Virtual Light by William Gibson:
Science Fiction Inventions, Technology and Ideas

Set in California (well, NoCal and SoCal) in 2005, there is a lot of social upheaval (homeless people seize the San Francisco bay bridge for living space, television worship). A bicycle messenger turned pickpocket steals a set of high-tech sunglasses that can see into a special dataset; DatAmerica corporate types pursue. Select an invention:

Canola Oil - a cob in your tank
Vegetable oil refined for use as fuel

Chunker - non-violent weapon
A device that fires small cubes of rubber; a non-lethal form of riot control.

Fractal Knife - more cutting surface
The blade uses a fractal geometry to increase its cutting surface.

Hood Hologram
A hologrammatic display on the outside surface of a car.

Separated At Birth Database
Missing persons database uses similarity to famous people.

Stealth House - toxic dwellings
A home that is entirely sealed, leading to toxic buildup.

 

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Science Fiction
in the News

China Steals Strato Airship Design From Google App Engine
re: George Griffith
(8/1/2025)

The First Space Warship For Space Force
re: Garrett P. Serviss
(7/29/2025)

Biohybrid Jellyfish Explore The Ocean
re: Thomas A. Easton
(7/27/2025)

Should AIs and AI Robots Demand Rights?
re: Eando Binder
(7/25/2025)

Robot Learns Human Tool Usage By Imitation Learning
re: Anthony Boucher
(7/23/2025)

Companion Caregiver ChatGPT Dolls
re: Kazuo Ishiguro
(7/21/2025)

'Pregnancy Humanoids' From China Replace Moms
re: David H. Keller
(7/19/2025)

Man Builds 200 Foot Basement Firing Range
re: Clifford Simak
(7/17/2025)

Russians Create Robot Tank Platoons
re: Philip Nowlan w/D. Calkins
(7/15/2025)

3D-Printed Exoskeleton Learns From Your Hand
re: Fritz Leiber
(7/13/2025)

Smartwatch Powered By Slime Mold
re: Philip K. Dick
(7/11/2025)

Unmanned Boats Attack At Sea
re: Ray Naylor
(7/9/2025)

Carpentopod Walking Table
re: Terry Pratchett
(7/7/2025)

Iron Drone Raider Counter-UAV Operations
re: Robert Sheckley
(7/5/2025)

More SF in the News

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