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
"I've been very obsessive about writing science fiction for far too many years. Anyone with an ounce of sense would have given up years ago."
- Charles Stross
 |
| Pocket wireless phone | ||
| An entirely portable, pocket-sized, telephone. |
As far as I know, this is the first clear reference to a pocket phone.
| “Always ready with an excuse, B262H72476Male. I shall immediately investigate your tale.” From his coat pocket, the professor withdrew an instrument which, although supplied with an earpiece and a mouthpiece, had no wires whatever attached. Raising it to his lips he spoke: "Hello. Central Energy Station, please.” A pause ensued. “Central Energy Station? This is the professor of history at the University of Terra, speaking. One of my students informs me that the North Pole region was out of communication with the Visaphone System this morning. Is that statement true? I would — ” A voice, apparently from nowhere, spoke into the professor’s ear. "Quite true, Professor... “Ah ! Thank you,” replied the professor. He dropped his instrument into his coat pocket and gazed in the direction of the [Visaphone System] glass square whose image had so aroused his ire. “I apologize, B262H72476Male, for my suspicions as to your veracity — but I had in mind several former experiences." He shook a wanting forefinger. “I will now resume my talk.” |
| Technovelgy from John Jones's Dollar,
by Harry Stephen Keeler. Published by Black Cat in 1915 Additional resources -
|
As far as I know, this is an ordinary telephone conversation as it would have happened in 1915. The earliest telephones had no dials; it required that you speak to an operator. Once you picked up the instrument, you would tell the operator who you wanted to speak to, and she would connect your call.
As far as I know, the earliest efforts by engineers along this line occurred in 1917, when Finnish inventor Eric Tigerstedt filed a patent for a "pocket-size folding telephone with a very thin carbon microphone".
The British cartoonist W. K. Haselden described a "Pocket Telephone" and the cartoon was first published in The Mirror on March 5, 1919:
(The Pocket Telephone - When Will It Ring?)
Compare to the telephonoscope from The Coming Race (1929) by JD Bernal, the suit-radio from The Sargasso of Space (1931) by Edmond Hamilton, the pocketphone from Heinlein's 1953 novel Assignment in Eternity and also this reference in Heinlein's 1948 novel Space Cadet - the portable telephone. Also the pocket receiver from The Magellanic Cloud (1955) by Stanislaw Lem.
See also the first reference to the idea of texting, the hand telegraph from Anno Domini 2000; or, Woman's Destiny (1889) by Sir Julius Vogel.
Comment/Join this discussion ( 0 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |
Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from John Jones's Dollar
More Ideas
and Technology by Harry Stephen Keeler
Tech news articles related to John Jones's Dollar
Tech news articles related to works by Harry Stephen Keeler
| Birds Learn To Sing Pictures ala Frank Herbert's Distrans |
| Polish Turns Your Nail Into A Stylus |
| Huawei Pura X Folding Phattie Phone |
| Positioned Cybertrucks With Free Starlinks WiFi In LA |
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> |
|
|
|
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
'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...'
