Foundation by Isaac Asimov:
Science Fiction Inventions, Technology and Ideas

Space opera at its finest, from a man who really knew how to put a story together. Fast-paced story with interesting characters; it's a different sort of story if you've only read Gibson and Sterling. You need to know what psychohistory is, so start reading. (Also, take a look at the inventive ideas from Asimov's second and third books in the trilogy - Foundation and Empire and Second Foundation.)

Here are the original versions of the Foundation stories published in Astounding Science Fiction:

Select an invention:

Agricultural World
Planet set aside for the production of food for another world.

Air Speedster
Highly maneuverable air vehicle for hunting.

Anti-Spying Device
Foolproof means of defending against spy beams.

Calculator Pad - grandfather of the pocket calculator
Used to make psychohistoric calculations

Directional Ticket - the ticket guides you
A ticket that also has the property of glowing while you are going toward what you bought.

Force-Field Penknife - origin of the Lightsaber?
A pocket-sized knife, the blade of which is a force-field.

Gravitic Repulsion Elevator - going up
The elevator was of the new sort that ran by gravitic repulsion.

Jump Through Hyperspace - is travel through hyperspace possible?
Device that makes faster-than-light travel possible.

Nuclear Shears
Device uses nuclear power to accomplish basic shop tasks.

Personal Capsule - for your eyes only
An impenetrable device containing information for your eyes only.

Personal Force-Shield - earliest mention?
A portable force-shield small enough to be carried by a single man.

Plasto-Textile
A fabric that cannot be stained.

Pocket Nucleo-Bulb - better than those LED flashlights
A nuclear-powered pocket-sized flashlight.

Psychohistory
Branch of mathematics describes the behavior of human beings en masses.

Single Vehicle Tunnel
A small diameter tunnel that accepts a single vehicle to a single destination.

Spy Beam
A surveillance device that projects energy into a room, revealing conversation taking place.

Static Field
A defense against a spy beam.

Sun-Room
On a planet-wide city, the only way to get some sun without going to the roof.

Trantor - planet city
A city that covers the entire surface of the planet.

Ultrawave Relay or Hyperwave Relay - first use of FTL communication
Instantaneous, faster-than-light communication system.

 

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 Glossary 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.

 

 

 

 

Science Fiction
in the News

Ultra-Realistic Robotic Arowana Robo-Fish
re: Charles Fonenay
(8/29/2024)

GITAI R1 Lunar Rover Like NASA Robonaut Centaur
re: Robert Heinlein
(8/27/2024)

Meshworm Soft Robot, With Peristaltic Crawling, Is Getting Better
re: Harry Harrison
(8/25/2024)

Mushroom 'Robot' Is Just A Start
re: Vernor Vinge
(8/23/2024)

Tesla Electric 'Giga Train' Operational In Germany
re: John Jacob Astor IV
(8/21/2024)

DOTPad Braille Device Offers Live Access
re: Various
(8/19/2024)

Biohybrid Robot Combines Living Muscle With Artificial Materials
re: Jack Vance
(8/17/2024)

Biohybrid Robots Made Of Living And Synthetic Materials
re: Arthur C. Clarke
(8/15/2024)

Drug Induces Hibernation-Like State In Humans
re: Robert Heinlein
(8/13/2024)

Poul Anderson's 'Brain Wave'
re: Poul Anderson
(8/11/2024)

AI Note-Taking From Google Meet
re: David H. Keller
(8/9/2024)

Qore IcePlates Are Personal Cooling Suits
re: Neal Stephenson
(8/7/2024)

P1 Just The Latest Robot To Take A Beating From Humans
re: Philip K Dick
(8/5/2024)

Waymo Cars Shout At Each Other, Autonomously
re: Isaac Asimov
(8/2/2024)

More SF in the News

Home | Glossary | Invention Timeline | Category | New | Contact Us | FAQ | Advertise |
Technovelgy.com - where science meets fiction™

Copyright© Technovelgy LLC; all rights reserved.