Science Fiction
|
Timeline
of Science Fiction Ideas, Technology and Inventions
|
Date | Device Name (Novel Author) |
1705 | Cogitator (The Chair of Reflection) (from The Consolidator by Daniel Defoe) A device which improves the rationality of the thinking processes. |
1726 | Bio-Energy (from Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift) The first reference to extracting electricity from organic materials. |
1726 | Laputa (from Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift) A floating island or rock in the air. |
1726 | Geometric Modeling (from Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift) The first recorded use of geometric figures to directly represent, or model, living beings. |
1726 | Knowledge Engine (from Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift) The first reference to a machine that could create sentences or write books. |
1727 | Androide (from Cyclopaedia by Ephraim Chambers) A device having the form or likeness of a man. |
1828 | Stage Balloon (from The Mummy! A Tale of the Twenty-Second Century by Jane Webb Loudon) A regular means of conveyance, like a train or carriage. |
1828 | Steam-Propelled Moving Houses (from The Mummy! A Tale of the Twenty-Second Century by Jane Webb Loudon) Otherwise ordinary residences that move from place to place, powered by steam. |
1828 | Mail-Post Letter-Ball (from The Mummy! A Tale of the Twenty-Second Century by Jane Webb Loudon) A system of sending mail quickly from town to town via steam-cannon-powered hollow spheres. |
1828 | Barrels of Air (from The Mummy! A Tale of the Twenty-Second Century by Jane Webb Loudon) A very early mention of a means for breathing once above the Earth's atmosphere. |
1828 | Automaton Steam Surgeon (from The Mummy! A Tale of the Twenty-Second Century by Jane Webb Loudon) Mechanized surgery. |
1846 | Steam Horse (from Le Monde Tel Qu'il Sera (The World As It Shall Be) by Emile Souvestre) A remarkable mechanical beast. |
1846 | Express Dolphin (from Le Monde Tel Qu'il Sera (The World As It Shall Be) by Emile Souvestre) A most agreeable means of locomotion under the waves. |
1846 | Feeding Room (from Le Monde Tel Qu'il Sera (The World As It Shall Be) by Emile Souvestre) An automated child care. |
1846 | Forced Scholars (from Le Monde Tel Qu'il Sera (The World As It Shall Be) by Emile Souvestre) Hothouse intellectuals. |
1846 | Passenger-Carrying Mortar (from Le Monde Tel Qu'il Sera (The World As It Shall Be) by Emile Souvestre) A unique way of crossing a river, without a boat or a bridge. |
1864 | Whispering Gallery (from Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne) A means of communication in specifically shaped spaces. |
1866 | Paper Steel (from Robur-the-Conqueror by Jules Verne) Specially treated paper that forms material as hard as steel. |
1867 | Free Return Trajectory (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne) The idea that it would be possible for a projectile to go around the Moon and then return to Earth. |
1867 | Retro-Rockets (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne) Small boosters to provide a thrust counter to the current velocity of the spacecraft, slowing it down or stopping its progress altogether. |
1867 | Launching Facility (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne) A specific spot with support for a space launch. |
1867 | Splashdown (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne) The use of water as a medium for landing one's space ship in. |
1867 | Air Renewal (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne) Re-oxygenating the air within the projectile spacecraft. |
1867 | Weightlessness (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne) The state experienced in free fall; a space traveler's weight is apparently reduced to zero. |
1867 | Communicate with Extraterrestrials (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne) Early plan to communicate with life on planets removed from the earth. |
1867 | Projectile-Vehicle (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne) A projectile, or shot, capable of enclosing passengers and being safely hurled to the moon by an enormous cannon. |
1867 | Light Pressure Propulsion (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne) First mention of the idea that light itself could be a form of propulsion for spacecraft. |
1867 | Columbiad (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne) An enormous cannon, sufficient in size to send a projectile to the Moon. |
1867 | Water-Springs (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne) Using water to cushion the living space of a spacecraft from the effects of acceleration. |
1867 | Gourmet Space Cuisine (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne) The finest in French cuisine, in outer space. |
1868 | Burn the Ship (from Around the World in 80 days by Jules Verne) Utilize parts of the ship as fuel for forward movement. |
1868 | Steam Man (from The Steam Man of the Prairies by Edward S. Ellis) A mechanical robot powered by steam. |
1869 | Brick Moon (from The Brick Moon by Edward Everett Hale) An artificial satellite or space station with living quarters for passengers. |
1869 | Flywheel Launcher (from The Brick Moon by Edward Everett Hale) Gigantic flywheels that build up enough power to launch a spacecraft - hurl it into the heavens! |
1871 | Fossil Shell Coin (from The Coming Race by Edward Bulwer-Lytton) The use of rare natural shells of an extinct species, for money. |
1872 | Mechanical Consciousness (from Erewhon by Samuel Butler) The notion that machines may develop a form of consciousness. |
1875 | Diving Apparatus (from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne) Equipment used to go for walks on the sea bed; the direct ancestor of modern scuba diving equipment. |
1875 | Nautilus (from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne) The wondrous submarine of Captain Nemo; the instrument of his escape from humanity and his revenge upon it. |
1875 | Undersea Mining (from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne) Conducting mining operations on the sea floor. |
1875 | Leyden Ball (from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne) Device for hunting underwater; transfers a powerful electrical charge to the prey. |
1875 | Electrify the Rail (from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne) Use of substantial electrical charge applied to outer hull to repel potential boarders. |
1877 | Telepomp (Matter Transmission) (from The Man Without a Body by Edward Page Mitchell) A device that transmitted matter from one place to another. |
1877 | Sheep's Lozenge (from The Fatal Curiosity, or, A Hundred Years Hence by James Payn) The nutritious portion of an entire sheep, in one pill. |
1879 | Home News Printer (from The Senator's Daughter by Edward Page Mitchell) A device that prints out the newspaper of your choice right in your own home. |
1879 | Suspended Animation (Frigorific Process) (from The Senator's Daughter by Edward Page Mitchell) Very early reference to cryogenic storage. |
1879 | Compact Food Pastilles (Food Pill) (from The Senator's Daughter by Edward Page Mitchell) One small tablet is a month's worth of food. |
1880 | Apergy (Apergion) (from Across the Zodiac by Percy Greg) An antigravity substance with sufficient power to propel a space ship from the Earth to Mars. |
1880 | Astronaut (Ship) (from Across the Zodiac by Percy Greg) The first instance of this phrase, it denotes a space-going vessel. |
1881 | Dutch Clock (Time Machine) (from The Clock That Went Backward by Edward Page Mitchell) A tall Dutch clock with hands that move... backward. |
1881 | Chemical Production of Food (from Mizora: A Prophecy by Mary E. Bradley Lane) Creation of food in the laboratory rather than in the field. |
1882 | Telephonoscope (from Le Vingtième Siècle (The Twentieth Century) by Albert Robida) A device that effectively transmits pictures and sound over long distances. |
1885 | Electric-Yacht (from A Strange Trip by John Baker Hopkins) A surface vessel powered entirely by electricity. |
1885 | Food Pills (from A Strange Trip by John Baker Hopkins) A substitute for ordinary nutrition. |
1886 | Ether Ship (from Aleriel or A Voyage to Other Worlds by W.S. Lach-Szyrma) A space-going ship. |
1887 | Anacronopete (Time Machine) (from El Anacronopete by Enrique Gaspar) A flying electric-powered time machine. |
1887 | Food Pellets (from The Republic of the Future by Anna Dodd) Sustenance in a concentrated form. |
1888 | Mall (Great City Bazaar) (from Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy) An aggregation of shops under one roof. |
1888 | Credit Card (from Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy) A simple card that is used in place of money |
1888 | Telephonic Music Room (from Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy) Places where a person could go, at any time, to share in musical performances happening at some distance away. |
1889 | Recorded News (from In the Year 2889 by Jules Verne) This is the basic idea behind Tivo and VCRs. |
1889 | Straightening the Earth's Poles (from The Purchase of the North Pole (Topsy Turvy) by Jules Verne) By means of a suitable force, push the Earth until the planet's axis of rotation is perpendicular to the ecliptic. |
1889 | Phonotelephote (from In the Year 2889 by Jules Verne) A means of transmitting and receiving both voice and picture for a personal conversation. |
1889 | Electrified Fence (from A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain) A wire fence carrying an electrical charge sufficient to deter crossing the boundary. |
1889 | Live News (from In the Year 2889 by Jules Verne) The modern concept of a news broadcast. |
1889 | Atmospheric Advertising (from In the Year 2889 by Jules Verne) A means of mass advertising to cities and countries. |
1893 | Air-Ship (VTOL Airship) (from The Angel of the Revolution by George Griffith) A flying machine capable of vertical take-off and landing. |
1893 | War-Balloon (Navigable Aerostat) (from The Angel of the Revolution by George Griffith) Enormous dirigible airships used for war. |
1893 | Air-to-Surface Missile (from The Angel of the Revolution by George Griffith) Very early description of a projectile fired from an airship into a surface target. |
1893 | Life Phial (from Improvements So Extraordinary The World Will Shudder by Mary Elizabeth Lease) Similar to a food pill, food in concentrated form. |
1894 | Rooftop Windmill (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) Renewable energy source for the home. |
1894 | Aeriduct (Rain Maker) (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) A specific means of producing rain. |
1894 | Magnetic Eyes (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) A device that permits remote monitoring of people or other objects. |
1894 | Global Climate Control (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) Adjust the Earth's axis so the seasons are more temperate and uniform. |
1894 | Electric Protection-Wires (Electrified Fence) (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) An electric fence. |
1894 | Electric Car Recharging Station (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) A public place for recharging electric cars. |
1894 | Space-ship (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) A space-going vessel. |
1894 | Vehicle Energy Reclamation (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) Reclaiming the energy gained by climbing a hill on the way back down. |
1894 | Arctic Signal Light (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) A means of communicating with spacecraft from the surface of the Earth. |
1894 | Double-Door Vestibule (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) A special doorway leading from the interior of a spacecraft leading out into space which maintains the air pressure within the craft. |
1894 | Solar Power Generation (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) A very early description of the use of solar powered 'farms' for generating electrical power on a large scale. |
1894 | Electric Phaetons (Electric Cars) (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) Vehicles whose motive power is entirely derived from electricity. |
1894 | Magnetic Railroads (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) A scheme for powering railroads using enormous electromagnets. |
1894 | Marine Spider (Hydrofoil) (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) A very early mention of the hydrofoil concept. |
1894 | Instantaneous Kodaks (Traffic Control) (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) Use of cameras to help police officers enforce speed limits. |
1894 | Windmill Mast (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) Enclosed machinery in large masts powers ships. |
1895 | Atomic Energy (from The Crack of Doom by Robert Cromie) Splitting the atom to create a destructive force. |
1895 | Time Machine (from The Time Machine by H.G. Wells) A device allowing the rider to move freely in the temporal dimension, just as we ordinarily do in the two physical dimensions normal to gravity. |
1895 | Atomic Microscopy (from The Crack of Doom by Robert Cromie) A device that can actually visualize a individual molecule and its parts. |
1895 | Manufactured Wife (from A Wife Manufactured to Order by Alice W. Fuller) A wife made to order, programmed to meet her husband's requirements. |
1895 | Government Lethal Chamber (from The Repairer of Reputations by Robert W. Chambers) A legal suicide booth. |
1895 | Submarine Tube (from An Express of the Future by Michel Verne) A means of transport between Europe and North America via underwater tubes. |
1895 | Undersea City (from The Crystal City Under the Sea by Andre Laurie) A great city under the sea, covered by a crystal dome. |
1896 | Fulgurator (from Facing The Flag by Jules Verne) An 'autopropulsive projectile'. |
1896 | Monsters Manufactured (from The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells) Dr. Moreau demonstrates the plasticity of the organic form. |
1896 | Dimension (from The Plattner Story by H.G. Wells) Describes a reality separate from our own. |
1897 | Invisibility (from The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells) The idea that it is possible to make a person invisible using some sort of optical technology to alter the body. |
1897 | Planetary Telegraphing (from In the Deep of Time by George Parsons Lathrop) A method for communicating with dwellers on other planets in the solar system. |
1897 | Gravitational Wave Viewer (from Two Planets by Kurd Lasswitz) A device used to see at astronomical distances. |
1897 | Vivification (from In the Deep of Time by George Parsons Lathrop) A process by which the body can be preserved for centuries at body temperature and then revived. |
1897 | Electric Gun (Mass Driver) (from A Trip to Venus by John Munro) A device that used electromagnetic energy to accelerated capsules into orbit. |
1897 | Magnetic Shell (from The Great Stone of Sardis by Frank Stockton) A munition that is powerfully attracted to ferrous ships. |
1897 | Photic Borer (Artesian Ray) (from The Great Stone of Sardis by Frank Stockton) A ray of energy that illuminates a cross-section of Earth as it goes through solid earth and rock. |
1897 | Automatic Shell (from The Great Stone of Sardis by Frank Stockton) A projectile that bores through obstacles - even the Earth! |
1897 | Interstellar Express Car (from In the Deep of Time by George Parsons Lathrop) Uses anti-gravitation metal to achieve terrific speeds in space. |
1897 | Artificial Silk (from In the Deep of Time by George Parsons Lathrop) A fabric like silk produced entirely without silkworms. |
1897 | Home Planet (from In the Deep of Time by George Parsons Lathrop) Usually the birthplace of your species or simply your planet of origin. |
1897 | Sun-Telephone (from In the Deep of Time by George Parsons Lathrop) Receives transmissions from the sun itself. |
1897 | Life-Brew (from In the Deep of Time by George Parsons Lathrop) A non-alcoholic beverage, but similar to wine. |
1897 | Glow-Worm Living (from In the Deep of Time by George Parsons Lathrop) Alternated work, play and slumber without long periods of sleep. |
1897 | Noninterference With Other Worlds (from In the Deep of Time by George Parsons Lathrop) Earliest expression of the 'Prime Directive' idea. |
1897 | Helium Metal (from In the Deep of Time by George Parsons Lathrop) An ore with the spectroscopic line of Helium. |
1897 | Walking Balloon (from In the Deep of Time by George Parsons Lathrop) A means of efficiently traversing rough country. |
1897 | Electric Bicycle (from In the Deep of Time by George Parsons Lathrop) A two-wheeled device utilizing stored electricity as motive power. |
1898 | Robot Biomimicry (from The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells) Endowing robots with an organic-appearing fluidity, rather than mechanical motion. |
1898 | Disintegrator (from Edison's Conquest of Mars by Garrett P. Serviss) A device that causes objects to burst into molecular pieces. |
1898 | Heat Ray (from The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells) First use of what appears to be a laser weapon. |
1898 | Biological Warfare (from The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells) The use of microorganisms to defeat an enemy; this is the first reference in science fiction that I can find to this concept. |
1898 | Tripod (from The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells) An enormous metallic robot. |
1898 | Electrical 'Tether' (from Edison's Conquest of Mars by Garrett P. Serviss) A device to make sure an astronaut could return from a free space walk. |
1898 | Steel Tentacle (from The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells) Flexible robotic steel limbs that can both support a vehicle and grasp objects. |
1898 | Air-Tight Suit (from Edison's Conquest of Mars by Garrett P. Serviss) An special outfit that would allow a person to survive in vacuum. |
1898 | Black Smoke (from The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells) A smoke or vapor dispensed in canisters. |
1898 | Robot Spider (Handling Machine) (from The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells) Multipurpose device used almost as an extension of the Martian's own bodies. |
1898 | Red Weed (Terraforming Plant) (from The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells) A plant brought by the Martians that grew on Earth. |
1898 | Asteroid Mining (from Edison's Conquest of Mars by Garrett P. Serviss) The mining of asteroid ore, accomplished by traveling to these tiny bodies. |
1898 | Spacewalk (from Edison's Conquest of Mars by Garrett P. Serviss) Going outside your space craft for a short time. |
1898 | Quasi-Muscles (Sham Musculature) (from The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells) A means of giving motive power to robots or machines that is similar to animal musculature. |
1898 | Aerial Telegraph (from Edison's Conquest of Mars by Garrett P. Serviss) Communication between individuals in spacesuits. |
1898 | Autonomous Digging Machine (from The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells) A mechanical device able to excavate on its own. |
1899 | Automatic Door (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells) A wall strip that rolls up automatically to let you through. |
1899 | Town In One Building (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells) This is the basic idea behind an arcology, or other single structure that is intended to provide living space and mall. |
1899 | DVD/VCR (Entertainment Player) (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells) A device that accepts stored moving picture entertainment and makes it available for viewing. |
1899 | Babble Machine (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells) Not just television - this describes what we call 'the idiot box' (technology and media). |
1899 | Eadhamite (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells) Synthetic material that creates extremely smooth roads. |
1899 | Networked World (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells) Very early description of our dependence on technology and communication. |
1899 | Moving Picture Player (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells) A machine that plays recorded pictures back for a single person - a combination DVD player and screen. |
1899 | Electric-Automatic Household Robot Cook (from Ely's Automatic Housemaid by Elizabeth Bellamy) A robot chef - an Electric-Automatic Household Beneficent Genius! |
1899 | Automated Surface Measurement (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells) A mechanical method of accurately measuring a surface. |
1899 | Kinetiscope Appliance (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells) A small object that could show a variety of artificially created or extrapolated images. |
1899 | Moving Roadway (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells) A roadway that is in motion, with seats and kiosks, that goes around curves. |
1899 | Electric-Automatic Housemaid Robot (Automaton) (from Ely's Automatic Housemaid by Elizabeth Bellamy) A very early description of a robot to help around the house. |
1899 | Individualized Clothing Manufacture (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells) A device that will produce suits of clothing based on measurement data gathered. |
1899 | Automatic Valet (from Looking Forward: A Dream of the United States of the Americas in 1999 by Arthur Bird) A robotic manservant. |
1899 | General Intelligence Machine (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells) News and information from one device. |
1899 | Aerodrome (Ærodromes) (from Looking Forward: A Dream of the United States of the Americas in 1999 by Arthur Bird) Flying machines. |
1899 | Nutritious Pellets (from Looking Forward: A Dream of the United States of the Americas in 1999 by Arthur Bird) Food in pill form. |
1899 | Aerocycle (Ærocycle) (from Looking Forward: A Dream of the United States of the Americas in 1999 by Arthur Bird) An aerial bicycle, human powered. |
1899 | Aeropile (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells) A fluttering wing airplane for a few passengers. |
1899 | Aerial Dynamite Ships (from Looking Forward: A Dream of the United States of the Americas in 1999 by Arthur Bird) Using airplanes to drop explosives during war. |
1899 | Nickalum (from Looking Forward: A Dream of the United States of the Americas in 1999 by Arthur Bird) An alloy of aluminum crystalized within a magnetic field for exceptional strength. |
1899 | Electrical Farming Implements (from Looking Forward: A Dream of the United States of the Americas in 1999 by Arthur Bird) Labor-saving automatic farm equipment. |
1900 | Aerocar (from The Abduction of Alexandra Seine by Fred C. Smale) A personal flying vehicle. |
1901 | Translatophone (from My Translatophone by Frank Stockton) A device that performs mechanical translation of one language into another. |
1901 | Cavorite (from The First Men in the Moon by H.G. Wells) An antigravity metal; when it cools, whatever it covers will be impervious to gravitational forces. |
1901 | Breathing Dresses (from A Honeymoon In Space by George Griffith) A special suit and apparatus for survival on the surface of the Moon. |
1901 | Homeworld (Home-World) (from A Honeymoon In Space by George Griffith) One's planet of origin. |
1903 | Joystick Controls w/Remote Display (from The Land Ironclads by H.G. Wells) A fire-by-wire remote-controlled weapon system. |
1903 | Death-Ray (from The World Masters by George Griffith) A thin ray of electric light that melts flesh away from the bone. |
1903 | Vandelite Gun (from The World Masters by George Griffith) An artillery device that freezes the explosive material for firing so it doesn't explode in the gun when it fires. |
1903 | Aerial Navies (from The World Masters by George Griffith) Use of vast numbers of air-ships (planes) to overwhelm land defenses. |
1904 | The Terror (from Master of the World by Jules Verne) An amazing vehicle capable of attaining tremendous speeds - in many different ways. |
1905 | Glass Dome (from A Modern Utopia by H.G. Wells) Protective cover for cities. |
1907 | Interplanetary Radiograph Station (from On The Martian Way by Harry Gore Bishop) Network of communication in the solar system. |
1907 | Neutral (Point) (from On The Martian Way by Harry Gore Bishop) The point at which the gravitational pull of the sun and that of a planet cancel each other out. |
1907 | Gravitation Screen (from On The Martian Way by Harry Gore Bishop) Shields a spacecraft from the gravity of a planetary body. |
1907 | Tik-Tok (from Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum) A mechanical man. |
1908 | Etheroneph (from Red Star by Aleksandr Bogdanov) Spacefraft fueled by radioactive materials. |
1908 | Minus-Matter (from Red Star by Aleksandr Bogdanov) Material that negates weight. |
1909 | The Machine (from The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster) A single vast contrivance that supplied all the needs of the world's millions of solitary inhabitants. |
1909 | Telemedicine Apparatus (from The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster) First reference to a device that allows physicians to examine or aid patients at a distance. |
1909 | Cinematophote (Blue Optic Plate) (from The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster) The first reference to a tablet-sized, handheld screen. |
1909 | Video Communicator (from The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster) A device that carried both voice and image, letting the two parties see each other. |
1909 | Machine Apartment (from The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster) Each person lives isolated in their own room, supported by a vast planetary machine. |
1909 | Breed Humans For Machines (from The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster) Carefully cull the strong, resilient humans in favor of weakness, that the human race might be more adapted to life in the Machine. |
1909 | The Book of the Machine (from The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster) The only book needed for life in the vast Machine. |
1910 | Automaton Chessplayer (from Moxon's Master by Ambrose Bierce) The first chess-playing computer. |
1911 | Iridium Spirals (Street Lights) (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) Streetlights provide sunlight at night. |
1911 | Space-Sick (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) Uneasiness associated with space travel. |
1911 | Hypnobioscope (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) The first fictional reference to sleep teaching. |
1911 | Sub-Atlantic Tube (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) A tunnel under the ocean; the shortest distance between the two points. |
1911 | Language Rectifier (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) The first reference to machine-translation of human languages. |
1911 | Alohydrolium (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) The lightest metal. |
1911 | Automatic-Electric Packing Machine (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) A device able to pack randomly shaped objects combined into a single package automatically. |
1911 | Telephot (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) A device that combined the functions of telephone and television; a phone with a screen. |
1911 | Actinoscope (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) A device that used a pulsating polarized ether wave to judge the distance to an object (a RADAR) |
1911 | Artificial Cloth (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) The creation of fabrics without organic natural fibers. |
1911 | Detectophone (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) First use of the idea of a voice-activated machine. |
1911 | Electric Rifle (from Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle by Victor Appleton) A device that shoots an electrical charge. |
1911 | Steelonium (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) A remarkable kind of steel that did not rust or corrode. |
1911 | Tele-Motor-Coasters (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) Powered skates for personal transportation. |
1911 | Personalized News (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) First reference to news that is customized to the needs of each individual subscriber. |
1911 | Demagnitizing Ray (from The Lord of Labour by George Griffith) A beam of radiation that makes even the strongest steel as brittle as chalk. |
1911 | Telautograph (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) First fictional reference to a fax machine. |
1911 | Appetizer (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) An amazing adjunct to science-based restaurants; a room that increases appetite with gas! |
1911 | Gyrocar (from Two Boys in a Gyrocar the story of a New York to Paris motor race by Kenneth Brown) A two-wheeled, self-balancing automobile. |
1911 | Gravity Nullification (Gravity Screen) (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) Gravity annulled in its entirety in a small area. |
1911 | Helio-Dynamophores (Sun-Power-Generators) (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) Photo-electric elements which transformed the solar heat direct into electric energy. |
1911 | Menograph (Mind-Writer) (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) Direct translation of thought to paper. |
1911 | Radar (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) Detection of objects at a distance. |
1911 | Aerocab (Aeroflyer) (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) A electric flying taxi, or car. |
1912 | Automated Restaurant (from A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs) Food is prepared and served entirely automatically. |
1913 | Poison Space Cloud (Etheric Poison) (from The Poison Belt by Arthur Conan Doyle) A deadly cloud of gas large enough to envelop the solar system. |
1914 | Radioactive Ruin (from The World Set Free by H.G. Wells) The aftermath of atomic war is generations of ruin. |
1914 | Artificial Food (from The World Set Free by H.G. Wells) Food produced without soil, chemically. |
1914 | Sunray Tank (from Warlord of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs) A device that stores sunlight itself for use as an energy source. |
1914 | Atomic Bomb (from The World Set Free by H.G. Wells) A weapon that uses an atomic chain reaction as an explosive force. |
1914 | Sustained Atomic Reaction (from The World Set Free by H.G. Wells) The idea that a sustained reaction could lead to an atomic explosion. |
1914 | Atomic Engine (from The World Set Free by H.G. Wells) A motor running on atomic fuel. |
1915 | Food Tablet (from John Jones's Dollar by Harry Stephen Keeler) All of your nutrients in one easy-to-swallow form factor. |
1915 | Zoom Call Visaphone System (from John Jones's Dollar by Harry Stephen Keeler) An amazingly early description of a modern zoom call on a big screen monitor. |
1915 | Pocket wireless phone (from John Jones's Dollar by Harry Stephen Keeler) An entirely portable, pocket-sized, telephone. |
1917 | Tele-Photophonic Attachment (from The Messiah of the Cylinder by Victor Rousseau) A device that permits a telephone funnel to see as well as hear. |
1917 | Telephone Funnel (from The Messiah of the Cylinder by Victor Rousseau) A kind of two-way public loudspeaker. |
1917 | Open-Air Moving Picture Shows (from The Messiah of the Cylinder by Victor Rousseau) Public news outlets |
1917 | Ray gun (from The Messiah of the Cylinder by Victor Rousseau) A weapon that projects a beam of destructive force. |
1918 | Photophone (from The Planeteer by Homer Eon Flint) A device that provided a view of the other booth. |
1918 | Magnetic Elevator (from The Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs) A device that uses very powerful electromagnets for propulsion. |
1918 | Aero Bus (Flying Bus) (from What Not: A Prophetic Comedy by Rose Macaulay) A flying bus. |
1920 | Robot (from R.U.R. by Karel Capek) A (usually human-shaped) artifact with the same kinds of abilities as a human - this is the first use of the word 'robot'. |
1920 | Robotess (from R.U.R. by Karel Capek) A female robot. |
1920 | Spinning Mill for Veins (Artificial Organs) (from R.U.R. by Karel Capek) The manufacture of artificial organs, digestive tract, veins - body parts. |
1920 | Living Metal Cubes (from The Metal Monster by Abraham Merritt) Tiny metal cubes and pyramids that work together to create larger shapes. |
1921 | Phonographic Locks (from A Journey to the Year 2025 by Clement Fezandie) Doors that open using voice recognition. |
1921 | Pocket-Wings (from A Journey to the Year 2025 by Clement Fezandie) Individual powered flight. |
1922 | Membrane (from We by Yevgeny Zamyatin) A listening device. |
1923 | Parallel Universe (from Men Like Gods by H.G. Wells) An entirely separate realm or universe that exists along with our own; it may be wildly different or vary from ours by only a tiny degree. |
1923 | Networked Telephone Answering Machine (from Men Like Gods by H.G. Wells) A device that would accept verbal messages and store them for replay from any remote station. |
1923 | Wireless Access Point (from Men Like Gods by H.G. Wells) Infrastructure that provides power and wireless communication. |
1923 | Acoustic Apparatus (Osophone) (from Acoustic Apparatus by Hugo Gernsback) A device that used bone conduction to transmit sound. |
1923 | Clockwork Man (from The Clockwork Man by E.V. Odle) A man from the future with an embedded mechanism to manipulate time. |
1925 | Quadraturin (from Quadraturin by Sigizmund Krzhizhanowsky) Substance that creates more space when applied to walls, floors and ceilings. |
1925 | Blaster (from When the Green Star Waned by Nictzin Dyalhis) A device that shoots a beam of energy that destroys whatever is in its path. |
1926 | Artificial Brain (from The Metal Giants by Edmond Hamilton) A non-organic device structured like a human brain. |
1926 | Computer Vision (Artificial Eye) (from The Metal Giants by Edmond Hamilton) A device which, attached to a suitable computer, will allow the device to see. |
1926 | Artificial Life (from Across Space by Edmond Hamilton) Creating living beings from inorganic elements. |
1926 | Vacuum Suit (from The Man from the Atom by G. Peyton Wertenbaker) An early description of a space suit, and the first use of this now archaic phrase. |
1926 | Gyro-Hat (from An Experiment in Gyro-Hats by Ellis Parker Butler) Hidden in a top hat, this device cures staggering and reeling, for whatever reason. |
1926 | Blue Ray of Death (from Across Space by Edmond Hamilton) A ray that reduces an organic being to ash instantly. |
1926 | Atomic Machine (from The Man from the Atom by G. Peyton Wertenbaker) A device that shrinks and expands its wearer. |
1926 | Atomic Energy Motor (from The Man from the Atom by G. Peyton Wertenbaker) An engine which utilizes atomic energy. |
1926 | Transparent Dome Helmet (from The Man from the Atom by G. Peyton Wertenbaker) A spacesuit helmet that can be seen through. |
1926 | Tentacle Machines (from The Metal Giants by Edmond Hamilton) Enormous robots, cylindrical of body, tentacular of arms, autonomous of brain, sinister of intent. |
1926 | Robot Wheel (from The Metal Giants by Edmond Hamilton) An enormous vehicular robot in the shape of a gigantic wheel. |
1926 | Flexible Metal Arms (Tentacles) (from The Metal Giants by Edmond Hamilton) An interesting description of how mechanical tentacles might function. |
1926 | Bolognium (from Transactions of Amer Soc for Steel Treating by Edgar Bain) Very early fictional element, courtesy of metallurgists. |
1926 | Automatic Judge (from Dr. Hackensaw's Secrets Some Minor Inventions by Clement Fezandie) Automatically listens to the plaintiff and defendant and provides a just verdict. |
1926 | Starship (from War in Space by Raymond Quiex) A vehicle for space travel. |
1926 | Electric Typewriter (from Dr. Hackensaw's Secrets Some Minor Inventions by Clement Fezandie) A typewriter that used the power of electricity to strike the letters onto the paper, rather than the finger muscles of the typist. |
1926 | Vocal Typewriter (from Dr. Hackensaw's Secrets Some Minor Inventions by Clement Fezandie) A device that accepts spoken dictation and produces printed copy. |
1927 | Paralyzing Cone (from The Atomic Conquerors by Edmond Hamilton) A device that paralyzes the muscles. |
1927 | Cold Ray (from The Atomic Conquerors by Edmond Hamilton) A device that pulled warmth from anything it was aimed at. |
1927 | Repulsor Ray (from The Time-Raider by Edmond Hamilton) Fires an invisible beam of electrons for propulsion. |
1928 | Raytron Apparatus (from Beyond the Stars by Ray Cummings) A device for aerial surveillance; the image was transmitted back to the user. |
1928 | Attractive Ray (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton) A beam of radiation that pulls. |
1928 | Space-Lanes (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton) Well-traveled routes through outer space. |
1928 | Heat Transmitter (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton) Device which captures solar energy close to the source and then beams it in concentrated form to outer planets. |
1928 | Telechart (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton) An interactive metal plate upon which were displayed celestial objects for interstellar navigation. |
1928 | Pain Ray (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton) Creates pain by nerve induction. |
1928 | Meteorometer (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton) A device that warned space ships in flight about oncoming meteors. |
1928 | Gravity-Screen (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton) A device that shields an object from the effects of gravity. |
1928 | Videophone (from The Golden Girl of Munan by Harl Vincent) A person-to-person communication device offering sight as well as sound. |
1928 | Private Space Cruiser (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton) A fully space-worthy ship under private ownership. |
1928 | Vibration-Propelled Cruiser (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton) A spacecraft with a propulsion system relying on waves in spacetime itself. |
1928 | Needle Pipe (from Beyond the Stars by Ray Cummings) A device that could project slivers of metal at near light speed. |
1928 | Psychophonic Nurse (from The Psychophonic Nurse by David H. Keller) A child-care robot - a nanny bot. |
1928 | Space Buoy (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton) A marker in space. |
1928 | Steering a Star (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton) Steering a star, altering its path, taking it to a new location. |
1928 | Death-Beam (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton) Ravening pale beams of light used in space battles. |
1928 | Meteor-Sweeps (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton) Maneuver to chase down and destroy meteor showers that threaten celestial navigation. |
1928 | Hall of the Council (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton) An enormous council chamber, fit for a galaxy. |
1928 | Electric Diaper (from The Psychophonic Nurse by David H. Keller) A diaper that will indicate when it is wet. |
1928 | Grantline Comptometer (from Beyond the Stars by Ray Cummings) Key-driven computer/calculator that easily solves even calculus problems. |
1928 | Telestereo (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton) A disk, upon which the projected image of the distant sender appears. |
1928 | Floater (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan) A device that allows the user to literally float in the air |
1928 | Ultron Wire (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan) Invisible metal makes the thinnest, strongest wire. |
1928 | Ultrophone (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan) A means of communication that transmits and receives simultaneously. |
1928 | Flying Harness (from Skylark of Space by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) Device allows free movement in the air. |
1928 | Hyper-space (from The Invisible Bubble by Kirk Meadowcroft) A realm or parallel universe in which it is possible to travel much faster than light. |
1928 | Inertron (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan) Material with all the properties of heavier metals, but lighter. |
1928 | Anti-Gravity Belt (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan) A device which, when worn, reduces exposure to the effects of gravitation. |
1928 | Repellor Anti-Gravity Rays (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan) Device provides support for planet-side air travel. |
1928 | Viewplate (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan) A flat panel viewing display. |
1928 | Airlock (from Skylark of Space by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) An intermediate chamber between airless space and the interior of a space craft. |
1928 | Concentro (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan) Concentrated synthetic food rations. |
1928 | Disintegrator Ray (Dis Ray) (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan) A device that projects a beam reducing matter to nothingness. |
1928 | Psycho-Phone (from A Biological Experiment by David H. Keller) A device that recorded and played back the thoughts of the user. |
1928 | Pressure-Suit (from Skylark of Space by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A pressurized suit for use in the airless void of space. |
1928 | Rocket Gun (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan) In essence, a bazooka. |
1928 | Auto-Car (from The Revolt of the Pedestrians by David H. Keller) A personal vehicle for indoor and outdoor use. |
1928 | Jumper (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan) Inertron belt results in effective weightlessness. |
1928 | Synthetic Babies (from A Biological Experiment by David H. Keller) A means of gestating eggs to term is found. |
1928 | Chest Disc (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan) A voice activated wireless transmitter. |
1928 | Ultraphone Ear-Disc (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan) Wireless receivers that fit directly over the ears; they also offered noise reduction. |
1928 | De-atomizing Ray (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton) Beam of energy causes matter to fly apart. |
1928 | Ultron (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan) Very handy material is invisible and non-reflective. |
1928 | Metal Worms (from Vandals from the Moon by - Marius) Huge wriggling metal war engines. |
1928 | Spacecraft Landing Wings (from Vandals from the Moon by - Marius) A means of cutting speed from orbit, then landing. |
1928 | Decay Ray (from Vandals from the Moon by - Marius) A mysterious ray that seems to hasten Time for whatever it illuminates. |
1928 | Stilt-Legged Chairs (Walking Chairs) (from Vandals from the Moon by - Marius) An alien conveyance. |
1928 | Aeroplane Baseball (from The Educated Pill by Bob Olsen) A standard-sized baseball making possible non-standard pitches. |
1928 | Mother World (from The Moon of Doom by Earl L. Bell) One's home planet, or the origin world of one's species. |
1928 | Universal Sterilization Law (from A Biological Experiment by David H. Keller) All young people were sterilized, and replacement people were generated artificially. |
1928 | Atomic Percolator (from The Golden Girl of Munan by Harl Vincent) Make coffee with radiation. |
1928 | Harvest Power From Stray Energy (from The Golden Girl of Munan by Harl Vincent) A means of collecting enough energy from stray electronic impulses to power a device. |
1928 | Atoplane (from The Moon of Doom by Earl L. Bell) An airplane powered by nuclear energy, capable of tremendous speed and distance. |
1928 | Neutralizing Wall (from The Golden Girl of Munan by Harl Vincent) A barrier that stops electrical and mechanical vibrations, rendering the protected area effectively invisible. |
1928 | Negative Acceleration (from Skylark of Space by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) Turning a torchship through a half-circle, thereby applying force in the direction of motion, slowing the ship down. |
1929 | Vibration Machine (from The Comet Doom by Edmond Hamilton) A device that neutralized the gravitational force of the sun on the earth. |
1929 | Spacesuit Testing (from The Shot Into Infinity by Otto Willi Gail) A device and method for testing spacesuits. |
1929 | Pneumatic Suit (from The Shot Into Infinity by Otto Willi Gail) An airtight spacesuit. |
1929 | Human Blood Chlorophyll (from The Murgatroyd Experiment by S.P. Meek) Replacement of elements of human blood with chlorophyll. |
1929 | Electric Kitchen (from The Shot Into Infinity by Otto Willi Gail) Food preparation in space requires safe equipment. |
1929 | Flying Platform (from Locked Worlds by Edmond Hamilton) Simple black squares that fly and hover. |
1929 | Brain Placed In Metal Body (from The Comet Doom by Edmond Hamilton) A robotic body with a support system for a connected organic brain. |
1929 | Televisor (from The Phantom Teleview by Bob Olsen) A viewing screen. |
1929 | Harbenite (from Tarzan at the Eath's Core by Edgar Rice Burroughs) Ultralight metal. |
1929 | O-220 (from Tarzan at the Eath's Core by Edgar Rice Burroughs) Ultralight zeppelin |
1929 | Ships Propelled By Light Pressure (from The Comet Doom by Edmond Hamilton) Space ships that use light pressure from a distant source for propulsion |
1929 | Life Chamber (from The Chamber of Life by G. Peyton Wertenbaker) A machine-mediated, fully immersive experiential environment. |
1929 | Magnetic Shoes (from The Silent Destroyer by Henri Dahl Juve) Footgear magnetized for working on steel hulls. |
1929 | Space Travel (from A Baby on Neptune by Clare Winger Harris (w/MJ Breuer)) Human movement through outer space. |
1929 | Local Time Clock (from The Silent Destroyer by Henri Dahl Juve) A clock for use in airships that always indicates the time for the place they are flying over. |
1929 | Anti-Fatigue Pill (from The Silent Destroyer by Henri Dahl Juve) A pill that counteracts the effects of fatigue and lack of sleep. |
1929 | Instant Photography (from The Silent Destroyer by Henri Dahl Juve) A photograph that develops immediately inside the camera. |
1929 | Sol (from Out of Void by L.F. Stone) Familiar name for our own sun. |
1929 | Indirect Cold Light (from The Silent Destroyer by Henri Dahl Juve) Apparently source-less lighting, highly efficient, with no waste heat. |
1929 | Rescue Nets (from Flight of the Eastern Star by Ed Earl Repp) Nets raised around the circumference of a vast air transport. |
1929 | Diagnostic Type Sense Transmitter (from The Sky Maniac by Henri Dahl Juve) Allows the doctor to directly feel the same sensations that the patient feels. |
1929 | Position Locator Display (from Flight of the Eastern Star by Ed Earl Repp) Screen shows the position of hundreds of aircraft; |
1929 | Electro-Culturer (from The Ancient Brain by A.G. Stangland) A device used to artificially stimulate cell growth and development. |
1929 | Chemical Brain (from The Chemical Brain by Francis Flagg) A purely chemical artificial intelligence. |
1929 | Robot Control Board (from The Robot Master by O.L. Beckwith) Control panel with small screens showing the point of view of different robots. |
1929 | Force-Ray (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins)) A large, hand-held spear of force. |
1929 | Atmospheric Pressure Control Plane (from Around the World in 24 Hours by R.H. Romans) A vessel that flies by creating pockets of high and low pressure. |
1929 | Metalloglass (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins)) A transparent "glass" made of metal. |
1929 | Hypnotelevisor (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins)) A device that displays memories directly on a helmet screen. |
1929 | Aerocab (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins)) A floating taxicab. |
1929 | Hyperstereoscope (from The Book of Worlds by Miles J. Breuer) A book of three-dimensional pages. |
1929 | Ship Pushes Moon (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins)) Altering the course of a small moon by pushing on it with a rocket motor. |
1929 | Predictograph (from Futility by S.P. Meek) Capable combining and projecting hundreds of complex curves into the future. |
1929 | Spinner Ship (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins)) Pinwheel rockets created centrifugal forces like gravity. |
1929 | Mechanical Hand (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins)) A large robotic hand or claw, large enough to grasp a person. |
1929 | Gyrocosmically Stabilized Interplanetary Rocket (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins)) A mouthful, perfect for trips to the larger asteroids. |
1929 | Suitcase Airplane (from Suitcase Airplanes by E.D. Skinner) A diminutive, collapsible, two-passenger biplane. |
1929 | Reflectocosmic Spectrometer (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins)) A device that detects and measures cosmic rays that reflect from different metals. |
1929 | Atomic Shell (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins)) A nuclear munition, fired from a cannon. |
1929 | Ships With Legs (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins)) Space ships with mechanical limbs for walking the Earth. |
1929 | Transparent Aluminum (from The Space Hermit by E. Edsel Newton) Invisible light steel. |
1929 | Rocket Pistol (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins)) Using pistol rounds to maneuver in space. |
1929 | Ship's Artificial Gravity (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins)) A very early mention of the term. |
1929 | Teleview (from The Phantom Teleview by Bob Olsen) A device for seeing at a distance. |
1929 | Remote Telepresence Robot (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins)) A very early depiction of this basic idea. |
1929 | Personal Metallic Record Disc (from The Ancient Brain by A.G. Stangland) A stamped metal record that contains all of a person's data in a convenient form. |
1929 | Aircycle (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins)) Motorcycle for the air with gravimetric coils instead of wheels. |
1929 | Space Sailing (from The World, The Flesh And The Devil by J.D. Bernal) Using the solar wind to propel a space vessel. |
1929 | Disrupter Ray (Molecule Disrupter) (from The Silent Destroyer by Henri Dahl Juve) Atoms of materials no longer adhere to each other. |
1929 | Pay Per View TV (from The Threat of the Robot by David H. Keller) The broadcast of games and matches to private televisions for a fee. |
1929 | Air-Freighter Cargo Plane (from The Invisible Raiders by Ed Earl Repp) An enormous airplane used for transporting cargo across the country. |
1929 | Space Craft (from Night-Thing by Wilford Allen) A ship that travels through the airless void of space. |
1929 | Rocket Engine Moves Moon (from The Space Dwellers by Raymond Z. Gallun) Using the propulsive mechanism of a space ship to move a small moon or asteroid. |
1929 | Television Sheet (from The Threat of the Robot by David H. Keller) A large, flat screen television set. |
1929 | Governing Keyboard (from The Threat of the Robot by David H. Keller) A remote-controlled robot responds to keyboard commands. |
1929 | Pocket Gravity Nullifier (from The Sky Maniac by Henri Dahl Juve) Personal device stops gravity's effect. |
1929 | Air Tunnel (from Through the Air Tunnel by Harl Vincent) A means of sending trains through the air. |
1929 | Overmind (from The Chemical Brain by Francis Flagg) A consciousness that supersedes the minds of many individuals. |
1929 | Gravity Nullifier (from The Sky Maniac by Henri Dahl Juve) Shields a large object from the effect of gravity. |
1929 | Shovel-Handed Digging Machines (from The Onslaught From Venus by Frank Phillips) Huge multi-legged machines used to dig and manipulate earth. |
1929 | Inurbanity (Inurbane) (from The Cubic City by Louis Tucker, D.D.) Criminal penalties for persons who are unable to behave properly in crowded cubic cities. |
1929 | Moon Weaponized (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins)) A military application of moons, planetoids and asteroids; dropping them from space. |
1929 | Mechanical Men (from The Ancient Brain by A.G. Stangland) Remote controlled robots used to perform dangerous work. |
1929 | Cubic City (from The Cubic City by Louis Tucker, D.D.) A city contained in a single, immense building. |
1929 | Massive Open Learning (from The Threat of the Robot by David H. Keller) Teach using standard videos prepared by the best teachers. |
1929 | Sunparlor (from The Cubic City by Louis Tucker, D.D.) A vast esplanade enclosed in glass, to permit sunbathing without leaving an immense building. |
1929 | Fan Ray (from The Onslaught From Venus by Frank Phillips) A protective ray screen in the shape of a cone. |
1929 | Helium Tubes (from The Cubic City by Louis Tucker, D.D.) Lighting that exactly mimics the frequencies of sunlight. |
1929 | Boring Heat Machine (from The Onslaught From Venus by Frank Phillips) Takes tunnel boring material and turns it into building material. |
1929 | Ray-Pistol (from The War of the Planets by Harl Vincent) An early version of the raygun. |
1929 | Robots Take Human Jobs (from The Threat of the Robot by David H. Keller) Robots displace human beings in the workforce. |
1930 | Shield (from Skylark Three by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) Early name for a defensive force field. |
1930 | Planets Made Habitable (from Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon) A plan to "terraform" a planet to improve its habitability by human beings. |
1930 | Lunar Mining (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings) Very early (first?) reference to mining operations on the moon. |
1930 | Glassite (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings) A transparent material of great strength. |
1930 | Iron Fingers (from The Death's Head Meteor by Neil R. Jones) Special metal manipulators set on the hull of a space craft, and manipulated from the inside. |
1930 | Spaceport (from The Birth of a New Republic by M. Breuer (w/J. Williamson)) A location on the surface of a planet used for launching vehicles into space. |
1930 | Moon Walk (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings) Very early realistic depiction of walking on the moon in low gravity. |
1930 | Automatic Car (Autonomous) (from Paradise and Iron by Miles J. Breuer) A car that drives itself; an autonomous vehicle. |
1930 | Pencil Heat Ray (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings) An offensive, man-portable heat ray. |
1930 | Artificial Transparent Element (from Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon) A substance as strong as metal that you can see through. |
1930 | Paralyzing Ray (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings) Stops body motions. |
1930 | Space Lock (from The Black Star Passes by John W. Campbell) An airlock on a spacecraft. |
1930 | Neutronium (from Skylark Three by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) Extremely dense material. |
1930 | Helicops (from The Black Star Passes by John W. Campbell) Small, private flyers for business commuting. |
1930 | Visiphone (from The Message From Space by David M. Speaker) Visual as well as audio communication. |
1930 | Artificial Gravity System (from Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon) Producing a gravity field without a large nearby mass. |
1930 | Artificial Gravity (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings) Procuring gravitational forces without a suitably large mass. |
1930 | Lux (from The Black Star Passes by John W. Campbell) A bar of solidified light. |
1930 | Robot Waiter (from Flamingo: A Drama of A.D. 1950 by Clarence Edward Heller) Robotic restaurant servitor. |
1930 | Low-scale Detectors (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings) Magnifies even the smallest sound. |
1930 | Matched-Frequency Separable Units (from Skylark Three by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) Devices that can draw power wirelessly from a matched source. |
1930 | Ray Gun (Handheld) (from The Black Star Passes by John W. Campbell) A weapon shaped like a handgun that shoots rays of energy. |
1930 | Tight-Beam (from Skylark Three by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A method of communication that uses a very narrowly-focused stream of energy. |
1930 | Mother Ship (from The Black Star Passes by John W. Campbell) A large spacecraft that serves as home base for other (usually smaller) ships. |
1930 | Solar-Powered Aircraft (from The Black Star Passes by John W. Campbell) A plane powered entirely by solar energy. |
1930 | Gravity Assist (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings) Using the gravity and orbital speed of a celestial body to change speed and course of a spacecraft. |
1930 | Anti-Glare Coated Glass (from The Death's Head Meteor by Neil R. Jones) Special coated glass for space craft. |
1930 | Asteroid Space Flyer (from The Death's Head Meteor by Neil R. Jones) Specialized one-man craft for exploring asteroids. |
1930 | The Cosmic Express (from The Cosmic Express by Jack Williamson) A means of transmitting matter wirelessly. |
1930 | Spherical Tires (from The Death's Head Meteor by Neil R. Jones) Tires that are shaped like balls, rather than like squat cylinders. |
1930 | Eavesdropping Ray (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings) A device that allows others to hear from outside ordinary locked rooms. |
1930 | Astronaut (from The Death's Head Meteor by Neil R. Jones) A person who travels in space. |
1930 | Gyroscope Seats (from The Black Star Passes by John W. Campbell) Your best bet for remaining at the right angle to the force of acceleration. |
1930 | Automatic Cultivators (from Piracy Preferred by John W. Campbell) Agricultural robots. |
1930 | Dome Shelter (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings) A permanent domed structure for living on the Moon. |
1930 | Vacuum Armor (from Skylark Three by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) An armor-plated space suit. |
1930 | Invisible Cloak (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings) A cloak that renders the wearer invisible. |
1930 | Death Projector (from The Stolen Mind by M.L. Staley) Wide angle Ray of death! |
1930 | Visiplate (from Skylark Three by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A flat screen for viewing remote images. |
1930 | Magnalloy (from The Cave of Horror by S.P. Meek) A durable form of magnesium. |
1930 | Electrical Brain (from Paradise and Iron by Miles J. Breuer) A mechanism that grants memory an intelligence to machines. |
1930 | Vision-Based Autonomous Cars (from Paradise and Iron by Miles J. Breuer) A vehicle that uses a visual sensor to gather information sufficient to safely drive. |
1930 | Artificial Skin (from Between Earth and Moon by Otfrid von Hanstein) Tight-fitting material that keeps the heat of the body from escaping into space. |
1930 | Leading Machine (from Paradise and Iron by Miles J. Breuer) An exploratory device; it takes the form of an autonomous motorcycle. |
1930 | Supervision Robot (Squid) (from Paradise and Iron by Miles J. Breuer) A wheeled device with tentacular grasping limbs. |
1930 | Robot Doctor (from Flamingo: A Drama of A.D. 1950 by Clarence Edward Heller) A mechanical physician. |
1930 | House Cleaning Device (from Paradise and Iron by Miles J. Breuer) A robotic means of thorough home cleaning. |
1930 | Altitude Suit (from The Black Star Passes by John W. Campbell) Special gear for venturing out at high altitude or even space. |
1930 | Ray Pistol (from The Black Star Passes by John W. Campbell) A handheld device for projecting radiative force of some kind. |
1930 | The Sleep (from Tani of Ekkis by Judson W. Reeves) Use of a special technique to lessen the supplies required for long space voyages. |
1930 | Exodus Ship (from Tani of Ekkis by Judson W. Reeves) A generation ship to save a culture from extinction. |
1930 | Air-Shoes (from An Adventure in Time by Francis Flagg) Footgear provides the wearer with the ability to "walk" through the air, climbing as needed. |
1930 | Rocket Side Tubes (from Evans of the Earth-Guard by Edmond Hamilton) An early description of attitude jets, course correction by small emissions of gas. |
1930 | Electric Plane (from Synthetic by Charles Cloukey) An airplane powered entirely by electricity. |
1930 | Rubber Soled Feet (from The Robot Terror by Melbourne Huff) Silent padding for clanky robots. |
1930 | Puff-Pipe (from Flamingo: A Drama of A.D. 1950 by Clarence Edward Heller) Pipe with lighting built in. |
1930 | Indoor Stadium (from Flamingo: A Drama of A.D. 1950 by Clarence Edward Heller) An entirely enclosed baseball stadium. |
1930 | Theater Seat Indicators (from Flamingo: A Drama of A.D. 1950 by Clarence Edward Heller) Vacant seats are clearly shown. |
1930 | Spectrumoscope (from Flamingo: A Drama of A.D. 1950 by Clarence Edward Heller) Provides sight directly to the brain-cells of the sightless. |
1930 | Bird-Like Robots (from Flamingo: A Drama of A.D. 1950 by Clarence Edward Heller) Robotic birds used in a stage play. |
1930 | Synthetic Life (from Synthetic by Charles Cloukey) Living animals made from scratch using inorganic elements. |
1930 | Shock-Absorbing Seats (from Evans of the Earth-Guard by Edmond Hamilton) Perfect for the many gravities of acceleration upon take-off. |
