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"The SF approach: an awareness that things could have been different, that this is one of many possible worlds, that if you came to this world from some other planet, this would be a science fiction world."
- Neal Stephenson
 |
| Smart Bike | ||
| A motorcycle with sophisticated systems for steering and balance. |
Some people are just never satisfied with basic physics.
| Norman, as always, drove like a maniac. Norman was young. He had never ridden any motorized device that lacked onboard steering and balance systems. He rode the bike with an intense lack of physical grace, as if trying to do algebra with his legs. ...[they] buzzed up along the road shoulder, the smart bike and sidecar scrunching over the oyster shells with oozy cybernetic ease. |
| Technovelgy from Distraction,
by Bruce Sterling. Published by Bantam Spectra in 1998 Additional resources -
|
Once any bicycle or motorcycle gets up to speed, it will tend to stay stable thanks to the considerable angular momentum of the spinning wheels. Some people just want more.
Compare to the gyrocar from Two Boys in a Gyrocar the story of a New York to Paris motor race (1911) by Kenneth Brown, the Gyro-Hat from An Experiment in Gyro-Hats (1926) by Ellis Parker Butler, the leading machine from Paradise and Iron (1930) by Miles J. Breuer, the tumblebug from The Roads Must Roll (1940) by Robert Heinlein, the Two-Wheeled Ground Car from First Lensman (1950) by E.E. 'Doc' Smith, the Gyro Two-Wheeled Truck from The Sign of the Tiger (1958) by Alan Nourse (w/Meyer) and the Gyrocar (Gyro) from The Ring (1969) by Piers Anthony (w/R. Margroff).
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Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from Distraction
More Ideas
and Technology by Bruce Sterling
Tech news articles related to Distraction
Tech news articles related to works by Bruce Sterling
Smart Bike-related
news articles:
- Ghostrider Robot: Sterling's Smart Motorcycle?
- Terminator Salvation Motorcycle Robot Like Ghostrider
- Google Lobbies For Autonomous Motorcycles
- Lit Motors Self-Balancing Motorcycle
- BMW Self-Balancing Motorcycle - Never Put Feet On Road
- Meet Assist-e Honda's Self-Balancing Motorcycle
- Yamaha MOTOROiD Living Motorcycle Experiment
- Yamaha Motoroid 2 No Handlebars Self-Balancing Motorcycle
- Xiaomi Self-Driving Self-Balancing Scooter
| CORLEO Robotic Horse Concept Looks Ready To Ride |
| Futuristic Transit Elevated Bus Never Really Worked |
| Japan Automated Cargo Transport |
| Tesla Electric 'Giga Train' Operational In Germany |
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'...Anything was possible in my imaginary environment.'
'Somewhere in space, a chrome and blue automobile raced the green light of Earth.'
'That explains how it was so easy for me to remain motionless in midair...'
'We had discovered that metal was relatively impervious to the telepathic effect.'
'Detailed plans for the construction of the Gundstetter-Halone warp drive were flowing.'
'Do not waste your priceless company on the unappreciative folds of a sleep pod...'
'...so we've promised him a generous pension from the royalties.'
'Hocus-pocus religions and archaic weapons are no substitute for a good blaster at your side.'
