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"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
 |
| Vision Plate | ||
| A flat panel monitor. |
This is a variant on the word visiplate.
| KARDEL Palur came into the control-tower of Space Ship Number One as the Spatial Exploratory Expedition was about to sail. He made his way to the side of the commander, who was seated before his controlboard, and bowing, handed him a sheaf of papers.
"The other vessels report everything ready, sir," he said. “Here are the photo-records of their reports.” Malben Robar, Expeditionary Commander, glanced at the papers. “Fine, Kardel Palur,” he replied. “Wait, stay here; I may want to send a message. And in the meanwhile, Kardel, do we need to be so formal?” “I suppose not, Malben, but after all, this is a disciplinary organization.”“But you rank next to me, and besides, we have been friends too long to speak to each other by titles. Can you stay here with me until after we start? You’re not needed in the communication room, are you?” “No, I’m not on duty now. I only came in here to watch. The photo-records could have been made right here at your own vision-plate, you know. I’m curious about the workings of this ship. ”Malben laughed. “All right. I wanted company, and I would as soon talk to you as anyone on Iona.” He turned to the control-board, a large slate slab set with an array of switch-levers and push- buttons of various kinds surmounted by several vision-plates and phono-discs, with a microphone and vision pick-up in the center. By pushing a lever, he brought the vision-plates to life. “Give me the rest of the fleet on plates one, two and three,” he instructed the communications operator whose features were mirrored in the viewing discs. As the operator made his connections, the vision-plates lighted up, each showing the interior of one of the other three craft which comprised the Expedition. |
| Technovelgy from When the Moons Met,
by Clyde F. Beck. Published by Wonder Stories in 1930 Additional resources -
|
Murray Leinster used the same expression in his famous 1945 short story First Contact:
The skipper studied the [stereophotos] of Tommy's taking, and put them aside. He went back to his uneasy contemplation of the vision plates ahead.
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'Our study of your race has convinced us that you are not fitted to leave your planet in the present state of your civilization.'
'...the spreading beam of the deranging ray struck them, and Then one toppled and fell. Then another.'
'Within seconds the material was spread out over fifty yards, in a matter of hours it might occupy several cubic miles of space...'
'The men are dead, but their acquired wisdom lives on and I am the beneficiary.'
'Young people found the driverless car admirable for petting.'
'After twenty generations of shillyshallying...'