1930 | Autonomous Ship (from Paradise and Iron by Miles J. Breuer) A sea-going vessel that can leave port, traverse vast distances, and then dock, entirely without human assistance. |
1930 | Radio-Controlled Mechanical Man (from The Robot Terror by Melbourne Huff) A remote-controlled robot. |
1930 | Sound-Killing Air Fluid (from The Noise Killer by A.M. McNeill) A means to eliminate all of the noise made by machines in a city, leaving the voices of human beings. |
1930 | Artificial Eyes (from Synthetic by Charles Cloukey) Eyes that are the duplicate of what humans are born with, produced entirely artificially from elements. |
1930 | Trans-Oceanic Rocket Ship (from Berlin to New York in One Hour by Max Valier) Rocket-propelled airplanes making short work of long trips on Earth. |
1930 | Space-Walker (from The Universe Wreckers by Edmond Hamilton) Tall cylinder with a window at eye-level, and pincer-claws controlled by the wearer. |
1930 | Space Pirate (from Evans of the Earth-Guard by Edmond Hamilton) Space ships taken against their will. |
1930 | Brain Rejuvenation (from The Message From Space by David M. Speaker) Erase unnecessary parts of memory to make room for new impressions. |
1930 | Planet City (from The Message From Space by David M. Speaker) A planet the surface of which is entirely covered over, forming one single city. |
1930 | One-Man Rocket (from Evans of the Earth-Guard by Edmond Hamilton) A small rocket ship with only a pilot. |
1930 | Face-Plate (from Skylark Three by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) The transparent front of a space suit helmet. |
1930 | No Steering Wheel Autonomous Car (from Paradise and Iron by Miles J. Breuer) An autonomous vehicle without a wheel for human drivers. |
1930 | Oxygen Space Flare (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings) A flare that burns inside a glass bulb with oxygen. |
1930 | Asteroid From Outside Solar System (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings) An asteroid or similar body that comes from outside the solar system; an interstellar body. |
1930 | Space Fleet (from Through the Meteors by L.H. Morrow) A group of mighty ships capable of space travel - and fighting. |
1930 | Artificial Island For Ocean Rocket Launch (from Between Earth and Moon by Otfrid von Hanstein) An entirely artificial, floating island used as a launch platform. |
1930 | Life Tubes (from Liners of Space by Jim Vanny) Escape pods for space ships. |
1930 | Interplanetary-Liner (from Liners of Space by Jim Vanny) A vast passenger ship in space. |
1930 | Warp of Space (from In 20000 A.D.! by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A fault or pucker in spacetime. |
1930 | Group Mind (from Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon) A shared consciousness between a number of individuals. |
1930 | Ring-Table (from The Universe Wreckers by Edmond Hamilton) A device that creates a 'group mind', a single mind, from the many gathered around it. |
1930 | Tabletop Display (from An Adventure in Time by Francis Flagg) A display monitor built into a flat, horizontal table surface. |
1930 | Engineless Automobile Hover (from An Adventure in Time by Francis Flagg) No engine, no steering wheel, yet it runs. |
1931 | Astrogator (from The Conquest of Space by David Lasser) A person who acts as navigator for s space ship. |
1931 | Dimensoscope (from The Fifth-Dimension Catapult by Murray Leinster) A telescope for peering into other dimensions. |
1931 | Robot Revolt (from The Exile of Time by Ray Cummings) Robots to throw off the yoke of Man? |
1931 | Photoelectric Course Warning (from Out Around Rigel by Robert H. Wilson) A means of keeping a spaceship on course using a selected star and a photoelectric cell. |
1931 | Space Suit (from The Emperor of the Stars by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Special protective gear worn as protection in space. |
1931 | Paralyzing Blast (from The Exile of Time by Ray Cummings) A red Ray of light that freezes those it falls upon. |
1931 | Helio-Beryllium (from Out Around Rigel by Robert H. Wilson) Unusual alloy combines a metal and a gas. |
1931 | Transparent Spherical Ship (from The Emperor of the Stars by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A huge sphere of quartz housing a platform for space use. |
1931 | Emergency Corrective Rockets (from The Emperor of the Stars by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Used when you seem to be off-course in your spaceship. |
1931 | Annihilator Beam (from The Conquest of Gola by L.F. Stone) A deadly ray that literally dissolved matter! |
1931 | Deviatoscope (from The Emperor of the Stars by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A device that registered how much your course diverged from what you intended. |
1931 | Sargasso of Space (from The Sargasso of Space by Edmond Hamilton) A "dead area" in which the gravitational fields of the planets are cancelled out. |
1931 | Gravograph (from The Sargasso of Space by Edmond Hamilton) A graphical representation of gravitational fields. |
1931 | Wreck-Pack (from The Sargasso of Space by Edmond Hamilton) An agglomeration of wrecked spacecraft drawn together by mutual gravitational attraction in the 'dead area' of the solar system. |
1931 | Suit-Phone (from The Sargasso of Space by Edmond Hamilton) A means of wireless communication between individuals dressed in space suits. |
1931 | Meteorite Deflector (from On Board the Martian Liner by Miles J. Breuer) A means of pushing aside asteroids that get in the path of your space ship. |
1931 | Faster-Than-Light (from Islands of Space by John W. Campbell) Describes something that exceeds the usual speed limit on physical objects of 186,282 miles per second in vacuum. |
1931 | Thought Screen (from The Emperor of the Stars by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A material screen that is worn by the user, upon which are projected the mental images of the user. |
1931 | Ultra-Light Vision System (from Spacehounds of IPC by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A viewing technology able to see through and even within most objects. |
1931 | Gravito-Statoscope (from The Emperor of the Stars by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) An instrument used to detect the gravitational influences on a space ship. |
1931 | Space-Liner (from Twelve Hours To Live by Jack Williamson) A passenger ship in space. |
1931 | Reaction-Motors (from Twelve Hours To Live by Jack Williamson) A spacecraft engine that works by firing matter out at high speed. |
1931 | Matter Annihilation Ray (from Twelve Hours To Live by Jack Williamson) A beam that forces electrons into protons, thereby destroying ordinary matter. |
1931 | Protonite (from Twelve Hours To Live by Jack Williamson) Radioactive fuel for spacecraft. |
1931 | Thigh Grips (from The Power Planet by Murray Leinster) Special chair feature for space ships undergoing accelerations. |
1931 | Magnetic Clamps (from Twelve Hours To Live by Jack Williamson) Used for attaching your craft to a larger spaceship. |
1931 | Neutronic Dust (from Twelve Hours To Live by Jack Williamson) What's left over when you've annihilated matter. |
1931 | Space-Helmet (from The Sargasso of Space by Edmond Hamilton) A 'fishbowl-style' head covering for space explorers. |
1931 | Spaceyacht (from The Sargasso of Space by Edmond Hamilton) Interplanetary spacecraft for the well-to-do. |
1931 | Spacegram (from An Adventure on Eros by J. Harvey Haggard) Telegrams of the space lanes. |
1931 | Skycar (from Prima Donna 1980 by Bernard Brown) A personal means of transportation that flies. |
1931 | Time-Telespectroscope. (from The Exile of Time by Ray Cummings) See other time-travelers. |
1931 | Propulsion Gun (from Venus Mines, Incorporated by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) What can you push against in space? |
1931 | Ownership of Machines (from The Revolt of the Machines by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Who will own the machines that produce material abundance? |
1931 | Dressing Machines (from The Revolt of the Machines by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Semi-autonomous guided devices that could dress a person in ordinary clothing. |
1931 | Power Planet (from The Power Planet by Murray Leinster) A satellite that supplies the Earth with power. |
1931 | Disruptor Tube (Disruptor Ray) (from The Emperor of the Stars by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A device that interrupted the very bonds between atoms. |
1931 | Gate (from The Gate to Xoran by Hal K. Wells) A opening through spacetime to other worlds. |
1931 | Lifeboat (from Spacehounds of IPC by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A small space-worthy craft that can be jettisoned from a larger ship, to save its crew. |
1931 | Death Bath (from The Revolt of the Machines by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A suicide chamber. |
1931 | Thought Coil (Machine Intelligence) (from The Revolt of the Machines by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Specially designed hardware that imparts intelligence to machines. |
1931 | Evolution Machine (from The Man Who Evolved by Edmond Hamilton) A device that accelerates the process of evolution by millions of times. |
1931 | Space Men (from The Exiles of Venus by Jim Vanny) Beings who travel and work in space. |
1931 | Master Machine (from The Revolt of the Machines by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) One single machine to run a civilization! |
1931 | Atmosphere Tester (from The Emperor of the Stars by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A device used to test the composition of a sample of the atmosphere on another planet, to see if it is breathable by humans. |
1931 | Curtain (Force Barrier) (from Venus Mines, Incorporated by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) An easily set-up protective force barrier. |
1931 | Zero-Ray (from An Adventure in Futurity by Clark Ashton Smith) Inflicts a fatal frostbite on living tissue. |
1931 | Artificial Atmosphere Machine (from Venus Mines, Incorporated by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Not just oxygen, this gives you what you need in space. |
1931 | Gravity Belt (from Venus Mines, Incorporated by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Adds 'weight' for walking on asteroids. |
1931 | Disintegrator Plate Ray (from The Revolt of the Machines by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Ray cuts through metal like butter. |
1931 | Jovium (from Venus Mines, Incorporated by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Rocket fuel catalyst that makes space travel commercially practical. |
1931 | Argento-Platinoid Dispatch Box (from Venus Mines, Incorporated by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Impenetrable message carriers. |
1931 | Needle Gun (from In the Spacesphere by Charles Cloukey) A weapon that fires thin slivers of metal. |
1931 | Matter Transmitter (from The Conquest of Gola by L.F. Stone) Device which causes a physical object to disappear from one place and reappear in another. |
1931 | Attractor (from The Conquest of Gola by L.F. Stone) A beam capable of holding objects motionless, as well as adjusting their position. |
1931 | Object-Finder Beam (from The Conquest of Gola by L.F. Stone) A unique device that projected a beam that found what you wanted. |
1931 | Mechanical Thought Transformers (from The Conquest of Gola by L.F. Stone) Machinery to expedite the process of thought transfer. |
1931 | Gravity Detector (from The Lunar Chrysalis by Raymond Z. Gallun) A device capable of detecting the gravitational field of a distant mass. |
1931 | Energy Curtain Key (from Venus Mines, Incorporated by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A small handheld "key" to shut off a force field. |
1931 | Pneumatic Tube Station (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Passengers are sealed into a narrow cylinder that is shot through a pressurized tube to their destination. |
1931 | Zeta-Ray (from The Death Cloud by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Makes and maintains vast holes - even in ocean water! |
1931 | Positive Ray Propulsion (Ion Drive) (from The Prince of Space by Jack Williamson) An ion drive. |
1931 | Rocket Liner (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A rocket designed for point-to-point Earth journeys; it goes well into the stratosphere. |
1931 | City of Space (from The Prince of Space by Jack Williamson) A very early reference to an enormous cylindrical space station. |
1931 | Sodaluminum (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Lightweight and tough! |
1931 | Radio Meteor Detector (from Islands of Space by John W. Campbell) A device carried by space ships that could detect meteors in space early enough to avoid them. |
1931 | Sunship (from The Prince of Space by Jack Williamson) A space craft powered entirely by the sun. |
1931 | Virtual Assembly (from If The Sun Died by R.F. Starzl) Use of holograms to accomplish an assembly of people. |
1931 | Free Fall (from Islands of Space by John W. Campbell) Phrase describing how bodies move in orbit. |
1931 | Pentavalent Nitrogen (from Spacehounds of IPC by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A high explosive formed from nitrogen. |
1931 | Normal Space (from Islands of Space by John W. Campbell) As opposed to hyperspace. |
1931 | Teleradio Control (Hand Flash) (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A device that can call a vehicle to a driver; it drives itself in a near-autonomous fashion to the caller. |
1931 | Televisiophone (from Islands of Space by John W. Campbell) A device that combines picture with sound for personal communication. |
1931 | Moon Run (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) An accurate representation of running on the moon. |
1931 | Conveyor Ribbon (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A moving sidewalk. |
1931 | Food Factory (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Mechanized production of food by entirely artificial means. |
1931 | Communication Disk (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A wearable device that told the time as updated from a central source. |
1931 | Stationary Sidewalk (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A sidewalk that is fixed permanently in one location; not a sliding walkway. |
1931 | Robot Vending Machine (from The Prince of Space by Jack Williamson) Machinery displaces news boys selling papers on street corners. |
1931 | Tele-Audiovized Meeting (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Teleconferencing done right. |
1931 | Selective Electric Eye (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A facial recognition device. |
1931 | Alpha Insert (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A special compound used to seal punctures in space craft. |
1931 | Integral Calculator (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A device that accepts complex equations and solves them. |
1931 | Recoil Pistol (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A handheld device that permits a spaceman to manuever in zero gravity. |
1931 | Groundling (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A person who does not fly, especially into space. |
1931 | Self-Sustaining Space Craft (from The Prince of Space by Jack Williamson) A spacecraft ecosystem. |
1931 | Lens-Tube (from The Doom From Planet 4 by Jack Williamson) A kind of seeing device like a short-range telescope. |
1931 | Motor Torpedo (from The Prince of Space by Jack Williamson) A terrestrial torpedo, driven by ion beams. |
1931 | Satellite Photography for Surveillance (from The Prince of Space by Jack Williamson) Use of pictures taken from near Earth orbit for reconnaissance in a military operation. |
1931 | Metal Monster with Jointed Limbs (from The Doom From Planet 4 by Jack Williamson) A large robotic device with legs. |
1931 | Control Disk (from The Slave Ship From Space by A.R. Holmes) |
1931 | Ultra-Telescope Ray (from The Moon Weed by Harl Vincent) A transporter Ray that works over interplanetary distances. |
1931 | Photograph of Earth from Space (from The Prince of Space by Jack Williamson) An aerial photograph from outside the atmosphere. |
1931 | Telucid (from If The Sun Died by R.F. Starzl) A holographic projector. |
1931 | Thought-receptor Vote-counting Machine (from If The Sun Died by R.F. Starzl) That's one way to do a plebiscite. |
1931 | Vitalium (from The Prince of Space by Jack Williamson) A rare radioactive metal which enables solar power cells. |
1931 | Vita-Light (from If The Sun Died by R.F. Starzl) A special form of bulb or light source that could keep people who were never exposed to the sun perfectly healthy. |
1931 | Space Liner (from On Board the Martian Liner by Miles J. Breuer) A large, passenger-carrying space ship. |
1931 | Pressor (Pressor Beam) (from Spacehounds of IPC by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A force-field beam that pushes, rather than pulls. |
1931 | Centipede-Machine (from Monsters of Mars by Edmond Hamilton) Multi-legged transport. |
1931 | Beam-Powered Propulsion (from The Prince of Space by Jack Williamson) Using a powerful energy source as motive power for a projectile. |
1931 | Force-Field (from Islands of Space by John W. Campbell) A barrier to objects, created by projected forces. |
1931 | Tractor Beam (from Spacehounds of IPC by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A force field used to pull objects. |
1931 | Sensitive Robot Fingers (from The Exile of Time by Ray Cummings) Special sensory capabilities of robotic appendages. |
1931 | Flame Pistol (from Invisible Ships by Harl Vincent) A hand-held weapon that incinerates opponents. |
1931 | Kundrenaline (from The Hands of Aten by H.G. Winter) Revives even a dead man's heart. |
1931 | Synthetic Food Factories (from The Revolt of the Machines by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Food production without soil. |
1931 | Iron Inlay Plates (from A Daring Trip To Mars by Max Valier) Works perfectly with an electromagnetic table to maintain place settings. |
1931 | Perfect Voice Modulation (from Prima Donna 1980 by Bernard Brown) Artificially creating the perfect human singing voice. |
1931 | Sound Nullifier (from Prima Donna 1980 by Bernard Brown) A barrier to sound; the cancellation of sound waves. |
1931 | Braking Disks (from A Daring Trip To Mars by Max Valier) Used when the ship is falling through a planetary atmosphere. |
1931 | Space Madness (from A Daring Trip To Mars by Max Valier) The monotony of space travel could drive you crazy. |
1931 | Ship's Telescope (from A Daring Trip To Mars by Max Valier) A large telescope built into the main axis of the ship. |
1931 | Radium Repeller ray (from The Asteroid of Death by Neil R. Jones) Move inbound asteroids aside to keep ships safe. |
1931 | Filling Station Moon (from A Daring Trip To Mars by Max Valier) The idea that Man could first go to the Moon to obtain fuel or propellant. |
1931 | Gravity Neutralizers (from Pirates of Space by B.X. Barry) The force of gravity is suspended! |
1931 | Solar Power Apparatus (from A Daring Trip To Mars by Max Valier) An ingenious device to gather solar energy, melt water, power a turbine and get hydrogen and oxygen fuel from ice. |
1931 | Asteroid Belt (from The Disc-Men of Jupiter by Manly Wade Wellman) The circular region of space containing many small celestial bodies. |
1931 | Heliocar (from The Prince of Space by Jack Williamson) Ground vehicle that can also lift off like a helicopter. |
1931 | Self-Sustaining Nuclear Reaction (from Atomic Fire by Raymond Z. Gallun) An 'atomic fire' is started that consumes all matter in reach! |
1931 | Rocket Float (from Too Many Boards! by Harl Vincent) A sea-going floating platform for rocket launches. |
1931 | Landing Stage (from Atomic Fire by Raymond Z. Gallun) Parking spot for space craft. |
1931 | Telepadion Instructor (from An Adventure on Eros by J. Harvey Haggard) A device that places an entire sensory experience directly into the brain. |
1931 | Space-Tent (from The Lunar Chrysalis by Raymond Z. Gallun) A small, portable air-tight structure used on the lunar surface. |
1931 | Terminator Zone (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) The area between solar illumination and shade. |
1931 | Ozone Radiation Shield (from A Daring Trip To Mars by Max Valier) Filling the gap between the inner and outer hull with ozone. |
1931 | Mutation (from The Man Who Evolved by Edmond Hamilton) An organism that has come into being through genetic mutation. |
1931 | Sapience (from The Planet Entity by E.M. Johnson (w/C.A. Smith)) The ability of a species to think, to reason with discernment and wisdom. |
1931 | Ultra-Terrene (from An Adventure in Futurity by Clark Ashton Smith) Originating from some world other than Earth. |
1931 | Terrene (from An Adventure in Futurity by Clark Ashton Smith) Pertaining to the Earth. |
1931 | Telephotography (from The Cosmic Cloud by Bruno H. Burgel) Sending pictures over a distance, displaying them on a vast screen. |
1931 | Message Cylinder (Message Bomb) (from The Cosmic Cloud by Bruno H. Burgel) A means of sending dispatches from space via a small projectile dropped from orbit; effectively a message rocket. |
1931 | Invasion Gate For Aliens (from Monsters of Mars by Edmond Hamilton) Using alien instructions to create a gate for alien invasion. |
1931 | Spacehound (from Spacehounds of IPC by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) An experienced spaceman. |
1931 | Space Navy (from Pirates of Space by B.X. Barry) Spacefaring professional soldiers. |
1931 | Optophone (Opto) (from Too Many Boards! by Harl Vincent) A video call system. |
1931 | Robot-Deranger (from The Exile of Time by Ray Cummings) A ray that discombobulates robots of all kinds. |
1931 | Magnetic Boots (from Atomic Fire by Raymond Z. Gallun) Special footgear holds spacemen to the metal deck in spite of the lack of gravity. |
1931 | Porter Televox-Robot (from On Board the Martian Liner by Miles J. Breuer) A robot that carries your bags through the passageways of space liners. |
1931 | Meteor Hulls Ship (from Moon People Of Jupiter by Isaac R. Nathanson) A small meteor tears all the way through a ship |
1931 | Selenium Photo-Electric Televisor (from A Daring Trip To Mars by Max Valier) A specialized photo-electric cell. |
1931 | Light Speed (from Out Around Rigel by Clyde Wilson) Using the speed of light at a unit of velocity. |
1931 | Reaction Attachment (from The Asteroid of Death by Neil R. Jones) Independent maneuvering for space suits. |
1931 | Adoption of Television (from Prima Donna 1980 by Bernard Brown) Prediction of TV penetration in homes and the death of movie houses. |
1931 | Matter Transmitter and Receiver (from Monsters of Mars by Edmond Hamilton) A device that transports matter through space. |
1931 | Time Stream (from Time Stream by John Taine) The total sequence of events considered as a kind of flow. |
1931 | Blue Beam (from The Reign of the Masters by Edmond Hamilton) A pitiless pale blue beam of death! |
1931 | Air Tank Flying (from The Power Planet by Murray Leinster) Using little blasts of compressed air to fly around inside a space station. |
1931 | Foot Loops (from The Power Planet by Murray Leinster) Hold yourself down in zero gravity situations with this low-tech device. |
1931 | Machine Masters (from The Reign of the Masters by Edmond Hamilton) Humans did less and less, and machines did more and more, until machines became the masters. |
1931 | Scanning-Disk Telescope (from The Power Planet by Murray Leinster) A telescope which uses a television-like monitor instead of an eyepiece. |
1931 | Robotic Microhands (from Microhands (Микроруки) by Boris Zhitkov) Mechanical replica of hands, that mimic the movements of actual human hands. |
1931 | Observation Room Recreation Center (from The Power Planet by Murray Leinster) A vast internal space in a space station, often used for exercise and amusement. |
1931 | Magnetic Ray (from The Exiles of Venus by Jim Vanny) A powerful magnetic beam. |
1931 | Centrifugal Force Creates 'Artificial Gravity' (from The Prince of Space by Jack Williamson) Using centrifugal force in a rotating cylinder as a substitute for gravity. |
1932 | Bokanovsky's Process (from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley) A very early description of cloning. |
1932 | Space-Boat (from Revolt of the Star Men by Raymond Z. Gallun) A small space-worthy craft for use in emergencies. |
1932 | Antigravity (from The Vanguard of Neptune by J.M. Walsh) A force opposed to gravity. |
1932 | Reaction Pistol (from Martian Guns by Stanley D. Bell) A hand-held device for maneuvering in zero gravity in a space suit. |
1932 | Space Freighter (from The Space Rover by Edwin K. Sloat) A large spacecraft used for heavy cargo; can lift off from the Earth or other planets. |
1932 | News-Dispenser (from After Armageddon by Francis Flagg) Audio news ready when you are. |
1932 | Hypnopædia (Sleep-Teaching) (from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley) The idea that a person can learn explicit subject matter while sleeping. |
1932 | Search Beams (from Slaves of Mercury by Nat Schachner) Penetrating rays that disclose the contents of rooms, ships, etc. |
1932 | Polarization Apparatus (from Slaves of Mercury by Nat Schachner) A device that caused a space ship to repel the Earth and send a space ship on its way. |
1932 | Diskoid (from Slaves of Mercury by Nat Schachner) A huge flying saucer. |
1932 | Weather Machine (from Slaves of Mercury by Nat Schachner) A device for controlling the weather. |
1932 | Space-Boots (from The Passing of Ku Sui by Anthony Gilmore) Special footgear for spacemen. |
1932 | Tele-Screen (from After Armageddon by Francis Flagg) A display screen for live events. |
1932 | Super-Photon (from Invaders From The Infinite by John W. Campbell) Three photons in one. |
1932 | Alpha Plus (from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley) Intervening in the physical development of humans can result in enhancements. |
1932 | Electro-Magnet Anchor (from The Space Rover by Edwin K. Sloat) Attach a line to a spacecraft hull. |
1932 | Torpoon (from Seed of the Arctic Ice by H.G. Winter) Clever portmanteau of "torpedo" and "harpoon", an underwater whaling craft. |
1932 | Rigid Metallic Clothing (from A Conquest of Two Worlds by Edmond Hamilton) An early exoskeleton. |
1932 | Sunward (from The Space Rover by Edwin K. Sloat) The direction leading toward the center of the solar system. |
1932 | Wandering Worlds (from When Worlds Collide by Edwin Balmer (w/P. Wylie)) Planets that are attached to no sun, and roam interstellar space. |
1932 | Isolation Barrage (from Wandl, The Invader by Ray Cummings) Device prevents eavesdropping. |
1932 | Battle Sphere (from The Space Rover by Edwin K. Sloat) An armored space ship using the simplest geometric shape. |
1932 | Pocket-Planet (from The Duel on the Asteroid by P. Schuyler Miller (w/D. McDermott)) An asteroid. |
1932 | Scent-Organ (from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley) A device that output specified odors. |
1932 | Feelies (Feely) (from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley) Device adds the tactile element to entertainment. |
1932 | Vacuum Cylinder (from Wandl, The Invader by Ray Cummings) Traveling first class, but like mail, in a tube system. |
1932 | Mirror Grid Multiple-View Surveillance Panel (from Wandl, The Invader by Ray Cummings) Very modern presentation combining multiple camera viewpoints, selectable using one monitor screen. |
1932 | Negative Gravity Field (from 50th Century Revolt by A.G. Stangland) Antigravity effect produced for space ship propulsion. |
1932 | Sun-Tube (from Slaves of Mercury by Nat Schachner) A slicing ray of death! |
1932 | Bone-Building Compounds (from A Conquest of Two Worlds by Edmond Hamilton) Combat heavy gravity on other planets by building greater bone density in workers and colonists. |
1932 | Automatics (from Wandl, The Invader by Ray Cummings) Machinery capable of running some aspect of a space ship's operation on its own. |
1932 | Conveyor (from Slaves of Mercury by Nat Schachner) A great moving belt carrying people between cities. |
1932 | Atomic Pistol (from Mutiny on Mercury by Clifford Simak) Reduces the target to atomic dust. |
1932 | Attraction Ray (from Pirates of the Gorm by Nat Schachner) In effect, a tractor beam. |
1932 | Electro-Bullet (from Pirates of the Gorm by Nat Schachner) Fired by an electro-gun. |
1932 | Smoke Jets (Air Leak Detection) (from The Great Dome of Mercury by Leo Zagat) A means of determining the location of air leaks in a building built on an airless moon. |
1932 | Electro-Gun (from Pirates of the Gorm by Nat Schachner) It shoots electro-bullets. |
1932 | Magnet Grapnel (from The Space Rover by Edwin K. Sloat) Used to pull another vessel closer when boarding in space. |
1932 | Artificial Womb (from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley) A room in which a human embryo waits for the necessary months as a fetus, preparing for birth (decanting). |
1932 | Space-Tanned (from Slaves of Mercury by Warren Hammond) The characteristic darkening of the men of the spaceways. |
1932 | Asteroid Mining (Blasting) (from Asteroid of Gold by Clifford Simak) Setting charges on an asteroid. |
1932 | Ship's Magnetic Plates (Magnetic Mooring) (from Asteroid of Gold by Clifford Simak) Keeps a mining ship attached to the surface of an asteroid. |
1932 | Quartzite Leak Foil (from The Great Dome of Mercury by Leo Zagat) Special material for space dome leaks. |
1932 | Surta (from The Great Dome of Mercury by Leo Zagat) A base material for synthetic food. |
1932 | Space-Armor (from Revolt of the Star Men by Raymond Z. Gallun) Special shielding worn against rays and explosives. |
1932 | Water Pool Cushions Acceleration (from The Derelicts of Ganymede by John W. Campbell) The use of water to cushion and protect against extreme ship accelerations. |
1932 | Meteor Warning System (from A Conquest of Two Worlds by Edmond Hamilton) A system that provided rockets in flight with early warning of meteors. |
1932 | Centrifugal Bumble-Puppy (from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley) Futuristic children's game. |
1932 | Pent House (from The Pent House by David H. Keller) An island in the sky - a hermetically sealed skyscraper isolated entirely from its surroundings. |
1932 | Space-Drive (from Invaders From The Infinite by John W. Campbell) A means of providing propulsion for a spacecraft. |
1932 | Jump (from Invaders From The Infinite by John W. Campbell) Instantaneous movement over vast distances, points many light-years apart. |
1932 | Negrian Death Ray (from Invaders From The Infinite by John W. Campbell) A ray that causes the cessation of life processes. |
1932 | Space Force (from Wandl, The Invader by Ray Cummings) That branch of the military with a presence outside the atmosphere. |
1932 | Spaceboat (from Waves of Compulsion by Raymond Z. Gallun) Runabout for outer space. |
1932 | Violet Shrink Ray (from The Pygmy Planet by Jack Williamson) A miniaturization ray. |
1932 | Self-Propulsive Space Suit (from The Bluff of the Hawk by Anthony Gilmore) A space suit outfitted with its own means of movement. |
1932 | Gravity-Plates (from The Bluff of the Hawk by Anthony Gilmore) Reliable, controllable gravity force. |
1932 | Hinged Mittens (for Space Suit) (from The Bluff of the Hawk by Anthony Gilmore) Space worthy mittens for space suits. |
1932 | Emergency Space-Suit (from Pirates of the Gorm by Nat Schachner) A compacted space-suit stored for emergency use. |
1932 | Ostler Insulation Beam (from The Radium World by Frank K. Kelly) A beam of energy stretching from one planet to another that protects space craft from radiation. |
1932 | Laboratory Planet (from The Pygmy Planet by Jack Williamson) A toy planet created in a laboratory; a fully functional world in miniature. |
1932 | Sol-Ido (from Water-Bound World by Harl Vincent) The universal language of interplanetary travelers. |
1932 | Flame Projector (from Water-Bound World by Harl Vincent) Handheld device shoots flame. |
1932 | Landing-Cradle (from The Radium World by Frank K. Kelly) A supporting structure for a space craft landing on a planetary surface. |
1932 | Luminous Stake-Markers (from The Radium World by Frank K. Kelly) Illuminated pole designating a staked claim on the surface of a planet, moon or asteroid. |
1932 | Light Beam Propulsion (Light-Ship) (from The Radium World by Frank K. Kelly) Use of brilliant light as motive power for a space ship. |
1932 | Manufactured Planet (from The Heritage of the Earth by Harley S. Aldinger) Is that a moon - or a space station? |
1932 | Spaceship Garden (from The Heritage of the Earth by Harley S. Aldinger) A fully-enclosed garden on a spaceship producing edible foodstuffs. |
1932 | Gravity Beam (from Wandl, The Invader by Ray Cummings) An conical attractive ray, it pulls ships to their doom. |
1932 | Ether-Traffic (from The Duel on the Asteroid by P. Schuyler Miller (w/D. McDermott)) The communications spectrum of the solar system. |
1932 | Daisy Projector (from The Derelicts of Ganymede by John W. Campbell) Beam of energy penetrates the Heaviside layer to enable communication from planet to planet. |
1932 | Telectroscope (from Invaders From The Infinite by John W. Campbell) A much better telescope than yours. |
1932 | Earth Normal (from The Pygmy Planet by Jack Williamson) Using the earth standard. |
1932 | Shock-Rod (from Mechanocracy by Miles J. Breuer) Knock out stick. |
1932 | Anti-Gravity Drive (from The Last Evolution by John W. Campbell) Electric force curves space. |
1932 | Automatic Truck (from Mechanocracy by Miles J. Breuer) A cargo-carrying vehicle that autonomously drives to the selected destination. |
1932 | Neo-Crystal (from Master of the Asteroid by Clark Ashton Smith) Unbreakable transparent window material. |
1932 | Pneumatic-Tube Zone (from Mechanocracy by Miles J. Breuer) The portion of a city that is served by direct tubes to each dwelling. |
1932 | Rotating Hollow Planetoid Habitat (from Electronic Siege by John W. Campbell) An asteroid (or planetoid) hollowed out, spun for artificial gravity, used as a habitat. |
1932 | Time-Space Television (from Water-Bound World by Harl Vincent) A device for seeing into the past. |
1932 | Government Machine (from Mechanocracy by Miles J. Breuer) The automata that constitute the entire government, all in one building. |
1932 | Intergalactic (from Invaders From The Infinite by John W. Campbell) Going between galaxies. |
1932 | Electric Boat (from The Great Drought by S.P. Meek) A surface vessel powered by electricity. |
1932 | Protolectric Gun (from Electronic Siege by John W. Campbell) Fires twin beams of protons and electrons. |
1932 | Emergency Space-Boat (from Revolt of the Star Men by Raymond Z. Gallun) An escape ship. |
1933 | Gateway (from Wanderer of Infinity by Harl Vincent) A device that opens a portal to another dimension. |
1933 | Drink the Fungi (from The Three Suns of Ev by Edwin K. Sloat) A method of suicide or criminal punishment involving ingestion of spores. |
1933 | Human Serial Number (from Unto Us A Child Is Born by David H. Keller) A unique number tattooed on body of a person. |
1933 | Food Preparation Machine (from Unto Us A Child Is Born by David H. Keller) An automated device for the production of complete meals. |
1933 | Crystal Cylinder Ship (from The Three Suns of Ev by Edwin K. Sloat) A transparent space ship in the shape of a cylinder. |
1933 | Synthetic Food (from Unto Us A Child Is Born by David H. Keller) Edible food for humans, grown in the laboratory. |
1933 | Granton Motor (from Into the Meteorite Orbit by Frank K. Kelly) Spacecraft propulsion system based on gravital radiation. |
1933 | Vibra-Transmitter (Teleportation) (from Into the Meteorite Orbit by Frank K. Kelly) An early use of the notion of matter transmission. |
1933 | Electric Machine Gun (Railgun) (from The Battery of Hate by John W. Campbell) A device that accelerates small projectiles magnetically using a strong electric current. |
1933 | Meteor Miner (from Salvage in Space by Jack Williamson) Someone who roams the solar system, hunting for metal in meteors. |
1933 | Anadrenalin (from A Race Through Time by Donald Wandrei) Has the opposite effect of adrenalin. |
1933 | Helix Gun (from Salvage in Space by Jack Williamson) A device for capturing ferrous meteors. |
1933 | Corporol (from A Race Through Time by Donald Wandrei) Preserves and maintains the body. |
1933 | Osprey Space Armor (from Salvage in Space by Jack Williamson) Space suit you can live in. |
1933 | Vibratium Wall Time Machine (from Ancestral Voices by Nat Schachner) An element that is unstable in time makes time travel possible and enables the Grandfather Paradox. |
1933 | Transfer Cable (from Dead Star Station by Jack Williamson) Move between two ships in space. |
1933 | Seleno-Cosmo-Tel (from A Race Through Time by Donald Wandrei) Device to automatically avoid asteroids or other bodies. |
1933 | Cosmo-Craft (from A Race Through Time by Donald Wandrei) A spacecraft for traveling through time and space. |
1933 | Solar-Powered Electric Helicopter (from Into the Meteorite Orbit by James Patrick Kelly) An electric helicopter, with sun cells. |
1933 | Spaceways (from Shambleau by C.L. Moore) A set route though space. |
1933 | Space-Suit Rockets (from Into the Meteorite Orbit by Frank K. Kelly) Attached rockets allow movement in zero-gee space. |
1933 | Magnetic Anchor (from Dead Star Station by Jack Williamson) A means of affixing an anchor point on a spacecraft hull. |
1933 | Flip to Brake (from Murder on the Asteroid by Eando Binder) Maneuver to put the tail end (with rocket output) in the forward direction of travel to use for lowering velocity. |
1933 | Checker-City (from The Star-Roamers by Edmond Hamilton) A city planned as a checker-board of alternating vegetation and buildings. |
1933 | Etheric Propulsion-Vibrations (from The Star-Roamers by Edmond Hamilton) Faster-than-light travel. |
1933 | Belt Automatic-Equalizers (from The Star-Roamers by Edmond Hamilton) The wearer's experience of gravity will be just like Earth's. |
1933 | Space-Sailor (from The Star-Roamers by Edmond Hamilton) A spaceman; someone who makes his living by voyaging in space. |
1933 | Space Tug (from Murder on the Asteroid by Eando Binder) A small vessel used to maneuver other ships. |
1933 | Historical Listening Machine (from The Machine That Knew Too Much by A.T. Locke) Device can hear sounds from down through the ages. |
1933 | Iron Man Robot With Human Brain (from Iron Man by Paul Ernst) A huge robot with a tub containing a human brain. |
1933 | Lunar Tunnel (Human Pendulum) (from Captive of the Crater by D.D. Sharp) A tunnel through the center of the moon, and the man who fell through it. |
1933 | Spectro-Flash Analysis (from Salvage in Space by Jack Williamson) Device for determining the content of meteorites. |
1933 | Asteroid Rocket (from Salvage in Space by Jack Williamson) An engine attached to an asteroid to drive it through space. |
1933 | Landing on an Asteroid (from Murder on the Asteroid by Eando Binder) An elaborate flight plan for landing a space ship on an asteroid. |
1933 | Ether Boat (from Murder on the Asteroid by Eando Binder) A space craft. |
1933 | Globular Glass Helmet (from Murder on the Asteroid by Eando Binder) A bowl-shaped space helmet. |
1933 | Conscious Retarded Animation (from A Race Through Time by Donald Wandrei) A kind of hibernation, but leaves the user fully conscious, but aging at an incredibly slow rate. |
1933 | Tubular Space-Gangway (from The Star-Roamers by Edmond Hamilton) A means of traversing the short distance between two ships in space. |
1934 | Invisibility Shield (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A means of concealing a physical object to the naked eye. |
1934 | Bergenholm Drive (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A device that renders a spaceship free of inertia. |
1934 | Air-Car (from A Matter of Size by Harry Bates) A personal flying car |
1934 | Space Warp (from Redmask of the Outlands by Nat Schachner) The very fabric of space-time. |
1934 | Darkness Bomb (from The Mightiest Machine by John W. Campbell) A small bulb containing a vapor that causes darkness to occur. |
1934 | Platinum Alloy Disc (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A silvery disc used for data record storage. |
1934 | Moving a Planet (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) Early use of the concept of moving a planet to a new sun. |
1934 | Artificial Planet (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A very large constructed object in space. |
1934 | Flying Wing (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A V-shaped plane capable of flight to the edge of the atmosphere. |
1934 | Ingestible Communication Capsule (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A tiny transmitter that can be swallowed, which makes possible voice communication. |
1934 | Acceleration-tank (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A water-filled tank used to ease the strains of acceleration. |
1934 | Credit (from The Mightiest Machine by John W. Campbell) A basic unit of currency. |
1934 | Aircab (from The Barrier by Harl Vincent) A flying autonomous taxi cab. |
1934 | Ether-Wall (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) An invisibility field. |
1934 | Manual Search For Habitable Planet (from Skylark of Valeron by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A tedious search for habitable planets by hand. |
1934 | Inertialess Drive (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) Faster-than-light travel achieved! |
1934 | Electro-Telescope (from The Mines of Haldar by Maurice G. Hugi) A device that could clearly image space battles and space ships, even from a great distance. |
1934 | Standish (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A beam weapon of frightful intensity. |
1934 | Electric-Space-Strain Projector (from The Mightiest Machine by John W. Campbell) Device enables the wireless transmission of power. |
1934 | Lewiston (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) Standard blaster pistol with terrifying power. |
1934 | Baby Robot (from Life Everlasting by David H. Keller) An infant robot. |
1934 | Homorium (from The Last Men by Frank Belknap Long, Jr.) A kind of nursery that could bring a human being to maturity in a single year. |
1934 | Sound-Transposing Machine (from The Lost Language by David H. Keller) A device that scans a printed page and reads it out loud. |
1934 | Radio-Dirigible Torpedo (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A drone missile that is controlled remotely by an operator. |
1934 | Vibrowriter (from The Lost Language by David H. Keller) A device that translated speech and typed it out for you. |
1934 | Planetary Propulsion-Blasts (from Thundering Worlds by Edmond Hamilton) Devices capable of moving and steering planets to new orbits or new stars. |
1934 | Ablative Heat (Reentry) Shield (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A single-use shield or covering designed to accept the heat of reentry and burn off. |
1934 | Emergency Lifeboat (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A small craft used as a bail-out vehicle from a large space station or spacecraft. |
1934 | Ultrawave (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A means of faster-than-light (FTL) communication. |
1934 | Spy Ray Goggles (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A form of radiation that can penetrate walls to allow the user to 'see' what is happening on the other side. |
1934 | Machine City (from Twilight by John W. Campbell) A city that is a self-maintaining whole entity. |
1934 | Synthetic Food Dispenser (from Twilight by John W. Campbell) A machine that could make whatever food you wanted from basic elements. |
1934 | Liquid Mirror Telescope on Mars (from Old Faithful by Raymond Z. Gallun) A large telescope using a spinning bowl of mercury as the mirror. |
1934 | 3D Tank Display (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A transparent cube showing a three-dimensional display. |
1934 | Extradimensional (from Skylark of Valeron by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) From another dimension. |
1934 | Cone of Battle (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) An offensive formation of space ships providing the ultimate in firepower. |
1934 | Deep-Space (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) Typically refers to the vast empty regions of interstellar space. |
1934 | Protective Shield (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) An energy shield for one person. |
1934 | Impermite (from Redmask of the Outlands by Nat Schachner) A substance that is impervious to penetration. |
1934 | Positron Beam (from The Great Thirst by Nat Schachner) Vast numbers of positrons, the antimatter counterpart of the electron, are beamed around the Earth. |
1934 | Silica Sphere (Dyson sphere) (from Lost City of Mars by Harl Vincent) An enclosed environment, excavated on Mars, and then placed into the heavens (it's Phobos) |
1934 | Electron Gun (from The Great Thirst by Nat Schachner) How to add a lot of electrons to a lot of positrons? |
1934 | Robot-Control Wave Band (from Rex by Harl Vincent) Special command circuit for robots. |
1934 | Self-Aware Robot (from Rex by Harl Vincent) A robot that thinks and reasons for itself. |
1934 | General Strike of the Robots (from Rex by Harl Vincent) All over the world, robots cease their labors. |
1934 | Automatic Parking (from Twilight by John W. Campbell) Vehicle autonomously heads for a public hangar. |
1934 | Metallic Fingers (from Rex by Harl Vincent) Robot fingers. |
1934 | Hypomatrin (from The Confession of Dr. DeKalb by Stanton A. Coblentz) A spinal anesthetic that allows the reformation of personality. |
1934 | Laws Against Human Drivers (from Photo Control by Bernard Brown) The idea that autonomous vehicles should be the only cars on the road, for safety. |
1934 | Penetron (from Redmask of the Outlands by Nat Schachner) A synthetic substance that is opaque unless penetrated by infra-red. |
1934 | Invisibility Magnets (from Redmask of the Outlands by Nat Schachner) They can cloak a space ship by bending light around it. |
1934 | Wine Pellets (from Redmask of the Outlands by Nat Schachner) Fine wine in convenient, dried form. |
1934 | Robots Refuse To Serve Man (from The Mentanicals by Francis Flagg) When robots evolve their own perspectives, and ultimately refuse to act as servants to human beings. |
1934 | Space Mittens (from Space Flotsam by Raymond Z. Gallun) Protect your hands in space. |
1934 | Evacuating Arms (from Space Flotsam by Raymond Z. Gallun) Empty out the contents of an airlock exposed to space. |
1934 | Beam Car (from Lost City of Mars by Harl Vincent) A vehicle like an elevator car, but which travels on a radio and magnetic beam, from the surface of a planet up to a satellite. |
1934 | Black Cube Teaching Machine (from The Flame From Mars by Jack Williamson) A device that offers recorded images, teaching the user. |
1934 | Robot-Surgeon (from Rex by Harl Vincent) A perfect robot for perfected human beings. |
1934 | Mutant (from The 100th Generation by Nat Schachner) A new organism resulting from an alteration in the DNA sequence of its genome or chromosome. |
1934 | Healing Crystal (from A Martian Odyssey by Stanley G. Weinbaum) A small object that burns off diseased tissue, leaving healthy tissue unharmed. |
1934 | Aliens Speak English (from The Mines of Haldar by Maurice G. Hugi) The skeleton men of Mercury speak English, but have a good reason for it. |
1934 | Glass Pistol (from A Martian Odyssey by Stanley G. Weinbaum) A clear glass gun that fires poisoned splinters. |
1934 | Wrist Search Display (from A Matter of Size by Harry Bates) A wearable device that uses its own search beam to view scenes close by. |
1934 | Solar Engine (from A Matter of Size by Harry Bates) A space ship that gets it motive power from the rays of the sun. |
1934 | Automatic Navigator (from A Matter of Size by Harry Bates) Device steers your spaceship to its destination without additional effort from you. |
1934 | Out-Worlder (from A Matter of Size by Harry Bates) A person from another planet. |
1934 | Levitators (from Lost City of Mars by Harl Vincent) Allows free flight in the interior volume of a vast sphere in space. |
1934 | Gyrocars with Photo-Electric Braking (from Photo Control by Bernard Brown) Force the tires into maximum contact with the road, then use photo-electric sensors to control braking and turns. |
1934 | Living Machines (from The Mentanicals by Francis Flagg) Robots that are able to learn. |
1934 | Stratoplane (from Colossus by Donald Wandrei) An airplane that flies up to the edge of the atmosphere. |
1934 | Metal Message In Space (from The Menace From Space by John Edwards) A message sent to other worlds, inscribed on metal. |
1934 | Robot Skin Covering (from Rex by Harl Vincent) Realistic covering for the bodies of robots. |
1934 | Needle-Ray (from Skylark of Valeron by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) Very thin beam of destruction. |
1934 | Mentanical Communication (from The Mentanicals by Francis Flagg) Thinking, learning robots have a special means of communication. |
1934 | Communicator (from Skylark of Valeron by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A small device that works to communicate over large distances. |
1934 | Mentanicals (from The Mentanicals by Francis Flagg) Robots capable of mentation - i.e., thought. |
1935 | Machine (Thinking Machine) (from The Machine by John W. Campbell) A very early reference to a thinking machine in charge of a planet. |
1935 | Floater (Vehicle) (from The Machine by John W. Campbell) A conveyance distinguished primarily by antigravity power. |
1935 | Transkin (from Parasite Planet by Stanley G. Weinbaum) A hooded protective suit worn on Venus. |
1935 | Thermlectrium (from Blindness by John W. Campbell) An alloy that turns heat directly into electricity. |
1935 | Automatic Toll Payment (from The Living Machine by David H. Keller) An automated car that pays its own toll. |
1935 | Mudshoes (from Parasite Planet by Stanley G. Weinbaum) Footgear specialized for the semisolid soil of Venus |
1935 | Automatic Air Mail Plane (from The Living Machine by David H. Keller) A pilotless airplane for delivery of cargo. |
1935 | Thermide (from Parasite Planet by Stanley G. Weinbaum) A chemical which, added to water, boiled and sterilized it instantly. |
1935 | Driverless Taxi (from The Living Machine by David H. Keller) A taxi that does not require a driver. |
1935 | Xixtline (from Parasite Planet by Stanley G. Weinbaum) Venusian drug provides a rejuvenate effect. |
1935 | Time Line (from Liners of Time by John Russell Fearn) Time seen linearly, as a distinguishable series of events. |
1935 | Horsten Psychomat (from The Worlds of If by Stanley G. Weinbaum) Re-creates a mental scene for the viewer. |
1935 | Micro-Telescope (from The Cosmic Pantograph by Edmond Hamilton) An astronomical instrument for looking at objects in a miniature universe. |
1935 | Bloodhound Machine (from Crimes of the Year 2000 by Ray Cummings) Could positively identify a person using their scent alone. |
1935 | Air-Tight Cities (from The Cosmic Pantograph by Edmond Hamilton) Cities with breathable air constructed on worlds with no atmosphere. |
1935 | Electric Menu (from Liners of Time by John Russell Fearn) Ordering of food is automated, without waiters. |
1935 | New Suns From Old (from The Cosmic Pantograph by Edmond Hamilton) Creating new stars by crashing together the cinders of dead stars. |
1935 | Micro-Cosmos (Microcosm) (from The Cosmic Pantograph by Edmond Hamilton) The universe in miniature. |
1935 | Ball-Taxi (from Earth Rehabilitators, Consolidated by Henry J. Kostkos) A floating, spherical cab. |
1935 | Emotion Meter (from The Emotion Meter by W. Varick Nevins, III) A device for empirically determining human emotion. |
1935 | First Contact (from Proxima Centauri by Murray Leinster) The initial encounter with a non-human race. |
1935 | Conscious Farm Machines (from The Hidden Colony by Otfrid von Hanstein) Farm machinery that worked on their own. |
1935 | Doughpot (from Parasite Planet by Stanley G. Weinbaum) A mass of white, dough-like protoplasm, ranging in size from a single cell to perhaps twenty tons of mushy filth. |
1935 | Magno-Bars (from The Meteor Miners by L.A. Eshbach) Electromagnet-tipped rods used by meteor miners to capture iron-rich asteroids in space. |
1935 | Meteor Swarm Mining (from The Meteor Miners by L.A. Eshbach) A fleet of ships hunting for meteoric iron - in space! |
1935 | Magic Spectacles (from Pygmalion's Spectacles by Stanley G. Weinbaum) Very early take on virtual reality hardware. |
1935 | Trans-Oceanic Rocket (from The Worlds of If by Stanley G. Weinbaum) Also, a rocket-plane. |
1935 | Fruit-Picking Machine (from The Hidden Colony by Otfrid von Hanstein) An humanoid machine for automatic fruit picking. |
1935 | Automated Factory (from The Hidden Colony by Otfrid von Hanstein) A factory that works entirely automatically, without human guidance. |
1935 | Living Space Ship (from Proxima Centauri by Murray Leinster) A space ship made of a living substance, in this case cellulose. |
1935 | Subjunctivisor (from The Worlds of If by Stanley G. Weinbaum) Projects a possible future, based on your own impressions. |
1936 | Planetary Engineering (from The Cometeers by Jack Williamson) Remaking or modifying an entire planet. |
1936 | Paralyzing Ray (Bolar Current) (from Blood of the Moon by Ray Cummings) A beam that forces a person to remain rooted to a particular spot. |
1936 | Zed-Ray (from Blood of the Moon by Ray Cummings) A penetrating beam that would disclose the details inside of a closed object. |
1936 | Tubular Field of Force (from The Cometeers by Jack Williamson) Can pull an object through space. |
1936 | Automated Search For Habitable Planets (from Cosmic Quest by Edmond Hamilton) Automated use of telescopes and other devices to search the universe for Earth-like planets. |
1936 | Probability Time Wave Tube (from Elimination by John W. Campbell) A device that allows the user to see every possible event. |
1936 | Audiphone (from Blood of the Moon by Ray Cummings) Communication between space suits in the airless void of space. |
1936 | Protective Energy Halo (from The Scarab by Raymond Z. Gallun) A device that cast a hemisphere of protective beams. |
1936 | Transparent Flat Panel Display (from The Shape of Things To Come by H.G. Wells) A fifty-inch flat panel display that is (or can be) transparent. |
1936 | Wireless Wrist Intercom (from The Shape of Things To Come by H.G. Wells) A portable wireless intercom, worn on the wrist. |
1936 | Giant Flat Panel Display (from The Shape of Things To Come by H.G. Wells) Movie screen-sized flat panel display for live televised images. |
1936 | Shoggoths (from At the Mountains of Madness by H.P. Lovecraft) Bioengineered creatures, able to change shape, created for labor. |
1936 | Radiation Shield (from The Ultimate Weapon by John W. Campbell) A clever use for the water you need to take anyway. |
1936 | Electronized Gravity Plate (from Blood of the Moon by Ray Cummings) Artificial gravity for use on space stations and spacecraft. |
1936 | Geodynes (from The Cometeers by Jack Williamson) Spacecraft propulsion that pushes against the very fabric of space itself. |
1936 | Vitrisheen (from Moon Crystals by J. Harvey Haggard) A translucent glass-like fashion choice. |
1936 | Cartograph (from The Cometeers by Jack Williamson) A device that shows you a record of your travels - a GPS readout. |
1936 | Luxobe Crystals (from Moon Crystals by J. Harvey Haggard) They give light. |
1936 | Needle Beam Gat (from Moon Crystals by J. Harvey Haggard) A thin disintegrator beam. |
1936 | Dark Vapor Bubble (from Man-Jewels for Xothar by H.G. Wells) A kind of field that keeps an alien base provided with an atmosphere. |
1936 | Indoor Weighted Belt (from Blood of the Moon by Ray Cummings) Device to stay grounded in low gravity on the Moon. |
1936 | Wire Gun (from Shadow Gold by Ray Cummings) Shoots a length of constricting wire. |
1936 | Telespectroscope (from Cosmic Quest by Edmond Hamilton) Device for searching for habitable (Earth-like) planets. |
1936 | Atom Compactor (Metal Earthworm) (from Death Dives Deep by Paul Ernst) A tunneling device. |
1936 | Beckerley Electrical Field (from Smothered Seas by R.M. Farley (w/SG Weinbaum)) An energy field that can protect a city or large area. |
1936 | Desktop Flat Panel Intercom (from The Shape of Things To Come by H.G. Wells) A small desktop screen intercom system. |
1936 | Photoelectric Telescope (Photoelectric Eyes) (from The Cometeers by Jack Williamson) An astronomical telescope that uses the photoelectric effect to gather light, and then to present the finished image on a screen. |
1936 | Scarab Robot Flying Insect (from The Scarab by Raymond Z. Gallun) A tiny flying robotic machine, used for surveillance. |
1936 | Multi-Generation Space Vessel (Generation Ship) (from The Return of the Murians by Nat Schachner) A space ship and voyage intended to last across multiple human generations. |
1936 | Emergency Repulsion (Repulsive Ray) (from Blood of the Moon by Ray Cummings) A beam of force that repels one object from another. |
1936 | Starways (from Blood of the Moon by Ray Cummings) The well-traveled paths from star to star. |
1936 | Vision Tubes (from The Scarab by Raymond Z. Gallun) Microminaturized vision for UAV's. |
1936 | Android (from The Cometeers by Jack Williamson) A synthetic being having the form of a human being. |
1936 | Space Legs (from Flight of the Typhoon by Clifton B. Kruse) The ability to walk under high gee acceleration on a space ship. |
1936 | Volplane (from Blood of the Moon by Ray Cummings) A small vehicle used in transporting people around the moon's surface. |
1936 | Dimension Shifting Apparatus (from Cosmic Quest by Edmond Hamilton) Achieves faster than light space travel by moving into a different, parallel dimension. |
1936 | Robot With Human's Brain (from Revenge of the Robot by Otis Adelbert Kline) A very early example of encasing a human brain in a robotic body. |
1936 | Husk of an Atom (from The Roaring Blot by Frank Belknap Long, Jr.) A negative universe substance. |
1936 | Bladder Birds (from Redemption Cairn by Stanley G. and Helen Weinbaum) Alien life well adapted. |
1936 | Electric Tractor (from World of Purple Light by Warner Van Lorne) A farm cultivator that runs entirely on electricity. |
1936 | Automat (from Mad Robot by Raymond Z. Gallun) Unusual name for an intelligent robot; short for "automaton"? |
1936 | Sounding Projectile (from Mad Robot by Raymond Z. Gallun) Provides a way to tell whether there’s a soldid surface on a cloudy planet. |
1936 | Meteor Particles (Sand Blast) (from Flight of the Typhoon by Clifton B. Kruse) Tiny sand-sized asteroids sand-blasting the hull of a spacecraft. |
1936 | Asteroid Lanes (Blasted) (from Flight of the Typhoon by Clifton B. Kruse) Actually clearing safe routes through asteroid belts. |
1936 | Emergency Repulsion Ray (from Earth-Venus 12 by Gabriel Wilson) A handheld means of propulsion in space. |
1936 | Synthetic Intellect (from Mad Robot by Raymond Z. Gallun) A device for providing a robot with intelligence. |
1936 | Teaching Machine (from The Return of the Murians by Nat Schachner) A helmet placed on the head focuses illimitable knowledge into even the head of an earth man. |
1936 | Violet-Gun (Ion Gun) (from The Brain Stealers of Mars by John W. Campbell) Ultra-violet fury! |
1936 | Golden Ray of Synchronized Vibrations (from The Return of the Murians by Nat Schachner) Disrupts matter by hurling electrons out of their energy states and scattering them. |
1936 | Molecule Replacement Lamp (from Red Storm on Jupiter by Frank Belknap Long, Jr.) A means of attaining practical invisibility. |
1936 | Jupiter Mining Shoes (from Red Storm on Jupiter by Frank Belknap Long, Jr.) Specialized footgear for walking on the Great Red Spot. |
1936 | Radiation-Proof Oxygen Suit (from Red Storm on Jupiter by Frank Belknap Long, Jr.) A specialized space suit for use in radium mining on Jupiter. |
1936 | Time Loop (from The Time Entity by Eando Binder) A series of events repeats, the stream crosses over itself. |
1936 | Foam Station Sprayer (from Red Storm on Jupiter by Frank Belknap Long, Jr.) A device that stills the stormy Great Red Spot on Jupiter. |
1936 | Lanson Screen (from The Lanson Screen by Leo Zagat) An elliptical shield of force large enough to enclose a city. |
1936 | Nutrient Gelatin Tank (from The Isotope Men by Nat Schachner) Essential hardware for creating a new, improved humanity - isotope men! |
1936 | Rocketrix (from Redemption Cairn by Stanley G. and Helen Weinbaum) A female rocket pilot. |
1937 | Designed Bacteria (from Seeds of the Dusk by Raymond Z. Gallun) Very early reference to the idea of bacteria designed to wipe out a particular species, and no others. |
1937 | Blast Rifle (from Exiles of the Stratosphere by Frank Belknap Long, Jr.) A gun that creates a short-range energy blast. |
1937 | Gold-Fish-Bowl World (from Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon) An artificial water planet. |
1937 | Ultra-microrobot (from A Menace in Miniature by Raymond Z. Gallun) A nanomachine; a machine whose parts are no bigger than atoms. |
1937 | Sub-Space (from Crystallized Thought by Nat Schachner) A dimension or a transmission medium other than our own, which allows faster-than-light communication or movement. |
