 |
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
"A science fiction story is a story built around human beings, with a human problem and a human solution, which would not have happened at all without its scientific content."
- Theodore Sturgeon
|
 |
|
Droid |
|
| |
A contraction of "android", it actually describes one of a variety of robots. |
|
Unique to the Star Wars universe (LucasFilms has a trademark on it, so you are unlikely to see it elsewhere), this contraction has entered the common language of science fiction.
The only reasonable derivation of the word "droid" is from "android" which means "having human features." However, in the Star Wars universe, the term droid is always used to describe mechanical robots; not all of them have recognizable human shapes. One robot that is human-shaped is C-3PO (See Threepio).
| ...the farmer's eyes narrowed as he concentrated on the sand-scoured but still flashy bronze finish of the tall, humanoid Threepio.
"I presume you function," he grumbled at the robot. "Do you know customs and protocol?"
"Do I know protocol?" Threepio echoed as the farmer looked him up and down. Threepio was determined to embarass the jawa when it came to selling his abilities, "Do I know protocol? Why, it's my primary function. I am also well-"
"Don't need a protocol 'droid," the farmer snapped dryly.
"I don't blame you, sir," Threepio rapidly agreed. "I couldn't be more in agreement...For someone of your interests, sir, a protocol 'droid would be a useless waste of money. No, sir - versatility is my middle name. See Vee Threepio - Vee for versatility - at your service...
"I need," the farmer broke in... "a 'droid that knows something about the binary language of independently programmable moisture vaporators." |
From Star Wars,
by George Lucas.
Published by Del Rey in 1976
Additional resources -
|
Low moisture planets were much in the minds of science fiction authors; read more about the vaporators of Tatooine.
Alternatively, you might enjoy a look at another kind of automaton with its own point of view; see the self-satisfied door from Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
Comment/Join this discussion ( 2 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |
Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from Star Wars
More Ideas
and Technology by George Lucas
Tech news articles related to Star Wars
Tech news articles related to works by George Lucas
Droid-related
news articles:
- GRACE Robot Specializes In Etiquette And Protocol
- US Army To Be 30 Percent Droid By 2020?
- Dexter Dynamically Balancing Humanoid Robot
Articles related to Robotics
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.
|
 |
More SF in the
News
More Beyond Technovelgy
|
 |