A World Out of Time by Larry Niven:
Science Fiction Inventions, Technology and Ideas

This unusual story takes place more than 200 years into the future. Jaybee Corbell, the main character, travels into the future by means of suspended animation. He becomes a corpsicle. In this future society, he is awakened to serve a particular purpose; to pilot a starship to the galactic core. Select an invention:

Biological Package Probe - automaton Johnny Appleseed

Bubble Car - does it come in moiré?
Self-steering, hovering, this is the car of the future.

Bussard Ramjet - hydrogen ramscoop
Propulsion method that scoops hydrogen atoms from space via electromagnetic fields.

Empty Man - a body ready for a mind
A fully-functioning body, the personality of which had been wiped clean.

Gravity-assisted Subway - the shortest possible distance
The fastest way between continents (that does not entail leaving the ground).

Poster TV - flattest of flat screen TVs
This display gives new meaning to the term "flat screen."

RNA Shots - don't read Cliff notes; eat Cliff
An injection prepared from the tissues of a person with knowledge or experience that you need.

Womb Room - return to the control room
The ultimate ship's bridge.

Young-Forever
A very particular formula for human immortality, which solves the most serious attendant problem (population explosion).

Zero-Time Jail - no time off for good behavior
A building in which an energy field prevents time from passing.

 

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