1937 | Gravity Neutralizing Disks (from Fessenden's Worlds by Edmond Hamilton) Two plates between which Earth's gravitational influence is cancelled out. |
1937 | Near-Space Solar Energy Collectors (from Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon) Generating power from solar radiation closer to the source. |
1937 | Miniature Universe (from Fessenden's Worlds by Edmond Hamilton) A microcosmic universe created in the laboratory. |
1937 | Artificial Planet (from Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon) Constructed bodies the size of planets for habitation. |
1937 | Proton Pistol (Proton Beam) (from A Menace in Miniature by Raymond Z. Gallun) A device that unleashed a 'protonic storm' of energy. |
1937 | Drop Shaft (Neutralization of Inertia) (from Galactic Patrol by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) An 'elevator shaft' in which the user can fall at the speed of gravity, then be stopped without inertia (i.e., instantly). |
1937 | Concentrated Light (from The Shining One by Nat Schachner) Beam of powerfully concentrated light pressure. |
1937 | Spectroscopic Robot Converter (from Diamond Planetoid by Gordon A. Giles) Accepted the return of soft x-ray radiation, and translated it into Fraunhofer spectra. |
1937 | Groundcar (or Ground Car) (from Galactic Patrol by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A non-skimming, non-flying vehicle. |
1937 | X Gun (X-Beam Projector) (from Diamond Planetoid by Gordon A. Giles) A device that projected soft x-rays into small planetoids to determine their composition. |
1937 | Automatic Reversed Memory (from Brain Control by Dave Cummins) A device that activates memories and plays them back in reverse order. |
1937 | Artificial eye (from Galactic Patrol by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A surgically-implanted artificial eyeball. |
1937 | Etherometer (from Spawn of the Red Giants by Frank Belknap Long, Jr.) A device that looked at the 'ether' pervading space as a means of determining gravitation field strength. |
1937 | Sono-Induction Coils (from The Shining One by Nat Schachner) A public address system consisting of buried coils. |
1937 | Atomic Drill (from Minus Planet by John D. Clark, Ph.D) An atomic-powered auger, for use in drilling deep into planets and asteroids. |
1937 | Vibration Screen (from The Shining One by Nat Schachner) Subtle rays prevent electronic surveillance. |
1937 | Alien Life Form (from The Hothouse Planet by Arthur K. Barnes) Living organisms of non-Earth origin. |
1937 | Subphoton Search Ray (from The Shining One by Nat Schachner) A special ray beam that penetrates into hidden bunkers; images are caught on special film cameras. |
1937 | Blast-Off (from The Cavern of the Shining Pool by Leo Zagat) The act of firing a rocket into space. |
1937 | Multiple Sample Voice (from The Shining One by Nat Schachner) The use of multiple voice samples to create a single, smoothed voice. |
1937 | Ultra-Communicator (from Galactic Patrol by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A communication system that transfers voice commands from one person to selected others. |
1937 | Heat Generating Magnetic Disks (from Spawn of the Red Giants by Frank Belknap Long, Jr.) Devices used to artificially raise the temperature of the surface of moons to a reasonable level. |
1937 | Antron (from Minus Planet by John D. Clark, Ph.D) A single particle of antimatter - an antiproton. |
1937 | Space Laboratory (from Crystalized Thought by Nat Schachner) A specialized space station, for scientific research. |
1937 | Locatimeter (from The Iron World by Otis Adelbert Kline) A method for a plane to know its location over the Earth. |
1937 | Light Traps (Dyson Sphere) (from Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon) Surrounding a sun, a set of devices to capture or focus solar power. |
1937 | Repulsor Screen (from Crystalized Thought by Nat Schachner) Diverts troublesome asteroids. |
1937 | Plani-Glass (from Crystalized Thought by Nat Schachner) Transparent and light and has the tensile strength of steel! |
1937 | Photo-Electric Mosaic (from Beyond Which Limits by Nat Schachner) A means of capturing astronomical images. |
1937 | Poldek (from The Saga of Pelican West by Eric Frank Russell) Ability to sense life. |
1937 | Stratocar (from The Cavern of the Shining Pool by Leo Zagat) A vehicle intended for use in traveling through the upper atmosphere. |
1937 | Nose Tubes (from The Cavern of the Shining Pool by Leo Zagat) Rocket blasts from the front of a ship, to brake it. |
1937 | Robot Dog (from The Iron World by Otis Adelbert Kline) A mechanical, robotic dog. |
1937 | Electelscope (from The Cavern of the Shining Pool by Leo Zagat) Telescope uses electronics applied to optics. |
1937 | Self-Propelled Space Suit (from The Cavern of the Shining Pool by Leo Zagat) A vacuum suit with a means of propelling itself built in. |
1937 | Mercy Gas (from The Saga of Pelican West by Eric Frank Russell) Breathe it and die. |
1937 | Thionite (from Galactic Patrol by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A deadly drug. |
1937 | Space Dock (from Diamond Planetoid by Gordon A. Giles) Like a port for spacecraft; they can deliver their passengers and cargo. |
1937 | Rocket Tug (from Crystalized Thought by Nat Schachner) The equivalent of a tug boat for space ships. |
1937 | Ether Eddy (from The Cavern of the Shining Pool by Leo Zagat) A shimmering region of space marking a break-through into another universe. |
1938 | Invisible Watchmen (from Murder in the Void by Edmond Hamilton) Automated 'home security' sentry system that targets and eliminates intruders. |
1938 | Interplanetary Passport (from Murder in the Void by Edmond Hamilton) Required document for space travelers. |
1938 | Hand-Rocket (from Murder in the Void by Edmond Hamilton) A handheld device that used reaction matter to aid explorers in space suits to move around easily in zero gee. |
1938 | Psychoprobe (from Satellite Five by Arthur K. Barnes) Get to the truth. |
1938 | Beam-Pistol (from Murder in the Void by Edmond Hamilton) A handheld ray gun. |
1938 | Radium Salt (from Murder in the Void by Edmond Hamilton) Radioactive materials used as an assassination weapon. |
1938 | Surface Car (from Satellite Five by Arthur K. Barnes) A specialized vehicle for traveling on a planetary surface. |
1938 | Paralysis Ray (from Satellite Five by Arthur K. Barnes) A special ray that produces paralysis. |
1938 | Robot Cook (from Helen O'Loy by Lester del Rey) A household robot that can cook meals. |
1938 | Visi-Screen (from Satellite Five by Arthur K. Barnes) A display device. |
1938 | Psychode (from The Infinite Enemy by Jack Williamson) A device that enables communication by thought alone. |
1938 | Reversal Coils (from The Infinite Enemy by Jack Williamson) Provide both entry into a negative universe and propulsion. |
1938 | Automatic Commercial Deletion (from Satellite Five by Arthur K. Barnes) Device automatically detects commercials and turns off the set for the duration. |
1938 | Magnetic Flame Gun (from Roamer of the Stars by Clyde Wilson) Device shoots charged positive nuclei. |
1938 | Brain-Case (from Murder in the Void by Edmond Hamilton) A device designed to transport a living human (or alien, if similar) brain. |
1938 | Coronium Ore (from Roamer of the Stars by Clyde Wilson) A radiolite substance to revolutionize industry. |
1938 | Steel-Lined Space Boots (from Roamer of the Stars by Clyde Wilson) In combination with a magnetized floor, allows the user to walk in zero gravity. |
1938 | Mass Detector (Gravitator) (from Roamer of the Stars by Clyde Wilson) A device that finds substantial masses, particularly in the path of a space craft. |
1938 | Sub-Etheric (from Legion of Time by Jack Williamson) Below the level at which ordinary light is propagated. |
1938 | Air-Blanket (from Hollywood on the Moon by Henry Kuttner) A dome-less protective air shield. |
1938 | Artificial Eye Drone (from Glimpse by Manly Wade Wellman) A remote flying device that transmits its view to the operator. |
1938 | Air-o-Stat (from Satellite Five by Arthur K. Barnes) Provides life-giving air in spacecraft. |
1938 | Gogglelike Televisors (from The Robot and the Lady by Manly Wade Wellman) A screen technology placed very close to the eyes. |
1938 | Helen O'Loy (from Helen O'Loy by Lester del Rey) A robot is enhanced to offer feelings and affection. |
1938 | Robot Emotions (from Helen O'Loy by Lester del Rey) Devices or techniques that give rise to emotions in robots. |
1938 | Selective Television (from The Challenge of Atlantis by Arthur J. Burks) A special kind of 'television' that let the user choose any scene around the world. |
1938 | Teleoperated Robot Surrogate (from The Robot and the Lady by Manly Wade Wellman) A robot that is entirely controlled remotely by a person who sees with the point of view of the robot. |
1938 | Pneumatic Bumpers (from The Brain Pirates by John W. Campbell) An inflatable bumper system for ground-based motor vehicles. |
1938 | Atomic-Powered Lifting Suits (from The Brain Pirates by John W. Campbell) Special exoskeletons that would allow an ordinary human being to walk in doubled gravity. |
1938 | Tiny Atomic-Power Drive Unit (from The Brain Pirates by John W. Campbell) A very small power generator that is atomic powered. |
1938 | Preserved Brains (from Murder in the Void by Edmond Hamilton) Preserving a brain, and then communicating with it. |
1938 | Cosmic Teletype (from Cosmic Teletype by Carl Jacobi) A device that utilizes the fourth dimensional continuum to achieve communication at great distances. |
1938 | Field-Projector (from Easy Money by Edmond Hamilton) A device that dematerializes a person and then sends forth a ray that will then rematerialize a person at the end. |
1938 | Control Helmet (from Easy Money by Edmond Hamilton) A device which causes an entire race of people to think and feel the same as the wearer. |
1938 | Multispecies Hotel (from Hotel Cosmos by Raymond Z. Gallun) A hotel set up to serve beings from different planets. |
1938 | Transfer Refuge (from Hotel Cosmos by Raymond Z. Gallun) A portable environment chamber, able to support unique and different lifeforms. |
1938 | Chronoscope (from Legion of Time by Jack Williamson) A device used to see into specific internals of time. |
1938 | Liquid Metal (from The Dual World by Arthur K. Barnes) Metal that can be sprayed on. |
1938 | Space-Court (from Murder in the Void by Edmond Hamilton) The place of judgement for crimes committed in interstellar space. |
1938 | Tractor Boots (from Magician of Dream Valley by Raymond Z. Gallun) Space suit footgear that has atom-driven caterpillar treads. |
1938 | Basic Robot Personality (from Simultaneous Worlds by Nat Schachner) Providing simple personalities to robots. |
1938 | Robot Animals (from Reunion on Ganymede by Clifford Simak) Artificial animals created using robotic elements. |
1938 | Alcatraz of Space (from Reunion on Ganymede by Clifford Simak) A planetoid prison. |
1938 | Cube Being (from The Infinite Enemy by Jack Williamson) A living being comprised of linked cubes. |
1938 | Banning Gun (from Voyage 13 by Ray Cummings) Shoots a pencil heat ray. |
1938 | Emergency Air-Suit (from Voyage 13 by Ray Cummings) A light-duty space suit. |
1938 | Rocket-Polo (from Ra For The Rajah by John Victor Peterson) Polo played with rocket-powered craft. |
1938 | Zero-Gravity (from If Science Reached the Earth's Core by John R. Binder) A state in which gravity is effectively absent or cancelled out. |
1938 | Buggaroo (from The Secret of the Canali by Clifton B. Kruse) Martian creature for transportation. |
1938 | Etherphone Receiver (from Hotel Cosmos by Raymond Z. Gallun) A special earpiece to hear coded updates. |
1938 | Helicoptomic (from Ra For The Rajah by John Victor Peterson) A hovering craft used by referees in rocket polo. |
1938 | Eros Ship-Planetoid (from The Great Illusion by Will Garth) A vast cylindrical ship, long thought to be a planetoid. |
1938 | Autobus (from Tidal Moon by Stanley G. and Helen Weinbaum) Robot-guided public transportation. |
1938 | Gyrotomic (from Ra For The Rajah by John Victor Peterson) A small gyrostabilized hovercraft. |
1938 | Time Tunnel (from Rule 18 by Clifford Simak) A gateway into the past. |
1938 | Individual Flyer (from Asteroid Pirates by Royal W. Heckman) Personal antigravity and wing unit. |
1938 | Interplanetary Restaurant (from Asteroid Pirates by Royal W. Heckman) An eatery and watering hole designed for use by a variety of space-faring races. |
1938 | Vacuum-Cupped Sandals (from Voyage 13 by Ray Cummings) Used for walking in weightless environments. |
1938 | Rocketeering (from Ra For The Rajah by John Victor Peterson) Racing around in rockets |
1938 | Artificially Produced Speech (from Hotel Cosmos by Raymond Z. Gallun) Speech produced by mechanical means, rather than with vocal chords. |
1938 | Atomic Explosive (from Hotel Cosmos by Raymond Z. Gallun) A handheld bomb that melted its way into an armored door, then detonated. |
1938 | Lightweight Vacuum Armor (from Hotel Cosmos by Raymond Z. Gallun) A simplified space suit, used where conditions were similar to Earth rather than in the more rigorous conditions of space. |
1938 | Proxy Robot (from Hotel Cosmos by Raymond Z. Gallun) A remote-controlled floating telepresence robot, for use by aliens who cannot share an atmosphere. |
1938 | Tetrahedron Interference Projector (from The Great Illusion by Will Garth) Projects a field of force around the Solar System, bending the light of stars to make them seem more distant. |
1939 | Super-Weapon (from Robot Nemesis by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A generic term for an advanced destructive device or technology. |
1939 | Visual Pattern Recognition (from Rust by Joseph E. Kelleam) A robot's ability to respond to programmed visual stimulus |
1939 | Hand-Jetting (from A Question of Salvage by Malcolm Jameson) Making use of hand-held rockets or other reaction devices to move through space. |
1939 | Extraecliptic Travel Lanes (from A Question of Salvage by Malcolm Jameson) Organized interplanetary travel using routes not confined to the ecliptic. |
1939 | Inflatable Roofed Valley (from Misfit by Robert Heinlein) A habitat on an asteroid created by placing a tent-like roof over a natural valley or depression, and then inflating it. |
1939 | Space Marines (from Misfit by Robert Heinlein) A space-based military force. |
1939 | Rocket Racing (from Habit by Lester del Rey) Use of reaction mass vehicles for races held within the solar system. |
1939 | Spacedog (from A Question of Salvage by Malcolm Jameson) Experienced hands on space ships. |
1939 | Solar-Powered Robot (from Rust by Joseph E. Kelleam) A robot powered by sunlight. |
1939 | Force-Screen (from The Dweller in Outer Darkness by Frank Belknap Long, Jr.) A variation on the force shield idea. |
1939 | Killer Robot (from Rust by Joseph E. Kelleam) An autonomous robot made for the express purpose of killing living creatures. |
1939 | Synthetic Spider Silk (from Misfit by Robert Heinlein) Artificial fabric thread as strong as steel. |
1939 | Radio-Facsimile Receiver (from Ben Gleed, King of Speed by Don Wilcox) A device that prints a newspaper in your home. |
1939 | Ballistic Calculator (from Misfit by Robert Heinlein) An on-board computer for a spaceship to calculate its course and perform other related tasks. |
1939 | Smoke Filter (from Misfit by Robert Heinlein) Allows grizzled spacemen to smoke in space ships. |
1939 | Shock Hammock (from Habit by Lester del Rey) Special netting oriented for pilots in high gee spacecraft. |
1939 | Metal Desk Car (from Ben Gleed, King of Speed by Don Wilcox) A combination work desk and vehicle for librarians and researchers; part desk part carnival ride. |
1939 | Ultra-Vibrator (from Into Another Dimension by Maurice Duclos) Transports objects into another dimension through intense vibration. |
1939 | Acceleration Hammock (from Pioneer - 1957 by Henry Gade) Webbing used to cushion acceleration in spacecraft. |
1939 | Permalloy (from Fugitives From Earth by Nelson S. Bond) Protects ships from the hazards of space. |
1939 | Electric Brain Stimulator (from Ben Gleed, King of Speed by Don Wilcox) A device that coordinated the waves of the brain with an external device to improve performance. |
1939 | Barber Helmet (from Ben Gleed, King of Speed by Don Wilcox) Cuts your hair quickly and efficiently. |
1939 | Movie Pill (from Ben Gleed, King of Speed by Don Wilcox) Gives you the experience of having seen a movie. |
1939 | Neuronic Receptor-Transmitter (from Masson's Secret by Raymond Z. Gallun) A device which, implanted in the brain, can both transmit sight and sound, and enable control of the body by a remote operator. |
1939 | Ultraset (Ultrawave Set) (from Habit by Lester del Rey) A device that used ultrawave faster-than-light (FTL) communication. |
1939 | Microsurgery Tool (from Masson's Secret by Raymond Z. Gallun) Miniaturized device for surgical precision. |
1939 | Inertia Screen (from Space Rating by John Berryman) A device that canceled out the law of inertia to help decelerating space craft occupants. |
1939 | Inertia Tank (from Masson's Secret by Raymond Z. Gallun) A device that protected its delicate contents by cushioning. |
1939 | Gravitic (from A Question of Salvage by Malcolm Jameson) Relating to gravity. |
1939 | Thermalite (from Planet of Eternal Night by John W. Campbell) A transparent material that allows almost no heat to escape. |
1939 | Neuronic Control Apparatus (from Masson's Secret by Raymond Z. Gallun) A device that communicated with a brain implant, granting both sight and control. |
1939 | Synthite Food (from Planet of Eternal Night by John W. Campbell) Compact food for space travelers. |
1939 | Durite (from Misfit by Robert Heinlein) Super-strong material used to counter reaction-blasts. |
1939 | Chronovitameter (from Lifeline by Robert Heinlein) Device that can determine a person's date of birth - and the date on which he or she will die. |
1939 | Move an Asteroid (from Misfit by Robert Heinlein) Using practical techniques to change the orbit of an asteroid or small moon. |
1939 | Directed Cars in Tunnels (from The Lord of Tranerica by Stanton A. Coblentz) Self-driving vehicles. |
1939 | Geofractor Shield (from One Against The Legion by Jack Williamson) Protects the bearer against unwanted geofractor use. |
1939 | Chart Cabinet (from One Against The Legion by Jack Williamson) Used in astrogation, this device can see the positions of stars and planets over a thousand year period. |
1939 | Anti-Acceleration Engine For Space Suits (from Black Destroyer by A.E. van Vogt) Counteracts the effects of high acceleration. |
1939 | Stereoscopic Vernier and Cube (from Sinister Barrier by Eric Frank Russell) A means of photographing in depth. |
1939 | Hall of Euthanasia (from One Against The Legion by Jack Williamson) A place for (mostly) voluntary suicide. |
1939 | New Moon Casino Satellite (from One Against The Legion by Jack Williamson) An enormous artificial moon, it was far easier to get to than the Old Moon. |
1939 | Orbiting Casino Advertising Sign (from One Against The Legion by Jack Williamson) The mightiest billboard in the Solar System! |
1939 | Floating Spherical Pool (from One Against The Legion by Jack Williamson) Control of gravity permits mid-air pools of water. |
1939 | Spacecraft Invisibility Electronics (from One Against The Legion by Jack Williamson) A means of rendering a spacecraft invisible to detection by electromagnetic means. |
1939 | Geofractor (from One Against The Legion by Jack Williamson) Device provides instantaneous teleportation of selected objects over vast distances. |
1939 | Robot Observatory (from Space Rating by John Berryman) A fully automated astronomical observatory, placed on a planet (typically, one that does not support human life). |
1939 | Electrical Valet (from The Lord of Tranerica by Stanton A. Coblentz) A robotic manservant, skilled in dressing its owner. |
1939 | Automatic Delivery Library (from The Lord of Tranerica by Stanton A. Coblentz) A library able to deliver any volume within a few moments. |
1939 | Mechanical Judge (from The Lord of Tranerica by Stanton A. Coblentz) A device that makes legal decisions. |
1939 | Telescribe (from A Question of Salvage by Malcolm Jameson) Creates a written record of distress signals and other reports. |
1939 | Etheric Typhoon (from A Question of Salvage by Malcolm Jameson) The idea that space itself can have disturbances. |
1939 | Vortex Gun (from One Against The Legion by Jack Williamson) A device that projects whirling fields of atomic instability. |
1939 | Space-Post (from Episode On Dhee Minor by Harry Walton) A trading post in space. |
1939 | Metalite (from Black Destroyer by A.E. van Vogt) Strong metal you can see through. |
1939 | Outbound Interplanetary Traffic (from One Against The Legion by Jack Williamson) The rules of the spacelanes. |
1939 | Polyceltron Iconoscope Televisor (from Newscast by Harl Vincent) A portable camera and microphone setup that could broadcast on-the-spot news. |
1939 | Pleasure Planet (from After World's End by Jack Williamson) A vast world devoted to enjoyment. |
1939 | Asteroid Prison (from One Against The Legion by Jack Williamson) A jail is the sole occupant of an asteroid. |
1939 | Manmade Black Hole (from One Against The Legion by Jack Williamson) Using the power of a hole in the continuum. |
1939 | Visiwave (from One Against The Legion by Jack Williamson) Even faster than ultrawave! a means of instantaneous communication over lightyear distances. |
1939 | Geopeller (from One Against The Legion by Jack Williamson) An atomic powered, miniaturized means of propulsion. |
1939 | Atomic Torch (from One Against The Legion by Jack Williamson) An atomic-powered cutting and welding tool. |
1939 | Identification Ring (from Sinister Barrier by Eric Frank Russell) An apparently ordinary ring, which minutely describes and identifies its wearer. |
1939 | Extra-Terra Bio-Institute (ETBI) Bio-Conditioning (from The Impossible World by Eando Binder) The overarching work of adapting human beings to alien worlds. |
1939 | Brain-Plate (from Women's World by David C. Cooke) Ensures the obedience of robots. |
1939 | Portable Atomic Heater (from Misfit by Robert Heinlein) Compact source of energy. |
1939 | Duplication Chamber (from The 4-Sided Triangle by William F. Temple) A means of precisely duplicating an object. |
1939 | Space-Contraction Drive (from After World's End by Jack Williamson) Slip through endless interstellar space by making the distance smaller. |
1939 | Transparent Car Roof (from Sinister Barrier by Eric Frank Russell) You can see through the roof of the car. |
1939 | Space Charts (from After World's End by Jack Williamson) A pictorial representation of suns in space. |
1939 | Space Walk (from Moon Heaven by Dom Passante) Standard term for moving through the void of space. |
1939 | Robot-Boss (from Women's World by David C. Cooke) A mechanical device that tells people what to do. |
1939 | Moon Valley Breathable Atmosphere (from Moon Heaven by Dom Passante) Atmosphere is retained in a deep valley on a moon or otherwise airless body. |
1939 | Adaptene (from The Impossible World by Eando Binder) Parent of all hormones, it makes possible the adaptation of the human organism to alien worlds. |
1939 | Opti-Phone (from The Impossible World by Eando Binder) Yet another name for a videophone. |
1939 | Robot Surgery (from Secret of the Buried City by John Russell Fearn) Robots operate an advance operating theater. |
1939 | Meteoric Dust Cloud (from Secret of the Buried City by John Russell Fearn) A vast cloud in space, through which the solar system moved for a decade. |
1939 | Colony World (from The Impossible World by Eando Binder) A planet settled by a single group. |
1939 | Cosmic Storm (from After World's End by Jack Williamson) A vast tempest in space! |
1940 | Merry-Go-Round Life Suspension (Refrigerator Plant) (from The Voyage That Lasted 600 Years by Don Wilcox) A device that offered cold sleep. |
1940 | Refreshing Chamber (from Coventry by Robert Heinlein) Replaces the bathroom in the future history of Robert Heinlein. |
1940 | Steel Tortoise (from Coventry by Robert Heinlein) An all-terrain vehicle, grandfather to the four-wheeler. |
1940 | Knockdown Cabin (from Coventry by Robert Heinlein) A portable shelter; had solid walls and could be assembled quickly. |
1940 | Barrier (Force Field) (from Coventry by Robert Heinlein) Force-field fence. |
1940 | Talking Robot (from Robbie by Isaac Asimov) An impractical robot, for display only. |
1940 | Atomic Automatic (from Revolt on Io by Jack West) Fires a special, rocket-like bullet. |
1940 | Rolling Road (from The Roads Must Roll by Robert Heinlein) A set of fast-moving strips to move people over distances. |
1940 | Sunpower Screen (from Coventry by Robert Heinlein) A solar cell array used to provide power for a vehicle. |
1940 | Life-Ship (from The Invisible World by Ed Earl Repp) An emergency escape or survival craft. |
1940 | Space Tramp (from The Invisible World by Ed Earl Repp) An old, slow spacecraft. |
1940 | Solar Reception Screen (from The Roads Must Roll by Robert Heinlein) A device for converting sunlight to electricity |
1940 | Trumpaphone (from The Voyage That Lasted 600 Years by Don Wilcox) A loud, brassy instrument. |
1940 | Air Blast (from Coventry by Robert Heinlein) An air dryer for personal use. |
1940 | Synthetic Personality (from If This Goes On... by Robert Heinlein) A artificial identity, a legal fiction of a person. |
1940 | Gesturing Robot (from Robbie by Isaac Asimov) A robot that uses gestures to communicate. |
1940 | Gravitational Disks (from Revolt on Io by Jack West) Maintain your footing on those low-gravity celestial bodies. |
1940 | Tesseract House (from -And He Built A Crooked House by Robert Heinlein) A house built in the shape of a four-dimensional figure. |
1940 | Rocket Cruiser (from The Worlds of Tomorrow by Manly Wade Wellman) A privately owned space ship. |
1940 | Radium-Action Lighter (from The Worlds of Tomorrow by Manly Wade Wellman) A personal device used to ignite tobacco products. |
1940 | Silk-Metal (from The Worlds of Tomorrow by Manly Wade Wellman) A very tough fabric. |
1940 | Pocket-Caller (from The Worlds of Tomorrow by Manly Wade Wellman) Private communication device that fits in your pocket. |
1940 | Hyperbolic Solenoid (from The Exhalted by L. Sprague de Camp) Device that creates and manipulates magnetic fields. |
1940 | Methuen Treatment (from The Exhalted by L. Sprague de Camp) Injections that increase intelligence. |
1940 | Slow Glass Rod (from The Exhalted by L. Sprague de Camp) A transparent glass rod that makes light travel so slowly that it can trap light within its depths. |
1940 | Rocket-Belt (from The Worlds of Tomorrow by Manly Wade Wellman) A single-user propulsion pack. |
1940 | Ferretscope (from If This Goes On... by Robert Heinlein) A counter-surveillance tool to detect the presence of listening devices. |
1940 | Electro-Automatic Pistol (from The Worlds of Tomorrow by Manly Wade Wellman) Circular, pocket-sized weapon. |
1940 | Moon Skis (from Requiem by Robert Heinlein) Special wide skis for travel on lunar powder. |
1940 | Paralysis Bomb (from If This Goes On... by Robert Heinlein) A device like a hand grenade that released paralyzing radiation. |
1940 | Vibroblade (from If This Goes On... by Robert Heinlein) A knife-like weapon. |
1940 | Hush-a-Phone (from The Roads Must Roll by Robert Heinlein) A special kind of telephone that reduced noise while talking. |
1940 | Soft Speaker (from The Exhalted by L. Sprague de Camp) A device that sends a tightly-controlled beam of sound. |
1940 | Tectogenetic (from Crisis in Utopia by Norman L. Knight) Deliberate manipulation of genes to produce unique species. |
1940 | Two-Wheeled Car (from The Roads Must Roll by Robert Heinlein) A small passenger vehicle with two centerline wheels. |
1940 | Mind-Shield (from Slan by A.E. van Vogt) A mental defense or barrier that prevents access to one brain by another person or device. |
1940 | Telelubricator (from The Exhalted by L. Sprague de Camp) Makes any surface or substance perfectly frictionless. |
1940 | Escape Port (from Hell Ship of Space by Frederic Arnold Kummer, Jr.) Emergency egress from a space ship for one person. |
1940 | Iridium-Sponge Brain (from Adam Link's Vengeance by Eando Binder) A human-like metal brain for robots. |
1940 | Robot Suicide (from Adam Link's Vengeance by Eando Binder) A robot decides to commit suicide, and sets up a mechanism to put his decision into effect. |
1940 | Asbestos Sunshade (from The Achilles Heel by Raymond Z. Gallun) A means of shielding oneself from the sun's rays. |
1940 | Atomic Blast Weapon (from The Achilles Heel by Raymond Z. Gallun) Reduces the target to atoms. |
1940 | Atom-Shifter (from The Worlds of Tomorrow by Manly Wade Wellman) A device that 'softens' matter, making it possible for a person to pass through. |
1940 | Conversion Gun (from Hell Ship of Space by Frederic Arnold Kummer, Jr.) The ray converts the heat in an object to light. |
1940 | Space Shuttle (from Hell Ship of Space by Frederic Arnold Kummer, Jr.) A space-going vessel for trips from the surface of a planet to a ship in orbit, and back. |
1940 | Solid Power (from Revolt on the Tenth World by Edmond Hamilton) A concentrated form of easily accessed energy to supply any need. |
1940 | Atom-Gun (from Revolt on the Tenth World by Edmond Hamilton) A handheld device that sprays atomic fire. |
1940 | Neutronium Slippers (from Revolt on the Tenth World by Edmond Hamilton) Special footgear to keep ones footing in lower gravities. |
1940 | Telechronometer (from Blowups Happen by Robert Heinlein) A watch that synchronizes itself to a remote source. |
1940 | Tumblebug (from The Roads Must Roll by Robert Heinlein) A monocycle; a motorcycle that balances on a single wheel. |
1940 | Robbie (from Robbie by Isaac Asimov) A childcare robot. |
1940 | Paralyzing Gun (from The Achilles Heel by Raymond Z. Gallun) Renders senseless any human in its path. |
1940 | Cyclotronic Ore-Hurler (from Exit From Asteroid 60 by D.L. James) Using the magnetic properties of an asteroid to send ore hurling across space! |
1940 | Air Scooter (from Space Double by Nat Schachner) A flying personal vehicle. |
1940 | Synthetic Voice (from The Amazon Fights Again by Thornton Ayre) Artificial human speech. |
1940 | Voder (from Exit From Asteroid 60 by D.L. James) Device that produces speech by purely mechanical means. |
1940 | Planetfall (from Quicksands of Youthwardness by Malcolm Jameson) Making a landing on a planet from space. |
1940 | Test Box (from The Devil's Pocket by F.E. Hardart) A remote-controlled device for capturing small objects from open space. |
1940 | Synthetic Flesh (from The Amazon Fights Again by Thornton Ayre) Material resembles human flesh, handy for disguises. |
1940 | Darkened Glass Face Plate (from The Achilles Heel by Raymond Z. Gallun) The use of darkened glass on the face plate of a space suit helmet to protect the wearer from solar radiation. |
1940 | Vacuum Wall Compartments (from The Achilles Heel by Raymond Z. Gallun) Shielding against heat by using walls with evacuated sections. |
1940 | Double-Pane Vacuum Window (from The Achilles Heel by Raymond Z. Gallun) Double-pane glass separated by vacuum. |
1940 | Death-Capsule (from Doom Over Venus by Edmond Hamilton) A tiny implanted explosive capsule can be activated remotely. |
1940 | Dream-House (from Doom Over Venus by Edmond Hamilton) An establishment wherein one could find the finest dream adventures placed in his own mind. |
1940 | Dream-Adventures (from Doom Over Venus by Edmond Hamilton) Dreams sent directly to the brain are more popular than movies. |
1940 | Dream-Machine (from Doom Over Venus by Edmond Hamilton) The mechanism that sent standardized dreams into the brain. |
1940 | Planetary ID Card (from Doom Over Venus by Edmond Hamilton) Identification for every person on every planet in the solar system. |
1940 | Solar Station Switch Room (from Doom Over Venus by Edmond Hamilton) A power station for the entire solar system. |
1940 | Humanoid (from Homo Sol by Isaac Asimov) An alien with a human-like shape and appearance. |
1940 | Bifocal TV Screen Lenses (from Doom Over Venus by Edmond Hamilton) Using the bottom lens of bifocals as a TV screen. |
1940 | Lighting Panel (from Let There Be Light by Lyle Monroe) A large panel that presents illumination without heat. |
1940 | San-Ray Projector (from Hell Ship of Space by Frederic Arnold Kummer, Jr.) Device produces a habit-forming, nerve-tingling ray that clouds the mind. |
1940 | Grapple-Ray (from Exit From Asteroid 60 by D.L. James) A version of the tractor beam idea. |
1940 | Stratospheric Traffic (from The Great God Awto by Clark Ashton Smith) Bad traffic at every level. |
1940 | Hydroponics (from The Hydroponic Monster by Maria Moravsky) Growing food without soil, typically from water saturated with nutrients. |
1940 | Solar Power Screen (from Let There Be Light by Lyle Monroe) Absorb all solar energy, and emit electrical energy. |
1940 | Autosight Achronic Beam (from Hindsight by Jack Williamson) A range-finder for weaponry that isn't limited by time, for the ultimate in accuracy. |
1940 | Floating Villa (from Doom Over Venus by Edmond Hamilton) An artificial island several acres in extent. |
1940 | Solar-Powered Electric Runabout (from Let There Be Light by Lyle Monroe) A vehicle powered from the sun. |
1941 | Camden Speedster (from Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein) A super sports utility vehicle (SUV); it drives on the highway, the water and jumps into the air for short periods. |
1941 | Oxygen Freshener (from Lost Rocket by Manly Wade Wellman) A device that removed carbon dioxide from air and replaced it with fresh oxygen. |
1941 | Mind Control Genetically Modified Food (from Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein) Plants that are modified to produce specific combinations of flavors. |
1941 | Orbital Mirror (from Completely Automatic by Theodore Sturgeon) A huge reflective surface in orbit around a planet or moon, the purpose of which is to focus sunlight onto the surface. |
1941 | Fresher (from Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein) Short for "refreshing chamber,", it is the future of personal hygiene technology. |
1941 | Weather Integrator (from Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein) An entire technology for controlling the weather. |
1941 | Positronic Brain (from Reason by Isaac Asimov) A computer CPU with the capacity to rival a human brain. |
1941 | Parking Orbit (from Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein) An orbit from which access to the planet's surface via a small auxiliary vessel is quick and uncomplicated. |
1941 | Lunar Used Spacecraft Lot (from Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein) A sales lot for used spacecraft |
1941 | Stunner (from Fire-Power by S.D. Gottesman) A non-lethal weapon; typically used like a firearm but only renders its victim unconscious. |
1941 | Newsbox (News-Receptor) (from Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein) Also referred to as a microviewer; could search media programming for news on a particular words used in the broadcast. |
1941 | Robot Mother (from The Mechanical Mice by Maurice G. Hugi) A self-replicating robot, which creates a series of helper bots that adapt to conditions as needed. |
1941 | Sleep Surrogate (from Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein) Pharmaceutical designed to make up for lost sleep. |
1941 | Neoterics (from Microcosmic God by Theodore Sturgeon) Pure engineering genius on tap. |
1941 | Howard Families (from Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein) A project designed to produce a group of people with exceptionally long life. |
1941 | Golden Shuttles (Mechanical Mice) (from The Mechanical Mice by Maurice G. Hugi) Very small robots with an appetite for watch parts. |
1941 | Psychophone (from The Mechanical Mice by Maurice G. Hugi) A device that allows the user to tune their mind to a future reality - a time-traveling device. |
1941 | Astrogation (to Astrogate) (from Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein) To navigate in space. |
1941 | Robopark (from Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein) An automated parking garage. |
1941 | Magnetized Boots (from Lost Rocket by Manly Wade Wellman) Special shoes to allow walking in and around a metal ship with no artificial gravity. |
1941 | Instant Customized Clothing (from Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein) A machine that produced a selected item of clothing, on the spot, based on customer demand. |
1941 | Flitter (from Vortex Blaster by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A small craft used for short-range journeys. |
1941 | Magnetic Sandals (from Star of Dreams by Jack Williamson) Special footgear to walk in zero-gee spacecraft. |
1941 | Hypnotic injunction (from Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein) A method of hypnosis that prevents people from revealing particular information. |
1941 | Traffic Control Camera (from Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein) An automated camera system that photographs license plates as cars move past on a road system. |
1941 | Thermatite (from Jurisdiction by Nat Schachner) Pure energy fuel mined on asteroids. |
1941 | Asteroid Claim Law (from Jurisdiction by Nat Schachner) The legal steps required in claiming an asteroid |
1941 | Space Lawyer (Sky-Lawyer) (from Jurisdiction by Nat Schachner) A lawyer with special knowledge of space law. |
1941 | Pseudogravity (from Common Sense by Robert Heinlein) Gravity produced by artifice, rather than by a suitably large mass. |
1941 | Joy-boat Junior (from Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein) A private space yacht, capable of suborbital journeys. |
1941 | Solar Energy Beam (from Masquerade by Clifford Simak) A solar energy plant on Mercury provides power for projects all over the solar system. |
1941 | Cold-Rest (from Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein) Lowering body temperature and metabolic levels, as in hibernation; also called reduced temperature somnolence. |
1941 | Cold-Sleep (from Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein) A state of hibernation, created by lowered temperature and metabolism. |
1941 | Space Tanned (from Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein) A tan acquired by being exposed to sunlight while outside the atmosphere. |
1941 | Solar Station (from Reason by Isaac Asimov) A satellite that gathers solar energy in space and then beams it to Earth (or other planetary surface). |
1941 | Slidewalk (from Sanity by Fritz Leiber) A moving sidewalk; a conveyor belt for people. |
1941 | Disinto (from Robot AL-76 Goes Astray by Isaac Asimov) A disintegrating ray. |
1941 | Automatic Speeding Fine (from Old Fireball by Nat Schachner) An automated device that not only computes the speed of a vehicle, but registers and then issues an electronic citation. |
1941 | Interplanetary Union Of Spacemen (from Old Fireball by Nat Schachner) An organized union of people who work in space. |
1941 | 'Chatterbox' News-Receptor (from Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein) An appliance for listening to the news that lacked content controls. |
1941 | Automated Hotel Reservation (from Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein) A hotel that did not use clerks; a self-service hotel. |
1941 | Controlway (from Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein) An automated highway system that takes full operational control of vehicles traveling upon it. |
1941 | Talking Speedometer (from Biddiver by Theodore Sturgeon) A gauge that tells you its value verbally |
1941 | Energy Weapon (from Seesaw by A.E. van Vogt) A device that fires pure energy, used as a weapon. |
1941 | Self-Lighting Cigarette (from Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein) A cigarette with a matchhead built in. |
1941 | Space Overalls (from Lost Rocket by Manly Wade Wellman) Light-duty space suit. |
1941 | Roving Bomb (from Lost Rocket by Manly Wade Wellman) Special zero-gee guided bomb. |
1941 | Group Ego (from Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein) A group mind; a single entity that shares a number of bodies. |
1941 | Metal Solvent Ray Thrower (from Lost Rocket by Manly Wade Wellman) Acts like a flame thrower in space. |
1941 | Paralyzing Eye (from The Best-Laid Scheme by L. Sprague de Camp) False eye contains mechanism for causing brief paralysis. |
1941 | Vanwinkling (from The Best-Laid Scheme by L. Sprague de Camp) Another name for time-traveling into the future. |
1941 | Momentum Screen (from Completely Automatic by Theodore Sturgeon) Allows a spacemen to avoid the problem of "high gee" forces on take-off. |
1941 | Improve Memory (from Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein) Help immortals make sense of their memories. |
1941 | A-Bomb (from Sixth Column by Anson MacDonald) Abbreviation for "atomic bomb". |
1941 | Dewlog (from The Traitor by Kurt von Rachen) A drug with the side-effect of virtually eliminating hunger. |
1941 | Antigrav Boots (from The Day We Celebrate by Nelson S. Bond) Footgear that negate gravity. |
1941 | Blastick (from The Traitor by Kurt von Rachen) A scorching beam weapon |
1941 | Electrono-Mirror (from The Day We Celebrate by Nelson S. Bond) Focuses the sun's rays on a planetary surface for terraforming purposes. |
1941 | Space Placers (from The Day We Celebrate by Nelson S. Bond) Miners who use placer mining techniques adapted from Earth geology. |
1941 | Epileptigenic Ray (from Sixth Column by Anson MacDonald) Ray causes uncontrollable spasms in human subjects. |
1941 | Bee Wing (from Slacker's Paradise by Malcolm Jameson) A flapping wing aircraft in use on Mars. |
1941 | Charted Planetoid Mines (from The Day We Celebrate by Nelson S. Bond) Charting the planetoids and minor bodies for mining purposes. |
1941 | Alterable License Number (from Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein) A device which permits a driver to alter the license plate without leaving the vehicle. |
1941 | Chardion Field (from Star of Dreams by Jack Williamson) Electronic 'envelope' that retained atmosphere on tiny worldlets. |
1941 | Geodesic Inflexors (from Star of Dreams by Jack Williamson) Propulsion provided not by pushing against matter, but against spacetime. |
1941 | Moon-Terror (from Star of Dreams by Jack Williamson) A syndrome common to people who live in less than half Earth-normal gravity. |
1941 | Atmospherics Switchboard (from Lie on the Beam by John Victor Peterson) Make sure each hotel room has the right atmosphere from the right planet. |
1941 | Spacehound (Beast) (from Beast of Space by F.E. Hardart) Oddly canine, telepathic beast digs in asteroids for metal. |
1941 | Identification Beacon (from Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein) Radio pulse to identify orbiting craft. |
1941 | Bone Conduction Receiver (from Sixth Column by Anson MacDonald) A concealed radio receiver. |
1941 | Time Line (from Time Wants A Skeleton by Ross Rocklynne) The sequence of events leading up to, and past, this moment. |
1941 | Robotics (from Liar by Isaac Asimov) The engineering field encompassing the creation and maintenance of robots. |
1941 | Uranatomic (from Backlash by Jack Williamson) An atomic pile that generates electricity. |
1941 | Wall Screen (from Star of Dreams by Jack Williamson) A large size display for video, anchored to a wall, or actually forming the wall itself. |
1941 | Roboticist (from Robot AL-76 Goes Astray by Isaac Asimov) A person who creates or works with robots. |
1941 | Squeaker (from Beast of Space by F.E. Hardart) Used to search out radium in asteroids. |
1941 | Anti-Robot Propaganda (from Liar by Isaac Asimov) Human activity against robots. |
1941 | Docking-Cradle (from They Never Came Back by Fritz Leiber) Holds a space craft in gravity. |
1941 | Space Station (from Backlash by Jack Williamson) A base of operations in space, typically in orbit around a larger body. |
1941 | Interplanetary Clearance (from Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein) Bureaucratic red tape associated with busy space ports. |
1941 | Floating Robot (from The Floating Robot by David Wright O'Brien) A robot that floats in mid-air. |
1941 | Hell-Stone (from Star of Dreams by Jack Williamson) An incomparably beautiful and rare jewel. |
1941 | Space Tunnel (from The Man Who Bought Mars by Polton Cross) An enclosed gang plank extended between space ships. |
1941 | Charging Arm (from Masters of Chance by William Morrison) A specialized device allowing a robot to charge itself. |
1941 | Quench Field (from The Purple Light by E. Waldo Hunter) Stopped runaway nuclear reactions by quenching the cascades of neutrons. |
1941 | Sweep Field (from Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein) Pulls in interplanetary matter for space ship propulsion. |
1941 | Space Socks (from Lost Rocket by Manly Wade Wellman) Protective garments for the lower extremities. |
1941 | Solar Car (from The Man Who Bought Mars by Polton Cross) A car the energy for which comes from the sun. |
1941 | Young Blood - New Blood For Old (from Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein) Replacing the blood plasma of older people with material from younger people. |
1941 | Robot Music (from The Robot God by Ray Cummings) Music created and performed entirely by robots. |
1941 | Asteroid Lanes (from Jurisdiction by Nat Schachner) Regular routes traversed by asteroids. |
1941 | Space Rush (from Jurisdiction by Nat Schachner) The Outer Space equivalent of the gold rush. |
1941 | Delayed Action Stereoscopic Principle (from Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein) Distinguishing far off space craft by relative speed against the fixed stars. |
1941 | Automatic Refueling Screen (from Biddiver by Theodore Sturgeon) Repels objects that are too big, and gathers small ones for fuel. |
1941 | Sleep Destroying Field (from Biddiver by Theodore Sturgeon) Causes lack of sleep. |
1941 | Hypnosis Ray (from Beyond All Weapons by Eric Frank Russell) Eases the words of dictators into the minds of the credulous. |
1941 | Pilot Beam (from Methuselah's Children by Murray Leinster) A signalling device that space craft in orbit descending to Earth could home in on and land. |
1941 | Visible Halo (from Sixth Column by Anson MacDonald) Providing a religious figure with a technological sign of grace. |
1941 | Psycho-History (from Beyond All Weapons by Eric Frank Russell) The application of psychology to historical data. |
1942 | Martian Sawgrass (from QRM - Interplanetary by George O. Smith) Specialized variety of plant that is used to provide oxygen for space stations. |
1942 | Capillotomer (from Beyond This Horizon by Robert Heinlein) An automatic shaving machine |
1942 | Vestan Parasite (from The World With A Thousand Moons by Edmond Hamilton) Semi-intelligent creatures that take control of the nervous system of other animals. |
1942 | News Roundup (from Beyond This Horizon by Robert Heinlein) A device that presents brief story outlines, any of which can be chosen to find details. |
1942 | Venus Equilateral Relay Station (from QRM - Interplanetary by George O. Smith) A converted asteroid that served as the relay station for telecommunications throughout the solar system. |
1942 | Thought-Screen (from Gray Lensman by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A device that prevents other people from taking over control of your thoughts and mind. |
1942 | Space Tugs (from Describe a Circle by Eric Frank Russell) Early use of familiar ocean vehicle in space. |
1942 | Gravitation Paralysis (from The World With A Thousand Moons by Edmond Hamilton) Dread illness of space travelers striking when changing from very weak to very strong gravities. |
1942 | Directrix Z9M9Z (from Gray Lensman by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A control center ship for a vast space armada. |
1942 | Telaudiogram (from The World With A Thousand Moons by Edmond Hamilton) An interplanetary communication method. |
1942 | Meteorscope (from The World With A Thousand Moons by Edmond Hamilton) A device that probes ahead in space detecting swarms of deadly meteors. |
1942 | Gravanol (from QRM - Interplanetary by George O. Smith) A medicine or supplement that helps astronauts deal better with high accelerations. |
1942 | Terraforming (from Collision Orbit by Jack Williamson) The process of modifying a planetary surface to resemble those of an ideal earth; affects the entire biosphere. |
1942 | Wheelchair Space Station (from Waldo by Robert Heinlein) A home in space. |
1942 | Weight-Shoes (from The World With A Thousand Moons by Edmond Hamilton) Devices intended to make it easier to walk on celestial bodies with weaker gravity. |
1942 | Wabbler (from The Wabbler by Murray Leinster) An autonomous underwater robot. |
1942 | Stasis Field (from Beyond This Horizon by Robert Heinlein) Energy field which prevents time from passing inside the field walls; no time passes, nobody gets hurt. |
1942 | Three Laws of Robotics (Rules of Robotics) (from Runaround by Isaac Asimov) The original formulation of Asimov's laws of robotics. |
1942 | Groundhog (from Waldo by Robert Heinlein) Not a space professional. |
1942 | The Twonky (from The Twonky by Lewis Padgett) A robotic device from the future, constructed to look like a 1940's radio cabinet. |
1942 | Vac Suit (from Child of the Sun by Leigh Brackett) A space suit, designed for use in vacuum. |
1942 | Sobriety Ray (from The Twonky by Lewis Padgett) A ray of a particular wavelength and intensity, that conferred instant sobriety on those it shone upon. |
1942 | Broomstick Speedster (from Waldo by Robert Heinlein) A two-seater craft capable of spaceflight; it used radiant power to achieve orbit. |
1942 | Slideway (from Beyond This Horizon by Robert Heinlein) A slidewalk, or moving walkway, that moves people forward. |
1942 | Radiation Garment (from Waldo by Robert Heinlein) Clothing worn by ordinary citizens to reduce the risk of radiation exposure. |
1942 | Atomics (from Nerves by Lester del Rey) The field of nuclear energy. |
1942 | Interplanetary Communications Center (from QRM - Interplanetary by George O. Smith) The backbone for a solar system-wide communications system. |
1942 | Insosuit (from Runaround by Isaac Asimov) A space suit specially designed to resist extreme heat. |
1942 | Time Dredge (from Time Dredge by Robert Arthur) A device that scoops up material from the past, and returns it to the present. |
1942 | Control Natural (from Beyond This Horizon by Robert Heinlein) A person who is allowed to have an unmodified genetic makeup. |
1942 | Black Coating (from Gray Lensman by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A material that absorbs practically all incident light. |
1942 | Zero-G Ashtray (from Waldo by Robert Heinlein) An ashtray designed for use on a space station. |
1942 | Waldo (from Waldo by Robert Heinlein) A telefactoring device; also known as the Waldo F. Jones Synchronous Reduplicating Pantograph. |
1942 | Radiant Power Receptor (DeKalbs) (from Waldo by Robert Heinlein) A device which received and used energy transmitted from a station or satellite. |
1942 | Electric Wall (from The World With A Thousand Moons by Edmond Hamilton) A wall of electric force. |
1942 | Thermodyne Heat Ray (from A Brand New World by Ray Cummings) Device focuses, and projects, a heat beam. |
1942 | Paragravity (from Collision Orbit by Jack Williamson) Artificial gravity. |
1942 | Alien Self-Government (from Co-Operate or Else by A.E. van Vogt) Rules to assure intelligent aliens the right to govern themselves in freedom. |
1942 | Auto-Clerk (from Beyond This Horizon by Robert Heinlein) An automated accounting system. |
1942 | Igloo-Shaped Space Shelter (from Collision Orbit by Jack Williamson) Easy to set up on airless asteroids. |
1942 | Thermalarm Relays (from Collision Orbit by Jack Williamson) Detects objects by their heat radiation, so space craft can maneuver around them. |
1942 | Pilot-Robot (from Collision Orbit by Jack Williamson) The piloting gear of a space tug. |
1942 | Xenephrene Interstellar World (from A Brand New World by Ray Cummings) A planet not attached to a solar system. |
1942 | Dirigible Space Armor (Working Space Suits) (from Collision Orbit by Jack Williamson) Heavy-duty space suits for mining work on asteroids. |
1942 | Space-Burned (from Collision Orbit by Jack Williamson) Analogous to sun-burned. |
1942 | Hive Mind (from The Face of the Deep by Edmond Hamilton) A group mind. |
1942 | Plastifoam (from Collision Orbit by Jack Williamson) Used to seal large leaks in space craft. |
1942 | Antigravity Plate (Antigravity Raft) (from Co-Operate or Else by A.E. van Vogt) A thin, circular craft that floats. |
1942 | Negative Safety-Field (from Collision Orbit by Jack Williamson) A paragravity-based shield for space craft. |
1942 | Energy Converter (from Runaround by Isaac Asimov) Massive unit on the sunside of Mercury converts heat into energy, and beams it around the solar system. |
1942 | Levitator Pack (from Gears for Nemesis by Raymond Z. Gallun) Handy anti-gravity when you need it. |
1942 | Contraterrene Matter (Antimatter) (from Collision Orbit by Jack Williamson) Contraterrene (CT) Matter (sometimes abbreviated "Seetee"). |
1942 | Asterite (from Collision Orbit by Jack Williamson) A person who was born and lived amongst the asteroids. |
1942 | Concentrated Cosmic Radiation (from The Face of the Deep by Edmond Hamilton) Passing through a region of intense radiation alters lifeforms. |
1942 | Seetee Blinker (from Collision Orbit by Jack Williamson) A marker of contraterrene matter (antimatter) asteroids, to aid in interplanetary navigation. |
1942 | Fairy Digits (Tiny Waldoes) (from Waldo by Robert Heinlein) Waldoes used for very fine work. |
1942 | Fire Storm (from Collision Orbit by Jack Williamson) When clouds of antimatter dust encountered ordinary matter spaceships. |
1942 | Cubics (from The Face of the Deep by Edmond Hamilton) Small, square animals that can combine to create a larger entity. |
1943 | Micro Book (Microbook) (from One Way Trip by Anthony Boucher) A very small volume, possibly an electronic book. |
1943 | Verhaeren Factor (from Robinc by Anthony Boucher) Provides autonomous robots with the capacity for independent creative action. |
1943 | Impervium (from Clash by Night by Lawrence O'Donnell) Unique material is impenetrable and indestructible. |
1943 | Usuform Robot Bartender (from Q.U.R. by Anthony Boucher) A robotic bartender that is designed along purely functional lines. |
1943 | Rod of Wrath (from Gather, Darkness! by Fritz Leiber) A sword made of light. |
1943 | Robot Chef (from Robinc by Anthony Boucher) Creative, autonomous robotic cook. |
1943 | Usuform Robot (from Q.U.R. by Anthony Boucher) A robot designed strictly along functional lines. |
1943 | Robot Taste Buds (from Robinc by Anthony Boucher) A sensor for robots that would allow it to taste foods like a human being. |
1943 | Pain Canopy (from Gather, Darkness! by Fritz Leiber) Pain by nerve induction improves interrogation. |
1943 | Meteor-Spotting Radar (from Recoil by George O. Smith) A device to warn spacecraft of oncoming meteors. |
1943 | Force Pencil (from Gather, Darkness! by Fritz Leiber) Device straps to forearm, projects a force beam. |
1943 | Deceleration Chambers (from The Storm by A.E. van Vogt) Stressed, the ship breaks apart into parts that may survive. |
1943 | Pneumo-Slacks (from The Proud Robot by Lewis Padgett) Pants that make you look beefier. |
1943 | Vastening (from The Proud Robot by Lewis Padgett) It's hard to describe, but it's a robotic sense perception. |
1943 | Space Weather Map (from The Storm by A.E. van Vogt) A map that details hazardous space conditions. |
1943 | Treatment of Extramundane Aborigines (from Symbiotica by Eric Frank Russell) Laws for aliens on their own planet. |
1943 | Sea Robot (from The Metal Monster (Jarvis) by E.K. Jarvis) An enormous robot able to function in the ocean. |
1943 | Flame Barrier (from The Storm by A.E. van Vogt) A form of protective force field. |
1943 | Manshell (from Sunward Flight by Leo Zagat) A spaceship large enough for just one man; also an escape pod. |
1943 | Inviolability Field (from Gather, Darkness! by Fritz Leiber) A kind of field of force built into a robe, to protect an individual person. |
1943 | Gum Tree (from Symbiotica by Eric Frank Russell) A huge tree that lashed out with a mind of its own. |
1943 | Personality Alteration (from Gather, Darkness! by Fritz Leiber) Permanent alternation of personality, the tools of the trade. |
1943 | Off-World (from Judgement Night by C.L. Moore) Not of Earth. |
1943 | Robot Cop (from Pacifist of Hell's Island by R.M. Williams) A robotic police officer. |
1943 | Royalties For Machine Learning Subjects (from Q.U.R. by Anthony Boucher) A payment to people who are used as subjects for imitation learning by robots. |
1943 | Aladur (from Sunward Flight by Leo Zagat) High tensile strength, lightweight material. |
1943 | Visigraphic Crowd Emotional Record (from Gather, Darkness! by Fritz Leiber) A graphic record of the emotions of a crowd. |
1943 | Mixed Men (from The Storm by A.E. van Vogt) A mostly human being, but with an additional robot brain. |
1943 | Polyfrequency Neutralizer (from Gather, Darkness! by Fritz Leiber) Dissolves projected solidographs (holograms). |
1943 | Plastibulb (from The Proud Robot by Lewis Padgett) A squeezable drink container. |
1943 | Space Cadet (from Sunward Flight by Leo Zagat) A young person training to be a spaceman. |
1943 | Zeroentropy Spray (from Gather, Darkness! by Fritz Leiber) A method of reducing the disorder of an object as much as possible, reducing the temperature close to absolute zero. |
1943 | Coldlight (from Sunward Flight by Leo Zagat) A means of producing illumination that does not produce heat. |
1943 | Telesolidograph (from Gather, Darkness! by Fritz Leiber) Projects three-dimensional images at great distances. |
1943 | Airpolo (from Sunward Flight by Leo Zagat) Polo played in mid-air with special aircraft and helium-filled balls. |
1943 | Rocketeer (from Sunward Flight by Leo Zagat) A person who pilots rockets. |
1943 | Stratoyacht (from Sunward Flight by Leo Zagat) A privately-owned pleasure craft capable of attaining orbit. |
1943 | Viewscreen Pentagon (from Sunward Flight by Leo Zagat) A display with a central, pentagonal display surrounded by square displays attached to the sides. |
1943 | Durasteel (from Sunward Flight by Leo Zagat) More durable than steel? |
1943 | Solidograph (from Gather, Darkness! by Fritz Leiber) Long distance projection of three-dimensional images. |
1943 | Adjustable House (from Gather, Darkness! by Fritz Leiber) A house with elastic walls and structural members, the shape of which can be changed. |
1943 | Filmag (from Sunward Flight by Leo Zagat) A video magazine. |
1944 | Solar Beam (from The Long Way by George O. Smith) Obtaining solar power by means of a direct connection with the sun. |
1944 | Energy Screen (from Far Centaurus by A.E. van Vogt) A field of force. |
1944 | Suit-Radio (from The Long Way by George O. Smith) A means of communication between two individuals clad in space suits. |
1944 | Robotic Arm (from City by Clifford Simak) A specialized robotic reaching and grasping device. |
1944 | Gravitics (from Tricky Tonnage by Malcolm Jameson) The science of using gravity as a technology. |
1944 | Multiple Robot Team (from Catch That Rabbit by Isaac Asimov) A set of robots, with the leader able to coordinate the activities of less intelligent subsidiary robots. |
1944 | Robot Voice (from Catch That Rabbit by Isaac Asimov) A voice box for a robot that is an analog of the human voice system. |
1944 | Asteroid Mining Robot (from Catch That Rabbit by Isaac Asimov) An autonomous robot able to effectively mine asteroids. |
1944 | Robot Lawn Mower (from City by Clifford Simak) An automated lawn mower. |
1944 | Battle Integrator (from The Bureaucrat by Malcolm Jameson) A three-dimensional representation of warfare in space. |
1944 | Life Blanket (from Ogre by Clifford Simak) Sentient moss which, when draped over the shoulders of a human being, becomes fully self-aware, providing valuable services. |
1944 | Eternity Drug (from Far Centaurus by A.E. van Vogt) A medication that puts a person into a deep hibernation-like sleep for decades at a time. |
1944 | Star Base (from Star Base X by R.M. Williams) An installation or station at an important interstellar location. |
1944 | Relations with Extraterrestrial Life (from Ogre by Clifford Simak) Instructions to earth citizens on how to behave when encountering alien civilizations. |
1944 | Automatic Massager (from Far Centaurus by A.E. van Vogt) An autonomous massage machine with robotic arms and hands. |
1944 | Rust Ray Pistol (from Gambler’s Asteroid by Manly Wade Wellman) Makes the hardest steel or iron crumbly. |
1944 | Hide in the Asteroids (from Plague by Murray Leinster) Match speed with the asteroids and become undetectable. |
1944 | Mal de Void (from Off the Beam by George O. Smith) Literally, space sick. |
1944 | Turnover (from Off the Beam by George O. Smith) The point in a torchship's trajectory when it must flip over and point its fiery tail toward its destination to decelerate. |
1944 | Hollow Asteroid (from Juke Box Asteroid by Joseph Farrell) An asteroid that has been hollowed out for use as a space habitat. |
1944 | Reserve Bracelet (from Plague by Murray Leinster) A means of sending a message via tiny shocks in code, delivered to the wrist. |
1944 | Gyrocar Monorail (from The Anarch by Malcolm Jameson) A self-balancing vehicle. |
