM Dynamic Furniture Concept Becomes What You Need
re: Larry Niven
(3/3/2025)
Harvard Metamaterials Change Structure Instantly
re: Samuel R. Delany
(3/1/2025)
SnapBot Robots - You Choose Their Legs And They Choose Their Gaits
re: Milton K Smith
(2/27/2025)
Dino From Magical Toys An AI Companion To Children
re: Anne McCaffrey
(2/25/2025)
Humanoid Robots Building Humanoid Robots
re: Isaac Asimov
(2/23/2025)
Darpa 'Defiant' Unmanned Autonomous Ship
re: Miles J. Breuer
(2/21/2025)
What's The Best Way To Ship And Unpack Humanoid Robots?
re: Elizabeth Bellamy
(2/19/2025)
DNA Printed Book By Isaac Asimov Now Available
re: Barbara Hambly
(2/17/2025)
AI Computer Chip Designs Passeth Human Understanding
re: Isaac Asimov
(2/15/2025)
Space Traffic Management (STM) Needed Now
re: Arthur William Bernal
(2/13/2025)
Fine-Tune Your Infinite Book The Way You Want It
re: Clifford Simak
(2/11/2025)
SpiRobs Soft Spiral Robotic Arm
re: HG Wells
(2/9/2025)
Holland Factory 3D Printing 500 Tons Of Steak Per Month
re: Margaret St. Clair
(2/7/2025)
Stratospheric Solar Geoengineering From Harvard
re: Neal Stephenson
(2/5/2025)
ErythroMer Artificial Blood
re: David H. Keller
(2/3/2025)
Vesuvius Challenge Accepted - Ancient Burnt Scroll Read!
re: James P. Hogan
(2/1/2025)
Create An Accurate Tiny Model Of Yourself
re: Jack Vance
(1/29/2025)
(See More Science Fiction in the News)
