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
"Science and science fiction, how do you even distinguish the two?"
- Jerry Pournelle
 |
| Voicecorder | ||
| A device that records verbal output and determines truth or falsehood. |
| "I'm recording this conversation," McKie said. "I'm going to call your United Phyla Council presently, play the recording for them, and suggest they deal with you."
"They will laugh at you! What evidence could you . . ." "I've your own guilty voice," McKie said. "We'll get a voicecorder analysis of everything you've said and submit it with the recording to your council." "Voicecorder? What is this?" "It's a device which analyzes the subtle pitch and intonation of the voice to determine which statements are true and which are false." "I've never heard of such a device!" "Damn few sentients know all the devices BuSab agents use," McKie said. |
| From Whipping Star,
by Brian Herbert. Published by Galaxy Publishing in 1969 Additional resources -
|
Does the voicecorder work on everyone?
"There's no such thing as a voicecorder for your species," McKie said.
The Palenki stared at him a moment, then, "May your eggs rot!"
Compare to the veridicator from Little Fuzzy (1962) by H. Beam Piper and to the truth meter from Robert Heinlein's The Star Beast (1954).
"I swear not," the Palenki said. "Bring your voicecorder. It will prove I speak the truth."
Comment/Join this discussion ( 0 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |
Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from Whipping Star
More Ideas
and Technology by Brian Herbert
Tech news articles related to Whipping Star
Tech news articles related to works by Brian Herbert
| 'A Sign in Space' Gives Practice In Decoding ET Messages |
| MyManu Titan 'Screenless Smartphone' |
| 'Courier Commons' By Tomorrow Lab, From Karl Schroeder (and Bruce Sterling?) |
| Mouth Haptics Invented By Frederik Pohl In 1965, CMU Now Has Prototype |
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
'THE red tennis robot scooted desperately across the court...'
'The Consul remembered his first glimpse of the kilometer-long treeship...'
'Do you know what window washing used to cost by the hour?'
'Once the target is confirmed, it uses an IR laser to send a coded signal back to the parent, clearing it to attack.'
'I filled your bullet hole with flesh putty and the lattice.'
'... it will be easy to form an alphabet which shall enable us to converse with the inhabitants of the moon.'
'From the tower's huge octagonal base radiate wide silvery strips...'
'It was about five feet long... a black bullet head and red camera eyes.'
'The Law Society has strict rules on the use of pseudo-intelligent software...'