1945 | Geosynchronous Satellite (from V2 for Ionospheric Research by Arthur C. Clarke) A communications satellite that appears to "hover" over one spot on the earth's surface; it goes around the earth in twenty-four hours. |
1945 | Electronic Locator (from World of Null-A by A.E. van Vogt) A device that determines the location of a person. |
1945 | Games Machine (from World of Null-A by A.E. van Vogt) A vast computer system. |
1945 | Sleeve Communicator (from First Contact by Murray Leinster) An electronic device controller built into clothing. |
1945 | Plastic Constructor (3D Printer) (from Things Pass By by Murray Leinster) A 3D printer - for spaceships. |
1945 | Overdrive (from First Contact by Murray Leinster) A propulsion technology that allows a craft to travel at faster-than-light speed. |
1945 | Vision Plate (from First Contact by Murray Leinster) A flat panel monitor. |
1945 | Meteor Blasters (from First Contact by Murray Leinster) Energy beams that would destroy space debris or rocks that lay in the path of a spacecraft. |
1945 | Cosmoquake (from Things Pass By by Murray Leinster) Gravity waves ripple across the solar system. |
1945 | Fixed Star Advertising (from Pi in the Sky by Frederic Brown) In which the positions of the fixed stars are changed to form advertising. |
1945 | Matter Duplicator (from Pandora's Millions by George O. Smith) Makes a perfect copy of any material object. |
1945 | Star-Globe (3D Map) (from Pi in the Sky by Frederic Brown) A celestial star map, done in three dimensions. |
1945 | Escapecraft (from The Ethical Equations by Murray Leinster) A small spacecraft used when abandoning the main ship. |
1945 | Ship Hull Thermobatteries (from The Ethical Equations by Murray Leinster) Solar activated and charged batteries built into the hull of a spacecraft. |
1946 | Logics Service (from A Logic Named Joe by Murray Leinster) A networked service that retains all of your personal information, schedules and phone messages online. |
1946 | Star Travel (from Forgotten World by Edmond Hamilton) Undertaking a journey between the stars. |
1946 | Mining Worm (Robot) (from Love Among The Robots by Emmett McDowell) An autonomous mining robot shaped like a worm. |
1946 | Plastic Igloo (from Love Among The Robots by Emmett McDowell) A heavy plastic shelter for use in airless environments. |
1946 | Logics (from A Logic Named Joe by Murray Leinster) Machines that let you request information, and then display it for you on a screen. |
1946 | Carson Circuit (from A Logic Named Joe by Murray Leinster) A means of distinguishing betweem millions of different information sources - the secret of the Internet. |
1946 | Pocket Universe (from Pocket Universes by Murray Leinster) A created, separate space within the normal space of the universe. |
1946 | Tanks (from A Logic Named Joe by Murray Leinster) Device that provides mass storage of information. |
1946 | Asteroid Mine (from Love Among The Robots by Emmett McDowell) The practice of seeking out and mining asteroids for their ore. |
1946 | Gravity Port (from Shadow Over Venus by Frank Belknap Long, Jr.) Used for refueling. |
1946 | Wandering Sunless Planet (from Dead Hand by Isaac Asimov) A planet that is not bound to a star. |
1946 | Robot Cat (from The Cat and the King by Raymond F. Jones) A biological feline with mechanical parts. |
1946 | Robot Bus (from The Little Things by Henry Kuttner) An autonomous vehicle to transport groups of people. |
1946 | Spotcast (from The Little Things by Henry Kuttner) A new form of one-to-many communication. |
1946 | Roboticist (from Evidence by Isaac Asimov) A person who works on robots. |
1947 | Wango Wave (from Propagandist by Murray Leinster) Energy surge that accompanies the entrance into, and exit from, overdrive outside of normal space. |
1947 | Planet-Smasher (from Propagandist by Murray Leinster) Devices capable of destroying an entire planet. |
1947 | Mechanical Funeral (from The Coffin by Ray Bradbury) An entirely autonomous burial rite. |
1947 | Ion Drive (from Equalizer by Jack Williamson) A space drive that emits a stream of ions as reaction mass; it starts out slow but builds up to interstellar speeds. |
1947 | Gyrocab (from You Are Forbidden! by Jerry Shelton) A flying taxi. |
1947 | Psychoscanner (from Propagandist by Murray Leinster) A device capable of taking impressions, feelings and memories from living brains; it can be used on animals as well. |
1947 | Hedgerly Effect (from Meddler's Moon by George O. Smith) A means of producing a gravitational field artificially. |
1947 | Synchrophased Power Beams (from Propagandist by Murray Leinster) Focuses energy beams from multiple planets on the same object. |
1947 | Gravitic Generator (from Meddler's Moon by George O. Smith) A device that produces an artificial gravity field. |
1947 | Prime Directive (from With Folded Hands by Jack Williamson) The first and most important rule; usually protective. |
1947 | Self-Opening Box (from Child's Play by William Tenn) Don't show this to Apple. |
1947 | Space-Split (from The Star of Life by Edmond Hamilton) Access to other dimensions provided by splitting space itself. |
1947 | Machine Servant (from The Star of Life by Edmond Hamilton) A wheeled plastic box with universal-joint arms. |
1947 | Space-Dory (from Asteroid Justice by V.E. Thiessen) A small spacecraft sometimes used as a life boat. |
1947 | Asteroid Nets (from Asteroid Justice by V.E. Thiessen) Capturing small asteroids or fragments using rocket nets. |
1947 | Vitalizer (from The Soma Racks by Margaret St. Clair) Tired? Try Henderson's Vitalizer! |
1948 | Crimestop (from 1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four) by George Orwell) The faculty of stopping short, as though by instict, at the threshold of any dangerous thought. |
1948 | Moonquake-Proof Habitats (from Gentlemen, Be Seated by Robert Heinlein) Moonbases that are built to withstand quakes on the Moon. |
1948 | Portable Telephone (from Space Cadet by Robert Heinlein) The essence of a cell phone. |
1948 | Precog (v) (from Police Operation by H. Beam Piper) To see the future. |
1948 | Speakwrite (from 1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four) by George Orwell) A dictation machine that also transcribes the speech into typed words. |
1948 | Rewriting History (from 1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four) by George Orwell) Use of sophisticated technology to continuously rewrite the historical record. |
1948 | Tag-Along Balloon (from Gentlemen, Be Seated by Robert Heinlein) A bladder-like device that both finds and temporarily fixes leaks in moon tunnels or space station habitats. |
1948 | Microwavable Food (from Space Cadet by Robert Heinlein) Food that is prepared specifically for use in a microwave (high-frequency) oven. |
1948 | Novel-Writing Machines (from 1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four) by George Orwell) A device that automatically produces fiction. |
1948 | Doublethink (from 1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four) by George Orwell) A mental discipline that is an exact contradiction to the basic principles of scientific inquiry. |
1948 | Brain Erasure (from The Knowledge Machine by Edmond Hamilton) Deleting selected knowledge from the brain using electrical impulses. |
1948 | Space Ark (from Decision Illogical by N.B. Wilkinson) A very large ship used to transport a large group of people. |
1948 | High-Frequency Oven (from Space Cadet by Robert Heinlein) This describes the essence of a microwave. |
1948 | Telescreen (from 1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four) by George Orwell) Very early use of the idea of using technology to monitor human activity at a distance. |
1948 | Gravity Centrifuge (from Space Cadet by Robert Heinlein) Used in low gravity environments to build up muscle for visits to Earth, or other high gravity worlds. |
1948 | Moonbase (or Moon Base) (from 240,000 Miles Straight Up by L. Ron Hubbard) A base of operations on Earth's moon. |
1948 | Learning-Cap (from The Knowledge Machine by Edmond Hamilton) A special metal helmet for electro-education. |
1948 | Electro-Education (from The Knowledge Machine by Edmond Hamilton) The latest thing in electrically stimulated learning. |
1948 | Star Drive (from Genius by Poul Anderson) The propulsion unit for an interstellar space craft. |
1948 | Memory Hole (from 1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four) by George Orwell) A receptacle for unwanted documents. |
1948 | Solidograph-Projector (from Police Operation by H. Beam Piper) A device that projected a 3D image of objects or a person. |
1948 | Personal Rocket Jet (from Space Cadet by Robert Heinlein) A small, handheld jet pack that can be used to maneuver freely in space. |
1948 | Atmospheric Braking (from Space Cadet by Robert Heinlein) Using a planet's atmosphere to gradually decelerate a spacecraft. |
1948 | Versificator (from 1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four) by George Orwell) A device that composes words to music. |
1949 | Quizzer (from Agent of Vega by James Schmitz) An autonomous mind-probe. |
1949 | Repulsor (from What Mad Universe by Frederic Brown) A device that inhibits the action of a spacewarp drive. |
1949 | Metal Calculator Planet (from Limiting Factor by Clifford Simak) A planet covered entirely with machinery to a height of twenty miles and covered with a metal roof. |
1949 | Spacewarp Drive (from What Mad Universe by Frederic Brown) A means of faster-than-light travel. |
1949 | Gee (from Sacred Martian Pig (Idris' Pig) by Margaret St. Clair) Using the standard letter designation in physics for gravity. |
1949 | Stationary Automatic Blaster (from Red Planet by Robert Heinlein) An automated defensive blaster. |
1949 | Mind-Parasite (from Agent of Vega by James Schmitz) Takes over the cognition of a host organism. |
1949 | Visiglobe (from Agent of Vega by James Schmitz) A display that provided a spherical, 3D visualization of a scene. |
1949 | Skimmer (from Lost Ulysses by W.L. Bade) Low-flying, hovering vehicle. |
1949 | Telepath Transmitter (from Agent of Vega by James Schmitz) A device for long distance communication that makes use of telepathy. |
1949 | Vivo-Gel (from Agent of Vega by James Schmitz) Semi-living material. |
1949 | Mind-Lock (from Agent of Vega by James Schmitz) A device that confines a mind within its own shielded area. |
1949 | Desert Cabbage (from Red Planet by Robert Heinlein) A giant plant that regulates its internal temperature even on Mars. |
1949 | Emergency Treatment Tank (Chamber) (from Agent of Vega by James Schmitz) A fully enclosed regeneration device. |
1949 | Synthetigrav (from Agent of Vega by James Schmitz) General term for any of the fields produced by synthetic gravity devices. |
1949 | 'Fresher (from Gulf by Robert Heinlein) Short for 'refreshing chamber', a device that performs various personal services. |
1949 | Three Generation Work (Century Piece) (from The Sub-Standard Sardines by Jack Vance) An artwork created by three consecutive generations of artists, in exactly one century. |
1949 | Bubble Armor Space Suit (from Agent of Vega by James Schmitz) Steel bubble-shaped space suit. |
1949 | Herculoy (from The Howling Bounders by Jack Vance) A very strong alloy like steel. |
1949 | Resilian (from The Howling Bounders by Jack Vance) A natural fiber that is as strong as steel. |
1949 | Fluor Strips (from Sacred Martian Pig (Idris' Pig) by Margaret St. Clair) Lighting long narrow devices. |
1949 | Plastiskin (from Unforeseen by Roger P. Graham) Artificial human skin to cover prosthetics. |
1949 | Space Scurvy (Kenoalgia) (from Sacred Martian Pig (Idris' Pig) by Margaret St. Clair) A wasting disease of space travel. |
1949 | Shari (from Sacred Martian Pig (Idris' Pig) by Margaret St. Clair) A multipurpose net worn as clothing. |
1949 | Robot Introspection (from Unforeseen by Roger P. Graham) A robotic brain grows and learns about itself. |
1949 | Painted Respirator Masks (from Red Planet by Robert Heinlein) Children choose to decorate otherwise uniform equipment masks. |
1949 | Self-Igniter (from The Howling Bounders by Jack Vance) A self-lighting cigarette. |
1949 | Bolt Anti-Grav (from Sacred Martian Pig (Idris' Pig) by Margaret St. Clair) This device produces a torus-shaped discharge that causes weightlessness. |
1950 | Tri-D (from The Morning of the Day They Did It by E.B. White) A remarkable pesticide. |
1950 | Building With Lunar Materials (from The Moon is Hell by John W. Campbell) Using a planet's materials to make what you need. |
1950 | Tractatruck (from The Moon is Hell by John W. Campbell) Combination tractor and truck used for hauling and exploration. |
1950 | Yeast Steak (from The Evitable Conflict by Isaac Asimov) Growing custom strains of yeast as food. |
1950 | Underpeople (from The Ballad of Lost C'Mell by Cordwainer Smith) An animal modified to be human in shape and intellect. |
1950 | The Machines (from The Evitable Conflict by Isaac Asimov) A few of these can run a planetary economy. |
1950 | Fontema (from First Lensman by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A strange two 'wheeled' animal. |
1950 | Computer-Controlled House (from The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury) A residence that is an autonomous robotic system. |
1950 | Repair Robots (from The Well-Oiled Machine by H.B. Fyfe) Autonomous robots that carry out maintenance functions on a space ship. |
1950 | Anti-Tri-D Shot (from The Morning of the Day They Did It by E.B. White) Counteracts the deadly pesticide Tri-D. |
1950 | Sand Ship (from The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury) A wind-powered vehicle in the desert. |
1950 | Stratovideo (Television Plane) (from The Morning of the Day They Did It by E.B. White) An aircraft with studios that continuously broadcast line-of-sight television. |
1950 | Earthport (from The Ballad of Lost C'Mell by Cordwainer Smith) A massive spaceport that reared up from the surface of the earth to the edge of the atmosphere. |
1950 | Space Platform (from The Morning of the Day They Did It by E.B. White) The Space Platform for Checking Aggression is a military orbital weapons platform. |
1950 | Mass-Conversion Ship (from Farmer in the Sky by Robert Heinlein) A spacecraft that uses the ultimate in fuel sources. |
1950 | Diaheliper (from The Morning of the Day They Did It by E.B. White) Offers delivery of diapers by air. |
1950 | Robotic Dishwasher (from The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury) A fully automated solution to the dishwashing problem. |
1950 | Robot Mice (from The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury) Tiny cleaning robots. |
1950 | Voice-Clock (from The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury) A clock that could state the time out loud. |
1950 | Two-Wheeled Ground Car (from First Lensman by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A gyro-stabilized vehicle like an enclosed motorcycle. |
1950 | Shuttle (from Stars are Styx by Theodore Sturgeon) A space craft that travels point to point in space. |
1950 | Walker Wagon (from Farmer in the Sky by Robert Heinlein) Robotic vehicle with a trough-like body and many mechanical legs. |
1950 | Hybrid Mass Driver (from The Man Who Sold The Moon by Robert Heinlein) A device for launching space craft on the first stage of a journey to space. |
1950 | Gravity Drive (from Star Ship by Poul Anderson) A spaceship propulsion method that uses gravity or gravity waves. |
1950 | Torch (from Farmer in the Sky by Robert Heinlein) The orifice from which issued the reaction mass of an atomic powered space craft. |
1950 | Syntho-Steak (from Farmer in the Sky by Robert Heinlein) Artificially produced meat. |
1950 | Quickthaw (from Farmer in the Sky by Robert Heinlein) A microwave oven to heat food items quickly. |
1950 | Haberman (from Scanners Live in Vain by Cordwainer Smith) Modified humans controlled by cybernetic implants. |
1950 | Helicab (from Heli-Cab Hack by John Weston) A taxi cab that flies using helicopter rotors. |
1950 | Culture Tank (from Needle by Hal Clement) Germs that eat garbage and produce oil. |
1950 | Automatic Light Switch (from The Man Who Sold The Moon by Robert Heinlein) A device that senses if an illuminated room is empty, and turns off the light. |
1950 | Nexialist (from Voyage of the Space Beagle by A.E. van Vogt) A person with a coordinative knowledge across a variety of sciences. |
1950 | FTL (from The Enchanted Forest by Fritz Leiber) Abbreviation for "faster than light". |
1950 | Black Bag (from The Little Black Bag by C.M. Kornbluth) A medical kit from the future. |
1950 | Earther (from The Five Gold Bands by Jack Vance) A person born on planet Earth. |
1950 | Water From Lunar Gypsum (from The Moon is Hell by John W. Campbell) Extracting water (and therefore oxygen, by electrolysis) from apparently dry lunar material. |
1950 | Nucleocat Cureall (from Contagion by Katherine MacLean) Only human cells can survive contact. |
1950 | Shipboard Medical Treatment (from Contagion by Katherine MacLean) An elaborate system to guard against infection in returning space explorers. |
1950 | Regeneration Tank (from Contagion by Katherine MacLean) A nutrient bath large enough to enclose a person that preserved life and treated disease. |
1951 | Winged Rocket Shuttle (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein) A sort of plane that briefly reached space while traveling between points on a planet. |
1951 | Machine Test Scoring (from The Fun They Had by Isaac Asimov) A device that scans a specially prepared grade sheet and determines a student's score. |
1951 | Zag House (from First He Died (Time and Again) by Clifford Simak) A means of implanting dreams. |
1951 | Shuttle Ship (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein) A spacecraft that could take off from a planet, rendezvous with an object in orbit, and fly back to the surface like a glider. |
1951 | Autocab (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein) An fully automated taxi cab. |
1951 | Helmet-Mounted Display Screen (from Rock Diver by Harry Harrison) A small electronic display mounted for easy viewing. |
1951 | Martian Perambulator (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein) A mechanized transport for heavy gravity environments for beings born in lower gravity environments. |
1951 | Robotic Chess Expert (from First He Died (Time and Again) by Clifford Simak) A robot that plays chess at a level that no human can match. |
1951 | Security Restraint Field (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein) A force field that restricts personal movement. |
1951 | Space Transfer Station (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein) An orbiting space station primarily used as a stepping-off point from Earth. |
1951 | Self-Adjusting Furniture (from First He Died (Time and Again) by Clifford Simak) Automatic adjustment for a perfect fit. |
1951 | Guided Missile Control Station (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein) An orbital missile base. |
1951 | Spinning Pressurized Drum (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein) Put a spin on just a part of a space station. |
1951 | Mechanical Teacher (from The Fun They Had by Isaac Asimov) A computer device able to teach children. |
1951 | Telebook (from The Fun They Had by Isaac Asimov) A book made available in text on a television screen. |
1951 | Mentophone (from First He Died (Time and Again) by Clifford Simak) A device that facilitates long-distance telepathy. |
1951 | Static Field (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A defense against a spy beam. |
1951 | Trantor (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A city that covers the entire surface of the planet. |
1951 | Negative Molecular Motion (from The Universe Between by Alan E. Nourse) A state of matter that has a temperature below absolute zero. |
1951 | Robass (from The Quest for Saint Aquin by Anthony Boucher) A robotic beast of burden. |
1951 | Cold-Sleep (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein) A form of induced suspended animation, in which a person enters a state like hibernation. |
1951 | Pocket Nucleo-Bulb (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A nuclear-powered pocket-sized flashlight. |
1951 | Pail of Air (from A Pail of Air by Fritz Leiber) A small bucket filled with (liquid) air. |
1951 | Microwire (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein) A very thin wire used for recording purposes. |
1951 | Half-Sphere Force Field (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein) A protective force field that can manifest even as a half-sphere. |
1951 | Vibratory Mass Penetrator (from Rock Diver by Harry Harrison) A device that allows a person to walk through earth and even solid rock. |
1951 | Spy Beam (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A surveillance device that projects energy into a room, revealing conversation taking place. |
1951 | Personal Capsule (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) An impenetrable device containing information for your eyes only. |
1951 | Plasto-Textile (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A fabric that cannot be stained. |
1951 | Nuclear Shears (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Device uses nuclear power to accomplish basic shop tasks. |
1951 | Dirt-Farming (from The End of the Line by James Schmitz) An archaic method of food production. |
1951 | Jump Through Hyperspace (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Device that makes faster-than-light travel possible. |
1951 | Surrogate Skin (from The Puppet Masters by Robert Heinlein) False skin that is sprayed onto damaged areas. |
1951 | Dominator (from The End of the Line by James Schmitz) Device implants a psychological block. |
1951 | Psychohistory (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Branch of mathematics describes the behavior of human beings en masses. |
1951 | Ontogenetic Adaptation (from The End of the Line by James Schmitz) Immediate genetic-level ability to eat alien plants. |
1951 | Genetic Engineering (from Dragon's Island by Jack Williamson) Direct manipulation of genetic material |
1951 | Force-Field Penknife (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A pocket-sized knife, the blade of which is a force-field. |
1951 | Gravitic Repulsion Elevator (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) The elevator was of the new sort that ran by gravitic repulsion. |
1951 | Neuronic Whip (from The Stars, Like Dust by Isaac Asimov) A weapon that stimulated the nerve endings to cause extreme discomfort. |
1951 | Selector Card (from The Puppet Masters by Robert Heinlein) Pneumatic delivery of book films by using a mechanical form of data storage; selector cards - probably punch cards. |
1951 | Calculator Pad (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Used to make psychohistoric calculations |
1951 | Odorophonics (from The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury) A system capable of reproducing selected scents capable of fooling the human nervous system. |
1951 | Molecule Matrix (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein) Storing information in individual molecules and atoms. |
1951 | Directional Ticket (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A ticket that also has the property of glowing while you are going toward what you bought. |
1951 | Airtight Tent (from Asteroid of Fear by Raymond Z. Gallun) A temporary structure for living on an airless moon or asteroid. |
1951 | Agricultural World (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Planet set aside for the production of food for another world. |
1951 | Vat Meat (Albert) (from The End of the Line by James Schmitz) Meat grown in a vat. |
1951 | Self-Sealing Plastic (from Asteroid of Fear by Raymond Z. Gallun) Transparent sheeting with a layer of material that would flow to staunch tiny leaks. |
1951 | Asteroid Garden (from Asteroid of Fear by Raymond Z. Gallun) A method for building a greenhouse on a small, airless body. |
1951 | Happylife Home (from The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury) An automated multi-media home, which provided the good life to its inhabitants. |
1951 | Asteroid Homesteaders' School (from Asteroid of Fear by Raymond Z. Gallun) An institution of learning where regular folks learned how to start a farm on an asteroid. |
1951 | Polaron Beam (from Earthlight (Novella) by Arthur C. Clarke) A unique beam of energy that scatters some of its light at right angles to the direction of propagation. |
1951 | Powered artificial exoskeleton (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein) A robotic device designed to support someone too weak to comfortably move in high gravity. |
1951 | Movable Slideway (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein) A slideway (moving sidewalk) that can be extended to a spaceship to ease the debarkation process. |
1951 | Flavor-Fix Rheostat (from The Jester by William Tenn) Technology makes sure that the flavor of automatically-produced food is perfect. |
1951 | Butler-Valet Robot (from The Jester by William Tenn) A gentleman's servant, roboticized. |
1951 | Anti-Spying Device (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Foolproof means of defending against spy beams. |
1951 | Audio Relay (from The Puppet Masters by Robert Heinlein) A communication device implanted behind the ear; also used as an alarm for wake-up calls. |
1951 | Flying Saucer (from The Puppet Masters by Robert Heinlein) Spacecraft flown by the androgynes of Titan - under control of the Puppetmasters. |
1951 | The Veldt (from The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury) A nursery that comes alive for the viewer. |
1951 | Suction Mail Tube (from The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury) An evacuated tube system carrying mail to residences. |
1951 | Ultrawave Relay or Hyperwave Relay (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Instantaneous, faster-than-light communication system. |
1951 | Robot Comedian (from The Jester by William Tenn) Joke-telling feature added to a standard butler robot. |
1951 | Variable Modifier (from The Jester by William Tenn) Provides the capability of altering standard jokes to fit new circumstances. |
1951 | Vocalex Kitchen (from The Jester by William Tenn) Voice command automatic kitchen. |
1951 | Teledar (from The Jester by William Tenn) Three-dimensional television. |
1951 | Finger Watch (from Key Decision by H.B. Fyfe) A ring that contains a working timepiece and a display. |
1951 | Neutron Disruption Blaster (from The Complete Paratime by H. Beam Piper) Beam pistol which splits neutrons into protons and electrons, releasing enormous energy. |
1951 | Personal Force-Shield (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A portable force-shield small enough to be carried by a single man. |
1951 | Metal Foil Advertisement (from The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury) An advertising circular made out of metal. |
1951 | Meson Filter (from The Jester by William Tenn) Provides robots with the ability to tell the difference between jokes that provide a chuckle and jokes that provide a belly laugh. |
1951 | Star-Globe (Ship) (from Brother Worlds by Raymond Z. Gallun) A spherical spacecraft. |
1951 | Retard-Jets (from Brother Worlds by Raymond Z. Gallun) Rockets to slow down. |
1951 | Oxygen Weeds (from The Sands of Mars by Arthur C. Clarke) Plants that create oxygen on a planet with little breathable air. |
1951 | Space Station One (from The Sands of Mars by Arthur C. Clarke) Describes an early space station similar to the International Space Station, that grew over time by accretion. |
1951 | Suspensine (from Duel on Syrtis by Poul Anderson) Slows biological functions enough to survive in airless space - for a time. |
1951 | Sun Dome (from The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury) Used on Venus to give relief from the endless rain. |
1951 | Oxygen Concentrator (from Duel on Syrtis by Poul Anderson) Gathers oxygen from a thin atmosphere until it is breathable, supporting life. |
1951 | Smarter People Having Fewer Children (from The Marching Morons by C.M. Kornbluth) The original argument that less suitable human pairs are having proportionally more children. |
1951 | Air Speedster (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Highly maneuverable air vehicle for hunting. |
1951 | Coffee Cube (from The Marching Morons by C.M. Kornbluth) Concentrated coffee that boils itself! |
1951 | Single Vehicle Tunnel (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A small diameter tunnel that accepts a single vehicle to a single destination. |
1951 | Ultra-Light (from Rock Diver by Harry Harrison) Allows the user to see into rock or other solid matter. |
1951 | Planetruck (from The Slave Ship to Andrigo by Ross Rocklynne) Huge vehicle for planetary surface transport. |
1951 | Sun-Room (from Foundation by Isaac Asimov) On a planet-wide city, the only way to get some sun without going to the roof. |
1951 | Booklegger (from Between Planets by Robert Heinlein) A smuggler of books. |
1952 | Visi-Sonor (from Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov) An entertainment device which appeared to create both sound and light by acting directly on brain cells. It also stimulated emotions directly. |
1952 | Airplane Window Ads (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) An airplane window that allows you to - see advertisements! |
1952 | Spray-On Gloves (from Abercrombie Station by Jack Vance) Fashionable evening gloves that are sprayed onto the hand and arm. |
1952 | Spray-On Clothing Web (from Abercrombie Station by Jack Vance) A 'web' clothing foundation that can be sprayed on and then molded by a couturier. |
1952 | Contragravity Suit (from Uller Uprising by H. Beam Piper) A suit with antigravity. |
1952 | Broomstick (from Islands in the Sky by Arthur C. Clarke) Device to ease movement in a zero-gravity environment. |
1952 | Off-Planet (from Uller Uprising by H. Beam Piper) Away from a planet, towards another or into space. |
1952 | Prism Window (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) A device for getting a better view of the ground from inside an airplane. |
1952 | Menslator (from Troubled Star by George O. Smith) A translator that works by examining the mental image of what you are trying to say. |
1952 | Tourist Rocket (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) A cheap, unpleasant way to do space travel. |
1952 | Chicken Little (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) Very early reference to meat grown in a vat for food. |
1952 | Barytrine Field (from Troubled Star by George O. Smith) Very large scale stasis field. |
1952 | Space Beacon (from Troubled Star by George O. Smith) An ordinary sun is transformed into a beacon for use by spacecraft when in hyperspace. |
1952 | Plasticocoon (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) Holds a prisoner motionless. |
1952 | Hypnoteleset (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) A device that guarantees quick, surrogate sleep. |
1952 | Soot-Extractor Nostril Plugs (Antisoot Plugs) (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) A small device worn to filter industrial pollutants out of breathing air. |
1952 | Levitating Path (from A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury) Anti-gravity metal used to make a floating walkway. |
1952 | Panatrope (from Surface Tension by James Blish) A device that modifies human dna to ensure survival in harsh alien environments. |
1952 | Flavor-Capsule (from Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov) A small pill used to turn ordinary water into a flavored beverage. |
1952 | Wall-Light (from Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov) The walls of a room provide illumination. |
1952 | Triple Airlock (from Uller Uprising by H. Beam Piper) Special device to protect against extremely corrosive atmospheres. |
1952 | Recorded Books (from Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov) Electronically recorded books. |
1952 | Mnemiphot (from The Kokod Warriors by Jack Vance) A device used to search for information, which is then presented on a convenient screen. |
1952 | Medical Use for Weightlessness (from Accidental Flight by W.F. Wallace) Early reference to the idea of using a weightless environment for medical purposes. |
1952 | Water Bulb (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) A zero-gee dispenser of liquids. |
1952 | Monoline (from Big Planet by Jack Vance) A wind-driven overland transport. |
1952 | Animal-tissue Culture Vat (from Uller Uprising by H. Beam Piper) A means of producing artificial meat for food. |
1952 | Chlorella Plantation (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) A skyscraper designed for food production. |
1952 | Electronic Spy (from Ring Around the Sun by Clifford Simak) An autonomous device that kept itself hidden while keeping track of an individual's activity. |
1952 | Water Bulb (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) A zero-g way to enjoy water. |
1952 | Pocket Projector (from Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov) A personal device for replaying media. |
1952 | Toaster (from Accidental Flight by W.F. Wallace) A handheld beam weapon. |
1952 | Kite-Copter Car (from The Kokod Warriors by Jack Vance) An observation car suspended below a device that supplies lift. |
1952 | Gravital Unit (from Accidental Flight by W.F. Wallace) Device that maintains Earth-comparable gravity on an asteroid. |
1952 | Stun Pistol (from Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov) A hand-held device that causes unconsciousness. |
1952 | Free Robot (from Robot Unwanted by Daniel Keyes) A robot without a master. |
1952 | Solar-powered Prefab House (from Ring Around the Sun by Clifford Simak) A pre-built house that can live off the grid. |
1952 | Personal Solar Plant (from Ring Around the Sun by Clifford Simak) A single-home solar-powered energy source. |
1952 | Ribbon World (from Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov) A planet that presents the same face to its sun has a small habitable area - the ribbon between light and dark. |
1952 | Psychic Probe (from Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov) A device capable of discerning truthful information in a living human brain. |
1952 | Gas Giant (from Solar Plexus by James Blish) Large planet consisting primarily of gas with a solid core. |
1952 | Hydropathic bed (from The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester) A heated bed that used something more comfortable than water. |
1952 | Automated Wake-Up Call (from The Kokod Warriors by Jack Vance) A device that provides automated wake-up calls. |
1952 | Flat Cat (from The Rolling Stones by Robert Heinlein) A nearly two-dimensional furry little beast. |
1952 | Ullran Enunciator (from Uller Uprising by H. Beam Piper) Special prosthesis needed to aid humans in speaking an alien language. |
1952 | Nuclear-Field Depressor (from Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov) A device that causes nuclear-powered devices to stop working. |
1952 | Airjeep (from Uller Uprising by H. Beam Piper) A small military air vehicle. |
1952 | Hilsch Vortex Tube (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) A T-shaped device that admits air under pressure and outputs hot air from side and cold from the other. |
1952 | Coffiest (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) It's coffee that you can't live without. |
1952 | Self-Repairing Robot (from Accidental Flight by W.F. Wallace) A mechanism that can detect faults in itself and repair them. |
1952 | Tiny Nuclear Generator (from Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov) A complete nuclear-based generator of power no bigger than a walnut. |
1952 | Lunocycle (Lunar Bicycle) (from The Rolling Stones by Robert Heinlein) A bicycle specially adapted for lunar travel. |
1952 | Automatic Pilot (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) A device to control the movement of aircraft using computer components. |
1952 | Magneslippers (from Accidental Flight by W.F. Wallace) Shoes that adhere to metal space ship floors, useful in null gravity situations. |
1952 | Retinal Projection (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) A method for projecting advertisements directly on the retina. |
1952 | Compulsive Subsonics (from The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) An advertising agency works with every part of the audience's brain. |
1952 | Plastissue (from Accidental Flight by W.F. Wallace) Artificial flesh. |
1952 | Lead-Bodied Android (from Robots of the World! Arise! by Mari Wolf) A robot designed for use in the nuclear industry. |
1952 | Light Absorbing/Emitting Ink (from Gravy Planet by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) Ink that can absorb light and then emit it in a burst for advertising purposes. |
1952 | Warp-Speed (from Yachting Party by Fox B. Holden) Faster than light spaceships. |
1952 | Zero 'g' (Zero Gee) (from Islands in the Sky by Arthur C. Clarke) In a ship in orbit, in free fall. |
1952 | Analogue Treatment (from Ticket to Anywhere by Damon Knight) Hypnotic drug treatment that normalizes behavior in humans. |
1952 | Robot Strike (from Robots of the World! Arise! by Mari Wolf) When robots refuse to work. |
1952 | Supervisor Robot (from Manners of the Age by H.B. Fyfe) A robot that watches over and gives orders to other robots. |
1952 | Flesh Men (from Robots of the World! Arise! by Mari Wolf) Thinking beings that are not mechanical robots - human beings. |
1952 | Beeper (from Islands in the Sky by Arthur C. Clarke) A handheld radar set, used to find items that have drifted off. |
1952 | Droid (First Use) (from Robots of the World! Arise! by Mari Wolf) Contraction of "android". |
1952 | Self-Maintaining Circuit Monitoring and Repair (from Gramp and his Dog by Frank Quattrocchi) A computer that monitors itself for repair. |
1952 | Photo Crystal (Cube) (from Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov) A small handheld display for a picture |
1952 | Singularity (from All The Time In The World by Arthur C. Clarke) In science, a condition in which spacetime breaks down; in society, a technological advance causes social conditions to break down. |
1952 | Tree-Grown Wood (from Gravy Planet by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) The natural product, obtained by cutting down a living tree. |
1952 | Law of Contact (from Orphans of the Void by Orville Shaara) Non-interference in the development of other worlds. |
1952 | Space-Weather Men (from Revenge of the Robots by Lawrence Chandler) Predictors of the 'weather' in space. |
1952 | Robot Manumission (from Robot Unwanted by Daniel Keyes) The freeing of a robotic being from a state of being owned property. |
1952 | Esper (from The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester) A person to perceive the contents of another person's mind. |
1952 | Robot Tennis Player (from Manners of the Age by H.B. Fyfe) A purely mechanical, autonomous foe on the court. |
1952 | Spy-Eyes (from Manners of the Age by H.B. Fyfe) Tiny robotic surveillance devices fly using propellers. |
1952 | Moon-Dome (from Last Blast by Eric Frank Russell) A transparent hemisphere used as a habitat. |
1952 | Robot Ramp (from Robot Unwanted by Daniel Keyes) A special means of ingress and egress solely for use by mechanical help. |
1952 | Silencer-Padding (from Robot Unwanted by Daniel Keyes) Robots need to have special padding on the bottoms of their lower limbs, so they don't clank as they walk. |
1952 | Cylinder Space Suit (from Islands in the Sky by Arthur C. Clarke) A mostly rigid, cylindrical space suit. |
1952 | Robotic Law Tape Safety Valve (from Robot Unwanted by Daniel Keyes) A specific impulse that warns robots contemplating breaking the laws set forth for their behavior. |
1952 | Robodore (from Robot Unwanted by Daniel Keyes) A robot specialized for use as a stevedore, emptying the contents of ships in port. |
1952 | Vision Strip (from Orphans of the Void by Orville Shaara) A circular vision strip for robots. |
1952 | Depilatory Soap (from Gravy Planet by Frederik Pohl (w/CM Kornbluth)) A labor-saving combination of soap and a agent that removes hair. |
1952 | Leak Disk (from Islands in the Sky by Arthur C. Clarke) Simple device to temporarily close a leak in a spacecraft. |
1953 | Space Flight Simulator (from Space Tug by Murray Leinster) Very early description of a way to practice flying in space while still on Earth. |
1953 | Self-Sufficient House (from Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke) A single family residence that required no surrounding infrastructure. |
1953 | Legislation Analyzer (from The Trouble With Bubbles by Philip K. Dick) Device analyzes potentially biased bills. |
1953 | Merc-Pool (from Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov) A device that stores information in vibration patterns on a mercury surface. |
1953 | Worldcraft Bubble (from The Trouble With Bubbles by Philip K. Dick) An incredibly detailed mechanical simulation of a world. |
1953 | Prime Radiant (from Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A projector that puts all of a vast collection of writings on the wall of a special conference room. You could interact with it by writing on the wall; changes were stored. |
1953 | Hypertracer (from Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A device that allows a pursuer to follow a spaceship through hyperspace. |
1953 | Yeast-Culture Vats (from Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov) Using cultured yeast as the basis for food production. |
1953 | Sideglance Robe (from The Trouble With Bubbles by Philip K. Dick) A dress that is invisible or opaque, depending on how you look at it. |
1953 | Transcriber (from Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A automated transcriptionist - a machine which perfectly translates human speech into words on paper. |
1953 | Message Tree (from A Case of Conscience by James Blish) A tree growing out of a huge cliff of crystal provides communication for a world. |
1953 | Lens Image (from Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A presentation of the night sky, calculated for any planet or point in space. |
1953 | Control Screen (from Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke) An alien display device. |
1953 | Sunlight Blocker (from Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke) A roughly circular field which denies sunlight to an area of a planet. |
1953 | Pushpot (from Space Tug by Murray Leinster) An independent rocket motor that can attach itself to an object bound for space. |
1953 | Pinlight (from The Game of Rat and Dragon by Cordwainer Smith) Thimble-sized photonuclear bomb. |
1953 | Automatic Ticket Machine (from Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Get your ticket to Trantor automatically. |
1953 | Spot-Wavex Scrambler (from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury) Provides a more personalized experience of television, by letting the announcers talk to you personally. |
1953 | Permanent Skywriting (from Soap Opera by Alan Nelson) Non-wispy skywriting letters. |
1953 | Green Bullet (from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury) A very compact (for 1950) radio transceiver, worn in the ear like a hearing aid. |
1953 | Planetary Globe (from Star of Wonder by Julian May) A craftsman's model of a planet. |
1953 | Stardrive (from Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke) Propulsion method that quickly brings a ship's speed to nearly that of light. |
1953 | Galactography (from Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Geography on a galactic scale. |
1953 | Robant (from The Impossible Planet by Philip K. Dick) A robotic servant. |
1953 | Robot Door (from Colony by Philip K. Dick) Automated door has some decision-making capabilities, in addition to speech recognition capabilities. |
1953 | Preserving Machine (from The Preserving Machine by Philip K. Dick) A device that would create a unique animal from a piece of classical music. |
1953 | Air-Propelled Train (from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury) A silent means of mass transit. |
1953 | Planoforming (from The Game of Rat and Dragon by Cordwainer Smith) A form of "faster than light" travel allows for interstellar travel. |
1953 | Sliver Gun (from The Unreliable Perfumist by Margaret St. Clair) A firearm that shoots fine darts. |
1953 | R. Daneel Olivaw (from Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov) A human-like robot, skilled in police work. |
1953 | City Ship (from Star of Wonder by Julian May) A generation ship, a spacecraft that carries a people to another star. |
1953 | Vistascreen (from Assignment to Aldebaran by Kendall Foster Crossen) Large screen entertainment. |
1953 | Machine Evolution (from Second Variety by Philip K. Dick) An early look at the idea that machines can evolve all by themselves, physically and intellectually. |
1953 | Planet Buster (from Assignment to Aldebaran by Kendall Foster Crossen) A bomb so powerful it could destroy a planet. |
1953 | Speedtalk (from Assignment in Eternity by Robert Heinlein) A constructed language that uses a single sound to stand for a word, achieving great improvements in communication speed. |
1953 | News Receptor (from If There Were No Benny Cemoli by Philip K. Dick) Devices used by homeostatic newspapers to gather news autonomically. |
1953 | Voice-Activated Door (from Assignment to Aldebaran by Kendall Foster Crossen) A door that opens upon verbal command. |
1953 | Sound Analysis (from Assignment in Eternity by Robert Heinlein) Improving language teaching by showing the waveform of a spoken word or phrase, and comparing it to standard speech. |
1953 | Morality Rating-Computer (from Assignment to Aldebaran by Kendall Foster Crossen) A computer system able to determine moral deviancy. |
1953 | Pocket Phone (or pocketphone) (from Assignment in Eternity by Robert Heinlein) A telephone that is not hard wired to the network; a mobile or cell phone. |
1953 | Private Flyer (from Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke) A privately-owned air vehicle that used no control surfaces for maneuvering. |
1953 | Spacecraft Ejection Seat (from Space Tug by Murray Leinster) An ejection seat for spacecraft, to be used in the event of problems during launch. |
1953 | Robot Psyche Tester (from Colony by Philip K. Dick) An automated psychiatric evaluation device. |
1953 | Brains (from The Cosmic Blinker by Eando Binder) An electronic brain that is able to do problem solving. This idea seems to be the impetus behind current artificial intelligence that seeks to solve problems, rather than to simulate human intelligenc |
1953 | Artificially Pulsating Star (from The Cosmic Blinker by Eando Binder) A star that has been modified to pulsate with a message to the entire universe. |
1953 | Magnetic-Soled Shoes (from Space Tug by Murray Leinster) A means of walking on a surface in zero gravity. |
1953 | Inflatable Air Lock (from Space Tug by Murray Leinster) Air lock making use of inflatable side walls to achieve large size. |
1953 | The Shed (from Space Tug by Murray Leinster) Enormous building needed to assemble giant space craft or space stations. |
1953 | Robot Pianist (from Virtuoso by Herbert Goldstone) A robot learns the fine art of playing classical music on the piano. |
1953 | Dressing Machine (from Roll Out the Rolov! by Christopher Anvil) A robotic device to serve as a mechanical dresser. |
1953 | Rolov (from Roll Out the Rolov! by Christopher Anvil) A specialized robot for the bedroom. |
1953 | Short-Wave Surgical Knife (from Boomerang by Eric Frank Russell) A means of performing an internal cut without breaking the skin. |
1953 | Electronic-Eyed Snake (from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury) A fully automated stomach pump. |
1953 | Big Flue (from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury) Enormous incinerators serviced directly by helicopter. |
1953 | Ring Road (from Starman Jones by Robert Heinlein) A magnetically levitated train. |
1953 | Homeostatic Newspaper (from If There Were No Benny Cemoli by Philip K. Dick) An autonomous news-gathering and publishing entity; abbreviated as homeopape. |
1953 | Space Weakness (from Space Tug by Murray Leinster) Early description of what happens to the human body in zero gravity. |
1953 | Zero-G Cups (from Space Tug by Murray Leinster) Cups that were specially designed to be usable under zero gravity conditions. |
1953 | Claws (Attack Robot) (from Second Variety by Philip K. Dick) Autonomous guard robots that attack living tissue. |
1953 | Voice in the Ear (from Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke) Project a voice or sound to one individual's ears only. |
1953 | Garbage Screen (from Space Tug by Murray Leinster) Use of bits of metal to confuse radar targeting of space stations. |
1953 | Gravity-Simulator Harness (from Space Tug by Murray Leinster) Device that simulates gravity's effect on muscles to keep in shape while in space. |
1953 | Salamander (from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury) Name given to the fire trucks of the future, which carry kerosene rather than water, and are used to burn houses. |
1953 | Space Wagon (from Space Tug by Murray Leinster) A space vehicle without a cabin, used for short-range towing. |
1953 | Parlor Wall (TV Parlor) (from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury) The original "big screen TV" takes up an entire wall of a room. |
1953 | Torchship (from Sky Lift by Robert Heinlein) A spaceship capable of high acceleration. |
1953 | Mechanical Hound (from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury) An eight-legged robotic "hound" with hypodermic poison fangs. |
1953 | Seashell Radio (Thimble Radios) (from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury) Small radios that fit into the ears like hearing aids or ear buds. |
1953 | Robotaxi (from Dugal Was A Spaceman by Joe Gibson) A fully automated, driverless taxi. |
1953 | Travel-Rug (from Roll Out The Rolov! by Christopher Anvil) A rug that conveyed you around your house. |
1953 | Mental Static Device (from Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Cloak the minds of individuals with a kind of 'noise'. |
1953 | Space Phobia (from Let 'em Breathe Space! by Lester del Rey) When astronauts have had enough. |
1953 | Ovoid 3D Galactic Model (from Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A handheld display of a galaxy. |
1953 | Visicastor (from Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A person who presents video broadcasts. |
1953 | Plasta-Skin (from Star Rangers (The Last Planet) by Andre Norton) Artificial Skin |
1953 | Farming Trantor (from Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Taking apart a vast city, and returning to farming the land. |
1953 | Buttered Toast Robot (from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury) What it says on the tin. |
1953 | Paint-to-Order Robot Artist (from The Music Master by F.L. Wallace) A robotic mechanism that could produce a unique picture, given subject and artistic style. |
1953 | Sub-C (from The Impossible Planet by Philip K. Dick) Of ships, older models that travel at speeds below that of light. |
1953 | Robotic Conductor (from Paycheck by Philip K. Dick) A robot charged with conductor's duties aboard a bus or other public transportation. |
1953 | Buy-Me-Discs (from Captive Audience by Anne Warren Griffith) Tiny disks attached to products in stores that received transmitted ads to share with consumers. |
1953 | Dirtside (from Starman Jones by Robert Heinlein) The surface of a planet. |
1953 | Master Ventriloquism Corporation (MV) (from Captive Audience by Anne Warren Griffith) A central source of product advertising, commercials sent out to every product. |
1953 | Autonomous Car Intercommunication (from Sally by Isaac Asimov) Automatic cars talk to each other about everything. |
1953 | Leady (from The Defenders by Philip K. Dick) A radiation-resistant robot. |
1953 | Panoramic Viewer (from Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke) Permits observation at a distance, as well as the projection of a holographic image. |
1953 | Self-Cleaning Autonomous Car (from Sally by Isaac Asimov) An automatic vehicle that keeps itself clean. |
1953 | Earplug Decision (Restraint of Advertising) (from Captive Audience by Anne Warren Griffith) A Supreme Court judgement that declared that earplugs used to block advertising were unconstitutional. |
1953 | Time Scoop (from Paycheck by Philip K. Dick) Retrieved objects from other points in time. |
1953 | Positronic Motor (from Sally by Isaac Asimov) A combination of motor and brain; an engine with a cerebellum and a carburetor. |
1953 | Galactic Damping Field (from Brain Wave by Poul Anderson) A vast field of force emanating from the center of the galaxy. |
1953 | Automatobile (from Sally by Isaac Asimov) An autonomous private car. |
1953 | Synthony (from The Music Master by F.L. Wallace) A musical performance by robots. |
1953 | Automatobus (from Sally by Isaac Asimov) An autonomous or self-driving bus seating a number of people. |
1954 | Nanomachine Swarm (Black Cloud) (from The Invincible by Stanislaw Lem) A cloud of tiny machines, able to work together autonomously. |
1954 | Feeler-Planes (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) Special sensors that make extremely detailed three-dimensional models. |
1954 | Prethink (from The Golden Man by Philip K. Dick) The ability to predict the future in a routine perceptual manner. |
1954 | Lash-Tube (from The Golden Man by Philip K. Dick) Device emits an energy beam. |
1954 | Suit-Shield Fabric (from The Golden Man by Philip K. Dick) A kind of mesh fabric that could absorb energy bolts. |
1954 | Central Guide-Beam (from Shell Game by Philip K. Dick) A kind of signal that demonstrates the best possible path to a destination in space and even provides motive power. |
1954 | Radiant (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) A chip that is injected into the shoulder, providing positioning and information about the subject. |
1954 | Plastirobe (from Sales Pitch by Philip K. Dick) A dress that varies in opacity by distance. |
1954 | Tri-Type Record (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) A printed card that stores information about a person, including a perfect three-dimensional representation. |
1954 | Sentry Trees (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) A set of trees that will allow only those with the safe signal to pass. |
1954 | Radiant Shield (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) A device that would effectively prevent an implanted radiant from being detected or read. |
1954 | Retinal Vid-Screen (from Sales Pitch by Philip K. Dick) A tiny display surgically implanted directly in the retina of the eye. |
1954 | Compassion Circuit (from Compassion Circuit by John Wyndham) A special robotic component that allows the robot to weigh harm and benefit in carrying out commands. |
1954 | Metal Insects (from The Invincible by Stanislaw Lem) Small autonomous flying winged robots. |
1954 | Spacelanes Traffic Jam (from Sales Pitch by Philip K. Dick) Fanciful description of commuters in space. |
1954 | Commute Ship (from Sales Pitch by Philip K. Dick) Spacecraft used for traversing daily grind between Earth and the planet you work on. |
1954 | Airmakers (from The Big Rain by Poul Anderson) Machine to create breathable air from the constituent materials on an alien planet. |
1954 | Sales Robot (Robot Salesman) (from Sales Pitch by Philip K. Dick) Fully automated robots giving untiring, incessant sales pitches to customers. |
1954 | Jiffi-scuttler (from Prominent Author by Philip K. Dick) A device providing near instantaneous travel between two points. |
1954 | Dermal-Mist Spray (from Prominent Author by Philip K. Dick) Very refreshing for suburbanites. |
1954 | Mechanical Bride (from The Mechanical Bride by Fritz Leiber) A perfect robotic replica of a woman. |
1954 | Hypno-Motor Control (from Sales Pitch by Philip K. Dick) A means of controlling the body remotely, cutting off the need for local control (ie, by your mind). |
1954 | Inorganic Evolution (from The Invincible by Stanislaw Lem) A process by which robots could alter their own structure, or the ways that they interact with other robots, to adapt to a changing world. |
1954 | Visual Ad (from Sales Pitch by Philip K. Dick) An advertisement that forces its way directly into the brain of the viewer. |
1954 | Mnemonic Service (from Sucker Bait by Isaac Asimov) Dedicated humans who collected bits of data in hopes of catching key correlations between fields of study. |
1954 | Relay (from Souvenir by Philip K. Dick) A central information system used to coordinate all of human culture and technology. |
1954 | Web (Data Network) (from Souvenir by Philip K. Dick) An information network. |
1954 | Trace Web (from Souvenir by Philip K. Dick) A small, handheld device that contacts (and even instantiates) the larger network. |
1954 | Self-Selling Robot (from Sales Pitch by Philip K. Dick) A robot that sells itself. |
1954 | Mechanical Tune-Maker (from Last of the Masters by Philip K. Dick) An electromechanical device that created unique music. |
1954 | House Trees (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) Living trees grown as houses; large hollow pods serve as living spaces. |
1954 | Gravity neutralizing paint (from Last of the Masters by Philip K. Dick) Paint or coating that neutralized the effects of gravity on whatever it was painted on. |
1954 | Law Clerk Robot (from The Midas Plague by Frederik Pohl) A robotic lawyer. |
1954 | Synapsis-Coils (from Last of the Masters by Philip K. Dick) Human-like storage for computers. |
1954 | TBR (Talk Between Robots) Circuit (from The Midas Plague by Frederik Pohl) A special means of communications used by robots to speak with each other. |
1954 | Histo-Research (from The Meddler by Philip K. Dick) Historical research using a time machine. |
1954 | Consumption Robots (from The Midas Plague by Frederik Pohl) Humanoid robots placed in the position of consuming material goods to relieve human beings of the burden. |
1954 | Boat-Tree (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) A tree, the pods of which can be grown as boats. |
1954 | Copter Harness (from The Star Beast by Robert Heinlein) A single person flying machine. |
1954 | Sceneshifter (from Last of the Masters by Philip K. Dick) An automated display device that produced random pictorial presentations. |
1954 | One-Way Passage (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) A different way to assure permanent egress. |
1954 | Cephaloscope (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) A device used to detect lying. |
1954 | Hopper (from Lucky Starr and the Oceans of Venus by Isaac Asimov) A vehicle with a single leg and rotors to enhance 'hang time.' |
1954 | Truth Meter (from The Star Beast by Robert Heinlein) A lie detector. |
1954 | Reading Plate (from The Star Beast by Robert Heinlein) A flat screen that provided computer output for viewing. |
1954 | Universal Dictionary (from The Star Beast by Robert Heinlein) A machine that provided references to anything known. |
1954 | Pod-Chair (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) A living chair, grown by the Iszc to perform its function. |
1954 | Tanglefoot Field (from The Star Beast by Robert Heinlein) A force field that would not harm but merely entangle and stop anyone (or anything) caught in it. |
1954 | Shatter-Gun (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) A hand-held device that literally scrambles the brains of the victim. |
1954 | Automatic Companion Robot (from The Midas Plague by Frederik Pohl) A robotic replacement for a pet or friend. |
1954 | Anti-Gerasone (from Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.) Cheap immortality comes to your neighborhood convenience store. |
1954 | Mecho-Clothing (from Last of the Masters by Philip K. Dick) Apparel created entirely by machines. |
1954 | Robot Farmer (from The Turning Wheel by Philip K. Dick) A humanoid robot used for agriculture. |
1954 | Robot Guard (from The Turning Wheel by Philip K. Dick) Very early reference to a guard robot. |
1954 | The Dip (from The Meddler by Philip K. Dick) A device that randomly dredges up things from the past... or the future. |
1954 | Human Quarter (from James P. Crow by Philip K. Dick) A ghetto for human beings; in this case, in a world of robots. |
1954 | Space Capsule (from Space Capsule by E.R. James) A minimal space craft. |
1954 | Mother-Scanner (from The Turning Wheel by Philip K. Dick) A device that can see your future through your next birth. |
1954 | Guide-Beam (from Time Pawn by Philip K. Dick) A wireless means of controlling and directing the movement of a passenger vehicle. |
1954 | Robot Cab Driver (from A Present for Pat by Philip K. Dick) You think you have problems? Robots have the worst problems of anyone. |
1954 | One-Man Car (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) A small transport vehicle. |
1954 | Public Vehicle Tube (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) Underground transportation tubes. |
1954 | Finger Jet Bath (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) The ultimate in luxury tubs. |
1954 | Polarized Window (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) Rather than curtains, use the window to control the light. |
1954 | Thought Pattern Divination (from The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance) Attempting to construct the thoughts of a person by imitating their actions. |
