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 operate by a code that makes me responsible for what I do, makes me definitely, directly, genuinely responsible. I am precisely the kind of person I made myself out to be."
- Harlan Ellison
 |
| Briefcase Computer | ||
| A portable computer workstation. |
This is an early description of a computer that is small enough to carry around; it's hard to say whether or not this device used a keyboard or not (might be entirely voice-activated).
| Rob Gray ... sat with an open briefcase resting on his knees. He studied the information being displayed on the screen built into its lid... Gray addressed the [microphone] grille, located next to the tiny lens just above the screen.
"Hi, Sue" ... "Could I have personal data, ... please." Gray ... inserted [the card from his wallet] into a slot set to one side of the screen, and touched a key. ... "Thank you, goodbye." Gray flipped a switch, unplugged the briefcase from the socket built into the armrest of his seat, and coiled the connecting cord back into the space provided in the lid. He closed the case and stowed it behind his feet. |
| From Inherit the Stars,
by James P. Hogan. Published by Del Rey in 1977 Additional resources -
|
Note that this scene describes a businessman making an in-flight, two-way video call over the global network using the computer. He then uses electronic ID cards to authenticate himself and authorize an electronic transaction.
Compare this item to the briefcase console from Niven and Pournell's 1981 novel Oath of Fealty.
Thanks to Stephen Jones for finding this item (and submitting the quote).
Comment/Join this discussion ( 2 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |
Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from Inherit the Stars
More Ideas
and Technology by James P. Hogan
Tech news articles related to Inherit the Stars
Tech news articles related to works by James P. Hogan
| Galaxy Z Fold 3 Perfect For William Gibson's 'Control-Face' |
| Poor Humans. Miami Herald Bot Writes Great Real Estate Articles. |
| CGI 'Master Faces' Impersonate Several Identities |
| GIDE AI Tools 'See Days In Advance' |
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
'Employees above a certain level were implanted with advanced microprocessors...'
'The robot knelt before the head, lifted it slowly, and with... its strong hands placed it on its shoulders...'
'But it had slid, not rolled, down upon these angry fly-wheels, and in an instant, with all our friends, it had been hurled into the sky!'
'Three rows of four colored dots appeared on the heel of my left hand.'
'I brought it back to the ship, charged it up, reprogrammed the inertia chips and voila!'
'Their playmates were not “real,” but they were a lot realer than, say, a Betsy-Wetsy doll.'
'pirate three-vee satellites sanded out of orbit...'
'Oh, there you are! the balloon piped at the amorphous mass of living tissue...'
