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 was driving a dynamite truck when I was 14 years old in North Carolina."
- Harlan Ellison
 |
| Pocket Nucleo-Bulb | ||
| A nuclear-powered pocket-sized flashlight. |
The mayor of the Foundation, Salvor Hardin, was having trouble with those little monarchies that tended to spring up as the influence of Trantor went down. At this point in the plan, he needed to demonstrate the value of affordable nuclear power to the Prince Regent Wienis.
| He [Wienis] cast one look out of the window. The city was pitch-black. From below there were the hoarse confused cries of the mob. Only toward the fight, where the Argolid Temple stood was there illumination. He swore angrily, and dragged the king away.
Wienis burst into his chambers, the five guardsmen at his heels. Lepold followed, wide-eyed, scared speechless. "Hardin," said Wienis, huskily, "you are playing with forces too great for you." The mayor ignored the speaker. In the pearly light of the pocket nucleo-bulb at his side, he remained quietly seated, a slightly ironic smile on his face. "Good morning, your majesty," he said to Lepold. "I congratulate you on your coronation." |
| Technovelgy from Foundation,
by Isaac Asimov. Published by Doubleday in 1951 Additional resources -
|
Isaac Asimov did not invent the flashlight; that honor was reserved for the original owner of the American Eveready Battery company, Joshua Lionel Cowen. He had an idea for a decorative lighting fixture for potted plants - a metal tube with a bulb and a battery. One of his salesmen, Conrad Hubert, took over the idea and the company and ran with it, selling the world's first flashlight in 1898.
And Cowen? He was one of those people who seemed to invent something other than what he originally had in mind. He was working on creating a store window display with a little battery powered car that would go round and round on a little circular track. It turned out that people wanted the car and the track more than what they displayed.
Joshua Lionel Cowen went on to found the Lionel Model Train company.
Comment/Join this discussion ( 1 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |
Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from Foundation
More Ideas
and Technology by Isaac Asimov
Tech news articles related to Foundation
Tech news articles related to works by Isaac Asimov
Pocket Nucleo-Bulb-related
news articles:
- Handheld Fusion Reactors Planned
- Diamond NanoTech Battery Lasts 28,000 Years
| Is There A Subterranean Ocean? |
| The Robotic Shopping Cart Of The Future |
| Arctic Resource Jackpot An Old Wish |
| Marie Curie's Papers Still Radioactive |
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 ...'