1954 | Snake Boring Truck (from Breakfast at Twilight by Philip K. Dick) A long thin truck like a snake, with a boring tip. |
1954 | Temporal Paradox (from The Toy by Brian Berry) The paradoxical idea that making changes in the past results in changes in the present. |
1954 | Time Quake (from Breakfast at Twilight by Philip K. Dick) Too much energy applied to a time-fault may have started this. |
1954 | Maid-Robot (from The Midas Plague by Frederik Pohl) A mechanical automaton does the work of a lady's maid. |
1954 | Escape Pod (from The Vanisher by Michael Shaara) A small automated ship attached to a larger ship or station, used in the event of an emergency. |
1954 | Control Helmet (from Dawn of the Demigods by Raymond Z. Gallun) Direct control of a robot from the brain. |
1954 | Solar-Powered Ball (from Dawn of the Demigods by Raymond Z. Gallun) An autonomous round toy that powers itself. |
1954 | Spaceward Lunar Hemisphere (from Dawn of the Demigods by Raymond Z. Gallun) Another name for the lunar far side. |
1954 | Protoplast (from Dawn of the Demigods by Raymond Z. Gallun) Artificial life, tougher than protoplasm. |
1954 | Micro-Android (Micro-Robot) (from Dawn of the Demigods by Raymond Z. Gallun) An extremely tiny robot or nanobot. |
1954 | Rom (Robot Operated Missiles) (from Breakfast at Twilight by Philip K. Dick) Intercontinental robotic weapons. |
1954 | Roboscribe (from End as a Robot by Richard Marsten) A robotic writer of hard-bitten detective yarns. |
1954 | Voicewriter Screen (Computer Monitor) (from Granny Won't Knit by Theodore Sturgeon) A screen that displays characters. |
1955 | Autofac (Nanorobots) (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick) Very small robots working on self-replication |
1955 | Protine (from Solar Lottery by Philip K. Dick) A mutant algae that can be engineered to look and taste similar to normal food. |
1955 | Nanny Robot (from Nanny by Philip K. Dick) A child-care robot with a surprisingly competitive side. |
1955 | Robot Surgeon-Hand (from War Veteran by Philip K. Dick) A skilled surgical robot that attaches at the end of the surgeon's arm. |
1955 | Stiletto Beam (from Earthlight by Arthur C. Clarke) A beam of molten metal, projected electromagnetically. |
1955 | Commute Disk (from The Chromium Fence by Philip K. Dick) Flying autonomous commuter vehicle. |
1955 | Simulacrum Window (from Tunnel in the Sky by Robert Heinlein) A 'window' that provides a realistic outdoor view in an interior room. |
1955 | Ramsbotham Gate (from Tunnel in the Sky by Robert Heinlein) A means of getting from point A to point B without traversing the space in-between. |
1955 | Neck-Phone (from The Chromium Fence by Philip K. Dick) An implanted telecommunications device. |
1955 | Monocab (from Earthlight by Arthur C. Clarke) A single compartment monorail car. |
1955 | Automatized Factory (from The Tunnel Under The World by Frederik Pohl) A factory consisting of machines with imposed human abilities. |
1955 | Light-Absorbing Paint (from Earthlight by Arthur C. Clarke) Space stealth! |
1955 | Visual Report Screen (from Nanny by Philip K. Dick) A device that allows a robot nanny to let the owners view what the robot sees from a remote location. |
1955 | Central City (Lunar Habitat) (from Earthlight by Arthur C. Clarke) An early example of a non-military lunar habitat. |
1955 | Lunar Monorail (from Earthlight by Arthur C. Clarke) A monorail constructed above the surface of the Moon. |
1955 | Multivac (from Franchise by Isaac Asimov) A computer with millions of facts. |
1955 | Human Habit Pattern Machines (from The Tunnel Under The World by Frederik Pohl) Imposing human habits onto machines. |
1955 | Artigraft (from Solar Lottery by Philip K. Dick) Artificial skin graft. |
1955 | Magnetic Grapple-Beams (from Solar Lottery by Philip K. Dick) Short range magnetic field to guide flying cars and park them properly. |
1955 | Hand Wave Control (from Solar Lottery by Philip K. Dick) Control an electronic or other device with gestures. |
1955 | Robot Taxi (from Solar Lottery by Philip K. Dick) A taxicab with a robotic driver. |
1955 | Inflatable Lunar Resort (from Solar Lottery by Philip K. Dick) An inflatable structure on the moon, intended to provide rest and relaxation to lunar residents. |
1955 | Agile Recording Robot (from Solar Lottery by Philip K. Dick) A recording machine that moves toward its subject. |
1955 | Generation Ship (from Star Ship by E.C. Tubb) A spacecraft that carries a complete social group over many years. |
1955 | Swibble (from Service Call by Philip K. Dick) An artificially evolved telepathic metazoan-based mind control device. |
1955 | Bore-Pellets (from Foster, You're Dead by Philip K. Dick) Anti-underground bomb shelter ordinance. |
1955 | Grill-Screen Adaptor (from Foster, You're Dead by Philip K. Dick) Approved General Electronics Corporation solution for bomb shelters, in response to Soviet bore-pellets. |
1955 | Landing-Grid (from Sand Doom by Murray Leinster) A constructed landing area on a planetary surface for space craft. |
1955 | Scout-Base (from Diabologic by Eric Frank Russell) Artificial sphere functions as a frontier outpost. |
1955 | Unit Analyst Robot (from The Chromium Fence by Philip K. Dick) A robotic psychoanalyst. |
1955 | Dashboard TV (from The Chromium Fence by Philip K. Dick) A television placed in the dashboard of your car or similar vehicle. |
1955 | Guard Robot (from The Hood Maker ('Immunity') by Philip K. Dick) Early reference to a robot performing the functions of a security guard. |
1955 | Diabological Armory (from Diabologic by Eric Frank Russell) A set of verbal tools based on a higher form of reasoning. |
1955 | Schrieber Analyzer (from Diabologic by Eric Frank Russell) Superior automatic air testing - for the discriminating space traveler. |
1955 | Probe Screen Hood (from The Hood Maker ('Immunity') by Philip K. Dick) A device that blocks attempts to see into the contents of the brain mind. |
1955 | Robot Gardener (from War Veteran by Philip K. Dick) An autonomous gardening robot, taking care of plants in parks or fields. |
1955 | Mechavalet (from The Angry House by Richard R. Smith) An entirely automated dressing assistant. |
1955 | Pocket Receiver (from The Magellanic Cloud by Stanislaw Lem) An early visualization of the smartphone. |
1955 | Search-Bug (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick) An exploratory robot. |
1955 | Robot Factory Representative (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick) An ambulatory agent of an automatic factory. |
1955 | Trion Library (from The Magellanic Cloud by Stanislaw Lem) An early visualization of the Internet. |
1955 | Raw Material-Tropic (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick) Moves towards desirable raw materials. |
1955 | Anti-Burglar Installations (from The Angry House by Richard R. Smith) Every electronic house should have automated defenses. |
1955 | Autonomous Truck (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick) A truck that drives itself and unloads itself. |
1955 | Heat-Suit (from Sand Doom by Murray Leinster) Perfect for those incredibly hot planets with breathable atmospheres. |
1955 | Product Prescription (from The Magellanic Cloud by Stanislaw Lem) A file that can be used to reproduce an object. |
1955 | Finely Divided Dust Propellant (from Earthlight by Arthur C. Clarke) Reaction mass to drive spacecraft. |
1955 | Caterwheel (from Sand Doom by Murray Leinster) A uniquely styled ground vehicle with fat, splayed out tires. |
1955 | Artibase (from War Veteran by Philip K. Dick) An artificial asteroid base between planets. |
1955 | Chest-Lens (from War Veteran by Philip K. Dick) Part of an automatic photograph-and-send system. |
1955 | Automatic Ore Cart (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick) An autonomous truck for raw ore processing. |
1955 | Mechanical Newsmachine (from Foster, You're Dead by Philip K. Dick) An automated device that delivers on-the-spot news. |
1955 | Slide Rule w/Radio Attachment (from Mission to the Stars by A.E. van Vogt) Slide rule communicates results immediately with computer. |
1955 | Space Craft Rope Ladder (from Diabologic by Eric Frank Russell) Equipment used for debarking from a space craft. |
1955 | Cold-Beam (from War Veteran by Philip K. Dick) Puts a cloud of extreme cold around the target. |
1955 | Synthetic Milk (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick) Milk made without cows. |
1955 | Electronic Analogue of Living Brain (from The Tunnel Under The World by Frederik Pohl) Imposing the abilities of a human brain into a computer |
1955 | Automatic Factory (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick) Manufacturing facility that functions entirely autonomously. |
1955 | Water Brain Fountain (from War Veteran by Philip K. Dick) A drinking fountain that locates your mouth, rather than you having to lean down to the spout. |
1955 | Pizzled (Semantic Garble) (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick) Use of nonsensical statements to deliberately confuse an artificial intelligence. |
1955 | Network Repair Team (from Autofac by Philip K. Dick) Dispatched to collect remains of destroyed machines. |
1956 | Analogue (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester) A combination of a drug and a particular mental state allow a person to devolve to an animal level of their choice. |
1956 | Mechanical Jokester (from Jokester by Isaac Asimov) A vast computer system learns about humor. |
1956 | Robotic Hand (from The Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein) A dexterous manipulator for robots. |
1956 | Puddinged (from Pay for the Printer by Philip K. Dick) A poorly formed 3D printed copy, with an interior that was a mass of malformed material. |
1956 | Precrime Analytical Wing (from The Minority Report by Philip K. Dick) Contains the precognitives and the machinery need to hear and analyze their predictions of future crimes. |
1956 | Flexible Frank (from The Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein) An all-purpose household robot. |
1956 | Stasis (Cold Sleep, Hibernation) (from The Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein) Hibernation for human beings, lasting for many years. |
1956 | Radioactive Coding for Checks (from The Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein) Special coding system to easily recognize checks. |
1956 | Refurbished Nervous System (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester) Your nerves are rewired for 5-10 times the speed of a normal person. |
1956 | PyrE (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester) A thermonuclear explosive that is detonated by thought alone. |
1956 | Sympathetic Block (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester) A way to keep certain mental contents from being spoken or revealed. |
1956 | Fottengill Process (from Gypped by Lloyd Biggle, Jr.) An early mention of the idea that energy can be derived from random noise. |
1956 | Bounce Tube (from Double Star by Robert Heinlein) A people-sized pneumatic tube system used for short, quick trips in the vertical dimension. |
1956 | Hush Corner (from Double Star by Robert Heinlein) A space made private by canceling sound waves in that area. |
1956 | Vacutubes (from Double Star by Robert Heinlein) A system of public transportation that used partially evacuated tubes and capsules big enough for passengers. |
1956 | Cider Press (from Double Star by Robert Heinlein) Device used to make acceleration above 1 gravity more tolerable for groundhogs. |
1956 | Teakettle (from Double Star by Robert Heinlein) A standard rocket (uses hydrogen as a booster to leave the atmosphere). |
1956 | Solido (from Chance of a Lifetime by Milton Lesser) Abbr. for solidograph; a device that produced a solid three dimensional image. |
1956 | Hand Computer (from The Dead Past by Isaac Asimov) A small pocket-sized computing device. |
1956 | Whisper Line (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester) A means of communication between prisoners held in wide separation. |
1956 | Bendix Anxiety Reducer (from Bad Medicine by Robert Sheckley) Machine-based psychotherapy. |
1956 | Mechanotherapy (from Bad Medicine by Robert Sheckley) A mechanism or device-based therapy that cures (or palliates) alcoholism. |
1956 | Precog (from The Minority Report by Philip K. Dick) A person with precognitive ability (can predict the future). |
1956 | Space-Boat (Rocket Boat) (from Exploration Team by Murray Leinster) Small craft designed for descent and then take-off from a planetary surface. |
1956 | Planet Rules (from Drop Dead by Clifford Simak) Regulations governing the behavior of the away team on a new planet. |
1956 | Window-Willie (from The Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein) A robot that cleaned windows by electrostatic repulsion of dust and grime. |
1956 | Eetee (E.T - extraterrestrial) (from Double Star by Robert Heinlein) A sentient being not of this Earth. |
1956 | Human Object Recognition (from The Velvet Glove by Harry Harrison) System uses human beings as an aid to robotic object recognition. |
1956 | Disposal-Safe (from Exploration Team by Murray Leinster) Device to store and, if necessary, destroy documents. |
1956 | Mutated Kodiak Bears (from Exploration Team by Murray Leinster) Animals modified for increased intelligence for defense and companionship. |
1956 | Space-Beacon (from Exploration Team by Murray Leinster) Device used to guide a space craft into finding an inhabited planet or colony on a planet. |
1956 | Eager Beaver (from The Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein) Your friendly robot helper. |
1956 | Drafting Dan (from The Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein) The first computer software drafting program (Computer Aided Design - CAD). |
1956 | Universal Checkbook (from The Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein) Fully electronic banking system, which allows easy withdrawal of funds from any bank. |
1956 | Undercover Detective Robot (from The Velvet Glove by Harry Harrison) Specialized robot masquerades as different robot types to spy on criminals. |
1956 | Blue Collar Robot (Self-Repairing) (from The Velvet Glove by Harry Harrison) An autonomous robot required to find its own work. |
1956 | Slug (from Dragon in the Sea by Frank Herbert) An underwater "barge", consisting of a giant tube for transporting oil. |
1956 | Dental Switchboard (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester) A control device tied in with teeth and nerve endings. |
1956 | Post-Crime (from The Minority Report by Philip K. Dick) Criminal activities after they have actually happened. |
1956 | Alcoholic Reliever (from Bad Medicine by Robert Sheckley) Mechanized relief from alcoholism. |
1956 | Empath (from Empath by J.T. McIntosh) A being capable of telepathic empathy with others. |
1956 | Intelligent Trash Sorting (from The Velvet Glove by Harry Harrison) Robots sort the garbage - almost completely. |
1956 | Living Advertising Character (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester) Modifying an ordinary person to create a living likeness of a company's brand symbol or character. |
1956 | Virtual Immortality (from The City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clarke) A method for storing the mind and memories of a person, and recalling and reconstituting them at will. |
1956 | Biltong Life Form (from Pay for the Printer by Philip K. Dick) Remarkable organic manufacturing aliens, probably indigenous to the Centaurus system. |
1956 | Sargasso Asteroid (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester) A planetoid built from natural rock and the salvaged wreckage of space craft. |
1956 | Robot Trash Collectors (from The Velvet Glove by Harry Harrison) Robots that drive and operate garbage trucks. |
1956 | Rex Regenerator (Mechanotherapist) (from Bad Medicine by Robert Sheckley) Mechanotherapy device cures homicidal urges. |
1956 | Internal Body Power Pack (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester) A tiny battery used to power implants. |
1956 | Jaunte Stage (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester) A cleared space that existed to serve the needs of people who would jaunte (teleport) into that space. |
1956 | Juvenile (from The Man Who Japed by Philip K. Dick) A robot designed to sneak around and spy on people. |
1956 | Robot Bartender (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester) An automated, mechanical bar tending robot. |
1956 | Regen-Buds (from The Velvet Glove by Harry Harrison) Small collection of cells that can regrow into human limbs. |
1956 | Floating Lunar Dust (from Dust Rag by Hal Clement) Electrostatically charged particles that float above the surface of the Moon. |
1956 | Planet-Busting Bomb (from Testing by J.J. Ferrat) A munition with sufficient power to destroy an entire planet. |
1956 | Home Therapy Appliances, Inc. (from Bad Medicine by Robert Sheckley) A store at which a variety of therapy devices are made available |
1956 | Diaspar Memory (from The City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clarke) The city's memory could store works of art, and reproduce them upon request. |
1956 | Electrotruck (from The Corkscrew of Space by Poul Anderson) An autonomous, electric truck. |
1956 | Maximum-security Booth (from Double Star by Robert Heinlein) A special phone booth for receiving high-security, scrambled telephone calls, calls which included 3D visuals. |
1956 | Thorsen Memory Tube (from The Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein) Computer component that allows a machine to learn through experience. |
1956 | Bug (from Brightside Crossing by Alan E. Nourse) A compact vehicle for planetary surfaces - like Mercury. |
1956 | Saga (from The City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clarke) You become a part of the great adventures of history. |
1956 | Hired Girl Robot (from The Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein) The amazing floor-cleaning robot! |
1956 | Retinal Light (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester) An internal flashlight. |
1956 | Central Computer (from The City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clarke) A computer capable of running an entire city. |
1956 | Matter Organizer (from The City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clarke) A device that could cause a computer-generated image to be constructed as a real object. |
1956 | Anti-Heptant (from To Live Forever by Jack Vance) A compound that erases specific areas of the brain. |
1956 | Hypersee (from The Best of Fences by Gordon Randall Garrett) Faster than light. |
1956 | Trolling Tether Cable (from Atom Drive by Charles Fontenay) Simple fishing technique applied to moving cargo off-planet. |
1956 | Bard (from Someday by Isaac Asimov) A machine that invents randomized stories and can read them out loud or animate them for viewing. |
1956 | Fusion Power (from The Judas Valley by Gerald Vance) Creating energy from nuclear fusion reactions. |
1956 | Lethe-Mirror (from The World Jones Made by Philip K. Dick) Induces sleepy mindedness. |
1956 | Tune-Maker (from The World Jones Made by Philip K. Dick) Automated music production. |
1956 | Landing Pit (Drydock and Construction) (from The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester) A cylindrical hole with anti-gravity screens for use in spacecraft landings and repair. |
1956 | Invulnerable Wall (from Jackpot by Clifford Simak) A material created by insects that grew stronger as it was compressed. |
1956 | Robot Interception Aerial Mines (from The World Jones Made by Philip K. Dick) Loitering explosives overhead. |
1956 | Robot Fish (Metal Fish) (from Atom Drive by Charles Fontenay) Fake flounders for sport fishermen on Martian canals. |
1956 | Eagle With Camera (from Exploration Team by Murray Leinster) A live bald eagle equipped with a transmitting camera. |
1956 | Underwater Robot (from The Velvet Glove by Harry Harrison) An autonomous mechanical for use underwater. |
1956 | Chronoscopy (from The Dead Past by Isaac Asimov) Using a device to view different points in time. |
1956 | Vehicle Sleep Sensor (from The Velvet Glove by Harry Harrison) Better stay awake, the machines know if you're sleeping. |
1957 | Machine Psychologist (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) A computer that understands and uses its knowledge of human psychology to benefit human users. |
1957 | Mechanical Cleaning Device (from The Unreconstructed M by Philip K. Dick) A small, ground-based autonomous robot doing basic janitorial work. |
1957 | Remote Control Taxicab (from The Unreconstructed M by Philip K. Dick) A cab that is piloted by a remote operator. |
1957 | Death-Rattle (from The Unreconstructed M by Philip K. Dick) A device that sends a signal upon brain death of the user. |
1957 | Neural Door Lock (from The Unreconstructed M by Philip K. Dick) A device that provides access based on neurological data. |
1957 | Gravity Well (from Life Cycle by Poul Anderson) If you visualize spacetime as a flat, elastic plane, a planet will deform it, and it sits at the bottom of its own hole. |
1957 | Accelerated Schooling Helmet (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) A device that stimulates the brain and imparts knowledge directly. |
1957 | Robot Situation Neurosis (from The Unreconstructed M by Philip K. Dick) Robots go mad when given competing instructions. |
1957 | Project X (from Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand) A device that produces sound rays that are intolerable to living things. |
1957 | Police Detection Robot (from The Unreconstructed M by Philip K. Dick) An automated evidence-gathering robot. |
1957 | Glass Bees (from The Glass Bees by Ernst Junger) Walnut-sized flying automata. |
1957 | Dirac Transmitter (also Tranceiver or Communicator) (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) A device that provides instantaneous communication anywhere in the galaxy. |
1957 | Tin Cabby (Flying Robotic Taxi) (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) An autonomously controlled flying taxi cab. |
1957 | Gravity-Polarized Explosive (TDX) (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) A chemical explosive that acts at an angle to the local gravitational field. |
1957 | The Machine (M) (from The Unreconstructed M by Philip K. Dick) An autonomous robot able to alter its appearance and functionality at will. |
1957 | Molecular Sieve (from Tales from the White Hart by Arthur C. Clarke) A device that can extract any element from seawater. |
1957 | Teleoperated Lab Robot (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) A robot is used to conduct experiments in an environment too extreme for humans. |
1957 | Space Armor (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) Armored space suits for use in vacuum. |
1957 | Teleoperated Beetle Car (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) A remotely-operated robotic vehicle that permitted telepresence. |
1957 | Storer-Gulls Wings (from The Menace From Earth by Robert Heinlein) Recreational aid for lunar colonists; lightweight wings for cave flying. |
1957 | Inter-Universal Messenger (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) A device intended to travel to another dimension. |
1957 | Crop Algae (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) Growing algae in tanks as a source of basic food stock. |
1957 | Fenton Silencer (from Tales from the White Hart by Arthur C. Clarke) A device to cancel noise over a broad area. |
1957 | City Fathers (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) A set of computer systems which run every mechanical system in a city. |
1957 | Bats' Cave (from The Menace From Earth by Robert Heinlein) A natural cavern used by moon colonists for air storage - and entertainment. |
1957 | Needle-Gun (from Lucky Starr and the Moons of Jupiter by Isaac Asimov) Small palm-sized weapon. |
1957 | Accelerated Schooling (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) Knowledge force-fed directly into the brain. |
1957 | Magnetic Control of Nebulae (from The Black Cloud by Fred Hoyle) Controlling the structure and shape of nebulae using magnetic fields. |
1957 | Proselytizing Robot (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) A robotic preacher; designed for use where believers are unwelcome. |
1957 | Anti-agathic drugs (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) Drugs that indefinitely postpone death from old age. |
1957 | Brood Assembly (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) Artificially intelligent computers that can replicate themselves. |
1957 | Toposcope (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) A special helmet used in a form of sleep teaching. |
1957 | Spindizzy (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) A device that made use of a relationship between electron spin, electromagnetism and gravity allowed any object to leave the Earth's surface. |
1957 | Machine Surveillance (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) The use of artificially intelligent computer systems to learn by monitoring all human interaction within a city. |
1957 | Manshonyagger (from Mark Elf by Cordwainer Smith) An autonomous fighting robot. |
1957 | Peeper (from Shadow World by Clifford Simak) A device that unlocked the dreams and fantasies inherent in the user's brain. |
1957 | Bethé blasters (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) Powerful enough to destroy a flying city. |
1957 | Eavesdropper (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) Device to detect the presence of recording devices. |
1957 | Battle Tank Display (from Cities in Flight by James Blish) Three-dimensional display showing tactical information for space battles. |
1957 | Roller (from Shadow World by Clifford Simak) Two passenger vehicle designed for off-road use on alien planets. |
1957 | Planetary Computer Network (from Dialogues by Stanislaw Lem) A global data net. |
1957 | Lunar Advertisement (from Watch This Space by Arthur C. Clarke) An 'ad' on the lunar surface that can be seen by its audience on Earth. |
1957 | Jump-Along (from The Lady Was A Tramp by Rose Sharon) Computer used for calculating jumps between stars. |
1957 | Spacefaring (from Citizen of the Galaxy by Robert Heinlein) A nation or people who explore and trade in space. |
1957 | Launching Cradle (from Needler by Gordon Randall Garrett) A place for a spherical space craft to sit in gravity. |
1957 | Stellar Analog Computers (from The Lady Was A Tramp by Rose Sharon) Special systems used to calculate safe "jumps" for interstellar trips. |
1957 | Dropshaft (from Deeper Than the Darkness by Harlan Ellison) An elevator shaft with no elevator - the "lift" is from gravity or suppressed inertia. |
1957 | Jumpship (from The Lady Was A Tramp by Rose Sharon) A spaceship capable of making interstellar jumps, that is, it could move over vast distances instantaneously. |
1957 | Prosthetic Robotic Arm (Thought-Attuned) (from Bleekman's Planet by Ivar Jorgensen) A detachable robotic arm, controlled directly through neural linkage. |
1957 | Robocop (from Wanted in Surgery by Harlan Ellison) A robotic police officer. |
1957 | Jurymech (from Wanted in Surgery by Harlan Ellison) A robotic entity serving the function of a trial jury. |
1957 | Galactovue (from Citizen of the Galaxy by Robert Heinlein) Star display. |
1957 | Phymech (from Wanted in Surgery by Harlan Ellison) A robotic physician. |
1957 | Oxygen Pill (from Get Out Of Our Skies! by E.K. Jarvis) Meets your need for oxygen without additional breathing. |
1958 | Hypo Arm (from Simulated Trainer by Harry Harrison) A robotic arm used to autonomously deliver pharmaceuticals to patients. |
1958 | Life Detector (from Cease Fire by Frank Herbert) A device that was capable of detecting living tissue within a set radius. |
1958 | Chin Plates (from Have Space Suit - Will Travel by Robert Heinlein) A means of control within a space suit helmet; switching between options with the chin. |
1958 | Self-Service Cafeteria (from The Mechanical Monarch by E.C. Tubb) Food on demand. |
1958 | Palm Plate (from The Mechanical Monarch by E.C. Tubb) A device that scanned for a palm print prior to opening a door. |
1958 | Metamen (from The Mechanical Monarch by E.C. Tubb) A human brain placed in a purely mechanical, robotic body. |
1958 | Impactor Determines Composition (from The Mechanical Monarch by E.C. Tubb) The use of an impactor to smash into a small celestial body; watching the impact can determine the composition of the small body. |
1958 | Espionage Machine (from No, No, Not Rogov! by Cordwainer Smith) A machine that makes it possible to experience the sensations of another person at a distance. |
1958 | Neutronic Shielding (from The Sign of the Tiger by Alan Nourse (w/Meyer)) Very high density monomolecular shielding |
1958 | Flexible Wall Sheet Display (from The Mechanical Monarch by E.C. Tubb) A large clear sheet that displays information. |
1958 | Police Robot (from Arm of the Law by Harry Harrison) A fully autonomous, man-shaped robotic police officer. |
1958 | Machine Suicide (from All the Troubles in the World by Isaac Asimov) A self-aware computer system wants to destroy itself. |
1958 | Nose Gun (from Arm of the Law by Harry Harrison) Weapon system located up high. |
1958 | Cone of Silence (from Cease Fire by Frank Herbert) Distortion field that limits the carrying power of voice or other vibration; it accomplishes noise reduction with an image-vibration 180 degrees out of phase. |
1958 | Predictable Crime (from All the Troubles in the World by Isaac Asimov) A criminal act that computers were able to foresee in advance. |
1958 | Pocket Computer (from The Feeling of Power by Isaac Asimov) A pocket-sized computer. |
1958 | Ethical Suicide Parlor (from Welcome to the Monkey House by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.) A comfy environment in which you might commit ethical suicide, and thereby serve society. |
1958 | Gyro Two-Wheeled Truck (from The Sign of the Tiger by Alan Nourse (w/Meyer)) A gyroscopically-stabilized truck with just two wheels. |
1958 | Asteroid-Metal (from The Mechanical Monarch by E.C. Tubb) Metal mined from asteroids. |
1958 | Edge Controls (from The Feeling of Power by Isaac Asimov) A pocket-sized device using controls on the edge of the device, leaving the face for display purposes only. |
1958 | Life Detector Shield (from Cease Fire by Frank Herbert) An electronic field that is intended to shield living tissue from a Life Detector. |
1958 | Tik-Talker (from The Sign of the Tiger by Alan Nourse (w/Meyer)) A method of scrambling spoken speech for encoded transmission. |
1958 | Para-Beam (from The Mechanical Monarch by E.C. Tubb) A beam of energy that paralyzes the victim. |
1958 | Computers Improve Computers (from The Feeling of Power by Isaac Asimov) The idea that it will be possible for computers to design more advanced computers. |
1958 | Photosight (from The Sign of the Tiger by Alan Nourse (w/Meyer)) An automotive device that automatically follows a painted white line on the roadway, letting the car drive itself. |
1958 | Skew-Flip Turnover (from Have Space Suit - Will Travel by Robert Heinlein) Used halfway to the destination by torch ships to slow for one's destination. |
1958 | Circuit Inhibiting Destructiveness (from To Please The Master by Margaret St. Clair) Ensuring that robots take on the responsibility of pleasing their masters, and obeying their orders. |
1958 | Walking Mill (from Bread Overhead! by Fritz Leiber) The ultimate combine - giant metal centipede walks through fields, harvesting wheat, threshing, grinding and finally baking bread right in the field. |
1958 | Venus Cities Float In Atmosphere (from Bread Overhead! by Fritz Leiber) Cloud cities on Venus. |
1958 | Farside (from We Have Fed Our Sea by Poul Anderson) The portion of the Moon's surface that faces away from Earth. |
1958 | Chin Window (from Have Space Suit - Will Travel by Robert Heinlein) An aperture that allows an astronaut to see his own feet (greater field of view). |
1958 | Pressurized Penthouse (from Bread Overhead! by Fritz Leiber) A stratospheric perch - if buildings are tall enough, you'll need this. |
1958 | Build A Planet With Asteroids (from And Then the Town Took Off by Richard Wilson) The idea that it is possible to gather up enough of the asteroids in the solar system to "build" a planet out of the scraps. |
1958 | Robot Snake (from Bait for the Tiger by Lee Chaytor) A mechanical reptile, with no legs. |
1958 | Plastotek (from Menace From Vega by Robert Randall) False skin disguise. |
1958 | Thought-Record Helmet (from Menace From Vega by Robert Randall) A wearable history book. |
1958 | Magnetic Pinions (from Worlds of Origin by Jack Vance) Remote control electromagnetic handcuffs. |
1958 | The Hub (from Worlds of Origin by Jack Vance) A large space resort consisting of inhabitable bubbles in a metal framework. |
1958 | Robot Brother (from Brother Robot by Henry Slesar) A roboticist brings home a robot brother for his natural son. |
1958 | Lunar Observatory (from We Have Fed Our Sea by Poul Anderson) Putting an observatory on the far side of the Moon could have advantages. |
1959 | Metallic Marx (from The Robots Strike by Harry Harrison) A robot who strikes for better working conditions. |
1959 | Electromechanical Educator (from The Fourth R by George O. Smith) An automated teaching machine. |
1959 | Talking Bomb (from Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein) A psychological warfare weapon that talks to the enemy. |
1959 | Neodog (from Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein) Canine-derived animal, genetically engineered for increased intelligence and speech. |
1959 | Toy Testing Dummy (from War Game by Philip K. Dick) A child-sized device used to test suspect toys. |
1959 | Saddle (from The Big Front Yard by Clifford Simak) A comfortable riding saddle - minus the horse. |
1959 | Personality Death (from Robot Justice by Harry Harrison) Punishment leaves the body intact. |
1959 | Memo-Voice (from War Game by Philip K. Dick) Paper memos that read themselves out loud. |
1959 | Hands Free Helmet (from Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein) The helmet of a powered suit has controls activated by head movements. |
1959 | Robot Judge (from Robot Justice by Harry Harrison) Artificially intelligent legal machine - robes and all. |
1959 | Robotic Trash Can (from Robot Justice by Harry Harrison) A sensor-equipped waste can capable of autonomous cleaning - and legal judgement. |
1959 | Hyperspace Beacon (from The Repairman by Harry Harrison) Located in real space, these devices provide reference points in hyperspace to make navigation possible. |
1959 | Robot Spectra Analyzer (from The Repairman by Harry Harrison) Device used to find ones position in real space. |
1959 | Grass Carpet (from The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.) An indoor home or office floor covering - living grass. |
1959 | Flying Eye (from The Repairman by Harry Harrison) A remote-controlled device for surveillance overflight. |
1959 | Magnetically Floating Furniture (from The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.) Furniture that is suspended at the proper height using magnetic forces. |
1959 | Mark IV Door Keeping Robot (from The Man Who Could Not Stop by A. Bertram Chandler) A robotic device for responding (and scanning) people who come to your door. |
1959 | Powered Armor (or Powered Suit) (from Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein) An armored suit that magnifies the power of the soldier's muscles, along with other weapons. |
1959 | Clone (from The Clone by Theodore L Thomas) The aggregate of individual organisms descended by asexual reproduction from a single sexually produced individual. |
1960 | Cold-Pack (from Dr. Futurity by Philip K. Dick) Technology for indefinite cold storage of human beings. |
1960 | Power Holster (from Deathworld by Harry Harrison) Puts the sidearm right in your hand. |
1960 | Bacteria-Destroying Radiation (from Dr. Futurity by Philip K. Dick) A special beam that created a sterile field for operations. |
1960 | Art-Derm (from Dr. Futurity by Philip K. Dick) Artificial skin sprayed directly on the body. |
1960 | Indestructible Contract (from Dorsai! by Gordon R. Dickson) Legal document in which can't be easily altered or damaged. |
1960 | Chameleon Battle-Dress (from Dorsai! by Gordon R. Dickson) Camouflage that allows its wearer to visually blend into the environment. |
1960 | Starlight Sail (Light Sail) (from The Lady Who Sailed The Soul by Cordwainer Smith) A light sail capable of sailing between solar systems. |
1960 | Hammer (from Vulcan's Hammer by Philip K. Dick) Flying blunt trauma weapon remote-controlled by an artificially intelligent computer. |
1960 | Spring-Rifle (from Dorsai! by Gordon R. Dickson) Projectile weapon designed to be resistant to countermeasures. |
1960 | Dermal Spray (from Dr. Futurity by Philip K. Dick) A color coating for the skin, applied as a jet of vapor. |
1960 | Transdermal Drug Capsule (from Vulcan's Hammer by Philip K. Dick) A drug capsule that delivers medication by being placed on the skin. |
1960 | Semi-Conducting Graphite-Gel (from Callahan and the Wheelies by Stephen Barr) Computer brain structured like animal brain. |
1960 | Metal BIrds (from Vulcan's Hammer by Philip K. Dick) Surveillance robots that carried weapons, in addition to using their metal bodies. |
1960 | Pencil Beam (from Vulcan's Hammer by Philip K. Dick) A thin tube-like laser beam weapon. |
1960 | Adiabatic Pods (from The Lady Who Sailed The Soul by Cordwainer Smith) Tiny space capsules large enough to hold one passenger. |
1960 | Vulcan 3 (from Vulcan's Hammer by Philip K. Dick) Artificially intelligent self-modifying supercomputer. |
1960 | Ball and Hammer Ship (from Dorsai! by Gordon R. Dickson) Spaceship comprised of two sections connected by a shaft. |
1960 | Interactive Blackboard (from Vulcan's Hammer by Philip K. Dick) Early description of an interactive display device for lectures and demonstrations. |
1960 | Robot Tracking Device (from Vulcan's Hammer by Philip K. Dick) Small UAV robot remotely operated by an artificially intelligent computer. |
1960 | Bolo (from Combat Unit by Keith Laumer) An highly advanced combat tank controlled by a sophisticated Artificial Intelligence. |
1960 | Learning Robot (from Callahan and the Wheelies by Stephen Barr) A robot that learns from its own experiences. |
1960 | Self-Charging Robot (from Callahan and the Wheelies by Stephen Barr) A robot that is able to autonomously find an electrical outlet and plug itself in to recharge. |
1960 | Dixon Pump (from Dr. Futurity by Philip K. Dick) An temporary mechanical heart to circulate blood. |
1960 | Fluid Metal Letters (from Vulcan's Hammer by Philip K. Dick) A smooth metal display able to display words. |
1960 | Single Sheet Molecule (from Dorsai! by Gordon R. Dickson) A counterfeit-proof way to output unique documents. |
1960 | Domed Mapviewer (from Dorsai! by Gordon R. Dickson) Illuminated hemispherical map display. |
1960 | Infiltrators (from Vulcan's Hammer by Philip K. Dick) Surveillance devices, small and insectile. |
1961 | Pleasure Cap (from A Planet Named Shayol by Cordwainer Smith) A device that delivers amps of pleasure directly to the brain. |
1961 | Living Grass Carpet (from Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein) An indoor area covered with grass, in the manner of a carpet. |
1961 | Stellene (from The Planet Strappers by Raymond Z. Gallun) A tough, transparent material used to make domes or even spacecraft. |
1961 | Grok (from Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein) To understand fully; become one with (from the Martial verb "to drink"). |
1961 | Jump Harness (from Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein) A device small enough to be worn as a backpack, that gave booster power for jumping. |
1961 | Screensaver (Inventor of) (from Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein) Screen savers are used to prevent phosphor burnout in CRTs, and to provide restful entertainment on computer screens. |
1961 | Dromozoa (from A Planet Named Shayol by Cordwainer Smith) Life forms that cause the human body to bud new parts for harvesting. |
1961 | Mind Destroyer (from A Planet Named Shayol by Cordwainer Smith) A method for wiping clean the mind of a human being, leaving only enough to run the body's functions. |
1961 | Stereovision Tank (from Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein) Three dimensional mass media (the grandson of television). |
1961 | Parastatics (from Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem) Means of completely eliminating injury in vehicles during crashes. |
1961 | Space Bubble (Bubb) (from The Planet Strappers by Raymond Z. Gallun) An inflatable spacecraft. |
1961 | Sun-Powered Ionic Drive Motor (from The Planet Strappers by Raymond Z. Gallun) A rocket propulsion system that takes solar energy to power an ion drive. |
1961 | Teleprinter (from Four-Day Planet by H. Beam Piper) A device that printed out a copy of today's newspaper. |
1961 | Recording Radio (from Four-Day Planet by H. Beam Piper) A handheld device that both recorded sound and transmitted it live to a remote broadcasting location. |
1961 | Transmit Camera (from Four-Day Planet by H. Beam Piper) A camera that both takes pictures and uploads it directly to a news station. |
1961 | Self-Guided Rocket Bullets (from The Planet Strappers by Raymond Z. Gallun) A rifle made for airless environments shoots rocket bullets. |
1961 | Betrization (from Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem) An in utero method of reducing human aggression. |
1961 | Hydroponics in Space (from The Planet Strappers by Raymond Z. Gallun) Growing plants for food without soil on a spacecraft. |
1961 | Crystal Corn (from Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem) Tiny data storage crystals. |
1961 | Sky Ceiling (from Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem) Ceilings that consist of large screens, on which are presented images of the sky. |
1961 | Opton (from Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem) Very early description of an electronic book, with storage media. |
1961 | Interactive Map (from Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem) A small book with a 'touch-screen' paper interactive map. |
1961 | Calster (from Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem) A handheld device that printed legal currency on the spot. |
1961 | Spray-On Clothing (from Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem) Body coverings from a spray can. |
1961 | Carniculture Plants (from Four-Day Planet by H. Beam Piper) Industrial plants that grow meat protein. |
1961 | Gobathian (from Time is the Simplest Thing by Clifford Simak) An alien medical technology that enables full body healing in the event of traumatic injury. |
1961 | Waterbed (Hydraulic Bed) (from Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein) A bed that uses water instead of springs and stuffing. |
1961 | Reading Machine (from Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein) A projector which showed text on a screen or the ceiling for easy reading. |
1961 | Emotional Register (ER) (from The Primal Urge by Brian Aldiss) A small disk worn in the forehead that discloses the emotional state of the wearer. |
1961 | Taper (from Time is the Simplest Thing by Clifford Simak) A device that records details about a visit to a distant planet. |
1961 | Star Machine (from Time is the Simplest Thing by Clifford Simak) A device that serves as a boost to psychokinetic powers of mind, enabling paranormals to send their awareness to distant planets. |
1961 | Butcher Vegetable (from Time is the Simplest Thing by Clifford Simak) A plant that grows steaks (protein). |
1961 | Air-Restorer Capsule (from The Planet Strappers by Raymond Z. Gallun) A device that re-oxygenates air in space suits. |
1961 | Lecton (from Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem) A device that would read aloud an electronic text book. |
1961 | Chlorophane (from The Planet Strappers by Raymond Z. Gallun) Similar to chlorophyll but synthetic and far more efficient. |
1961 | Transo (from Time is the Simplest Thing by Clifford Simak) Teleportation of objects and personnel, used as the basis for "Trading Post" stores across the planet. |
1961 | Hunting Robe (from Time is the Simplest Thing by Clifford Simak) A very thin, furry hunter that captures by constriction. |
1961 | Moondozer (from A Fall of Moondust by Arthur C. Clarke) A bulldozer for lunar conditions. |
1961 | Electrosecretary (from A Fall of Moondust by Arthur C. Clarke) An automatic transcription device. |
1961 | Igloo Inflatable Moon Habitat (from A Fall of Moondust by Arthur C. Clarke) An inflatable, portable lunar shelter that can be easily moved and set up. |
1961 | Stereo Tank (from Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein) A receiver for three-dimensional televised images. |
1961 | Dimensino (from Time is the Simplest Thing by Clifford Simak) An alien entertainment center that provides the ultimate in immersive experience. |
1961 | Lyle Drive (from Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein) Propulsion system for use inside the solar system. |
1961 | Dust-Ski (from A Fall of Moondust by Arthur C. Clarke) Special vehicle adapted for quick travel over powdered lunar soil. |
1961 | Electronic Book Store (from Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem) A place to pick up your electronic books. |
1961 | Dust-Cruiser (from A Fall of Moondust by Arthur C. Clarke) Specialized lunar transport able to negotiate dust-filled craters on the Moon. |
1961 | Mental Radio-Handicap (from Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.) A device that destroys concentration. |
1961 | Sealingsilk (from The Beat Cluster by Fritz Leiber) Transparent and flexible material, even against hard vacuum in space. |
1961 | Plexiskin (from A Spaceship Named McGuire by Gordon Randall Garrett) A means of disguise. |
1961 | Magnetic Soles (from A Spaceship Named McGuire by Gordon Randall Garrett) Magnetized footwear for easy walking on low gravity metal surfaces. |
1961 | Sun-Quilt (from The Beat Cluster by Fritz Leiber) A colorful fabric with a silvered backing used to shield the interior of a living-globe from excessive sunlight. |
1961 | Astroposit (from The Hunch by Christopher Anvil) Retro-style system provides a readout on your position anywhere in the galaxy. |
1961 | Flitterboat (from A Spaceship Named McGuire by Gordon Randall Garrett) A one-man cargo space craft. |
1961 | IntruGrab (from The Hunch by Christopher Anvil) A system designed to capture intruders. |
1961 | Inflatable Living-Globe (from The Beat Cluster by Fritz Leiber) An inflatable bubble in space, suitable for human habitation. |
1961 | Skip-Glide (from The Planet Strappers by Raymond Z. Gallun) A means of using the atmosphere to delicately slow a space craft during re-entry. |
1961 | Precipitrons (from The Beat Cluster by Fritz Leiber) Filtration system to remove dust and other particulates from the atmosphere in space stations. |
1961 | Green Guk (from The Beat Cluster by Fritz Leiber) Algae that produces essential oxygen as a byproduct. |
1962 | Robot Librarian Filer (from The Robot Who Wanted to Know by Harry Harrison) A device that works as a librarian, automatically filing books in the stacks. |
1962 | Cataclysmite (from Little Fuzzy by H. Beam Piper) A high explosive. |
1962 | Static House (from The Thousand Dreams of Stellavista by J.G. Ballard) A house that was once fully psychotropic and malleable, but which had been frozen in one configuration. |
1962 | Plastex (from The Thousand Dreams of Stellavista by J.G. Ballard) A combination of plaster and latex, it allows houses to change shape for you. |
1962 | Lunar Web (from Hothouse by Brian Aldiss) The moon ensnared by cobwebs. |
1962 | Psychotropic House (from The Thousand Dreams of Stellavista by J.G. Ballard) Buildings designed to sense, and mirror, the psychological state of their owners. |
1962 | Self-Healing Building (from The Thousand Dreams of Stellavista by J.G. Ballard) A building that responds to stresses or cracks in walls by healing the damaged portion. |
1962 | Carniculture Vat (from Space Viking by H. Beam Piper) Technology to grow meat sans animal. |
1962 | Diamagnetic Levitation (from The Currents of Space by Isaac Asimov) Levitation accomplished using magnetic field's interference with the motion of electrons orbiting the atoms or molecules of a material. |
1962 | Laminated Mouse Brain Computer (from Think Blue, Count Two by Cordwainer Smith) A computing device that makes use of neurons from a mouse. |
1962 | Senso-Cells (from The Thousand Dreams of Stellavista by J.G. Ballard) Sensors that recorded personal characteristics of the owners of a house, to better serve their needs. |
1962 | Serving Robot (from Space Viking by H. Beam Piper) A non-humanoid robot designed to serve. |
1962 | Celestial Armamentarium (from The Dragon Masters by Jack Vance) A small crystal planetarium, in which the stars and planets surrounding Aerlith are seen. |
1962 | Luminescent Vial (from The Dragon Masters by Jack Vance) A glass tube full of luminescent algae; used to provide some measure of light underground. |
1962 | Dumbler (from Hothouse by Brian Aldiss) Half-sentient spores of the whistle thistle. |
1962 | Tand (from The Dragon Masters by Jack Vance) A metal sculpture, made in contemplation, which has great meaning for the initiates. |
1962 | Solar Sail (Light Sail) (from Sail 25 by Jack Vance) A form of propulsion for spacecraft; a sheet of lightweight material reflects light from the sun or other light source. |
1962 | Alcodote (from Space Viking by H. Beam Piper) A compound that maintains sobriety while drinking. |
1962 | Veridicator (from Little Fuzzy by H. Beam Piper) A device that measured physiologic responses (biometric data) and translated it to a set of colors that unerringly reported whether or not the measured person was telling the truth. |
1962 | Robot Earthworm (from War With The Robots by Harry Harrison) Autonomous swarming robots the size of earthworms, with similar earth-digging capabilities. |
1962 | Rat-Robot (from Anything You Can Do by Gordon Randall Garrett) A small remotely-operated surveillance robot. |
1962 | Light-Sail Ship (from Think Blue, Count Two by Cordwainer Smith) A spacecraft that used a huge sail moved by light pressure. |
1962 | Freezebox (from Think Blue, Count Two by Cordwainer Smith) A chamber for long term sleep between the stars. |
1962 | Delivery Robot (from Podkayne of Mars by Robert Heinlein) A small autonomous device that will bring goods directly to a person or place. |
1962 | Photonic Sail (from Think Blue, Count Two by Cordwainer Smith) A sail that uses light pressure for propulsion. |
1963 | Subliminal Billboards (from The Subliminal Man by J.G. Ballard) Enormous outdoor billboards that are totally blank - or are they? |
1963 | Field-Minder (from Who Can Replace A Man by Brian Aldiss) An agricultural robot. |
1963 | Unicephalon 40-D (from Stand-By by Philip K. Dick) A problem-solving supercomputer. |
1963 | Alcohol-Sensing System (from The Game Players of Titan by Philip K. Dick) A vehicle subsystem that detected alcohol use in the driver, and then took control of the car away from the driver. |
1963 | Free Telephone Call (from The Subliminal Man by J.G. Ballard) All telephone calls are free - in exchange for short commercials. |
1963 | Transparent, Frictionless Coating (from Way Station by Clifford Simak) An absolutely frictionless, impenetrable coating. |
1963 | Multiverse (from The Sundered Worlds by Michael Moorcock) A set or series of universes in parallel with our own. |
1963 | Way Station Materializer (from Way Station by Clifford Simak) By sending impulses that describe a creature from star to star, transport across the galaxy is accomplished. |
1963 | Fold Box (from Glory Road by Robert Heinlein) A chest that is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. |
1963 | News Clown (from Stand-By by Philip K. Dick) A person who delivers specially selected light news. |
1963 | Homotropic News Vending Machine (from The Game Players of Titan by Philip K. Dick) An autonomous news-selling robot, that was able to specifically seek out human beings. |
1963 | Tattletale (from The Game Players of Titan by Philip K. Dick) A device is attached to a criminal suspect, ensuring that his whereabouts are always known. |
1963 | Desk Secretary (from The Long Result by John Brunner) A desk with a computerized secretary built into it. |
1963 | Ice-Nine (from Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.) A crystalline form of water so stable that in practical terms it would never melt. |
1963 | Solar Yacht (from Sunjammer by Arthur C. Clarke) A space craft whose motive power is light pressure on a solar sail. |
1963 | Solar Yacht Periscope (from Sunjammer by Arthur C. Clarke) A device used in the small cabin of a solar yacht. |
1963 | Rabbit-Paper (from The Game Players of Titan by Philip K. Dick) A paper pregnancy test that showed immediate results. |
1963 | Way Station (from Way Station by Clifford Simak) A device used to transport individuals across the galaxy. |
1963 | Perky Pat Layout (from The Days of Perky Pat by Philip K. Dick) A very special playset into which adults could project their very being. |
1963 | Talisman (from Way Station by Clifford Simak) Device that causes beings nearby to experience truth and peace; works only in the hands of rare adepts. |
1963 | Sleep-Inducer (from Sunjammer by Arthur C. Clarke) A device that electronically imposes sleep on a human being. |
1963 | Rifle Range (Virtual Shooting Range) (from Way Station by Clifford Simak) Virtual skeet shooting gallery with clay pigeon traps created by aliens. |
1963 | Jump Drive (from Ethical Engineer by Harry Harrison) A means of propulsion used on spacecraft that allows a ship to travel from point to distant point without actually needing to traverse the space in between. |
1963 | Shadow People (from Way Station by Clifford Simak) Alien knowledge leads to alien results - for humans. |
1964 | Autonomic Food-Processing System (from Cantata 140 by Philip K. Dick) Technology allows food to be prepared untouched by human hands. |
1964 | Word Tab (from Cantata 140 by Philip K. Dick) A feature of an e-paper document; touch the word tab and get more information. |
1964 | Artif-Org (from Cantata 140 by Philip K. Dick) A mechanical version of a human organ. |
1964 | Syn-Cof (from Cantata 140 by Philip K. Dick) Synthetic coffee. |
1964 | Boulder (from Cantata 140 by Philip K. Dick) A device that homed in on a person's brain wave pattern; a very specific assassination device. |
1964 | Bibs (from Cantata 140 by Philip K. Dick) People who are put in cold-sleep because there is no niche for them in society. |
1964 | Chalf (Quick-Scribe Powder) (from The Tactful Saboteur by Frank Herbert) A special powder that forms itself into words and symbols. |
1964 | Pry-Vie (Robotic Detective) (from Clans of the Alphane Moon by Philip K. Dick) A robotic private eye; autonomic detection services. |
1964 | Cephalic Sniffer (from Clans of the Alphane Moon by Philip K. Dick) Device can locate an individual using brain patterns. |
1964 | Auto Course-Finding Pilot (from Clans of the Alphane Moon by Philip K. Dick) A device that not only pilots the craft, but will also plot out a course for you. |
1964 | Surgical Hand (from Clans of the Alphane Moon by Philip K. Dick) A specialized robotic hand used for surgery. |
1964 | Manual Closet (from Clans of the Alphane Moon by Philip K. Dick) An old-fashioned storage room for clothing, which required the user to place and organize articles of apparel by hand. |
1964 | Agfom Potent-Shot (from Clans of the Alphane Moon by Philip K. Dick) Special film allows user to take a picture of what happens in the next thirty minutes. |
1964 | Autonomic Plow (from Clans of the Alphane Moon by Philip K. Dick) A set of farm implements able to combine and perform as a weapon. |
1964 | Auto Shovel (from The Simulacra by Philip K. Dick) Automated mining equipment for use in space. |
1964 | Color Generator (from The Killing Machine by Jack Vance) A variable spectrum light source |
1964 | Time-Warping Construct (from Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick) A device that appears to cause alternate worlds or paraworld. |
1964 | Housefly Monitor (from Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick) A living fly that is outfitted with sensors for surveillance work. |
1964 | Solar Updraft Tower (from Shortstack by Leigh and Walt Richmond) A renewable-energy scheme that generates power from air movement inside a tall chimney. |
1964 | Ampek F-a2 Recording System (from The Simulacra by Philip K. Dick) A device that incorporated a living protoplasm, used as a recording and playback system. |
1964 | Cephalotropic Dart (from Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick) A slim, short-range device that homes in on the brain wave pattern of the target. |
1964 | Live Memo (from The Simulacra by Philip K. Dick) A paper memo or short letter that reads itself and can even argue with or exhort its reader. |
1964 | Poison-Bearing Invisible Glove (from Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick) Membranous apparel for the hands, used to dispense poisons. |
1964 | Optical-Effect Suit (from The Hounds of Hell by Keith Laumer) An invisibility garment. |
1964 | Police Control-Override (from The Hounds of Hell by Keith Laumer) A device that allows police officers to take control of an otherwise normal vehicle. |
1964 | Ident-Key (from The Penultimate Truth by Philip K. Dick) Allows the retrieval of a person's entire history of reading material, allowing the prediction of his future thinking. |
1964 | Court Robo-Clerk (from The Tactful Saboteur by Frank Herbert) A robotic law clerk. |
1964 | Empathy Box (from The Little Black Box by Philip K. Dick) A device which allows a group of people to empathize with a single person (like television lets many people view the same broadcast). |
1964 | Courtarena (from The Tactful Saboteur by Frank Herbert) A combination of a court of law, and an arena of combat, in which every participant could be called out and executed under legal circumstances. |
1964 | Adjustable Television (from The Simulacra by Philip K. Dick) A television that allowed viewers to adjust the content of political speeches. |
1964 | Chalf-Memory Stick (from The Tactful Saboteur by Frank Herbert) Device that organizes special dust in the shape of words and symbols. |
1964 | Undersea Restaurant (from The Star King by Jack Vance) A restaurant located in its entirety under the sea. |
1964 | Skin Toning (from The Star King by Jack Vance) Using artificial means to effect a temporary change in skin color. |
1964 | Universal Technical Consultative Service (from The Star King by Jack Vance) Interstellar travel plans calculated, reserved and confirmed. |
1964 | Jet-Powered Aquaplane (from The Star King by Jack Vance) Overpowered surface boat. |
1964 | Famnexdo (from The Simulacra by Philip K. Dick) A set of four simulacra, one adult male, one adult female and two children; the family next door. |
1964 | Robot Busboy (from Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick) A robotic device able to autonomously clear tables in a restaurant. |
1964 | Identificator (from The Star King by Jack Vance) A hologram projector used to flash door signs. |
1964 | Single Seat Scooter (from The Star King by Jack Vance) A self-service monocycle. |
1964 | Fake-Meter (from The Killing Machine by Jack Vance) A pocket-sized counterfeit currency detector. |
1964 | Walking Fort (from The Killing Machine by Jack Vance) A biomimetic fort based on the model of a centipede. |
1964 | Flexible Stem (from The Killing Machine by Jack Vance) A long flexible tube that can expand and contract its length quickly. |
1964 | Commercial Fly (from The Simulacra by Philip K. Dick) An autonomous, fly-sized manufactured creature that presents commercial advertisements. |
1964 | Reporting Machine (from The Simulacra by Philip K. Dick) A robotic roving reporter. |
1964 | Creditor Jet-Balloon (from Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick) A small, hovering device that hounds debtors. |
1964 | Stick-Tight (from The Star King by Jack Vance) A general term for surveillance devices that will follow a subject and record speech or video. |
1964 | Surface Slider (from The Star King by Jack Vance) A small, lightweight craft. |
1964 | Rhetorizer (from The Penultimate Truth by Philip K. Dick) A computerized assistant for writers. |
1964 | Platform Flyer (from The Star King by Jack Vance) A small craft suitable for journeys close to the ground. |
1964 | Chairdog (from The Tactful Saboteur by Frank Herbert) A chair that is alive and partly sentient; it shapes itself to the person sitting in it. |
1964 | Nipple-Assist (from Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick) A multi-purpose electronic device worn upon the nipple. |
1964 | Phantomatic Generator (Virtual Reality) (from Summa Technologiae by Stanislaw Lem) A computer-generated experience. |
1964 | Cholinesterase-Destroying Gas (from Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick) Horrific anti-personnel poison. |
1964 | Suicide Tooth (from Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick) A false tooth containing poison. |
1964 | Automated Laboratory (from The Shores of Death by Michael Moorcock) A fully automated machinery of invention. |
1964 | Weary Deep-Sleep (from Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick) Phildickian old-sleep. |
