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
"The wealth of the universe is all over your head. We need to take command of the solar system to gain that wealth..."
- Larry Niven
 |
| Norm-All Program | ||
| A set of algorithms that determine a reasonable location for every citizen. |
| Every bit of information is stored in quantum computers and then evaluated by the algorithms of the Norm-All program. Norm-All monitors the opinions of large groups of people, but it also determines each person's typical behavior. This normalcy perimeter is like an invisible circle that defines you - contains you. If you do anything significantly outside the perimeter, your behavior triggers an Unusual Activity Inquiry that is sent to the police. |
| Technovelgy from Spark,
by John Twelve Hawks. Published by Knopf in 2014 Additional resources -
|
Fans of Ray Bradbury's classic 1953 novel Fahrenheit 451 may recall a similar system. When Montag runs for it, and escapes, the police can't admit that they lost him. Perhaps they can find a substitute for the Mechanical Hound to pursue.
This capability may remind you of the real-world services that have been available for adult children of dementia patients for the past five years or so. Outfit your parent with a suitable tracking device, and you can define a perimeter; if your parent steps outside that limit, you can be notified.
"...Right now, some poor fellow is out for a walk... Don't think the police don't know the habits of queer ducks like that, men who walk mornings for the hell of it. Anyway, the police have had him charted for months, years. Never know when that sort of information might be handy...
Comment/Join this discussion ( 0 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |
Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from Spark
More Ideas
and Technology by John Twelve Hawks
Tech news articles related to Spark
Tech news articles related to works by John Twelve Hawks
| Goodness Gracious Me! Google Tries Face Recognition Security |
| Live Stream With Meta-Ban Multimodal Smart Glasses |
| Brin's 1990 Novel Earth Still Full Of Predictions |
| Amazon One Is Frank Herbert's Palm Lock |
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
'What would you do,' Eric asked the robot cabdriver, 'if your wife had turned to stone, your best friend were a toad, and you had lost your job?'
'those suits they wear -- call them 'stillsuits' -- that reclaim the body's own water...'
'Now, except for weight and heat, the same conditions prevail in this chamber as in space.'
'there were so many worms and counterworms loose in the data-net...'
'Now, look, let's start with the three fundamental Rules of Robotics...'
'..the synthetic intellects at the Place of Knowledge had far outstripped the minds of men.'
'But after washing and drying clothes had to be smooth - free from fine lines and wrinkles ...'