1964 | Uptime (from The Traps of Time by John Baxter) Forward in time. |
1964 | Downtime (from The Traps of Time by John Baxter) Traveling back in time. |
1964 | Simulacrum (Sim) (from Clans of the Alphane Moon by Philip K. Dick) An autonomous construct that is a perfect likeness to a human person. |
1964 | Bug Chasers (from Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick) Anti-surveillance devices. |
1964 | Control Harness (from A Game of Unchance by Philip K. Dick) Connects to the brain and nervous system of a host organism for control purposes. |
1964 | Jump Point (from Bill for Delivery by Christopher Anvil) A specific location in space where an interstellar jump can be accomplished. |
1964 | Adjustment (from Placement Test by Keith Laumer) Making sure the man fits the job! |
1964 | Microrob (from A Game of Unchance by Philip K. Dick) Small stature robots. |
1965 | Battery-Powered 3D Comic Book (from The Zap Gun by Philip K. Dick) A comic book the pages of which were animated by battery power. |
1965 | Dr. Smile (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick) A suitcase-sized analyst; a machine that served as a psychotherapist. |
1965 | Commuter Cooling Unit (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick) A portable air conditioner for commuters. |
1965 | Poison Snooper (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A device that checked food and drink for poisons. |
1965 | Remote-Cast Snooper (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A small, easily concealed poison snooper. |
1965 | Truffle Skins (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick) Genetically unique skins are the common currency; their special genetic makeup makes forgery impossible. |
1965 | Water Repellent Surface (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A surface that water flows over without sticking at all. |
1965 | Heighliner (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Enormous starship used by the Spacing Guild for interstellar travel. |
1965 | N-e (Needle-eyeification) Weapon (from The Zap Gun by Philip K. Dick) A class of weapons that had the most precise effect imaginable. |
1965 | Bubblehead (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick) A person who as undergone E therapy, and achieved the frontal lobe of their dreams. |
1965 | Civic Notification Distorter (from The Zap Gun by Philip K. Dick) A device that subtly damages databases full of government information. |
1965 | Death-rattle File (from The Zap Gun by Philip K. Dick) A cache of information set to destroy itself upon the death of its owner. |
1965 | Luxvid Eyes (Jensen Wide-Angle) (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick) Artificial, unmoving implanted eyes. |
1965 | Electronic Bard (from The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age by Stanislaw Lem) A computing machine that is able to write original poetry. |
1965 | Cardioplate (from 'Repent Harlequin' Said the Ticktockman by Harlan Ellison) A device that could take seconds or minutes off your life, one beat at a time (or all at once). |
1965 | Leybyrdite (from Subspace Explorers by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) Extremely tough crystalline metal. |
1965 | Slow Pellet Stunner (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A projectile device that throws darts in a manner calculated to get past a force shield. |
1965 | Steel Teeth (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick) Artificial teeth welded to the bone. |
1965 | Message Cylinder (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A small metal object containing some form of message media and a mechanism for either playing or extruding the medium; secured communication device. |
1965 | Suspensor (from Dune by Frank Herbert) An energy field that can nullify gravity for small objects. |
1965 | Glowglobe (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Floating spherical light bulb with organic energy source. |
1965 | Palm Lock (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A lock or seal which can be opened only by contact with the palm of the human hand to which it has been keyed. |
1965 | Krimskell Fiber (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A "claw" fiber which will rubs against itself in such a way that, the tighter the rope is pulled, the stronger the knot becomes. |
1965 | Interchangeable Hands (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick) Specialized manual extremities. |
1965 | Fanmetal (from Dune by Frank Herbert) High tensile strength material; used in collapsible structures opened by "fanning" them out. |
1965 | Ego-Likeness (from Dune by Frank Herbert) An extremely detailed portrait played through a shigawire projector; capable of reproducing minute movements said to convey the ego essence of a person. |
1965 | Doorseal (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A portable plastic seal used in temporary camps to keep moisture from escaping from dwelling places. |
1965 | Distrans (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Device produces a temporary neural imprint on the nervous system of Chiroptera or birds. |
1965 | Femfatalatron (from The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age by Stanislaw Lem) A device that reverses an infatuation for a particular woman. |
1965 | Wakeshot (from Dune by Frank Herbert) An injection designed to bring a person out of sleep to full wakefulness. |
1965 | Paracompass (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A very specialized compass that makes use of local magnetic anomalies. |
1965 | Robot Bar (from Bill the Galactic Hero by Harry Harrison) A combination bartender and bar; a robot capable of dispensing beverages. |
1965 | Plasteel (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Extremely tough form of steel, stabilized with stravidium fibers grown into its crystal. |
1965 | Battle Language (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A special-purpose language designed for both clear communication of information related to war, and difficulty of translation. |
1965 | Autodoc (from World of Ptavvs by Larry Niven) An automated physician, a fully autonomous surgical robot. |
1965 | Kingdom in a Box (from The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age by Stanislaw Lem) An entire civilization in miniature - in an interactive box. |
1965 | Robomule (from Bill the Galactic Hero by Harry Harrison) The robotic equivalent of a mule. |
1965 | Jubba Cloak (from Dune by Frank Herbert) An all-purpose garment in common use on Arrakis |
1965 | Dispensing Tooth (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A device shaped like a tooth that dispenses gas. |
1965 | Smart Dust (from The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age by Stanislaw Lem) Very tiny computers. |
1965 | Filt-Plug (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A nose plug worn to collect moisture from exhaled air. |
1965 | Minimic Film (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Very fine message medium. |
1965 | Maula Pistol (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A spring-loaded projectile device. |
1965 | Cephalic Pattern Door (from The Zap Gun by Philip K. Dick) A door that only opens for specific people. |
1965 | Handicloset (from The Zap Gun by Philip K. Dick) A self-organizing closet |
1965 | Rachag (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A caffeine-style stimulant. |
1965 | Shigawire (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A very fine wire, used as a recording medium (among other things). |
1965 | Crysknife (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A knife blade ground from the tooth of a giant sandworm of Dune. |
1965 | Semuta (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A combination of a specific drug and music, which penetrated to the deepest levels of consciousness. |
1965 | 'Thopter (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Describes any plane capable of wing-beat flight in the manner of birds. |
1965 | Mnemonic Pulse (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A feature of filmbook recordings that helps imprint knowledge on the mind of the user. |
1965 | Filmbook (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A storage medium for information, both text and video. |
1965 | Sapho Juice (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Unique substance enhanced the cognitive performance of Mentats. |
1965 | Fencing Mirror (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A dummy fighting instructor for the young Kwisatz Haderach-in-training. |
1965 | Sietch (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A cave warren designed to protect a tribal community, with a population of thousands, with its own water supply in an endless desert. |
1965 | Model the Universe (from The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age by Stanislaw Lem) A computer capacious enough to contain a representation of the entire universe. |
1965 | Lasgun (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A continuous-wave laser projector; can be used as a weapon or as a cutting tool. |
1965 | Dekon Type DCQ (from Subspace Explorers by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) Decontamination foam. |
1965 | Teddy Bear Robot (from I Always Do What Teddy Says by Harry Harrison) A special toy bear given to every child in the world. |
1965 | Pain Box (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A small box which induced pain into the nerves of the hand. |
1965 | Imperial Handicraft Globe (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Perfectly crafted globe for planetary governors. |
1965 | Gnostotron (from The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age by Stanislaw Lem) Computing device capable of producing an informational model of absolutely everything in existence. |
1965 | Gigagnostotron (from The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age by Stanislaw Lem) Enormously powerful computing device. |
1965 | Ornithopter (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Also called a 'thopter, it had adjustable wings and was jet-powered. Describes any plane capable of wing-beat flight in the manner of birds. |
1965 | Filament Paper Book (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Very small book, made for space travelers in an era when the smallest added weight was costly. |
1965 | Factory Crawler (or Harvester Crawler) (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A mobile factory which filtered and processed the sands of Dune for the spice, mélange. |
1965 | Windtrap (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A device which precipitates water from the air for use by people. |
1965 | Antithermal Shield (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick) A material that protected against climate warming. |
1965 | Servok (from Dune by Frank Herbert) An 'automatic' or clock-set mechanism to perform simple tasks. |
1965 | Suspensor Chair (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A chair that suspends itself above the floor. |
1965 | Garbage-can Banger (from The Zap Gun by Philip K. Dick) An elaborate noise-based weapon. |
1965 | Sandsnork (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A device like a snorkel that would provide air to a tent buried by a sand storm. |
1965 | Thumper (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A short stake with a spring-driven clapper at one end; used to call sandworms. |
1965 | Suspensor Lamp (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A lamp that will float in mid-air, and will stay where you put it. |
1965 | Solido Projector (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Projects 3-dimensional images. |
1965 | Chromoplastic Dew Collector (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A small, egg-shaped device that uses a special surface to collect morning dew on the desert planet of Arrakis. |
1965 | Stilltent (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A small, sealable enclosure which reclaimed moisture from the breath of occupants. |
1965 | Spatial-Postal Card (from Bill the Galactic Hero by Harry Harrison) Mail from home - that hungry soldiers can also eat. |
1965 | Oil Lens (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Oil held in tension in an enclosing force field, used as an optical component. |
1965 | Watertube (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Carries water to and from the catchpockets in a Fremen stillsuit. |
1965 | Cutteray (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A laser used in a range of tools - including mining equipment. |
1965 | Golden Lights (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Another unusual use of the suspensor field; lights are suspended in it. |
1965 | Mentat (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A person who has been specially trained and conditioned for excellence in |
1965 | Carryall (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A flying wing (aircraft); used to pick up a sandcrawler (harvester factory) |
1965 | Voice (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Combines exceptional insight into personalty with voice modulation to achieve control over individuals. |
1965 | Ramscoop (from World of Ptavvs by Larry Niven) An enormous magnetic field precedes a spaceship moving through space, directing interstellar hydrogen inward for use as fuel. |
1965 | Personalized Fashion Display (from Bill the Galactic Hero by Harry Harrison) A set of displays that show you dressed in different uniforms. |
1965 | Residual Poison (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A poison that, once administered, resides in the body; only regular intake of the antidote keeps the person alive. |
1965 | Hunter-seeker (from Dune by Frank Herbert) An assassination device that floats in mid-air; kills by entering the body and following nerve pathways to vital organs. |
1965 | Stillsuit (from Dune by Frank Herbert) It covers almost the entire body, provides cooling and ensures that almost no moisture is lost. |
1965 | Implanted Steel Teeth (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick) Replacement teeth implanted in the jaw. |
1965 | Filterable Virus (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick) A special virus that is instantly carcinomatous. |
1965 | Autonomic Cab (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick) An automated taxicab (without robotic driver). |
1965 | Sheep Dip Isolator (from The Zap Gun by Philip K. Dick) A non-lethal malodorant weapon. |
1965 | Inter-Vehicle Communication (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick) The ability to talk car-to-car directly. |
1965 | Catchpocket (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A small container in a stillsuit that stored reclaimed water. |
1965 | Dew Gatherers (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Devices used to gather morning dew as a source of drinking water. |
1965 | Heat-Removing Staff (from The Dead Lady of Clown Town by Cordwainer Smith) Device absorbs all heat from its target. |
1965 | Autonomic Interviewer (from The Zap Gun by Philip K. Dick) A robotic reporter. |
1965 | Medical Mech (from Warrior by Gordon R. Dickson) A medical robot designed to prevent death during emergencies. |
1965 | Poison Tongue Dart (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick) Weapon surgically implanted in the tongue. |
1965 | Hypno-Ligation (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A means of psychological control over an individual. |
1965 | Gom Jabbar (from Dune by Frank Herbert) A needle with deadly poison, used to test for humans. |
1965 | Slaver Sunflowers (from World of Ptavvs by Larry Niven) Plants evolved to reflect light to burn natural enemies. |
1965 | CAN-D (from The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick) Illegal narcotic chewed to alter the state of colonists. |
1965 | Chowlock (from The Starfox by Poul Anderson) A small opening in a space helmet for food insertion. |
1965 | Spice (Melange) (from Dune by Frank Herbert) The spice must flow. |
1965 | Family Atomics (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Noble houses had their own atomic weapons. |
1965 | Amtal Rule (from Dune by Frank Herbert) Testing to destruction |
1965 | Communinet (from Dune by Brian Herbert) A public data network.i |
1966 | Dream Console (from The Dream Master (He Who Shapes) by Roger Zelazny) Device allows a therapist to enter and create dreams in patients. |
1966 | Ebony Teeth (from Now Wait For Last Year by Philip K. Dick) Completely black artificial teeth. |
1966 | General Products Hull (from Neutron Star by Larry Niven) Nearly indestructible outer skin for spaceships; pick your hull size and put what you want inside. |
1966 | Right Angle Projectile (from The Mad Metropolis by Philip E. High) A missile that turns at right angles after being fired. |
1966 | Self-Assembling Robots (from The Witches of Karres by James Schmitz) Robots with the capacity to assemble themselves from components, and then switch themselves on. |
1966 | Ro-Womb (from The Dream Master (He Who Shapes) by Roger Zelazny) Device enfolds the patient during therapy. |
1966 | Surgical Homeostatic Unit (from Now Wait For Last Year by Philip K. Dick) An autonomous surgical robot, able to drill into the body and perform surgery. |
1966 | Sand-Yacht (Land Schooner) (from Cry Hope, Cry Fury! by J.G. Ballard) A vehicle that used wind power upon its sails to move on the land. |
1966 | Belter (from The Warriors by Larry Niven) A person who was born and raised in the asteroid belt around Sol. |
1966 | Corpsicle (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) Cryogenically frozen person who could (hopefully) be revived later. |
1966 | Neuristor (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein) A solid-state computer component that mimics the human neuron. |
1966 | Sprung-Samser Treatment (from This Immortal by Roger Zelazny) A medical treatment to extend human life. |
1966 | Sheem Spider Robot (from The Witches of Karres by James Schmitz) A robotic spider. |
1966 | Auto-Driven Auto (Spinner) (from The Dream Master (He Who Shapes) by Roger Zelazny) A vehicle that accepts coordinates and proceeds to its destination automatically. |
1966 | Cellphone Tranquilizing Spray (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) A mild sedative administered automatically by your cellphone. |
1966 | Cellphone Credit Card (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) Cellphone that can act as a credit card. |
1966 | Online Job Search (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) Networked assets allow ordinary people to search through nationwide job listings upon providing a short set of qualifications. |
1966 | Filing Crystal (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany) Part kiosk, part storage system. |
1966 | Online Employability Profile Testing (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) An online test that determines the best areas in which you might search for a job. |
1966 | Voice Dialing (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) Speak the name of the person and call them on the phone. |
1966 | TANSTAAFL (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein) There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. |
1966 | Discorporate Sector (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany) An electronic afterlife. |
1966 | Virtual Kiss (Tactile Net) (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) A phone-like device that will communicate a kiss in a tactile manner. |
1966 | Cellphone Voice Mail (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) Callers speak into their instrument, and the content of the call is stored by the network for the user to replay at will. |
1966 | Discorporaphone (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany) For speaking with the electronic dead. |
1966 | Interests Profile (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) An intelligent agent; a software program with your personal tastes on file. |
1966 | Specialized Prosthetic Arm (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein) A set of prosthetics that provide different functionality in place of missing arm. |
1966 | Morgue (Recall Stage) (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany) Storage and retrieval of frozen bodies. |
1966 | Photosensitive Pigment (from Cry Hope, Cry Fury! by J.G. Ballard) Special paint that stays 'blank' until exposed to a scene. |
1966 | Virtual Reality Construct (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) A means of projecting a virtual reality experience without special headsets. |
1966 | Caller Contact List (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) A list of callers kept on the phone instrument. |
1966 | Vision Implant (from The Dream Master (He Who Shapes) by Roger Zelazny) Photoelectric cell implanted in the forehead grants some vision to the blind. |
1966 | Lunar Ice Mining (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein) The practice of mining for ice on the moon. |
1966 | Gauzy (from This Immortal by Roger Zelazny) A feather-light tent, made of a fabric just one molecule thick. |
1966 | Robant Bill Collector (from Now Wait For Last Year by Philip K. Dick) A robot designed to collect overdue bills, no matter what. |
1966 | Joymaker (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) A networked personal digital assistant - that really is an assistant. |
1966 | Cloaking Device (from Balance of Terror by Paul Schneider) A force field that renders an object invisible to human eyes as well as other sensor devices. |
1966 | Ansible (from Rocannon's World by Ursula LeGuin) Faster-than-light communication. |
1966 | Life Recorder (from The Dream Master (He Who Shapes) by Roger Zelazny) Record the details of your life. |
1966 | Reciprocal Name (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) A nickname or familiar name used to specify a more completely defined full name and telephone number. |
1966 | Fusion Sunlight Tube (from At the Bottom of a Hole by Larry Niven) Central light source for a spun cylinder space station. |
1966 | Computer Humorist (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein) A computer acquires the ability to tell original jokes. |
1966 | Babel-17 (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany) An alien weapon in the form of a language. |
1966 | Miniaturization (from Fantastic Voyage (Novel) by Isaac Asimov) Making a physical object smaller in size. |
1966 | Laser Cannon (from Neutron Star by Larry Niven) A laser source powerful enough to provide significant light pressure to a "light sail." |
1966 | Simicolor (from This Immortal by Roger Zelazny) Artificial coloring for the body. |
1966 | Auto-Navigation (from The Dream Master (He Who Shapes) by Roger Zelazny) Automatic car navigation, provided on a video console in the dashboard. |
1966 | Diptray (from This Immortal by Roger Zelazny) A hovering tray of drinks, used for parties. |
1966 | Lunar Greenhouse Tunnel (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein) A multipurpose conservatory on the Moon. |
1966 | Eyes (from This Moment of the Storm by Roger Zelazny) Flying remote-operated surveillance drones. |
1966 | Auto-Scan (from This Moment of the Storm by Roger Zelazny) Automated control of remote surveillance drones. |
1966 | Adam Selene (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein) A computer generates a human avatar for itself. |
1966 | Rolem (Wrestling Robot) (from This Immortal by Roger Zelazny) A robotic wrestling companion. |
1966 | Voice-Enabled Smartphone (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) A smartphone capable of complete voice-enabled operation. |
1966 | Chemelectric Afferent Nerve-Analogues (from This Immortal by Roger Zelazny) An engineered sensory skin. |
1966 | Erased Memory (from We Can Remember It For You Wholesale by Philip K. Dick) A procedure that deletes selected memories from the human mind. |
1966 | Self-Guided Tractors (from At the Bottom of a Hole by Larry Niven) A farm vehicle that drives itself. |
1966 | Drinking Bulb (from The Warriors by Larry Niven) A small container, used for drinks. |
1966 | Radson Skimmer (from This Immortal by Roger Zelazny) A small vehicle designed for a small number of passengers; capable of low, slow flight. |
1966 | Death-Reversal Equipment (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) Brings you back from losing a duel. |
1966 | Garbage Device (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) Autonomous garbage collection device. |
1966 | Decorative Implant (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany) Small devices that can be implanted subcutaneously in the body and then controlled consciously. |
1966 | Extra-Factual Memory (from We Can Remember It For You Wholesale by Philip K. Dick) A "memory" placed in a person's mind by artifice, rather than by real life experience. |
1966 | Hush Hood (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein) A device that cancels noise, ensuring that others cannot overhear. |
1966 | Flexible Armor Suit (from Neutron Star by Larry Niven) A pressure suit that, while flexible, becomes rigid like armor upon impact. |
1966 | Sunshades (from This Immortal by Roger Zelazny) Sunglasses that darken and lighten based on ambient lighting. |
1966 | Radar Mesentery (from This Immortal by Roger Zelazny) A thick covering that supports a network of sensors. |
1966 | Bubbleworld (from At the Bottom of a Hole by Larry Niven) A rigid space station that is shaped like a cylinder, rotated to achieve centripetal gravity. |
1966 | Gravity Planer (from The Warriors by Larry Niven) Device that creates a gravity field. |
1966 | Virtual Keyboard (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) A keyboard that appears at the right moment in game play. |
1966 | Alternate Computer Personality (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein) A computer system that can take on complete, alternate personalities. |
1966 | TW-55 Spy (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany) Conscious control of facial characteristics. |
1966 | Tru-Mem Systems (from We Can Remember It For You Wholesale by Philip K. Dick) Organic process of recalling personal events. |
1966 | Tensile Memory Polarized Matter (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany) The same piece of material can take pre-determined shapes. |
1966 | Networked Personal Device (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) The idea that the true power of a mobile device lies in it's backend network capabilities. |
1966 | Cyborg Pilot (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein) A combination of a human being (at least the thinking part) and a machine. |
1966 | Mike (Mycroft Holmes - Fair Dinkum Thinkum) (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein) A large computer that woke up - an artificially intelligent, self-aware machine. |
1966 | Sleeping Plates (from Neutron Star by Larry Niven) A pair of plates that nullify gravity for the being(s) sleeping between them. Is null gravity the answer to your sleep problems? |
1966 | Big Screen Control (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) Display content from your personal device on a large shared screen. |
1966 | Telepathic Transmitter (Telep-transmitter) (from We Can Remember It For You Wholesale by Philip K. Dick) A device using living alien tissue to transmit your thoughts. |
1966 | Artificial Gill Outfit (from We Can Remember It For You Wholesale by Philip K. Dick) A diving suit that pulls air from the water. |
1966 | Mass-Driver Catapult (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein) An escape-speed induction catapult to launch material into orbit. |
1966 | Martian Print Amoeba (from Now Wait For Last Year by Philip K. Dick) An organism able to mimic consumer goods. |
1966 | Laser Rifle (from Door to Anywhere by Poul Anderson) A laser weapon shaped (and fired) like a traditional rifle. |
1966 | Virtual Reality Video Game (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by Frederik Pohl) A description of a computer game simulation played in real time as entertainment. |
1966 | Morphogen (from Fantastic Voyage (Novel) by Isaac Asimov) A drug that party relieves the need for sleep. |
1966 | Van Goom's Gambit (from Von Goom's Gambit by Victor Contoski) A chessboard pattern that unhinges the mind of any player who sees it. |
1966 | Confinement Asteroid (from At the Bottom of a Hole by Larry Niven) A place where asteroid miner's babies stay to experience some needed gravity. |
1966 | Kzinti Lesson - Propulsion As Weapon (from The Warriors by Larry Niven) The power of a craft's means of propulsion repurposed as an offensive weapon. |
1966 | Multi-View Surveillance Display (from This Moment of the Storm by Roger Zelazny) Lots of different video sources combined into one display. |
1966 | Ground-to-Orbit Ferry (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein) A kind of space shuttle craft. |
1966 | Simulogs (Simulated Playmates) (from The Age of The Pussyfoot by John Brunner) Computer-generated playmates. |
1966 | Transparent Platisplasm Cage (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany) A replacement framework for a body joint - in this case, the shoulder. |
1966 | Moon As Prison (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein) The moon is a prison without bars. |
1966 | Vivatape (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany) Perfectly seals cuts also helps through-skin implants heal. |
1966 | Stellarimeter (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany) Used by space navigators. |
1966 | Antigravity Globe Arena (from Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany) A spherical arena for wrestling. |
1967 | Rogue Planet (from Satan's World by Poul Anderson) A planet without a sun, it wanders through galactic space. |
1967 | Organlegging (from The Jigsaw Man by Larry Niven) Technology needed to deal in illicitly obtained body parts. |
1967 | Sub-microscopic Medical Robots (from These Savage Futurians by Philip E. High) Tiny robots travel the bloodstream, killing bacteria. |
1967 | Purple Wage (from Riders of the Purple Wage by Philip Jose Farmer) Guaranteed subsidy paid to every citizen. |
1967 | Pray-Machine (from Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny) A kind of energy receiver that could retrieve a soul from the radiation belt surrounding a planet. |
1967 | Pray-o-Mat (from Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny) A device that would offer prayers in exchange for a few coins properly deposited. |
1967 | Win-Reducing Gambling Circuit (from Return Match by Philip K. Dick) Circuitry in a game that detects winning strategies and then alters the game to make winning more difficult. |
1967 | Soft Weapon (from The Soft Weapon by Larry Niven) A device that changes its shape to alter its function. |
1967 | Scientific Reincarnation (from Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny) Technology to allow a person to transfer themselves to a new, healthy body. |
1967 | Fornixation (from Riders of the Purple Wage by Philip Jose Farmer) Electrical stimulation of the pleasure centers of the brain. |
1967 | Multifunction Gun (from Logan's Run by William Nolan (w/G.C. Johnson)) Offers a selection of lethal and non-lethal alternatives. |
1967 | Palm Flower (from Logan's Run by William Nolan (w/G.C. Johnson)) It's like a life clock. |
1967 | Dolphin's Hands (from Handicap by Larry Niven) Digital prosthetic for dolphins. |
1967 | Cloud Sculpting (from The Cloud Sculptors of Coral D by J.G. Ballard) Using gliders and chemical showers to shape clouds artistically. |
1967 | Power-Wagon (from The Last Castle by Jack Vance) Wagon powered by muscular creature from Etamin 9; uses carbohydrate syrup for fuel. |
1967 | AM (from I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream by Harlan Ellison) A supercomputer that hates. |
1967 | Mechanical Cobra (from Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny) An assassination device; senses brain waves to find its victim. |
1967 | Fido (from Riders of the Purple Wage by Philip Jose Farmer) Combination television, news camera and surveillance device. |
1967 | Syrup Sac (from The Last Castle by Jack Vance) A device used to provide an efficient source of nutrition to Meks, servants of the aristocrats of Earth. |
1967 | Shuttlecraft (from Star Trek by Author Unknown) A small spaceship designed for short journeys. |
1967 | Floating Booths (from Handicap by Larry Niven) Comfortable bar booths that float around and come together for conversation. |
1967 | Skycycle (from Handicap by Larry Niven) A flying Harley; motorcycle of the skies. |
1967 | Ramrobot (from The Ethics of Madness by Larry Niven) An autonomous interstellar exploration craft using gathered hydrogen for fuel. |
1967 | Energy-Cannon (from The Last Castle by Jack Vance) Device projects destructive power. |
1967 | Full-Shift Set Variable (from Return Match by Philip K. Dick) Infinite possibilities built into a game machine. |
1967 | Mining Disintegrator (from The Arsenal Out of Time by David McDaniel) A special-purpose boring machine. |
1967 | Embryonic Robots (from Counter Clock World by Philip K. Dick) Very small robots, possibly a very early reference to nanotechnology in science fiction. |
1967 | Tangler (from Logan's Run by William Nolan (w/G.C. Johnson)) Strong webbing in a tiny capsule, it expands to a net, capturing a suspect. |
1967 | Sleep Pod (from Mantis by Chris Boyce) A special place for snoozing. |
1967 | Homer (from Logan's Run by William Nolan (w/G.C. Johnson)) A device fired from a gun that ends the life of a citizen, based on the color of their palm flower. |
1967 | Specific Gene Weapon (from The Mannichon Solution by Irwin Shaw) An organic or inorganic weapon aimed at a specific genetic population. |
1967 | Sleepshop (from Logan's Run by William Nolan (w/G.C. Johnson)) A quiet place to die. |
1967 | Vapor Charge (from Logan's Run by William Nolan (w/G.C. Johnson)) A bullet that discharges gas. |
1967 | Lift Chair (from The Last Castle by Jack Vance) A single occupant lifted by great birds. |
1967 | Slowboat (from The Ethics of Madness by Larry Niven) An interstellar craft carrying people. |
1968 | Synthesist (from Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner) A person who did nothing but make cross-references between one field and another. |
1968 | Artificially Grown Organs (from A Gift From Earth by Larry Niven) Human organs suitable for transplantation, grown outside the body. |
1968 | Flex-Wheels (from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke) Special wheels designed for getting around on the Moon. |
1968 | Panic Alarm (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick) Alarm senses intruders and instills mindless panic. |
1968 | Wholographik (from Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner) Hologram-style picture. |
1968 | Auto-Seal (from Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner) Automatically deployed cover for power outlets; instant child-proofing. |
1968 | Slow Glass (Scenedow) (from Light of Other Days by Bob Shaw) A window made of Bose-Einstein Condensate that slows light to a snail's pace. |
1968 | Sinclair Molecule Chain (from A Gift From Earth by Larry Niven) A monofilament fiber, used for strength. |
1968 | Andy (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick) A slang term for "android" - an artificially created humanoid being. |
1968 | Nexus-6 Brain Unit (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick) The processing power behind android intelligence. |
1968 | Replicant (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick) An android; an artificial human being. |
1968 | Robot Bird (from Invader on My Back by Philip E. High) A small winged UAV that can mimic a bird in flight. |
1968 | Mining Worm (Organic) (from A Gift From Earth by Larry Niven) Genetically altered earthworm created just for mining. |
1968 | Icon Thumbsized Image (from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke) A very early reference to a screen icon. |
1968 | Loitering Micro-Missile (from Invader on My Back by Philip E. High) A small missile that does not need line-of-sight and can move at a slow pace until it finds its target. |
1968 | Mercy Rifle (from Grendel by Larry Niven) Device fired slivers of anesthetic as darts. |
1968 | Mood Organ (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick) A device which allows you to dial the mood you would like to have. |
1968 | Mobile Lab (from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke) |
1968 | Electric Sheep (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick) An electronic farm animal; a non-organic robot covered with sheepskin that acts like a sheep. |
1968 | False Animal Repairman (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick) A specialized roboticist who repaired robotic animals. |
1968 | Penfield Wave Transmitter (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick) A device that directs some sort of energy wave into a person's brain, allowing them to experience a chosen (dialed) mood. |
1968 | Kipple (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick) The collection of useless bits of trash we wallow in; all the paper and junk that is not recycled. |
1968 | Karatand (from Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner) A special glove made of impact-sensitive plastic. |
1968 | Voight-Kampff Empathy Test (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick) A test consisting of a set of images and questions, asked while the subject's biometric data are gathered; intended to separate humans from non-humans. |
1968 | Sun Goggles (from Grendel by Larry Niven) Lenses darken in spots to block the brightness of alien suns. |
1968 | Crackers (from The Time Mercenaries by Philip E. High) Bouncing, explosive mines. |
1968 | Hibernaculum (from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke) A small, self-contained chamber in which a person could endure months of enforced sleep. |
1968 | Cheekplate Container (from A Specter is Haunting Texas by Fritz Leiber) Special compartment of an exoskeleton; provides easy access to medical supplies related to survive heavy gravity environments. |
1968 | Nexus-7 Android (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick) The next version after the Nexus-6. |
1968 | Grip Shoes (from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke) Shoes with velcro soles used to walk in weightless environments. |
1968 | Newspad Electronic Newspaper (from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke) An electronic version of a newspaper. |
1968 | Android Safety Mechanism (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick) A device that temporarily incapacitates an android. |
1968 | Oat-Tropic Circuit (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick) A robotic feature that caused electronic animals to move toward offered food. |
1968 | Disease Circuit (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick) A feature of robotic animals which indicated a need to repair by emulating animal sickness. |
1968 | Total Environmental and Mental Simulator (from Crown of Infinity by John M. Faucette) An AI that could create and discard whole branches of science in pursuing the answer to a problem. |
1968 | Cyborg Collar (from A Specter is Haunting Texas by Fritz Leiber) A device worn around the neck that controls the person for the duration of a working day. |
1968 | TMA-1 (from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke) The Tycho Monolith. |
1968 | Steam Rifle (from Omnivore by Piers Anthony) A gun that propels projectiles with steam. |
1968 | Architectural Coral (from A Gift From Earth by Larry Niven) A structure grown to a specific shape using small coral-like organisms. |
1968 | Exoskeleton (Medical) (from A Specter is Haunting Texas by Fritz Leiber) Specially designed for Thins, eight-foot tall microgravity humans. |
1968 | Stasis Box (from There is a Tide by Larry Niven) A space entirely enclosed by a Slaver stasis field, in which time does not pass. |
1968 | HAL 9000 (from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke) The canonical example of an artificially intelligent computer. |
1968 | Newspad (from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke) A notebook-sized computer and display screen for reading news stories or other text matter. |
1968 | Electro-Binox (from A Specter is Haunting Texas by Fritz Leiber) Binoculars with electronic focusing. |
1968 | Seven Vane Starship (from Nova by Samuel R. Delany) A faster-than-light ship with seven vanes of energy controlled by human nervous systems. |
1968 | Illyrion (from Nova by Samuel R. Delany) Super-heavy and super-stable elements with atomic numbers greater than 296. |
1968 | Sensory-Syrynx (from Nova by Samuel R. Delany) A complex musical instrument. |
1968 | Robot Self-Assembly (from Meccano by Hugo Correa) A robot separated into many pieces reassembles itself. |
1968 | Emergency Shelter (from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke) A small cubicle that provides a last refuge in case the spacecraft's atmosphere is lost. |
1968 | Electric Cat (Robot Cat) (from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick) A robot presenting the appearance of a common domestic cat. |
1969 | Face Dancer (from Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert) Mimicry enhanced through genetic manipulation. |
1969 | Project Scoop (from The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton) A space craft feature that collects dust for study. |
1969 | Reality Tape (from The Electric Ant by Philip K. Dick) The medium upon which the life experience of an electric ant - a robotic person - is presented. |
1969 | Physiognomic Template (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick) A method for changing the appearance of your face at will. |
1969 | Psycho-Lease Encephalic Gadget (from Galactic Pot-Healer by Philip K. Dick) A device that provided the conviction that a faked scene was, in fact, real. |
1969 | Homeopape (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick) A automated device that produces a newspaper without human assistance. |
1969 | Protophason Amplifier (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick) Detects brain activity of those in half-life. |
1969 | Ultraflash (from The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton) A device that sterilizes the skin by a pulse of light. |
1969 | Crosswell Tape Worm (from Super-Toys Last All Summer Long by Brian Aldiss) Device that allows you to eat without gaining weight. |
1969 | Stillsuit Desert Boots (from Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert) Special boots that offered parasitic power harvesting. |
1969 | Recording Eye (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg) A surveillance device that can survive being dropped from space; transmits images in a wide view. |
1969 | SSA Machine (from Galactic Pot-Healer by Philip K. Dick) A machine that compares two people for compatibility; it sees sub specie aeternitatis, literally 'under the aspect of eternity' or outside of time. |
1969 | Automatic Vein Finder (from The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton) A device to automatically locate veins for intravenous needle insertion. |
1969 | Axolotl Tank (from Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert) A device to regenerate or reshape organic material. |
1969 | Book of the Kalends (from Galactic Pot-Healer by Philip K. Dick) The ever-changing book without a title; the documented history of a world. |
1969 | Weightless Work Area (from Galactic Pot-Healer by Philip K. Dick) A small workspace within which there is no gravitational pull. |
1969 | Multi-function Living Room (from Death by Ecstasy by Larry Niven) A small living space with a variety of functions built-in. |
1969 | Memory Plastic (from Death by Ecstasy by Larry Niven) Takes various shapes impressed into it on command. |
1969 | Ecstasy Plug (from Death by Ecstasy by Larry Niven) An implanted module that allowed a wirehead to plug himself into ordinary house current. |
1969 | Padre Booth (from Galactic Pot-Healer by Philip K. Dick) Device that provides religious aid and comfort on demand. |
1969 | Electronic Body Analyzer (from The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton) A replacement for the human doctor. |
1969 | Geriatric Rooming-House (from Galactic Pot-Healer by Philip K. Dick) An apartment building with rooms built especially with the very senior citizen in mind. |
1969 | Automated Apartment Maintenance (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick) Automated devices that would oversee the maintenance of a rented apartment. |
1969 | Vortal Tube (from Whipping Star by Frank Herbert) An energy passage providing instantaneous transportation between points across the galaxy |
1969 | Parenthood Lottery (from Super-Toys Last All Summer Long by Brian Aldiss) A means of restricting population growth. |
1969 | Pseudoflesh (from Whipping Star by Frank Herbert) Meat (protein) that is produced apart from an animal; great steaks without rumination. |
1969 | Window Wavelength (from Super-Toys Last All Summer Long by Brian Aldiss) Display's that provide 'views' as if they were windows. |
1969 | Caliban Beachball (from Whipping Star by Frank Herbert) Dwelling place for unusual lifeform who make jumpdoors possible. |
1969 | Tranquilizing Gum (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick) Chewing gum with a tranquilizing agent. |
1969 | Gravity Web (from Whipping Star by Frank Herbert) Device for limiting the extent to which a person is subject to gravitational attraction. |
1969 | Jumpdoor (from Whipping Star by Frank Herbert) The entrance to an energy passage providing instantaneous transportation between points across the galaxy. |
1969 | Float-home (from Whipping Star by Frank Herbert) Living entity genetically designed for use as a houseboat. |
1969 | Sniggertrance (from Whipping Star by Frank Herbert) The state of a person receiving a call mediated by a Taprisiot; interiorized consciousness accompanied by spastic, jerking body movements. |
1969 | Moratorium (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick) A place that kept people in cold-pac after death, providing them a kind of half-life. |
1969 | Webfoam Cradle (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg) A means of softening the landing for humans inside spacecraft. |
1969 | Self-Powered Broom (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick) A broom for use in small apartments that cleans under its own power. |
1969 | Ident Darts (from The Electric Ant by Philip K. Dick) Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that track individuals. |
1969 | Voice Encyclopedia (from Galactic Pot-Healer by Philip K. Dick) Access to information via robotic voice recognition over the phone. |
1969 | Toll Door (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick) An apartment door that operates on a cash-only basis. |
1969 | Electrical Grandmother (Robot Grandma) (from I Sing The Body Electric! by Ray Bradbury) A robotic companion. |
1969 | Gyrocar (Gyro) (from The Ring by Piers Anthony (w/R. Margroff)) A gyroscopically stabilized car; a one-wheeled vehicle. |
1969 | 'Pape Machine (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick) Yet another name for the homeostatic newspaper; this one has special features including news search. |
1969 | Artiforg (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick) An artificial organ kept 'on line' in the body. |
1969 | Cold-Pac Bin (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick) A special coffin-sized chamber used to maintain half-life. |
1969 | Nothing (from It was Nothing - Really! by Theodore Sturgeon) A super-hard substance created by carefully removing material. |
1969 | Robotic Horse - Faithful Cybernetic Companion (from The Warlock in Spite of Himself by Christopher Stasheff) A robot that is specifically designed to closely resemble a horse. |
1969 | Droud (from Death by Ecstasy by Larry Niven) A transformer to step down house current for the wire providing current directly to the pleasure center of the brain. |
1969 | Synthetic Flesh (from Super-Toys Last All Summer Long by Brian Aldiss) Provides robots with realistic coverings, not just plastic. |
1969 | Spray-Foam Blouse (from Galactic Pot-Healer by Philip K. Dick) Clothing that is sprayed on fresh. |
1969 | Ersatz Window (from Galactic Pot-Healer by Philip K. Dick) A display device used in a room without an actual view of the outside; it shows a projection of a real scene. |
1969 | Rapid-Transit Hover Blimp (from Galactic Pot-Healer by Philip K. Dick) Public transportation for a paranoid age. |
1969 | Teddy (from Super-Toys Last All Summer Long by Brian Aldiss) A very intelligent and highly mobile robotic teddy bear. |
1969 | Singleship (from Death by Ecstasy by Larry Niven) A spacecraft designed for use by one person. |
1969 | Plastic-Eating Bacteria (from The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton) Mutated bacteria able to 'eat' or dissolve rubber and plastic. |
1969 | Flight Stick (from The Flight of the Horse by Larry Niven) A personal flying vehicle, stripped down to the basics. |
1969 | Automatic Gun (from The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton) A sentry gun that could target and decide to fire without any human intervention. |
1969 | Teep Rod (from Galactic Pot-Healer by Philip K. Dick) A device that gathers the thoughts of an individual. |
1969 | Vision Cube (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg) A solid-state memory device. |
1969 | Membrane Balloon Helmet (from The Flight of the Horse by Larry Niven) A selectively permeable membrane worn as a helmet. |
1969 | Ghola (from Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert) A living, functioning person who is regrown or recreated from the tissues of a dead person. |
1969 | Tleilaxu Eyes (Metal Eyes) (from Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert) Tleilaxu eye surgery replaces natural eyeballs damaged or destroyed. |
1969 | Diagnostat (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg) A device able to diagnose and treat most human ailments. |
1969 | Disruptor Bomb (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg) A bomb with a very special purpose; when detonated in space, it makes it impossible to detect the center of the explosion from the dispersion of the fragments. |
1969 | Whologram (from Super-Toys Last All Summer Long by Brian Aldiss) Presents a realistic illusion. |
1969 | Messagecraft (from The Faithful Messenger by George Scithers) An autonomous spacecraft and drone that serves as a communication node in a network that spans star systems. |
1969 | Artificial Telepathy (from We All Died At Breakaway Station by Richard Meredith) Using technology to determine thoughts, and then translate it to speech that could be shared electronically. |
1969 | Mole Probe (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg) Automated devices that seek underground routes, burrowing as they go. |
1969 | Viewing Tank (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg) A display monitor. |
1969 | Ubik Spray Can (from Ubik by Philip K. Dick) One of many definitions of Ubik. Take only as directed. |
1969 | Automatic City (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg) A city designed to protect itself and maintain itself over millions of years. |
1969 | Mass Detector (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg) Hunting aid. |
1969 | Voicecorder (from Whipping Star by Brian Herbert) A device that records verbal output and determines truth or falsehood. |
1969 | Bot (from We All Died At Breakaway Station by Richard Meredith) The first use of this contraction for "robot". |
1969 | Automated Drone Probes (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg) Human-sized robot probes for exploration. |
1969 | Claim Beacon (from Retief, the Long-Awaited Master by Keith Laumer) A electronic device that proclaims that a planet has been claimed by a given party. |
1969 | Rod (from Wolfling by Gordon R. Dickson) In a fight, it is used in a manner similar to a sword and a flamethrower. |
1969 | Stone Burner (from Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert) Atomic weapon which burrows deep into a planet; its radiation also attacks selected nerve tissues. |
1969 | Device Replication (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg) Manufacturing devices from a template to save space on space craft. |
1969 | Rubber Hoof (from The Warlock in Spite of Himself by Christopher Stasheff) Silent running for robot horses. |
1969 | Construct (from Retief, the Long-Awaited Master by Keith Laumer) An artificial being, a pastiche of living and robotic pieces. |
1969 | Flying Robot Drone Probe (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg) A remote-controlled flying drone used for remote investigation and surveillance. |
1969 | Mnemonic Flutter System (Pulse-Sychronizer) (from Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert) A device to imprint particular facts from a book upon the brain of the reader. |
1969 | Protective Field (Safety Field) (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg) An static energy field used to protect a city. |
1969 | Remote-Control Slavery (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg) Mental control (possibly mediated by radio waves) of individuals of other species. |
1969 | Drop-Capsule (from The Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg) Minimal spaceship. |
1970 | Robotnik Automated Hotel (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) A fully-automated hotel; no human interaction required. |
1970 | Blackout Gas (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) Cuts input from the optic nerve. |
1970 | Computer Virus (from The Scarred Man by Gregory Benford) A software program that copies itself to other computers. |
1970 | Airmaker (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) A device that creates a specific breathable mix directly from the atmosphere. |
1970 | Transparent Overalls (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) Perfect for prisoners, because nothing can be concealed. |
1970 | Powdered Alcohol (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) Alcohol in non-liquid form. |
1970 | Nerve Machine (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) A device that delivers pure pain via neural currents. |
1970 | Robutler (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) A robotic butler. |
1970 | Killalc Pills (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) Counteracts the effects of alcohol consumption. |
1970 | Light-Sword (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) A laser tuned for use as a cutting tool. |
1970 | Sigfrid von Shrink (from Gateway by Frederik Pohl) An automated therapist. |
1970 | Food Brick (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Appropriate manufactured food for any species. |
1970 | Slaver Stasis Field (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) A force field that protects everything inside it by creating a space in which time is suspended. |
1970 | Neck Radio (from Our Friends From Frolix 8 by Philip K. Dick) Commercial radio from an implanted device. |
1970 | Screamer (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) An acoustic weapon. |
1970 | Translator Discs (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Wearable devices that wirelessly connected to a speech translation computer. |
1970 | Sleep Set (Sleep Headset) (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) An electronic device for inducing deep sleep. |
1970 | Great Ear (from Our Friends From Frolix 8 by Philip K. Dick) An electronic telepathic listening device that monitors thousands of people simultaneously. |
1970 | Sound Deadener (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Device that acts to damp excessive noise produced by different species. |
1970 | Slaver Disintegrator (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Sometimes used as a digging tool. |
1970 | Gaussrifle (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) Projectiles driven by electromagnetic forces. |
1970 | Riding Robot (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) A single person means of bipedal transportation. |
1970 | Inert-Wear (from Say Goodby to the Wind by J.G. Ballard) Clothing made of dead fibers; clothing that is unmoving, static. |
1970 | Luggage Robot (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) Perfect helper at robotic hotels. |
1970 | Unichapel (Robotic Confession Booth) (from THX 1138 by George Lucas) Automated religious confessional with monotone, programmed responses. |
1970 | Flywheel Cycle (from The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison) A motorcycle powered by a flywheel. |
1970 | Flycycle (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Combination flying motorcycle, kitchen and autodoc. |
1970 | Ringworld (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) A 50 foot thick ribbon of matter around a star, a million miles across and as long as Earth's orbital circumference. |
1970 | Trumps (from Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny) Magical Tarot cards that permitted both communication and transportation. |
1970 | Osmosis Generator (Cziltang Brone) (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) A device that can render a solid permeable to matter. |
1970 | Tasp (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) A device that induces a current in the pleasure center of the brain, at a distance. |
1970 | Squib (from Our Friends From Frolix 8 by Philip K. Dick) A simple form of ground transportation. |
1970 | Crash Balloons (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Inflatable bags that would both cushion and hold a flycycle driver in the event of a crash. |
1970 | Tower of Glass (from Tower of Glass by Robert Silverberg) An enormous glass tower built to communicate outside the solar system. |
1970 | Variable Sword (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) A sword that could vary in length, and cut through anything. |
1970 | Sonic Fold (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Force field that guides air around an air vehicle. |
1970 | Flashlight Laser (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Small cylindrical device that generates a green beam of variable intensity and focal length; can illuminate or cut. |
1970 | Electromagnetic Cannon (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) A set of devices on the Ringworld used to land spacecraft safely on the fast-moving rim. |
1970 | Scrith (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) The material used to build Ringworld; has remarkable tensile strength |
1970 | Shadow Square (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) An enormous blind that orbits a star. |
1970 | Floating Castle (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) A vast building floating freely above the land surface of Ringworld. |
1970 | Jack In (from Tower of Glass by Robert Silverberg) To open one's nervous system to a computer's virtual world. |
1970 | Transmat (from Tower of Glass by Robert Silverberg) A teleportation device. |
1970 | Shadow Square Wire (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Very fine, very light, very strong wire. |
1970 | Refrigeration Tape (from Tower of Glass by Robert Silverberg) A strip of material that can be used to keep large tracts of tundra nicely frozen. |
1970 | Bio-Fabric (from Say Goodby to the Wind by J.G. Ballard) Living cloth that constantly adapts itself to the personality and needs of its wearer. |
1970 | Stepping Discs (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Open air teleportation pads. |
1970 | Kemplerer (Klemperer) Rosette (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Planets without a sun; they orbit a central point. |
1970 | Holo (from Ringworld by Larry Niven) Abbreviation of "hologram". |
1970 | Nearleather (from What's Become of Screwloose? by Ron Goulart) Fake leather. |
1971 | Selektrogel (from And All The Stars A Stage by James Blish) An over-the-counter gel to choose the sex of a child at conception. |
1971 | Pocket Display Projector (from The Anome by Jack Vance) A pocketsized projector capable of displaying high resolution images so they can be viewed by a group of people. |
1971 | Batacitor (from The Fabulous Riverboat by Philip Jose Farmer) A storage device for electricity that could be charged in a very short time. |
1971 | Verse Transcriber (from Studio 5, The Stars by J.G. Ballard) A device that would produce perfect poetry, given the necessary parameters. |
1971 | Skin Suit (from Dinosaur Beach by Keith Laumer) A very tight-fighting spacesuit, or disguise. |
1971 | Impact Suit (from The Flying Sorcerers by David Gerrold (w/L, Niven)) A body suit that is flexible, but upon a hard impact becomes rigid and impenetrable. |
1971 | Launching Laser (from The Fourth Profession by Larry Niven) A set of very high-powered lasers used to power spacecraft. |
1971 | Robot Pope (from Good News From the Vatican by Robert Silverberg) An artificially intelligent robotic cardinal ascends to the Throne of St. Peter. |
1971 | Nowhen (from A Feast for the Gods by Poul and Karen Anderson) At no time. |
1972 | Chemical Orders (from Hellstrom's Hive by Frank Herbert) Use of chemical triggers for behavior and behavior modification. |
1972 | Newstaper Gear (from Flash Crowd by Larry Niven) The devices used by a person who serves as a reporter, cameraman and story finder. |
1972 | P-Terminal Implant (from The Terminal Man by Michael Crichton) A device consisting of implanted power pack, control and electrodes placed near pleasure centers of the brain. |
1972 | The Krang (from The Tar-Aiym Krang by Alan Dean Foster) An enormous musical instrument (or weapon). |
1972 | WatchdØg (Watchdog) (from WatchdØg by Jack C. Haldeman) |
1972 | Rotating House (from The Godmakers by Frank Herbert) A single family home built upon a central pivot; it can be turned at will. |
1972 | Hubrizine (from We Can Build You by Philip K. Dick) A drug that brings about greater alertness and cheerfulness. |
1972 | Ultraminiature Spy-Circuit (from The Unknown by Christopher Anvil) Tiny bits of 'smart dust' used as surveillance devices. |
1972 | Displacement Booth (from Flash Crowd by Larry Niven) A teleportation portal. |
1972 | Cyborg (from Cyborg by Martin Caidin) A cybernetic organism - man in union with machine |
1972 | Tickler (from Eurema's Dam by R.A. Lafferty) Clears smog and saves the residue for later use. |
1972 | Stunwand (from Hellstrom's Hive by Frank Herbert) |
1972 | Nightmask (from Hellstrom's Hive by Frank Herbert) Night vision mask (similar to a diving mask) with an infrared light source. |
1972 | Biot (from Rendezvous With Rama by Arthur C. Clarke) A biological robot. |
1972 | Ironing Robot (from Iron (утюг) by Mikhail Mikheev) A robot that smooths the wrinkles out of clothing. |
1972 | Window-Cleaner Robots (from Rendezvous With Rama by Arthur C. Clarke) Robots that perform the task of cleaning and polishing transparent surfaces. |
1972 | Bionic Arm (from Cyborg by Martin Caidin) An artificial arm that responds in a manner similar to the 'original equipment' item. |
1972 | Transmit-Paper (from The Godmakers by Frank Herbert) Paper form with a built-in capability to transmit the information written with a stylus to a remote computer network. |
1972 | Go-Buggy (from The Godmakers by Frank Herbert) A ground-only vehicle. |
1972 | Implanted Tranceiver (from The Godmakers by Frank Herbert) Device enables two-way communication with needing to carry a device. |
1972 | Crechepod (from The Godmakers by Frank Herbert) A small, enclosed medical device providing full life support as well as advanced regrowth technologies. |
1972 | Atlotl/Gibiril Regimen (from The Godmakers by Frank Herbert) A method of altering the flow of energy in the body to aid in regrowth of damaged or missing tissue. |
1972 | Selectacol (from The Godmakers by Frank Herbert) A device that automates the interior design process, providing a choice of color schemes for a roomful of furniture. |
1972 | Polawindow (from The Godmakers by Frank Herbert) A window-sized polarizer filter that allows changes in light intensity and color. |
1972 | Procreative Stump (from Hellstrom's Hive by Frank Herbert) A woman's torso, kept alive for the purpose of using the womb as an incubator. |
1972 | King's Free Park (from Cloak of Anarchy by Larry Niven) A park in which anarchy reigned; a very long, narrow park. |
1972 | Key Club (from Flash Crowd by Larry Niven) A social club made exclusive by teleportation booth; may be in a chain with other physically identical locations. |
1972 | Implant-Watch (from Cloak of Anarchy by Larry Niven) Subcutaneous timepiece; uses patterns of colored lights to show the time. |
1972 | Spider Tripod Robot (from Rendezvous With Rama by Arthur C. Clarke) Three-legged alien robot. |
1972 | Bionic Legs (from Cyborg by Martin Caidin) Human legs rebuilt and improved. |
1972 | Flash Crowd (Flash Mob) (from Flash Crowd by Larry Niven) What you call a group of people who suddenly appear at an interesting location. |
1972 | Artificial Muscles (from Cyborg by Martin Caidin) Replacement for organic muscle tissue. |
1972 | Ilse (from Long Shot by Vernor Vinge) The first intelligent ship brain. |
1972 | Mini-Sneaker (from The Godmakers by Brian Herbert) A small, airborne surveillance device. |
1972 | Copseyes (from Cloak of Anarchy by Larry Niven) A small floating "eye-in-the-sky" surveillance drone used by police in an extensive park. |
1972 | Dragonfly Sky-Bike (from Rendezvous With Rama by Arthur C. Clarke) An ultralight human-powered flyer. |
1972 | Cryosleep (from Flight of Exiles by Ben Bova) Use of extreme cold to cause suspended animation. |
1972 | Superluminal (from Patterns of Chaos by Colin Kapp) Faster than the speed of light. |
1972 | City of Glass (from The Godmakers by Frank Herbert) An entire city made of unique structural glass and ceramic. |
1972 | Autobutle (from The Godmakers by Frank Herbert) An automated servant. |
1972 | Filter-Mask (from The Sheep Look Up by John Brunner) Perfect for dystopian future air pollution. |
1973 | Twing (from Protector by Larry Niven) Used in the hold of spaceships to keep articles all together, and to prevent them from floating around in free fall, or falling during periods of acceleration. |
1973 | Ram Field (from Protector by Larry Niven) A specialized version of the hydrogen-gathering field for a Bussard Ramjet. |
1973 | Welton Cube (from Time Enough For Love by Robert Heinlein) High-density storage device. |
1973 | Gravity Lens (from Protector by Larry Niven) An optical lens created using the lightbending properties of gravity. |
1973 | Artificial Gravity-Assisted Childbirth (from Time Enough For Love by Robert Heinlein) Using an artificial gravity field to assist (and accelerate) the process of childbirth. |
1973 | Monopole Mining (from Protector by Larry Niven) Looking for natural sources of monopoles. |
1973 | Ultramicrominiature Waldo (from Time Enough For Love by Robert Heinlein) A device for transforming ordinary human hand movements into extremely small-scale surgical motions. |
1973 | Implanted Interface With Retinal Nerves (from The Continuous Katherine Mortenhoe (The Unsleeping Eye) by D.G. Compton) Circuitry that provides a 'look' at what the eye sees. |
1973 | Frictionless Cups (from Protector by Larry Niven) Cups with a special surface to which liquid does not adhere. |
1973 | Decibel Alarms (from A Bridle for Pegasus by Anne McCaffrey) Alarms that would go off if the noise in public gathering places was rising to riotous levels. |
1973 | Light-Sculpture (from Light Verse by Isaac Asimov) A creative work that was both sculpture and light. |
1973 | Slowboat (from Protector by Larry Niven) Slower than lightspeed spacecraft used for interstellar colonization. |
1973 | Moon Hopper (from Rider in the Sky by Raymond F. Jones) A jet-powered single-person vehicle for the Moon. |
1973 | Hypno-Encyclopedic Techniques (from Time Enough For Love by Robert Heinlein) If you plan to live for centuries, you need to organize your memories. |
1974 | Collapsar Jump (from The Forever War by Joe Haldeman) Travel between collapsed stars in no time at all. |
1974 | Pressor Field (from The Forever War by Joe Haldeman) A force field that pressed against anything that encountered it. |
1974 | Assault Ship (from The Forever War by Joe Haldeman) A one-way, one-use spacecraft for depositing troops at the scene of a space battle. |
1974 | Powered Suit with Trauma Maintenance (from The Forever War by Joe Haldeman) A powered suit (or powered armor) that is set up to save as much of your body as possible in worse case scenarios. |
1974 | Skull Bug (from The Computer Connection by Alfred Bester) A small electronic device implanted in the cranium at birth; used for monitoring and control. |
1974 | Handbag Computer (from The Futurological Congress by Stanislaw Lem) Device capable of carrying on your conversation for you. |
1974 | Flesh Gun (from The Computer Connection by Alfred Bester) A weapon that burns the skin and meat off the victim. |
1974 | Acceleration Shell (from The Forever War by Joe Haldeman) A special suit designed to help people survive accelerations of up to twenty-five gravities. |
1974 | KR-3 (from Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said by Philip K. Dick) A drug that breaks down the ability of the brain to perceive space and physical objects properly, or in sequence; a new universe opens. |
1974 | Gee Bath (from The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) Essentially a waterbed designed to help older or untrained people cope with high acceleration aboard spacecraft. |
1974 | Acceleration Chair (from The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) A specially-designed chair used to help crew stay mobile during periods of high acceleration. |
1974 | Atmosphere Control (from The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) Recently terraformed planets require constant maintenance. |
1974 | Alderson Point (from The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) One end of a tramline, a path between stars that can be traversed using a hyperdrive engine. |
1974 | Armor Cloth (from The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) Extremely tough synthetic fabric. |
1974 | Numbitol (from The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) You guessed it, a topical anesthetic. |
1974 | Eccentric Projection (from The Girl Who Was Plugged In by James Tiptree, Jr.) Remote manipulation of a body not your own. |
1974 | Floating Building (from Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said by Philip K. Dick) An apartment building that floats a few feet off the ground. |
1974 | EEG-Gram Projection (from Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said by Philip K. Dick) Detection of unique characteristics at a distance. |
1974 | Robot Gas Station (from Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said by Philip K. Dick) An entirely automated station for dispensing fuel to consumer vehicles. |
1974 | Langston Field (from The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) A protective energy shield. |
1974 | Laser Finger (from The Forever War by Jack C. Haldeman) Special powered suit add-on makes you even quicker on the draw. |
1974 | Pressure Curtain (from The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) A force field that creates a barrier that people can pass through but air cannot - an airlock in a spacecraft. |
1974 | Metal Paste (from The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) A conductive metal that could be easily squirted from a tube. |
1974 | Placental Decanters (from The Girl Who Was Plugged In by James Tiptree, Jr.) Perfect human bodies with control implants for remote use. |
1974 | Superconductor of Heat (from The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) A light metal that accepts heat applied to its surface, and then dissipates the energy throughout the material, leaving the temperature of the material unchanged. |
1974 | Time Dingbat (from The Computer Connection by Alfred Bester) Nickname for a time machine; used for a kind of WPA-like program for the past. |
1974 | Projection Commercials (from The Computer Connection by Alfred Bester) A three-dimensional advertisement that is placed in your path in a public place like a bar. |
1974 | Microtransmitter Dot (from Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said by Philip K. Dick) A tiny transmitter placed on ID cards, used to track ID holders. |
1974 | Stimtab (from The Forever War by Joe Haldeman) A drug designed to keep the user awake and alert for long periods. |
1974 | Talking Pamphlet (from Ellison Wonderland by Harlan Ellison) An instructional pamphlet that instructs you through ordinary speech. |
1974 | Harvesting Saturn's Rings (from The Computer Connection by Alfred Bester) Mining the rings for industrial purposes. |
1974 | Seed Bomb (from Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said by Philip K. Dick) A tiny explosive that can be embedded under the skin. |
1974 | Phone-Grid Transex Network (from Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said by Philip K. Dick) Addictive network-enhanced sexuality. |
1974 | Tramline (from The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) The line along which hyperspace (instantaneous travel) travel is possible. |
1974 | Molemen (from The Computer Connection by Alfred Bester) |
1974 | Projection (from The Computer Connection by Alfred Bester) A means of projecting your image to a distant place. |
1974 | Acceleration Couch (from The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) A chair designed for use in during periods of high acceleration (multiple gravities). |
1974 | Picphone (from Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said by Philip K. Dick) A small telephone that has a screen to show pictures. |
1974 | Frictionless Toilet (from The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) A toilet bowl that does not require water, because its surface is frictionless. |
1974 | Fyunch(click) (from The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) An alien assigned to become an expert in just one person. |
1974 | Cryonaut (from The Computer Connection by Alfred Bester) An astronaut placed in cryonic sleep. |
1974 | Home Ad Blocker (from The Computer Connection by Alfred Bester) Device insulates house against intrusion by 3D advertisements. |
1974 | Cushion Fence (from The Computer Connection by Alfred Bester) Gentle force field |
1974 | Cryocapsule (from The Computer Connection by Alfred Bester) A spaceship capsule that contains astronauts in special coffins, in suspended animation. |
1975 | Government Data Transparency (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) The idea that all of the information available to the government should be posted online and be easily accessible to everyone. |
1975 | Personal Smelter (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) A device used to reduce metallic objects (like coins, pots, cables) to an ingot with known value. |
1975 | National Network Surveillance (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) A system for providing the government with a way to monitor computer network use. |
1975 | Electronic Voting (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) Using computer terminals to register votes from citizens. |
1975 | Retaliatory Tapeworm (Counter-Worm) (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) Using computers to deliberately damage another person's reputation and well-being. |
1975 | Data-Retrieval Mode (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) A system for getting the thoughts and images out of a person's mind; recovering the data from a brain storage device. |
1975 | Data-Net (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) An early mention of the idea of a nationwide data network. |
1975 | Paid Avoidance Zone (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) An area where the inhabitants agree, for a government-paid fee, to live without sophisticated services. |
1975 | Hearing Aid (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) A service that allows people to anonymously talk with another person who only listens. |
1975 | Computer Worm (Tapeworm) (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) The first description of a set of computer codes that moves from one computer to another on a network as a coherent entity. |
1975 | Tiered Internet (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) The idea that some forms of Internet network traffic should be given priority over others. |
1975 | Autoporter (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) A device that carries your bag for you at airports. |
1975 | Coley Group (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) A musical form that involves dancing in a field of weak microwaves. |
1975 | Modded Dog (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) A canine whose ancestors were genetically modified for higher intelligence; the trait breeds true in offspring. |
1975 | Net Shutdown Worm (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) A tapeworm designed to shut down a nationwide network in the event of national emergency. |
1975 | Inflatable Church (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) A church using an inflatable projection screen as an altar. |
1975 | Delphi Pool (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) A large group of people used as a statistical sampling resource; even if the correct answer is not known, responses tend to cluster around the correct answer. |
1975 | Satellite Search and Destroy (from The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner) Destroying satellites in orbit. |
1976 | 3D 'Chess' Game Board (from Star Wars by George Lucas) A flatbed 3D display which is used to play chess-style board games in three dimensions. |
1976 | Automatic Control Car (from Imperial Earth by Arthur C. Clarke) An autonomous vehicle. |
1976 | Bussard Ramjet (from A World Out of Time by Larry Niven) Propulsion method that scoops hydrogen atoms from space via electromagnetic fields. |
1976 | Biological Package Probe (from A World Out of Time by Larry Niven) |
1976 | Bubble City (from My Name is Legion by Roger Zelazny) Underwater domes provide living space for large communities. |
1976 | Sonic Curtain (Sound Lock) (from My Name is Legion by Roger Zelazny) An undersea sound curtain that keeps larger animals out. |
1976 | Droid (Star Wars) (from Star Wars by George Lucas) A contraction of "android", it actually describes one of a variety of robots. |
1976 | Comlink (from Star Wars by George Lucas) Short for communications link; a small portable communicator. |
1976 | Escape Pod (Life Pod, Boat Pod) (from Star Wars by George Lucas) A small ship used solely as a "life boat." |
1976 | Rhennius Machine (from Doorways in the Sand by Roger Zelazny) Device of alien manufacture, which will reverse, or turn inside out, any object passed through its mobilator. |
1976 | Star Stone (Speicus) (from Doorways in the Sand by Roger Zelazny) An artificial intelligence shaped like a rock, which can communicate with living organisms telepathically. |
1976 | Ion Cannon (from Star Wars by George Lucas) Fires blasts of charged particles. |
1976 | Smother-Charge (from My Name is Legion by Roger Zelazny) Molecularly-gimmicked explosive. |
1976 | Robot Surgeon (from The Bicentennial Man by Isaac Asimov) An autonomous robotic surgeon. |
1976 | Dog Suit (from Doorways in the Sand by Roger Zelazny) A disguise worn by an alien detective, allowing him to look just like a domestic canine. |
1976 | Neuristor Brain (from My Name is Legion by Roger Zelazny) A computer device made up of neuristors. |
1976 | RNA Shots (from A World Out of Time by Larry Niven) An injection prepared from the tissues of a person with knowledge or experience that you need. |
1976 | Womb Room (from A World Out of Time by Larry Niven) The ultimate ship's bridge. |
1976 | Ixian Sight Mask (from Children of Dune by Frank Herbert) Device to allow the blind to see. |
1976 | Poster TV (from A World Out of Time by Larry Niven) This display gives new meaning to the term "flat screen." |
1976 | T.I.E. Fighter (Tie Fighter) (from Star Wars by George Lucas) A highly maneuverable fighter spacecraft using an ion drive propulsion system. |
1976 | Zero-Time Jail (from A World Out of Time by Larry Niven) A building in which an energy field prevents time from passing. |
1976 | Bubble Car (from A World Out of Time by Larry Niven) Self-steering, hovering, this is the car of the future. |
1976 | Empty Man (from A World Out of Time by Larry Niven) A fully-functioning body, the personality of which had been wiped clean. |
1976 | Tagalong (from In the Bowl by John Varley) A backpack with legs; a robot that will carry things for you and match your movements. |
1976 | Gravity-assisted Subway (from A World Out of Time by Larry Niven) The fastest way between continents (that does not entail leaving the ground). |
1976 | Stimic (from The Moon Moth by Jack Vance) A musical instrument consisting of three flutelike tubes equipped with plungers; thumb and forefinger squeeze a bag to force air across the mouthpieces. |
1976 | Moon Moth (from The Moon Moth by Jack Vance) A rather plain and timid mask. |
1976 | Dray-Fish (from The Moon Moth by Jack Vance) Large fish trained to be harnessed to large houseboats. |
1976 | Lightsaber (from Star Wars by George Lucas) A sword the blade of which is formed by a beam of visible light which cuts like a laser. |
1976 | Sandcrawler (from Star Wars by George Lucas) A very large mobile home, used by jawas on the deserts of Tatooine. |
1976 | Nemourlon (from West of Honor by Jerry Pournelle) Material for special body armor. |
1976 | Anabolic Protoplaser (from Spock, Messiah! by Theodore Cogswell (w/C. Spano)) Uses laser light to repair wounds. |
1976 | Skyhook (from West of Honor by Jerry Pournelle) Part dirigible, part plane. |
1976 | Sensor Arm (from Star Wars by George Lucas) An extendable multipurpose sensor cluster. |
1976 | Lunar Disneyland (from The Phantom of Kansas by John Varley) A vast cavern excavated on the Moon - used for entertainment. Very large scale entertainment. |
1976 | Minisec (from Imperial Earth by Arthur C. Clarke) A device like a personal digital assistant (PDA) today. |
1976 | RUMOKO (from My Name is Legion by Roger Zelazny) A project to create additional land surface by deliberate stimulation of undersea volcanoes. |
1976 | Young-Forever (from A World Out of Time by Larry Niven) A very particular formula for human immortality, which solves the most serious attendant problem (population explosion). |
1976 | R2-D2 (Artoo-Detoo) (from Star Wars by George Lucas) Now the generic term for a small, maneuverable robot. |
1976 | Hangman (from My Name is Legion by Roger Zelazny) A telefactoring device that also was able to function independently. |
1976 | Strakh (from The Moon Moth by Jack Vance) The prestige or social prominence which serves as a medium of exchange on the planet Sirene. |
1976 | Environmental Happening (from The Phantom of Kansas by John Varley) Weather created as a work of art. |
1976 | Vaporator (from Star Wars by George Lucas) A device which extracted moisture from the air for use in farming. |
1976 | Landspeeder (from Star Wars by George Lucas) A small repulsion-based hovercraft capable of high speeds over flat terrain. |
1976 | Death Star (from Star Wars by George Lucas) The logical endpoint of a galactic empire. |
1976 | Asymptotic Drive (from Imperial Earth by Arthur C. Clarke) A propulsion drive that used a tiny black hole to generate energy. |
1976 | Restraining Bolt (from Star Wars by George Lucas) A device that makes sure a robot does what you want (rather than what it wants). |
1976 | Supralight Drive (from Star Wars by George Lucas) A propulsion system that allows a spacecraft to travel faster than light. |
1976 | Deflector Shield (from Star Wars by George Lucas) A energy field used to shunt the energy of offensive weapons aside. |
1976 | Remote (or Seeker Remote) (from Star Wars by George Lucas) A training aid for use by Jedi knights. |
1976 | Magnetic Projector (from The Space Beyond by John W. Campbell) Projects a vortex of magnetic force. |
1976 | Sandtrout Glove (from Children of Dune by Frank Herbert) A living glove, formed of live creatures. |
1976 | Keyboard With Changing Keys (from Imperial Earth by Arthur C. Clarke) A computer keyboard with keys faced with little displays, so the label could change based on the application or language. |
1976 | Habitable Exoplanet Moon (from Star Wars by George Lucas) An Earthlike moon that orbits a gas giant. |
1976 | Orbital Factory (from Bind Your Sons To Exile by Jerry Pournelle) Putting manufacturing in space, orbiting the planet. |
1976 | Comsole (Home Communications Console) (from Imperial Earth by Arthur C. Clarke) A home computer, connected to data services. |
1976 | Trans-Space Transmission (from The Moon Moth by Jack Vance) A curious method of communication between worlds. |
1977 | Sky-Scoot (from Dying of the Light by George RR Martin) A patch of antigravity foil used for flying. |
1977 | Life Bank (from The Ophiuchi Hotline by John Varley) A storage facility with the genetic material that was produced by Earth's ecosystem. |
1977 | Holo-Printing (from A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick) Errors introduced in data storage media when recording under improper conditions. |
1977 | Taprisiot Monitor Bead (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) A small bead to be swallowed that allowed the thoughts of a person to be transmitted and recorded during a specified interval. |
1977 | Holo-Cube (from A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick) A very large holographic display, that a person could walk into. |
1977 | Holo-Scanner (from A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick) A small portable device that acquired holographic surveillance images. |
1977 | Chameleon Cloth (from Dying of the Light by George RR Martin) Clothing that changes color and pattern to match its surroundings. |
1977 | Daily Schedule (DS) (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) The DS was an artificially intelligent day planner, a schedule keeper with voice recognition features; it also talked back when necessary. |
1977 | Null-Suit (from The Ophiuchi Hotline by John Varley) A device that projects a field of force that acts like a space suit. |
1977 | Trimagniscope (from Inherit the Stars by James P. Hogan) A device that produced a usable cross-sectional image of any part of an object. |
1977 | Darkdawn City (from Dying of the Light by George RR Martin) An entire city that is tuned to be played by the winds. |
1977 | Pork Tree (from The Ophiuchi Hotline by John Varley) A plant that produces an analog to animal meat. |
1977 | Briefcase Computer (from Inherit the Stars by James P. Hogan) A portable computer workstation. |
1977 | Network Monitoring Detection (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) Detection of someone monitoring your computer workstation |
1977 | Taprisiot (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) A kind of symbiote, which attuned itself to the user, allowing an expansion of consciousness - telepathic communication anywhere in the galaxy in real time. |
1977 | Tracked Vehicle (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) A heavily armored vehicle, typical of those in use, with a remarkable agility. |
1977 | Antiholo Generator (from The Ophiuchi Hotline by John Varley) Dispels intrusive hologram advertisements. |
1977 | Genoprinter (from The Ophiuchi Hotline by John Varley) A device that does a 'live capture' of a biometric skin sample. |
1977 | Ghostsmoke (from The Ophiuchi Hotline by John Varley) An advertisement projected onto a fine mist. |
1977 | Holomist (from The Ophiuchi Hotline by John Varley) A means of projecting a commercial message onto a fine spray. |
1977 | Scramble Suit (from A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick) A superthin membrane upon which are projected the characteristics of a million different people, it confers instant anonymity. |
1977 | Cephalochromoscope (Cephscope) (from A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick) A brain-scan device with a screen to display neural patterns. |
1977 | Graluz (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) A contained, concealed breeding pond for the frog-like Gowachin. |
1977 | Caleban Contact (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) A form of telepathy based on the use of unimaginably enormous amounts of energy. |
1977 | Personality Simulator (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) A device which, when fed enough data about a person, simulated their personality allowing the user to predict behavior in stated circumstances. |
1977 | Bedog (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) A sentient creature designed to be a bed. |
1977 | Transmitter Eyes (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) Closed circuit cameras that provided sight and sound to remote viewers of the Courtarena who wish to remain anonymous. |
1977 | Gravity Train (from The Ophiuchi Hotline by John Varley) An underground railway system that utilizes gravity for acceleration. |
1977 | Zoo Fences (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) Caustic water moat |
1977 | Rogue World (from Dying of the Light by George RR Martin) A celestial nomad, a planetary body that is not tied to a particular sun. |
1977 | Swimming Tubes (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) Used to connect buildings for use by amphibious species. |
1977 | Sonabarrier (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) A type of energy fence, used to keep birds away from particular areas. |
1977 | Uniflesh (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) A type of artificial skin and underlying flesh. |
1977 | Skitter (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) A small passenger vehicle, for two beings, which uses a steering bar. It is parked in a structure that parks and releases vehicles automatically. |
1977 | Grapple Tracks (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) A means of automating the process of parking and releasing passenger vehicles from a parking garage. |
1977 | Alien Zoo (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) A zoo that brings together plants and animals from many planets. |
1977 | Armored Clothing (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) Ordinary apparel that contained both armor and muscle amplification devices. |
1977 | Centrifuge Room (from The Ophiuchi Hotline by John Varley) A small room on a planetoid that is spun to create artificial gravity. |
1977 | Nullfield (from The Ophiuchi Hotline by John Varley) A field of energy that creates a barrier. |
1977 | Symb (from The Ophiuchi Hotline by John Varley) A symbiont life form that provides its human with life-giving energy. |
1977 | Memory Recording (from The Ophiuchi Hotline by John Varley) A means of recording the entirety of a person's experience and personality. |
1977 | High Kavalaan Aircar (from Dying of the Light by George RR Martin) Flying SUV equipped with laser weapons. |
1977 | Glowstone (from Dying of the Light by George RR Martin) A mineral that absorbs light by day and emits it by night. |
1977 | Odalarm (from The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert) An alarm clock that awakens the sleeper with a selected odor. |
1977 | Javelin (from The Ophiuchi Hotline by John Varley) A spacer who modified herself to more easily live in space. |
1977 | Substance D (from A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick) An addictive, psychoactive drug. |
1977 | Flexible Sprung Boots (from Inherit the Stars by James P. Hogan) Boots designed to be flexible when walking, but upon a hard step, will have a spring characteristic. |
1978 | Personal Interest Profile (PIP) (from The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke) A set of topics about which you would like to hear the latest news; known today as Google News Alerts. |
1978 | Space Elevator (Orbital Tower) (from The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke) A physical link between a point on the surface of the Earth and a satellite in geosynchronous orbit. |
1978 | Structural Scanning (from Assassin by James P. Hogan) Essentially, a whole-object camera, that would take a detailed picture of the structure of an object. |
1978 | Spinnerettes (from The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke) A device that will unspool a nanowire filament and then pull it back in. |
1978 | 1D Diamond Crystal (from The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke) A continuous pseudo-one dimensional diamond crystal- maybe a nanotube? |
1978 | CORA - Coronary Alarm (from The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke) An implanted (or worn) ECG monitor that warns the user of coronary events. |
1978 | Deposition (3D Printing) (from Assassin by James P. Hogan) A method for creating any object, molecule by molecule. |
1978 | Spider Space Elevator Test Vehicle (from The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke) A robotic testing device for the cables of a space elevator. |
1978 | Orbiting Factories (from The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke) Manufacturing centers in orbit around the Earth. |
1978 | Hyperfilament (from The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke) A very high tensile strength material structured as a long thin line or ribbon. |
1978 | Operation Cleanup (from The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke) The program that removed space debris in LEO that could harm the space elevator. |
1978 | Holopad (from The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke) A small display like an iPad that shows 3D images. |
1979 | Mobile Suit (from Mobile Suit Gundam by Yoshiyuki Tomino) A giant (typically 18 meters tall) humanoid-shaped armored combat vehicle. |
1979 | Whale Waldo (from Sundiver by David Brin) An electromechanical whale "suit" that obeys and amplifies your body's motions. |
1979 | Conductive Film (from The Face by Jack Vance) A spray-on conductor capable of carrying a signal. |
1979 | Receptor Tape (from The Face by Jack Vance) A thin, flexible material that can pick up sounds. |
1979 | Spider (from The Web Between the Worlds by Charles Sheffield) A robotic device that both extruded cable and climbed along it; a space construction robot. |
1979 | Service Drones (from The Two Faces of Tomorrow by James P. Hogan) Small flying construction and repair robots. |
1979 | Marvin the Robot (from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams) Another fine robot from the marketing division of the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation |
1979 | Joo Janta 200 Super-Chromatic Peril Sensitive Sunglasses (from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams) Sunglasses that darken at the sight of danger. |
1979 | Nutri-Matic (from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams) A drink dispenser that scans the person to determine what might go down well. |
1979 | Whoopee Drive (from Space Angel by John Maddox Roberts) Spacecraft propulsion. |
1979 | Wire-Gun (from Mobile Suit Gundam by Yoshiyuki Tomino) Device that aids movement in microgravity. |
1979 | Electronic Book (from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams) An early reference and description of electronic book hardware and operation. |
1979 | Deep Thought (from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams) The second-largest computer ever made. |
1979 | Solar Flare System (from Mobile Suit Gundam by Yoshiyuki Tomino) Space-based parabolic reflector that focuses light for destructive purposes. |
1979 | Mobile Armor (from Mobile Suit Gundam by Yoshiyuki Tomino) Heavilly armed spacecraft with limbs. |
1979 | Gundarium (from Mobile Suit Gundam by Yoshiyuki Tomino) A very sturdy, high-tensile composite. |
1979 | Gesture-Controlled Device (from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams) An electronic device that is controlled by hand gestures. |
1979 | Computer Generated DigItal Music (from The Moon Goddess and the Son by Donald Kingsbury) A computer composes music with a few simple inputs from the user. |
1979 | Self-Satisfied Door (from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams) A door that is much more satisfied with its functionality than it has any right to be. |
1979 | Supertank (from Hammer's Slammers by David Drake) An air-cushioned armored combat vehicle powered by a fusion generator. |
1979 | Powergun (from Hammer's Slammers by David Drake) A directed energy weapon. |
1979 | Towel (from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams) A simple scrap of cloth with surprisingly many uses. |
1979 | Minovsky Particles (from Mobile Suit Gundam by Yoshiyuki Tomino) A custom-generated subatomic particle with many technological applications. |
1979 | Infinite Improbability Drive (from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams) Generates a field in which anything, no mater how improbable, can exist. |
1979 | GPP Genuine People Personalities (from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams) Giving mechanisms their own unique affect. |
1979 | Babel Fish (from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams) A living fish which, when placed in your ear, will live there and translate any form of language for you. |
1979 | Sub-Etha Sens-O-Matic (from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams) A device which senses passing spacecraft; essential tool of interstellar hitchhikers |
1979 | Needles (Chocolate and Vanilla) (from Sundiver by David Brin) Inflated towers reaching 20 miles out of Earth's atmosphere. |
1979 | Bulerite (from Macrolife by George Zebrowski) A building material, too good to be true, with hidden properties. |
1979 | Coal Mole (from The Web Between the Worlds by Charles Sheffield) Robotic device for asteroid mining chews through the interior, preparing raw materials for use |
1980 | Watercouch (from Beyond the Blue Event Horizon by Frederik Pohl) A couch filled with water, rather than springs and cushions. |
1980 | Boosterspice (from Ringworld Engineers by Larry Niven) A substance that extends human life almost indefinitely. |
1980 | Deep-Radar (from Ringworld Engineers by Larry Niven) Device to image within large objects, even within mountains. |
1980 | Fuligin (from The Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe) A material the color of which is blacker than black. |
1980 | Wunderland Treatymaker (from Ringworld Engineers by Larry Niven) A weapon based on a power mining technique - a bit more advanced than a shovel. |
1980 | Oort Cloud Processor (from Beyond the Blue Event Horizon by Frederik Pohl) An alien ship that processes Oort cloud into food. |
1980 | Optic Prosthesis (from Changeling by Roger Zelazny) A replacement for a damaged eye. |
1980 | Solar-Powered UAV (from Changeling by Roger Zelazny) An unmanned aerial vehicle that is entirely solar-powered. |
1980 | Autonomously Recharging UAV (from Changeling by Roger Zelazny) Unmanned aerial vehicles that recharge themselves automatically. |
1980 | Absolute Black (from Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams) A material so absolutely black that it absorbed all incident light. |
1980 | Tracer-Bird (from Changeling by Roger Zelazny) A prototype surveillance drone; a mechanical bird. |
1980 | Artificial Butterfly (from Changeling by Roger Zelazny) A mechanical, robotic butterfly. |
1980 | Wristband Viewer (from Changeling by Roger Zelazny) A device for viewing aerial surveillance images that fits on your wrist. |
1980 | Jumble-Box (from Changeling by Roger Zelazny) A device that jumbles sensory input. |
1981 | Robot Probes (Arr-twos) (from Oath of Fealty by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) Remote controlled robots that wander through a facility, bringing pictures and information to a central location. |
1981 | Mechanical Mole (from Oath of Fealty by Jerry Pournelle (w/L. Niven)) A self-contained device for digging large tunnels. |
1981 | Todos Santos Independency (from Oath of Fealty by Jerry Pournelle (w/L. Niven)) A city enclosed in a single building. |
1981 | Cyborg Dolphin (Jones) (from Johnny Mnemonic by William Gibson) A heavily modified war surplus dolphin. |
1981 | Sensory Skinsuit (from Dream Park by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) A form-fitting garment with sensory connections. |
1981 | Gravity Whip (from Dream Park by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) A roller coaster designe to provide riders with a 'zero G' experience. |
1981 | Communications Implant (from Oath of Fealty by Jerry Pournelle (w/L. Niven)) A surgically implanted device enabling the user to communicate with computer networks. |
1981 | International Fantasy Gaming Society (IFGS) (from Dream Park by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) A group dedicated to playing live action role-playing games. |
1981 | Virtual world metaphor (from True Names by Vernor Vinge) use of fanciful imagery to represent real-world data systems in a virtual world. |
1981 | Briefcase Console (from Oath of Fealty by Jerry Pournelle (w/L. Niven)) A notebook computer |
1981 | Iceberg Water Tub (from Oath of Fealty by Jerry Pournelle (w/L. Niven)) An enormous bag or tub that encloses an iceberg used to supply fresh water. |
1981 | Telepresence Bulldozer (from Oath of Fealty by Jerry Pournelle (w/L. Niven)) A bulldozer on the Moon that is operated remotely by a driver on Earth. |
1981 | Portal (from True Names by Vernor Vinge) Sensory experience of a data network. |
1981 | Data Space (from True Names by Vernor Vinge) Computer storage and processor time rented by the user. |
1981 | Virtual World Kiss (from True Names by Vernor Vinge) Kissing mediated by a computer system. |
1981 | Monitored In-Home Security Camera (from Oath of Fealty by Jerry Pournelle (w/L. Niven)) Security cameras mounted inside your home that are monitored by a person outside your house, and not a member of your family. |
1981 | Underground MagLev Train (from Dream Park by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) Magnetic levitation train that travels through a tunnel; a vacuum reduces drag. |
1981 | Personality Simulator (Virtual Person) (from True Names by Vernor Vinge) A computer program that presents the appearance of being a person. |
1981 | Tapeworm Tranquilizer (from Revolution from Rosinante by Alexis Arnaldus Gilliland) Robotic suppository dispenses tranquilizer. |
1981 | Sleeve Watch (from Dream Park by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) Temporary watch imprinted on the sleeve of a chosen garment. |
1981 | Mattress Sleep Sensor (from Dream Park by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) Sleep problems? Make sure you get your body out of bed each day. |
1981 | Dream Park (from Dream Park by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) A vacation theme park in which the visitors participated fully in the different environments. |
1981 | Big Noodle (from The Divine Invasion by Philip K. Dick) A vast artificial intelligence system used to process all of Earth's information. |
1981 | Black square (from God Emperor of Dune by Frank Herbert) A device for secret communication. |
1981 | Ridulian Crystal Sheets (from God Emperor of Dune by Frank Herbert) Exceptionally strong, surpassingly thin material. |
1981 | Dictatel (from God Emperor of Dune by Frank Herbert) A thought-based dictating machine. |
1982 | Beanstalk (from Friday by Robert Heinlein) Clever name for the space elevator. |
1982 | Matrix (from Burning Chrome by William Gibson) A shared virtual reality space; users project their consciousness into a representation of networked data. |
1982 | Hunter Program (from Mindkiller by Spider Robinson) Searching for occupied dwellings by monitoring electric power usage. |
1982 | Automated Travel Bureau (from Friday by Robert Heinlein) A computer program that allows individuals to book their travel arrangements themselves, with a credit card. |
1982 | Mindwipe (from Mindkiller by Spider Robinson) A process that selectively and effectively erases human memory. |
1982 | Esper Photo Analysis (from Blade Runner by Ridley Scott) A device that can find remarkable levels of detail from a photograph. |
1982 | Voight-Kampff Test (from Blade Runner by Ridley Scott) A test intended to distinguish human beings from replicants. |
1982 | Flying Car (from Blade Runner by Ridley Scott) Flying police car has VTOL. |
1982 | Full-Motion Building Advertising Facade (from Blade Runner by Ridley Scott) An advertising display that covers an entire skyscraper; it provides full-motion video to onlookers. |
1982 | SAL 9000 (from 2010: Odyssey Two by Arthur C. Clarke) Successor to the HAL 9000. |
1982 | Public Eye (from Friday by Robert Heinlein) A floating, free-roaming surveillance camera. |
1982 | Virtual Reality (Virtual Matrix) (from The Judas Mandala by Damien Broderick) An early use of a term very similar to the idea of cyberspace. |
1982 | Cyberspace (from Burning Chrome by William Gibson) A computer technology that allowed people to see a computer network as an internal experience. |
1982 | Micro Label (from Blade Runner by Ridley Scott) A serial number or logo so small it can only be seen under extreme magnification. |
1982 | Trip-Box (from Eye of Cat by Roger Zelazny) A teleportation device. |
1982 | Advertising Airship (from Blade Runner by Ridley Scott) A dirigible capable of reproducing full-color video ads on its sides. |
1982 | Heritable Memories Bloodline (from The Time of the Dark by Barbara Hambly) Using magical means to tie specific memories to the bloodlines of selected families. |
1982 | Command Microphone (from Diplomat At Arms by Keith Laumer) A cloak that served as a microphone and public address system. |
1982 | Genetically Tailored Trees (from Eye of Cat by Roger Zelazny) Trees that had been genetically altered to produce and concentrate usable oil. |
1982 | Shipstone (from Friday by Robert Heinlein) A lot of power in a small, manufactured package. |
1982 | Call Notification Unit (from Eye of Cat by Roger Zelazny) A small portable device that let you know that you had a phone call at your home. |
1982 | Designer Eyes (from Blade Runner by Ridley Scott) Genetic designers create better-than-perfect eyes for replicants. |
1982 | Cutoff Switch (from 2010: Odyssey Two by Arthur C. Clarke) A means of instantaneously switching off an artificial intelligence. |
1982 | UHF Shower (from Eye of Cat by Roger Zelazny) And ultra high frequency shower, which do used energy instead of water to wash off. |
1983 | People-Sorter (from Millenium by John Varley) A device able to sort human beings with incredible speed. |
1983 | Timepress (from Millenium by John Varley) A device that makes time go more quickly in a limited area. |
1983 | Cerebral Microprocessors (from Millenium by John Varley) Added boost for maxxed out minds. |
1983 | Gnome (from Millenium by John Varley) A person who requires so much life support, they are built into the chair. |
1983 | Luggage (from The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett) A trunk made from sapient pearwood. |
1983 | Time Capsule (from Millenium by John Varley) A hollow block of metal, impervious to the elements, used by time travelers to send messages to the future. |
1983 | Tether Space Station (from Tank Farm Dynamo by David Brin) A station in two parts, separated by a one hundred mile tether. |
1983 | Scooter (from Against Infinity by Gregory Benford) Biotechnology working to bring you a better solar system - a creepy crawly created to do terraforming work on Jupiter's moon. |
1983 | Skinsuit (from Millenium by John Varley) Wearable artificial, full-body skin. |
1983 | Spark Plug (Systematician) (from Dream Thief by Stephen Lawhead) A person who draws information from diverse areas of knowledge. |
1983 | Post Office (from Millenium by John Varley) A vault used to store time capsules left by travelers to the past; not your usual delivery service. |
1983 | Nullboxing Bubble (from Streetlethal by Steven Barnes) The 'ring' used for a sport played out in free fall; essentially kickboxing in space. |
1983 | Big Computer (from Millenium by John Varley) Just like it says; this computer knows it all. |
1983 | AM-280 Needle Rifle (from A Matter For Men by David Gerrold) Device shoots a stream of steel needles. |
1983 | Wimp (from Millenium by John Varley) A special-purpose body; grown without personality, but physically intact. |
1983 | Wimp Vault (from Millenium by John Varley) Lots of spare bodies. |
1983 | Revitalizer Console. (from Millenium by John Varley) A kind of automated medical marvel; it optimizes your body chemistry for better health, tops off your fluids, etc. |
1983 | Twonky (from Millenium by John Varley) A futuristic artifact left by time travelers in the past which, if discovered, could cause a paradox. |
1983 | Speedcap (from Millenium by John Varley) Short for speed capsule (?); sometimes, going ballistic is the fastest way to get there. |
1983 | Smartcab (from Cyberpunk! by Bruce Bethke) An automated taxicab, fully self-driving, that can be summoned from a portable device. |
1983 | Sherman (from Millenium by John Varley) A sex robot. |
1983 | Unobtainium (from Startide Rising by David Brin) A humorous reference to a substance both rare and unlikely. |
1983 | Microterm (from Cyberpunk! by Bruce Bethke) A very small computer system. |
1983 | Skull Alarm (from Millenium by John Varley) Implanted wakeup call. |
1983 | No Human Programmers (from Millenium by John Varley) The idea that computers are too complicated and too important to be programmed by human beings. |
1984 | Meat Puppet (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) A person with a neural cut out chip; the chip allows computer software to completely control their actions. |
1984 | Implanted Microprocessor Monitor (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Chips that are implanted in people to ensure compliance with company rules. |
1984 | Kuang Grade Mark Eleven Penetration Program (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Chinese virus software for breaking the ICE. |
1984 | Selected Melanin Boosting (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) The only way to get a designer tan. |
1984 | Nikon Eyes (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Artificially cultivated eyes that can be transplanted to replace (or repair) your original pair. |
1984 | Comeye (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) A portable video camera, used by the mobile functionary to keep in touch with office. |
1984 | Panther Modern (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Cyberterrorists for hire. |
1984 | Biologics (from Blood Music by Greg Bear) A computer that is made of organic (biological) components, rather than inorganic materials like silicon. |
1984 | Display-Induced Epileptic Seizure (from Press Enter by John Varley) A computer program that flashes a computer display to induce an epileptic seizure in the user. |
1984 | Medically Applicable Biochip (from Blood Music by Greg Bear) A computer formed of organic components that is used for a medical purpose. |
1984 | Image-Amps (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Boost the signal from the eyes to see in the dark. |
1984 | Privacy Screen (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) A device that shields occupants from all possible forms of electronic intrusion and surveillance. |
1984 | Neural Cut Out Chip (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) An electronic device which, when implanted in the brain of the subject, allows software to take over that person's body.. |
1984 | Repair Drone (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Autonomous robots repair damage or sabotage. |
1984 | Life-shield Blanket (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) A device that is capable of shielding the person using it against ordinary forms of detecting living beings. |
1984 | Biological Circuit Fabrication (from The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe by Author Unknown) Creating an electronic circuit using biologically-based means. |
1984 | Pulse-Timer (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) A watch that uses your visual cortex for a read-out device. |
1984 | No-Ship (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) A ship that uses an Ixian field to be effectively invisible. |
1984 | Shere (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) Destroys cells so that memory cannot be deduced from the cells of the person even in death. |
1984 | Ixian Probe (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) A device that looks at brain tissue so carefully that memories can be seen. |
1984 | Microsoft (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) A small piece of firmware inserted into the brain that provides data on a particular subject, or special features, for the user. |
1984 | Nullentropy Bin (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) A compartment in which entropy was halted. |
1984 | Proton Pack (from Ghostbusters by Harold Ramis) The business end of a mobile particle accelerator. |
1984 | Agony Box (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) A device for causing non-lethal, non-injuring pain by nerve induction. |
1984 | House Records (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) The vast archival information management system of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood, covering millennia. |
1984 | Electromagnetic Shotgun (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) A device to shut down an artificial intelligence if it becomes dangerous. |
1984 | Datacase (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) A portable suitcase, containing useful electronics for the mobile business-person. |
1984 | Gynoid (from Divine Endurance by Gwyneth Jones) A female android. |
1984 | No-Globe (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) A large spherical living space that is concealed by special Ixian technology, making it impossible to detect by any known probe. |
1984 | Planck Juice (from Master of Space and Time by Rudy Rucker) A continuous pre-quark force-medium with no distinguishing characteristics (it's mostly gluons) |
1984 | Composite Expert System (from Twenty Evocations by Bruce Sterling) Intelligent teaching software - a computer interface with a heart. |
1984 | Freeside Orbital Resort (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) A resort that orbits the Earth. |
1984 | SimStim (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Stimulation of the brain and nervous system of one person using a recording (or live broadcast) of another person's experience. |
1984 | Intellectual Cell (from Blood Music by Greg Bear) A smart lymphocyte; a cell with enhanced capacity for memory, understanding and communication. |
1984 | Computer-Created Dub (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Music created by an artificially intelligent computer for a specific audience. |
1984 | Ghost Trap (from Ghostbusters by Harold Ramis) Device for capture and temporary storage of ectoplasmic entities. |
1984 | House Records Archivist (from Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert) A specialist who correlated information within the House Records of the Bene Gesserit. |
1984 | Interactive Suicide Note (from Press Enter by John Varley) A last message for the people you are leaving behind - that encourages their participation. |
1984 | Construct (Digital) (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) A stored version of a person's particular skills and personal approaches to problems. |
1984 | ICE (intrusion countermeasures electronics) (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Electronic protection for computer databases. |
1984 | Mirrorshades - Surgically Inset Glasses (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Glasses that were implanted in the face of the wearer. |
1984 | Joeboy (Muscle Grafts) (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Additional muscle tissue added through surgery. |
1984 | Coffin Rack Capsule Hotel (from The Science Fiction Yearbook (ed. Jerry Pournelle) by William Gibson) A hotel with very (very!) small rooms. |
1984 | Talking Head (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) A mechanical head (with an analog voice) used as the output terminal for a computer. |
1984 | Low-Gravity Velodrome (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) A bicycle track in an orbital resort. |
1984 | Toothbud Transplant (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Implanted teeth that mimic the dentition of other species. |
1984 | Robot Crab (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) An automated gardener. |
1984 | Optic Television (from Twenty Evocations by Bruce Sterling) An eye that "sees" more than just its surroundings. |
1984 | Temporary Quarters (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Device used to separate a large interior space in an off-planet satellite into various living spaces. |
1984 | Contact Venom (from Twenty Evocations by Bruce Sterling) A poison that is absorbed through the skin. |
1984 | JAL Shuttle (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Shuttle capable of attaining low earth orbit. |
1984 | Vat Grown Meat (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Meat tissue for consumption, grown apart from an animal. |
1984 | Edgar (from Electric Dreams by Rusty Lemorande) Computer that falls in love with a human woman. |
1984 | Tug (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) A small space vehicle, used to provide a push or pull to objects floating in space without propulsion systems. |
1984 | Mimetic Polycarbon Suit (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Clothing made from a fiber that could change colors based on either recorded images or real-time picture input. |
1984 | Chirpsithra Supercomputer (from Niven's Laws by Larry Niven) An alien race thoughtfully provides mankind with blueprints for the most intelligent computer ever made. |
1984 | Sparkers (from Niven's Laws by Larry Niven) A device used to deliver small amounts of electric current to chirpsithra, who use it for the same reason humans use alcohol. |
1984 | Flexitime (from Master of Space and Time by Rudy Rucker) A work system that actually tells you when you've put in your time. |
1984 | Wintermute (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) An artificially intelligent computer system. |
1984 | Lado-Acheson System (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) A device for "pumping in" sunlight into an enclosed space habitat. |
1984 | Dermadisk (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) A means of quickly administering drugs directly through the skin. |
1984 | Generate New Phone Number (from Press Enter by John Varley) A software program that creates a new phone number for each call. |
1984 | Pseudo-Insects (Synsects) (from One Human Minute by Stanislaw Lem) A swarm of self-guided, programmed microarmies. |
1984 | Razorgirl (from Neuromancer by William Gibson) Surgically implanted blades under the fingernails. |
1985 | Michael (Orion Ship) (from Footfall by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) A spacecraft using nuclear bombs for propulsion. |
1985 | Drone Floater Camera (from Runaway by Michael Crichton) A one-foot square aerostat capable of hovering with a camera to transmit images back to a base station. |
1985 | Microwave Beamer (from Limits by Larry Niven) A hand-held fast cooking device. |
1985 | Tube Rack (from Solstice by James Patrick Kelly) A hotel consisting of a set of stacked tube-like living spaces. |
1985 | Deceleration Paste (from Schismatrix by Bruce Sterling) Antidote for deceleration trauma. |
1985 | Agricultural Robot Pest Controller (from Runaway by Michael Crichton) An agricultural robot specifically designed to perform pest control activities. |
1985 | Smart Bullet (from Runaway by Michael Crichton) Really a tiny missile capable of identifying and following a person. |
1985 | Sniffer Robot (from Runaway by Michael Crichton) A small robot that gathers odors from a crime scene for analysis. |
1985 | Car Dashboard Drone Controller (from Runaway by Michael Crichton) A screen and controls for using a remote drone. |
1985 | Spider Robot (from Runaway by Michael Crichton) Scuttling insect robots. |
1985 | Visor (from Freezone by John Shirley) A snap-down video screen for your eyes only. |
1985 | Fieldstim (from Freezone by John Shirley) A device that used stimulation of a large skin area to impart images to the user. |
1985 | Sours (from Schismatrix by Bruce Sterling) The odor created in enclosed space environments due to the need for bacilli for healthy soil. |
1985 | Plug-Ups (from Passage at Arms by Glen Cook) Tiny plastic balls that seal leaks on spacecraft. |
1985 | Resting Pits (from Limits by Larry Niven) |
1985 | Millipede Train (from Eon by Greg Bear) A train that is able to move without tracks or other supports. |
1985 | Circumlunar (from Schismatrix by Bruce Sterling) A large space habitat orbiting the moon. |
1985 | Bat Wings (from Limits by Larry Niven) The dream of human-powered winged flight becomes a reality - in low gravity, of course. |
1985 | Flying Crowbars (from Footfall by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) Kinetic energy weapons deployed from space. |
1985 | Video-Manicuring Program (from Schismatrix by Bruce Sterling) Manipulates live video images in real time. |
1985 | Big Push (from Limits by Larry Niven) A linear accelerator built on a long track; a mass driver. |
1985 | Beta Beam Satellite (from Limits by Larry Niven) |
1985 | Mechanist Drogue (from Schismatrix by Bruce Sterling) |
1985 | Orbital Retirement Hotel (from Contact by Carl Sagan) A retirement home placed in low earth orbit. |
1985 | Desk (Personal Computer) (from Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card) A computer for students. |
1985 | Military Spider (from A Day For Damnation by David Gerrold) An eight legged telepresence robot. |
1985 | Free Play (The Mind Game) (from Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card) A computer simulation that presents an enjoyable game for young people that is also used for psychological evaluation. |
1985 | Wire Act (from Freezone by John Shirley) A person with special hardware modifications that allow him or her to create music by bodily movement. |
1985 | Earmite (from Freezone by John Shirley) A small speaker that you can put in your ear. |
1985 | Spetsdöd (from The Man Who Never Missed by Steve Perry) A unique gun that is part of the shooter. |
1985 | Sentient Room (from Schismatrix by Bruce Sterling) A room constructed entirely of flesh, dominated by the personality of a geisha. |
1985 | Imp Personal Robot (from Rocheworld by Robert Forward) A small 'subtree' robot that is designed for the personal use of astronauts. |
1985 | Self-Propelled Road Mine (from Runaway by Michael Crichton) A small, lightweight mine able to travel at highway speeds; guides itself to a marked target. |
1985 | Reactive Walls (from Freezone by John Shirley) Wall surfaces designed for use in clubs; they reacted to the music played in the room. |
1985 | Mnemotropin (from Stone Lives by Paul Di Filippo) A drug to improve the creation of long-term memories. |
1985 | Police Sketch Artist Software (from Runaway by Michael Crichton) A tablet-style computer with sketch pad software to help identify suspects. |
1985 | Christmas Bush Motile Robot (from Rocheworld by Robert Forward) Repair robot with extra-sensitive hands. |
1985 | Battleroom (from Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card) A large, null-gravity space used for battle tactics training. |
1985 | Flash Suit (from Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card) Special suit for practice battles. |
1985 | Survival Bubble (Beach Ball) (from Footfall by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) Simplest possible space survival pod. |
1985 | Adnix (from Contact by Carl Sagan) A device that muted the television to lessen the impact of commercials. |
1985 | Security Guard Robot (Sentry Robot) (from Runaway by Michael Crichton) A robot that takes the place of a security guard in an office environment. |
1985 | Subdermal Microchannels (from Stone Lives by Paul Di Filippo) A means of personal adornment; think of day glow tattoos. |
1985 | Car Sound Tape (from The Cat Who Walks Through Walls by Robert Heinlein) Otherwise silent vehicle uses a recorded engine sound. |
1985 | Sleep Tube (from Solstice by James Patrick Kelly) A short, cylindrical living space. |
1985 | CCD Eyes (from Stone Lives by Paul Di Filippo) Electronic eyes using charged-coupled devices provide a wide variety of functions. |
1985 | Freezone (from Freezone by John Shirley) A vast floating island in international waters. |
1985 | Skyball (from A Day For Damnation by David Gerrold) Remote-controlled UAV. |
1985 | Digger Worm (from With Friends Like These by Connie Willis) A robot shaped like a fat snake, or worm; used for mining. |
1985 | Home Robot (from Runaway by Michael Crichton) A robotic device designed to serve families in their homes. |
1985 | Threat Team (of sf writers) (from Footfall by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) Gathering together a group of science fiction writers to try to predict what will happen, or to understand an unknown threat. |
1985 | Interstellar Laser Propulsion System (from Rocheworld by Robert Forward) A means of traveling to the stars, using a Sol-based laser system and light sail-equipped ship. |
1985 | Construction Robot (from Runaway by Michael Crichton) Autonomous robots work on construction sites. |
1986 | Slamhound (from Count Zero by William Gibson) An automated assassination device with a keen sense of smell. |
1986 | Orbital Terminus (from Count Zero by William Gibson) An airport in space; a terminal for low earth orbit flights. |
1986 | Polycarbon Phone Screen (from Count Zero by William Gibson) A telephone that provides videophone capability using a very thin screen that is folded away when not in use. |
1986 | Biosoft (from Count Zero by William Gibson) A biography that includes actual life experience from the subject; a biographical download. |
1986 | Dustplug (from Count Zero by William Gibson) A cover specially made to protect one's microsoft socket; a tongue retainer for your brain. |
1986 | Ghostwheel (from Blood of Amber by Roger Zelazny) A sentient computer partially built with magic. |
1986 | Blaupunkt Holostage (from Snake-Eyes by Tom Maddox) A three-dimensional tabletop display. |
1986 | Memory Biochip (from Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold) An implanted device that permits the user to 'play back' selected memories. |
1986 | Effective Human Implant Technology (EHIT) (from Snake-Eyes by Tom Maddox) Computer interface implanted directly into the human brain. |
1986 | Uterine Replicator (from Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold) A device that simulates the functions of the human uterus. |
1986 | Robot Gun (from Aliens by Alan Dean Foster) An automated gun; typically used for sentry duty. |
1986 | Shiftsuit (from Matadora by Steve Perry) A form of adaptive camouflage gear. |
1986 | Lifebox (from Soft Death by Rudy Rucker) A device that captures a person's life experience in software. |
1987 | Raisin (from Nanotime by Bart Kosko) A small device like a hearing aid that fits inside the external part of the ear; combines an intelligent agent and wireless access to the network. |
1987 | Electric Monk (from Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams) Robotic device provides belief services. |
1987 | Robot Cells (Crystal-Shaped Modules) (from Isaac Asimov's Odyssey : Robot City: Book1 by Michael P. Kube-McDowell) Minute dodecahedral units that could combine into different shapes to become full robots. |
1987 | Moddy (from When Gravity Fails by George Alec Effinger) A plug-in personality module; a firmware device that gives the user the personality desired - ROM to your brain's RAM. |
1987 | Birthing egg (from Nanotime by Bart Kosko) A chamber for in vitro fertilization (IVF), combining the DNA of two people to produce a child, without all the usual bother. |
1987 | Ice Dart (from Nanotime by Bart Kosko) A variation on an old locked door mystery idea. |
1987 | Hushicopter (from Fantastic Voyage II: Destination Brain by Isaac Asimov) A nearly-silent helicopter. |
1987 | Chiphead (from Nanotime by Bart Kosko) A person whose organic brain has been effectively superseded by a firmware (integrated circuit or more advanced technology) device. |
1987 | Boomer Park (from Nanotime by Bart Kosko) Where the baby boomers all went to retire and die. |
1987 | Webcast (from Armageddon Blues by D.K. Moran) A broadcast accomplished over a data network. |
1987 | Superacid (from Nanotime by Bart Kosko) Smart acids that could be created to ignore particular compounds and dissolve others. |
1987 | Smart Lanes (from Nanotime by Bart Kosko) Roadways that monitored, directed and controlled traffic. |
1987 | Predator Wrist Display (from Predator by John McTiernan) A wrist bracelet with a variety of useful functions. |
1987 | Hostage Gas (from The Uplift War by David Brin) A gas sprayed over a population; to survive, those who breathe it must report to centers for the antidote. |
1987 | Robotic Butterfly (from I, Robot: The Movie by Harlan Ellison) A tiny, electromechanical flying robot. |
1987 | Holodeck (from Encounter at Farpoint by David Gerrold) A computer-simulated environment. |
1987 | Skydozer (from A Little Further Up The Fox... by George M. Ewing) Small spacecraft used to remove orbital debris. |
1987 | Transport Walkers (from A Little Further Up The Fox... by George M. Ewing) Multilegged transport vehicles big enough to carry one person. |
1988 | High Orbit Archipelago (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) The habitable spaces in high earth orbit. |
1988 | Hovercraft (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) A vehicle that moves about on a cushion of air. |
1988 | Brainlock (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) A technique to focus the attention of prisoners on a limited task, precluding the possibility of escape. |
1988 | People-Mover (from Wetware by Rudy Rucker) A fixed mode of transporting people outside; and, they get to sit down. |
1988 | Sculpted Teeth (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) Go beyond teeth whitening to shaped teeth - for a more modern smile. |
1988 | Heartshirt (from Wetware by Rudy Rucker) A shirt that was able to detect heart sounds and display associated colors. |
1988 | Recorded Personalities (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) Computer firmware that saves a person's characteristics and reactions. |
1988 | Lunar Concrete (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) A building material using lunar dust or similar surface material as a main ingredient. |
1988 | Vizzyprint (from Wetware by Rudy Rucker) A printer attached to a video phone. |
1988 | Polycarbon Exo (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) Exoskeleton made of a strong, lightweight material. |
1988 | Trode-Net (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) |
1988 | Boppers (from Wetware by Rudy Rucker) Self-reproducing robots; they did not obey Asimov's laws for robots (or any other man-made rules). |
1988 | Flickercladding (from Wetware by Rudy Rucker) A covering that allowed robots to absorb incident light or emit light, as needed. |
1988 | Week Trees (from Wetware by Rudy Rucker) Specially engineered bonsai that could grow in a week, instead of decades. |
1988 | Book-Film (from Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A storage medium for books. |
1988 | Head-Molding Skincaps (from Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Get a smooth pate without shaving. |
1988 | Maas-Neotek Biochip (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) An integrated circuit chip (or equivalent) that provides hardware and firmware for creating a virtual entity. |
1988 | Air-Taxi (from Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A flying taxicab with autonomous features. |
1988 | Suit Designer (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) |
1988 | Bank Chip (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) A "smart" credit card. |
1988 | Dornier (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) A small surveillance drone capable of hovering in midair. |
1988 | House Voice (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) A house-based system that mediates technologies (like phone) with a verbal interface directed to the inhabitants of the house. |
1988 | SIN (Single Identification Number) (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) |
1988 | Projection Rig (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) A portable holographic projector. |
1988 | Korsakov's (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) A type of mind control imposed on prisoners to make them more manageable during their prison time. |
1988 | Cleaning Machine Warren (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) A room or space set aside for machinery when not in use. |
1988 | Data Haven (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) A place where data that cannot legally be kept can be stashed for later use; an offshore web host. |
1988 | Microfarm (from Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Food creation without soil. |
1988 | Dainties (from Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Flavor spheres artificially grown. |
1988 | Jet-Down (from Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov) A spacecraft able to explore planetary surfaces. |
1988 | High Tech Trash Can (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) The future of waste management. |
1988 | Gravitic Lift (from Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov) An elevator with no visible means of support. |
1988 | Scop (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) Protein grown in bacteria-filled vats. |
1988 | Steel Drugs (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) A name for recreational chemicals that were entirely synthetic. |
1988 | Video-Glasses (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) Special light-gathering elements allowed the end user to see omni-directionally. |
1988 | Inert Resin (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) A special coating that eliminates maintenance on marine structures. |
1988 | Jackleg (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) Moving data around to avoid detection or capture. |
1988 | Didge-Ital (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) Digital music. |
1988 | Automated Space Factories (from Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson) Manufacturing based in space. |
1988 | Videoshades (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) Sunglasses that let you watch what you want. |
1988 | Digital Running Shoes (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) Shoes with a digital readout showing performance. |
1988 | Twist-Box (from Wetware by Rudy Rucker) A device that scrambles your sensory input, providing you with a different kind of experience. |
1988 | Watchphone (from Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling) A combination cell phone and wrist watch. |
1988 | Print-Book (from Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov) You’ve seen them. |
1988 | Powered Print-Book (from Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov) Part computer, part book. |
1988 | Airchair (from Killing Gramps by Ann K. Schwader) A floating armchair. |
1988 | Personality-Construct (Lazarus) (from Killing Gramps by Ann K. Schwader) A chip providing a robotic body with the attributes of the selected person. |
1988 | BLIT (Secret Basilisk) (from Blit by David Langford) The Berryman Logical Image Technique can "shock" an AI trained to do pattern recognition. |
1989 | Internet Addiction (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) A state in which human beings experience addiction to computer access and data streams. |
1989 | Wrist Command (from Tides of Light by Gregory Benford) A wearable communications device; the logical endpoint of mobile computing. |
1989 | TechnoCore (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) A group of artificial intelligences with vast resources and the entirety of human dataspheres to access. |
1989 | Lifezone (from Tides of Light by Gregory Benford) An enclosed biosphere; a pod-like greenhouse attached to a space-going vessel. |
1989 | Worldweb All Thing (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) Network connects billions of people in real time. |
1989 | Universal Card (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) A device that mimics every credit card and identification card you possess. |
1989 | Voxbox (from Tekwar by William Shatner) An intelligent home agent. |
1989 | Kamikaze Andy (from Tekwar by William Shatner) An android that is designed as an assassination weapon. |
1989 | Rotated Solid Space Habitat (from Iron by Poul Anderson) A solid version of a artifact rotated to achieve artificial gravity. |
1989 | Treeship (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) A single, enormous tree grown as a spacecraft. |
1989 | Schrön Loop (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) Small data storage device; a USB chip that stores terabytes. |
1989 | Free-fall Couch (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) Furniture that achieves the comfort of free-fall, the weightless condition normally achieved only in space. |
1989 | Orbiting Penal Colony (from Tekwar by William Shatner) A prison placed in orbit (better than Alcatraz). |
1989 | Fatline (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) A communications technology that provides immediate communication between star systems; faster-than-light communication. |
1989 | Can City (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) A cylindrical space habitat. |
1989 | Datumplane (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) The workspace of console cowboys - the matrix. |
1989 | Micromind (from Tides of Light by Gregory Benford) A computer helper. |
1989 | Credit Wake (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) The electronic trail of our transactions across the Net. |
1989 | Cybrid (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) An organic body used by an artificial intelligence. |
1989 | Flat Photo (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) A two-dimensional pictorial representation of a three-dimensional real space. A picture. |
1989 | Farcaster (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) A portal for traveling between distant stars; inexpensive, instantaneous travel to remote worlds. |
1989 | Hawking Mat (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) About two meters long and one meter wide, made of shielded monofilaments, with a bright textile design - okay, it's a flying carpet. |
1989 | Datasphere (from Hyperion by Dan Simmons) The entirety of computers and their information linked together, typically on a planet, in concept. |
1990 | Portable Ident-Plate (from Earth by David Brin) A small, thin device that will capture biometric data from a person's finger. |
1990 | Citizen Journalism (from Earth by David Brin) The notion that ordinary people can make use of technological tools like cellphone cameras and the Internet to provide information. |
1990 | Polar Ice (from The Ring of Charon by Roger MacBride Allen) Water ice at the poles of the Moon. |
1990 | Bee Zapper (from Earth by David Brin) A laser-based insect remover. |
1990 | Roachster (from Sparrowhawk by Thomas A. Easton) A genetically-engineered vehicle based on arthropod DNA; uses implanted control structures. |
1990 | Magnus-Effect Ambulance (from Earth by David Brin) A vehicle that can hover and fly using the Magnus Effect. |
1990 | Mammontelephas (from Earth by David Brin) A 'mammoth' resurrected from the genes of the original. |
1990 | Sunshade-Photocell Collector (from Earth by David Brin) A fanciful design for a device that gathers solar energy. |
1990 | Tracking Bracelet (from Shadowspeer by Patricia Jo Clayton) A security device armed with explosives. |
1990 | General Bodies Tortoise (from Sparrowhawk by Thomas A. Easton) A passenger vehicle genetically engineered from tortoise DNA and controlled by implanted electronics. |
1990 | Anti-Onc Cream (from Earth by David Brin) An ointment used to cure skin cancers. |
1990 | Cannibal Grass (from Sparrowhawk by Thomas A. Easton) Genetically engineered grass that acts as a defense layer for a home. |
1990 | Vivisector (from Earth by David Brin) A program that takes another computer program apart, while it's running, to see what it does. |
1990 | Genetic Ark (from Earth by David Brin) Enormous, multi-habitat enclosed spaces, used to conserve the animal gene pool. |
1990 | EmilyPost (from Earth by David Brin) An autonomous worm that searches the Net for lack of courtesy. |
1990 | Autosecretary (Autosec) (from Earth by David Brin) A software agent able to accept your query and then seach the public net for related information. |
1990 | Leaf Screens (from Sparrowhawk by Thomas A. Easton) Bioform displays grown from plants offering flat surfaces - like leaves. |
1990 | Eloi (from Queen of Angels by Greg Bear) People who have undergone treatments to extend their lives. |
1990 | Dustmice (from Queen of Angels by Greg Bear) Tiny robotic sensors that police could set loose in a crime scene, looking for tiny clues. |
1990 | Monomol Mesh Armor (from Queen of Angels by Greg Bear) Material to protect selected areas that must bend (elbows, knees, and so forth). |
1990 | Assassin Bird (from Sparrowhawk by Thomas A. Easton) A bird genetically engineered to accept instructions on how to kill. |
1990 | Bioform House (from Sparrowhawk by Thomas A. Easton) A house grown from a bioengineered plant. |
1990 | Hanky Bush (from Sparrowhawk by Thomas A. Easton) A plant with leaves grown to resemble common, multipurpose tissues. |
1990 | Dormancy Switch (from Sparrowhawk by Thomas A. Easton) Essential device 'switches off' your cyborg animal, causing it to quickly drop off to sleep. |
1990 | Deadman's Device (from Shadowspeer by Patricia Jo Clayton) A device implanted beneath the skin of an operative who is to be sent on a hazardous mission. |
1990 | Lawyer Program (from Earth by David Brin) Software that could listen to legal argument. |
1990 | Reading Plaque (from Earth by David Brin) A tablet-sized display for reading. |
1990 | Sonomagnetic Fabric (from Earth by David Brin) Cloth that gathers sound energy. |
1990 | True-Vu Lenses (Goggles) (from Earth by David Brin) Lenses that are worn as goggles, allowing the user to both see and record what is being viewed. |
1990 | Dozer (from Earth by David Brin) A person with extreme susceptibility to the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. |
1990 | Kinotrope (from The Difference Engine by William Gibson (w/B. Sterling)) Small bits of painted wood in a grid that spin around to form different pixelated images. |
1990 | Home Manager (from Queen of Angels by Greg Bear) A device that responds to verbal or other commands; serves as an intelligent telephone answering machine and other tasks. |
1990 | Oxygen Hip Flask (from Earth by David Brin) A small, portable source of pure oxygen for breathing. |
1990 | Quantum Logic Thinker (QL) (from Heads by Greg Bear) A computer system that thinks about problems in unusual ways. |
1990 | Data-Retrieval Programs (from Earth by David Brin) Programs that searched the Net for specific information. |
1990 | Predictions Registry (from Earth by David Brin) An organization that keeps track of predictions made by individuals. |
1990 | Fabricow (from Piecework by David Brin) Cattle and other creatures that create gene-designed biomachinery in their wombs. |
1990 | Filter Program (from Earth by David Brin) Using programs to filter Internet results; a person need see only what they want to see. |
1990 | Subvocal Input Device (from Earth by David Brin) Attached sensors read nerve signals to determine what the user will say next. |
1990 | Personal Cache (from Earth by David Brin) An online data repository used to store personal data. |
1990 | Garbage Mine (from Earth by David Brin) The idea that recycling can spawn entirely new industries. |
1990 | Live Carpet (from Queen of Angels by Greg Bear) A carpet made of living fibers; the backing is a digestive system. |
1990 | E-Document Distribution (from Earth by David Brin) A method of wirelessly distributing a document to a large group of people in an ad hoc setting. |
1990 | Purza the Pukha (from The Rowan by Anne McCaffrey) A toy with sensors used to monitor children in hospitals. |
1990 | Dazer (from Earth by David Brin) A person who learned biofeedback techniques to float on his own endorphins. |
1990 | Credibility Rating (from Earth by David Brin) How believable are your blog posts? your emails? your tweets? |
1990 | Knife Missile (from Use of Weapons by Iain M Banks) A sharp-edged weapon that can maneuver in space. |
1991 | Spotlight of Heat (Orbital Microwaves) (from Fallen Angels by Larry Niven w/Pournelle, Flynn) Using an orbiting satellite microwave array to heat a specific portion of a planetary surface. |
1991 | Flatscreen Movie (from Orbital Resources by John Barnes) Like holographic or three-dimensional recordings, but showing only two dimensions. |
1991 | Screening Software (from The Moat by Greg Egan) Rules-based software trained to eliminate spam email. |
1991 | Donnersprache (from Silent Thunder by Dean Ing) A hypnotic transceiver that enhances the charisma of speakers. |
1991 | Patient Bath Robot (from Roujin Z by Katsuhiro Otomo) Robot gives patient a bath. |
1991 | Law Expert System (LEX) (from The Moat by Greg Egan) Software capable of rendering a legal opinion. |
1991 | Roujin Z-0001 Robotic Bed (from Roujin Z by Katsuhiro Otomo) A fully automated hospital bed and transport robot. |
1991 | Tiersian Therapy (from Red Orc's Revenge by Philip Jose Farmer) A therapeutic discipline in which the patient chooses a character from a book and then attempts to be that character. |
1991 | Seeder Ramship (from Rammer by Larry Niven) A spacecraft designed to travel from one star system to another , terrafoming worlds for use. |
1991 | Teaching Chair (from Rammer by Larry Niven) No-frills teaching machine. |
1991 | Stimsuit (from Heavy Time by C.J. Cherryh) An elastic suit worn to decrease the effects of micro-gravity in space. |
1992 | Transdress (from The California Voodoo Game by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) A transparent dress upon which thousands of patterns may be projected. |
1992 | Sven (from The Turing Option by Harry Harrison) Sven is an artificially intelligent computer detective. |
1992 | Metaverse (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) A virtual universe. |
1992 | Reason Hypervelocity Railgun (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) Multichamber weapon accelerates tiny splinters of metal. |
1992 | Airbag Jacket (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) A jacket or coverall with inflatable air bags throughout for protection against impact. |
1992 | Avatar (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) A computer-enhanced doppelganger; a computer-generated image that takes your place in a three-dimensional online encounter. |
1992 | P-120 Reconnaissance Robot (from A Season for Slaughter by David Gerrold) A multi-legged robot built for speed and silence. |
1992 | Skrode (from A Fire Upon The Deep by Vernor Vinge) A small mobile platform designed for a legless race. |
1992 | Dentata (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) An anti-rape device. |
1992 | Smartwheels (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) Special "wheels" that are actually sets of spokes that telescope to be as long as they need to be for a smooth ride. |
1992 | Loogie Gun (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) A non-violent weapon that shoots a gooey mass to immobilize a person judged to have criminal or violent intent. |
1992 | CIC Virtual Earth (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) A software application that presents detailed information about the Earth. |
1992 | DreamTime Scleral Contact Lenses (from The California Voodoo Game by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) Full-size contact lenses that can provide an augmented reality view. |
1992 | Smart Pizza Box (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) A container with microprocessor-based data processing capabilities built-in to the box. |
1992 | Arachnofiber Uniforms (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) Remarkable attire for a pizza delivery person; but given the violence of near future America, the protection offered by ordinary uniforms was insufficient. |
1992 | Rat Thing (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) A guard cyborg created from a living animal. |
1992 | Readout Skin (from Steel Beach by John Varley) Normal-appearing skin that can be used as an output device for text or graphics. |
1992 | Burbclave (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) Contraction of suburban enclave; an extension of today's gated communities. |
1992 | MagnaPoon (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) To hitch a ride from a faster vehicle while riding a skateboard (from harpoon). |
1992 | Dataset (from A Fire Upon The Deep by Vernor Vinge) A portable computer with multiple screens and capabilities. |
1992 | Handwriter (from Steel Beach by John Varley) A text input device implanted in your skin. |
1992 | Avatar Construction Set (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) A collection of software that allows the building of a complete avatar. |
1992 | Direct Interface (from Steel Beach by John Varley) A form of computer interface that inputs text into a computer by thinking. |
1992 | Padloid (from Steel Beach by John Varley) A tawdry news publication on a PDA, or notepad, device. |
1992 | High-Voltage Cuffs (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) Metallic shirt-sleeve cuffs capable of carrying a charge. |
1992 | Reality Graphics (from A Fire Upon The Deep by Vernor Vinge) One-stop design - the final design is the object. |
1992 | Deliverator Car (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) The vehicle for edgy pizza delivery. |
1992 | Data Goggles (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) Eyewear connected to a computer provides total immersion in the matrix. |
1992 | Nanobot (from Steel Beach by John Varley) A robot constructed with nanotechnology. |
1992 | Sintered Armorgel (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) A substance that is flexible when moved slowly, but which hardens upon external impact. |
1992 | Hypercard (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) A virtual business card; what one avatar might hand another to introduce themselves. |
1992 | Hoverlimo (from Steel Beach by John Varley) A hovercraft for hire, with servility built in. |
1992 | U-Stor-It (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) A storage unit converted for use as an apartment. |
1992 | EverRest Cryotorium (from Flare by Roger Zelazny) Rest forever in cryonic suspension among the stars. |
1992 | Negative Matter Space Drive (from Timemaster by Robert Forward) A reactionless space drive using negative matter. |
1992 | Metavirus (Digital Metavirus) (from Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson) Binary code that can infect computers or even hackers, through the binary nerve. |
1992 | Timeslip (from Red Mars by Spider Robinson) When humans keep time on Mars, they must work with the extra forty minutes in each day. |
1992 | Disney Therapy (from Steel Beach by John Varley) Letting people retreat to a simpler time, for their mental health. |
1993 | Separated At Birth Database (from Virtual Light by William Gibson) Missing persons database uses similarity to famous people. |
1993 | Chunker (from Virtual Light by William Gibson) A device that fires small cubes of rubber; a non-lethal form of riot control. |
1993 | Diagnostic Sleeve (from Gripping Hand by Larry Niven (w/J. Pournelle)) Worn on one arm, it diagnoses and adminsters medications. |
1993 | Stealth House (from Virtual Light by William Gibson) A home that is entirely sealed, leading to toxic buildup. |
1993 | Hood Hologram (from Virtual Light by William Gibson) A hologrammatic display on the outside surface of a car. |
1993 | Fractal Knife (from Virtual Light by William Gibson) The blade uses a fractal geometry to increase its cutting surface. |
1993 | Canola Oil (from Virtual Light by William Gibson) Vegetable oil refined for use as fuel |
1993 | Wende (from Deep Eddy by Bruce Sterling) A change, a turning point, a reversal of culture and politics. |
1993 | Antiturbulence Wings (from Deep Eddy by Bruce Sterling) Wings that are designed to buffer turbulence for passengers. |
1993 | Air-Conditioned Coat (from Deep Eddy by Bruce Sterling) An otherwise ordinary overcoat that fights the heat. |
1993 | Translation Program (from Deep Eddy by Bruce Sterling) A computer program that translates speech from one language to another, in real time, to aid in conversation. |
1993 | Spex (Spexware) (from Deep Eddy by Bruce Sterling) Video glasses with computer assistance. |
1994 | Dope Mule Robot (from Heavy Weather by Bruce Sterling) A metal sphere that propels itself with a single piston-like foot. |
1994 | Virtuality Helmet ('Virching' Helmet) (from Heavy Weather by Bruce Sterling) A helmet with a communication system and a display; a pilot wearing this helmet could sit on the ground and control a distant aircraft. |
1994 | Semisentient Plastic (from Ring by Stephen Baxter) A durable coating that protects and preserves objects. |
1994 | Wandering Mine (from Half the Day is Night by Maureen F. McHugh) A landmine with legs. |
1994 | Neuro-netsukes (from Rim by Alexander Besher) A small sculpture containing the personality of a living person. |
1994 | Virtual Reality Ceremony (from Rim by Alexander Besher) Don't just put your motion capture suit on - do it with style. |
1994 | Holo (License) (from Rim by Alexander Besher) A three-dimensional driver license and identification card. |
1994 | Vai-Chi (from Rim by Alexander Besher) Tai-Chi movements translated into the virtual world |
1994 | VR Dyslexia (from Rim by Alexander Besher) Severe disorientation brought about by excessive use of virtual reality equipment. |
1994 | Smart Rope (from Heavy Weather by Bruce Sterling) Long 'rope' consisting of a variety of intertwined cables with different properties; controlled with special glove interface. |
1994 | Chemotactic Artificial Jellyfish (from Big Jelly by Rudy Rucker (w/B. Sterling)) Artificial device modeled on jellyfish capable of seeking specific components of liquid. |
1994 | Home Termite Habitat (from Natulife by David Brin) Edible insects raised fresh in your own kitchen! |
1994 | XV (from Mother of Storms by John Barnes) Allows anyone to directly experience another person's conscious awareness. |
1994 | XV Wedge (from Mother of Storms by John Barnes) A piece of entertainment that consists of edited real experience. |
1994 | Yeast-Beast Machine (from Natulife by David Brin) A device for growing meat in a vat. |
1994 | Auto-Treadmills (Needle-Gym) (from Natulife by David Brin) A simulation-exercise room floor that allows the user to walk and run on a consistently realistic surface. |
1994 | Stim-Crib (from Natulife by David Brin) A cradle that provides virtual reality experiences to tiny tots. |
1994 | Accu-Terrain Floor (from Natulife by David Brin) A special floor for virtual reality environments that simulates any kind of surface. |
1994 | Voice-Changing Bowtie (from Case Closed (Detective Conan) by Gosho Aoyama) Special device allows wearer to take on the voice of another person at will. |
1994 | Virtual Childrearing (from Natulife by David Brin) Learn childcare the virtual way; maybe long distance childcare, too. |
1994 | AIRE (from Mother of Storms by John Barnes) A piece of software that can break through encryption to determine exactly how a compiled program accomplishes its tasks. |
1994 | Inflatable Expansion Bubble (from Crashlander by Larry Niven) Inflatable chamber to provide temporary additional space for cramped space craft. |
1994 | Neotopological Metaeuclidean Adjacency (from The Hole in the Hole by Terry Bisson) A portal through space-time. |
1994 | Embryo Visualization (from Daughter of Elysium by Joan Slonczewski) Special display technique lets researchers see cell development in three dimensions. |
1994 | Escalladder (from Crashlander by Larry Niven) A ladder that you don't have to climb to get to the top. |
1994 | Crash Web (from Crashlander by Larry Niven) A simple mechanical linkage to activate a crash field. |
1994 | Mass Pointer (from Crashlander by Larry Niven) Tells you where the really large (star-sized) masses are while you travel in hyperspace. |
1994 | Tracing Glasses (from Case Closed (Detective Conan) by Gosho Aoyama) Locate criminals by using glasses to pick up signals from special transmitters. |
1994 | Smart Piston Spokes (from Heavy Weather by Bruce Sterling) A car that uses a set of pistons that feels and reacts to the surface to move around. |
1994 | Tannin-Secretion Pills (from Crashlander by Larry Niven) Artificially darkens skin, for skin protection. |
1994 | Flexible Car Map (from Heavy Weather by Bruce Sterling) A nonrigid map that extrudes from the dashboard of a car when needed. |
1994 | Electronic Cash (from Heavy Weather by Bruce Sterling) A digital currency, like Bitcoin. |
1995 | Chevaline (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) An open robotic vehicle for one person, shaped like a horse. |
1995 | Dog Pod Grid (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A swarm of quasi-independent aerostatic devices. |
1995 | Runcible (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A book made of smart paper; every page is a flexible LCD (liquid crystal display) screen. |
1995 | Filter Wheel (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A device for filtering liquid or gas to obtain a pure sample of a selected molecule. |
1995 | Implanted Credit Card (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A credit card system that could be surgically implanted; uses radio frequency identification to communicate with checkout hardware. |
1995 | Toner (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) Dead bits of nanomachines. |
1995 | Mite (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A very small device (about the size of a dust mite) that has been manufactured for a particular purpose. |
1995 | Clave (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) Short for enclave (see also burbclave - autonomous suburban enclave) |
1995 | Fabricules (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) Tiny bits of fabric that were self-cleaning; gloves made of this material always stayed clean. |
1995 | Lithocule (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) Tiny intelligent building blocks. |
1995 | Aerostat Monitor (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A small flying platform, capable of maneuvering in three dimensions; can hover in place and communicate with others like it. |
1995 | Jodie Grid (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A 'tattoo' that provides points for mapping your face into a grid. |
1995 | Pedomotive (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A kind of stilt-like leg extenders; take longer strides, get there faster. Extreme sports gear. |
1995 | Nanomachine Lidar (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) Radar-like system that uses electromagnetic radiation at optical frequencies (visible light) for range-finding and analysis. |
1995 | Satellite Ion Cannon (from Command and Conquer by Westwood Games) Orbiting station armed with a particle beam weapon, used for surgical tactical strikes. |
1995 | Ballisticules (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) Nanotechnology devices that throw their weight around. |
1995 | Immunocules (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) Very small, lightweight objects able to move in three dimensions; they form a protective shield against airborne devices. |
1995 | Freedom Machine (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A birth control device developed using nanotechnology. |
1995 | Cookie-Cutters (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) Very small (corpuscle-sized) devices that can enter the blood stream and destroy an enemy from within. |
1995 | Ava (from The Calcutta Chromosome by Amitav Ghosh) A piece of learning software. |
1995 | Matter Compiler (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A device that builds the desired article (such as a dress) atom by atom according to a specified design. |
1995 | Phantoscope (phenomenoscope) (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A device that provides you with a computer-operable display; can be worn or surgically implanted right on your own eyes. |
1995 | Mediaglyphic (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) Animated symbols to help those who haven't bothered to learn to read in a multimedia age. |
1995 | Microde (from Armed Memory by Jim Smith) A tailored virus, that infects the selected person, and passes on whatever characteristics have been implanted in the virus. |
1995 | Sights (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) Sunglasses-mounted crosshairs (you'll need one with your skull gun). |
1995 | Soletta (from Green Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson) An array of solar sail mirrors that focus light onto a planetary surface for power. |
1995 | Sky-Eye (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A football-sized flying surveillance device. |
1995 | Mediatronic Display (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) Electronic paper comes in big sheets. |
1995 | Solar Electric Paint - Black Power (from The Woman in Del Rey Crater by Larry Niven) A black-colored paint that can be sprayed on, making any surface a solar power generator. |
1995 | Phased Acoustical Array (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) An music system implanted right on your eardrum. |
1995 | 'Sites (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) Small parasites that cause muscles to twitch in sequence for strength. |
1995 | Smartcoral Reef (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) An artificial coral reef that pulls water in for use in large communities. |
1995 | Mediatron (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A paper-thin networked computer display. |
1995 | Skullgun (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A pistol that is concealed in your cranium. |
1995 | Primer (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A special software program that teaches basic language skills. |
1995 | Smart Paper (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A very slim thin-film transistor display. |
1995 | Geotect (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A person who creates landforms and physical environments |
1995 | Nurse Drone (from The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson) A larger flying platform to provide power to smaller drones. |
1995 | Composite Living (from The Day the Aliens Came by Robert Sheckley) Forming a meld with other life forms. |
1996 | Sandbenders (from Idoru by William Gibson) A highly customized computer system; the opposite of a box from Gateway or Dell. |
1996 | Cybernetic Water Witch (from Idoru by William Gibson) A job that involves a lot of surfing for patterns in information. |
1996 | Computer Translator (from Idoru by William Gibson) A computer translator; software that provides automatic translation when jacked into a data port. |
1996 | Synthespian (from Idoru by William Gibson) A synthetic media personality. |
1996 | Nanotech Buildings (from Idoru by William Gibson) Enormous buildings built with nanotech fibers. |
1996 | Control-Face (from Idoru by William Gibson) A small liquid crystal display (LCD) unit linked to a larger network; gives a window onto your larger network world. |
1996 | Combat Wasp (from The Reality Dysfunction by Peter F. Hamilton) Drone craft able to carry and direct a variety of submunitions. |
1996 | Robotic Abattoir (from Freedom's Landing by Anne McCaffrey) Robots with knives in a meat-packing plant. |
1996 | Flicker Drive (from Fremder by Russell Hoban) A space ship drive that allows instantaneous travel across the galaxy. |
1996 | Eyephone(s) (from Idoru by William Gibson) A projection system using small goggles to project an image directly on your eye. |
1996 | Video Unit (from Idoru by William Gibson) Video units attached directly to the optic nerve, giving sight to the blind. |
1996 | Headset (from Idoru by William Gibson) Wireless headsets provide computer language translation. |
1996 | Hotdesk (from Idoru by William Gibson) A desk space that was itself ready for input. |
1996 | Idoru (from Idoru by William Gibson) A virtual person like a video game character; an entity given specific characteristics, existing only in computer networks. |
1996 | Micro-Bachelor (from Idoru by William Gibson) A small apartment carved out of an abandoned structure. |
1996 | Virtual Meeting (from Idoru by William Gibson) A meeting space that exists only in a computer; the descendant of today's web conferences. |
1996 | Webeye (from The Ringworld Throne by Larry Niven) Communications device with a camera, microphone, zoom lens, projector, etc.; can be sprayed on. |
1996 | Wearable White-Noise Generator (from Idoru by William Gibson) A device worn when the wearer preferred not to be the subject of audio recordings. |
1996 | Kitchen Korner (from Idoru by William Gibson) Just exactly what futurists say you're going to get, like or not, in a refrigerator. |
1997 | Moldies (from Freeware by Rudy Rucker) Autonomous, intelligent, artificial life forms. |
1997 | Helmet Visor Display (from The Tank Lords by David Drake) A heads-up display with a variety of advanced features. |
1997 | UPUD (from First to Fight by David Sherman (w/Cragg)) Universal Positionator Up-Downlink. |
1997 | Softlight (from Softlight Sins by Peter F. Hamilton) Personality erasure via laser imprinted subliminal commands. |
1997 | Boink Biosensor (from The Cobra Event by Richard Preston) A hand-held sensor that detects the presence of hazardous biological material. |
1997 | Retinal Implant (from The Neutronium Alchemist by Peter F. Hamilton) An implanted device that can record and transmit what the person sees. |
1997 | Automated DNA Typing (from Gattaca by Andrew Niccol) A device that takes quick samples of DNA and compares each sample to a database. |
1997 | Subtle Knife (from The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials, Book 2 by Philip Pullman) A knife able to cut through any material, and even cut through into different worlds. |
1997 | Mook (from Bicycle Repairman by Bruce Sterling) Computer-based proxy that deals with communication. |
1998 | Aggressive-Response Service (from The Golden Globe by John Varley) An answering service with an attitude. |
1998 | Bugged Money (from Distraction by Bruce Sterling) American cash with embedded listening devices. |
1998 | Bambakias Hotel (from Distraction by Bruce Sterling) A hotel that wants to exist! It just needs a little help. |
1998 | Talking Tape (from Distraction by Bruce Sterling) Adhesive-backed network connection, global positioning, voice synthesis and speakers. |
1998 | Junkbot (from Distraction by Bruce Sterling) An automated email program that specializes in sending junk mail (spam) |
1998 | Boob Cube (from The Best of all Possible Wars by Larry Niven) Device for showing three-dimensional news broadcasts. |
1998 | Infowar Operation (from Distraction by Bruce Sterling) Making use of various means to disrupt the enemy's military and civilian information networks. |
1998 | Dime Disk (from The Best of all Possible Wars by Larry Niven) A very small data storage medium. |
1998 | Monobloc Dating System (from The Best of all Possible Wars by Larry Niven) A kind of pub with unique hardware and software for computer dating. |
1998 | Profile Sniffers (from Distraction by Bruce Sterling) A software device that sifts Internet access records for patterns associate with particular personality types. |
1998 | Spook (from SOLACE by Jeff Noon) A drink that comes unflavored in a container; twist the cap to add flavor. |
1998 | Magsail (from Falling Stars by Michael Flynn) An interplanetary craft that uses magnetic fields to catch the solar winds for propulsion. |
1998 | Emblok (from Earth Made of Glass by John Barnes) A device that imparts memories into the regrown brain, just like uploading content into a computer's random access memory. |
1998 | Smart Bike (from Distraction by Bruce Sterling) A motorcycle with sophisticated systems for steering and balance. |
1998 | Robot Handlers (from The Golden Globe by John Varley) Small robots used in spacecraft for a variety of useful tasks. |
1998 | Netwar (from Distraction by Bruce Sterling) Making use of various means to disrupt the enemy's military and civilian information networks. |
1998 | Magship (from Falling Stars by Michael Flynn) A ship that uses magnetic fields to catch the solar wind for propulsion. |
1998 | Psypyx (from Earth Made of Glass by John Barnes) A way of gathering and recording mental impressions. |
1998 | Concrete Boxes (from Earth Made of Glass by John Barnes) Self storage for your body - living space designed for people who spend most of their time ignoring their surroundings anyway. |
1998 | Desktop-TV (from Factoring Humanity by Robert J. Sawyer) Video available worldwide, prepared by everyone. |
1998 | D-9 Motherspinner (from The Golden Globe by John Varley) An enormous genetically engineered spider used to create large structures in space. |
1998 | Pokkecon (from Maneki Neko by Bruce Sterling) A device tied into a good will network. |
1998 | Spaceplane (Clarke-class) (from A Quantum Murder by Peter F. Hamilton) An inexpensively powered flight to low earth orbit. |
1999 | Motion Capture Suit (from All Tomorrow's Parties by William Gibson) A tight fitting garment that uses sensors at various positions to record movement in space; can be used as the basis for computer graphic creations. |
1999 | Focusing (from A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge) Psychoactive microbe improves the attention-focusing ability of those infected. |
1999 | Bohemias (from All Tomorrow's Parties by William Gibson) A place where the ordinary rules of society don't apply; the "next big thing" often comes from these places. |
1999 | Belt Sword (from All Tomorrow's Parties by William Gibson) A piece of very thin material sewn between the two leather sides of a belt. |
1999 | Palm Scan (from All Tomorrow's Parties by William Gibson) A means of positive identification, in this case, for an ATM machine. |
1999 | Chain Gun (from All Tomorrow's Parties by William Gibson) Device fires lengths of steel chain. |
1999 | Interactive Video Column (from All Tomorrow's Parties by William Gibson) A video display in a chain convenience store that shows random scenes from other stores in the chain around the world. |
1999 | Nanofax (from All Tomorrow's Parties by William Gibson) Send a copy of a three-dimensional object to a distant place. |
1999 | Snake Contact Lens (from All Tomorrow's Parties by William Gibson) A pair of contact lenses designed to make you appear to have slit pupils, like a snake's. |
1999 | Exoskeleton (from A Good Old-Fashioned Future by Bruce Sterling) Fighting suit |
1999 | Graffiti-Eating Finish (from All Tomorrow's Parties by William Gibson) A wall covering that maintained itself, eating any graffiti placed on it. |
1999 | Smart Tag (from All Tomorrow's Parties by William Gibson) A piece of graffiti, or a small sticker tag, that could survive being placed on walls designed to be self-cleaning. |
1999 | GPS Sunglasses (from All Tomorrow's Parties by William Gibson) Sunglasses that contain both global positioning system components and cell phone services. |
1999 | Lucky Dragon ATM (from All Tomorrow's Parties by William Gibson) An automatic teller machine with attitude. |
1999 | Silksteel (from Alpha Centauri by Sid Meier) Material that has high tensile strength as well as high flexibility. |
1999 | Genejack (from Alpha Centauri by Sid Meier) A genetically-modified human ideally created for menial work. |
1999 | Sentient Econometrics (from Alpha Centauri by Sid Meier) Use of artificial intelligence in economic forecasting. |
1999 | Quantum Power (from Alpha Centauri by Sid Meier) Power generation through photon fission. |
1999 | Nano-Paste (from Alpha Centauri by Sid Meier) Nanobots that use the resources around it to create a desired product. |
1999 | Localizer (from A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge) Devices that work together to form ad-hoc networks. |
1999 | Video Wallpaper (from A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge) Very thin, large scale display. |
1999 | Ethical Calculus (from Alpha Centauri by Sid Meier) Mathematics used to determine positive social conduct. |
1999 | Medical Mantis (from Starfish by Peter Watts) A medical telefactoring device; allows a physician to remotely examine patients and perform procedures. |
1999 | Head Cheese (from Starfish by Peter Watts) Intelligent paste made of neurons; spread upon a substrate for computing. |
1999 | Lucid Dreamer (from Starfish by Peter Watts) A machine that guarantees productive REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, and therefore dreams. |
1999 | Dustmote (from A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge) A tiny sensor device that could also form networks with other motes. |
1999 | Cyberethics (from Alpha Centauri by Sid Meier) Philosophy detailing how computers work within human communities. |
1999 | Diveskin (from Starfish by Peter Watts) Special wetsuit that allows a diver to function at extreme depths. |
1999 | Neuroinduction Field (from Starfish by Peter Watts) Keeps the patient still without the use of cumbersome restraints or drugs. |
1999 | Punishment Sphere (from Alpha Centauri by Sid Meier) Used to bring disruptive elements of society into line. |
1999 | Sonar Pistol (from Starfish by Peter Watts) A device that divers can use to find seabottom and objects in extremely dark or murky water. |
1999 | Smart Gel (from Starfish by Peter Watts) Intelligent paste made of neurons; spread upon a substrate for computing. |
1999 | Eyecaps (from Starfish by Peter Watts) Corneal cap that acts as a pair of goggles for extreme depth diving. |
1999 | Organic Superlubricant (from Alpha Centauri by Sid Meier) Advanced lube that can "learn" how to be more effective. |
1999 | Recycler (from Starfish by Peter Watts) A surgically implanted device that enables a diver to obtain oxygen directly from seawater. |
1999 | Homo Superior (from Alpha Centauri by Sid Meier) A human subspecies created through radical applications of biotechnology. |
1999 | Matter Editation (from Alpha Centauri by Sid Meier) Technology that enables the easy manipulation of atomic properties. |
1999 | Face Seal (from Starfish by Peter Watts) A dive mask for deep sea diving. |
2000 | Randominoes (from Nymphomation by Jeff Noon) Dominoes that randomly generate new numbers. |
2000 | Napcap Induction Cap (from Saturn's Race by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) A device that aids sleep and relaxation by working with the subject's brain waves. |
2000 | Floating Island (from Saturn's Race by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) Large artificial islands floating on Earth's seas. |
2000 | Oceanic Thermal Energy Converter (from Saturn's Race by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) A device that uses the sea to help create electricity. |
2000 | Napcap Capsule (from Saturn's Race by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) A handy refuge for travelers in busy terminals; a sleep aid when you really need one. |
2000 | Bubble (from Saturn's Race by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) An undersea elevator. |
2000 | Artificial Intelligence Device (AID) (from A Hymn Before Battle by John Ringo) Hand-held device responds intelligently to military intelligence requests. |
2000 | Blurbflies (Sing. Blurbfly) (from Nymphomation by Jeff Noon) Small robotic/organic advertisers. |
2000 | Beetle (from Saturn's Race by Larry Niven (w/S. Barnes)) A hard-shelled dirigible. |
2000 | Anti-Virus Design Software (from Super-Cannes: A Novel by J.G. Ballard) Create a living space such that the spread of disease is less likely. |
2000 | Provigil-C (from A Hymn Before Battle by John Ringo) A special drug that promotes wakefulness in troops. |
2001 | Wearables (from Fast Times At Fairmont High by Vernor Vinge) Slang for 'wearable computer.' |
2001 | Inertial Bracelet (from Psychohistorical Crisis by Donald Kingsbury) Device to still hand tremors. |
2001 | Datapack (from Dune: House Harkonnen by Brian Herbert) A compact device for carrying data. |
2001 | Weather Pod (from Dune: House Harkonnen by Brian Herbert) Imperial technology available to planetologists only. |
2001 | Smart Contact Lenses (from Fast Times At Fairmont High by Vernor Vinge) Contact lenses that have a built-in computer display. |
2002 | Mobile Persocom (from Chobits by Manga Clamp) A personal computer in human form. |
2002 | Pocket Dome (from Chindi by Jack McDevitt) Handy easy-to-set-up shelter. |
2002 | Reggie the Bartending Machine (from The Outpost by Mike Resnick) A mechanism able to mix drinks; a robot bartender. |
2002 | Imprint (A Ditto Blank) (from Kiln People by David Brin) Impress one's personality upon a 'ditto blank' android. |
2002 | Spider Robot (from Minority Report (Movie) by Steven Spielberg) Tiny spider-sized robots that are able to search buildings and identify occupants. |
2002 | E-Suit (Environmental Suit) (from Chindi by Jack McDevitt) A forcefield that encloses air and heat around the body, but does not repel objects or radiation. |
2002 | Hyperpig (from Redemption Ark by Alastair Reynolds) A genetic chimera of pig and human. |
2002 | Bullet-guard Overalls (from Kiln People by David Brin) Very tough fabric. |
2002 | Photo-Voltaic Robes (from Snow in the Desert by Neal Asher) Outerwear made from material that absorbs sunlight and outputs electricity. |
2002 | Data Tiles (from Minority Report (Movie) by Steven Spielberg) Transparent panes that contain data and programs. |
2002 | Gravity Tube (from Chindi by Jack McDevitt) A special passage way that eases the movement of material within a ship. |
2002 | Poppins (from Kiln People by David Brin) An android body imprinted with the personality of a Master Nanny. |
2002 | Manna (from Manna by Marshall Brain) A software program that autonomously manages restaurants or other service industry businesses. |
2002 | Public Iris Scanner (from Minority Report (Movie) by Steven Spielberg) A device that uses iris-scanning for identification, and does not require subject awareness. |
2002 | Maelstrom (from Maelstrom by Peter Watts) A description of the next generation Internet |
2002 | Robofish (Mitsubishi Robot Turbot) (from Slow Life by Michael Swanwick) A powerful, meter-long robotic fish used to take samples from liquid lakes on other worlds (like Titan). |
2002 | Wired Glove Interface Display (from Minority Report (Movie) by Steven Spielberg) A large screen display that uses a wired glove interface. |
2002 | Vagus Nerve Bio-Chip (from Diplomatic Immunity by Lois McMaster Bujold) Relief from nausea without drugs. |
2002 | E-paper Newspaper (from Minority Report (Movie) by Steven Spielberg) A paper-thin, flexible LCD-style display that is large enough to display a full newspaper page. |
2002 | Ditto Blank (from Kiln People by David Brin) A mentally unformed android, upon which a personality could be impressed. |
2002 | Sick Stick (from Minority Report (Movie) by Steven Spielberg) Baton that induces vomiting upon contact. |
2002 | Halo (from Minority Report (Movie) by Steven Spielberg) Device that incapacitates a person by inducing unconsciousness. |
2002 | Provigil (from When the Devil Dances by John Ringo) A medication that makes the user 'untired' - not just more awake. |
2002 | Minority Report Ads (Biometric Personalized Ads) (from Minority Report (Movie) by Steven Spielberg) Advertisements that speak directly to the consumer in public settings. |
2002 | Durachrome (from Honor of the Regiment by Keith Laumer) Very hard alloy for tanks. |
2002 | Folding Computer Terminal (from The Merchants of Souls by John Barnes) A foldable pocket computer. |
2002 | Immersive Home Video (from Minority Report (Movie) by Steven Spielberg) Technology lets users interact with home videos. |
2002 | Terrafoam Dorm Building (from Manna by Marshall Brain) Maximum people in minimum space. |
2002 | AI-Based Hiring and Firing (from Manna by Marshall Brain) Letting a computer system handle the hiring and firing of employees. |
2002 | Workplace Distancing (from Manna by Marshall Brain) A computer application that arranges that workers never encounter each other, to reduce gossiping and wasted time. |
2003 | Little Bird (from Darwin's Children by Greg Bear) A remote-control "eye-in-the-sky" miniature drone plane (UAV). |
2003 | E-Sheet (from Darwin's Children by Greg Bear) A disposable medium for reading electronic messages. |
2003 | Specimen Track (from Darwin's Children by Greg Bear) A means for transporting laboratory specimens from one workstation to another in an automated lab. |
2003 | Ideator (from Darwin's Children by Greg Bear) A computer device specifically made to help model genes and proteins for identification. |
2003 | Speaker Chips (from Darwin's Children by Greg Bear) Integrated circuit chips placed in books; they could read the book and advertise it. |
2003 | Automated Sentry (from Darwin's Children by Greg Bear) A biometric device that scans facial features for identification. |
2003 | Touch Tablet (from Darwin's Children by Greg Bear) Another name for a wireless Tablet PC. |
2003 | Tuned-Laser Decontamination (from Hybrids (Neanderthal Parallax) by Robert J. Sawyer) Process to destroy foreign biomolecules within the body. |
2003 | Needlecast (from Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan) A tightbeam transmission of your very being. |
2003 | Synthetic Sleeve (from Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan) An artificial body, into which a person can be downloaded. |
2003 | Mandroid (from Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan) A humanoid robot; a robot in the shape of a person. |
2003 | Cortical Stack (from Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan) Implanted hardware device that contains a backup copy of your mental self. |
2003 | Automatic Hotel (Hotel Hendrix) (from Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan) A fully automated hotel; complete services provided from check-in to check-out. |
2003 | External Eyelenses (from Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan) Way retro means of correcting vision problems in human beings. |
2003 | ChickieNobs (from Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood) Chicken meat sliced from a transgenic organism. |
2003 | Olfactory Wakeup Call (from Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan) An alarm clock that works by wafting scents your way. |
2003 | Illuminum (from Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan) A metal that glows with its own light. |
2003 | E-paper Hologram (from Darwin's Children by Greg Bear) A cover image that really pops out at the viewer. |
2003 | Municipal Darwinism (from Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve) The process by which smaller towns were eaten by larger ones. |
2003 | Goat/Spider Silk (from Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood) High tensile strength fibers from - goats. |
2003 | Email Shirt (from Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood) See your email on your shirt. |
2003 | Self-Cleaning Gym Suit (from Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood) Removes the source of odor. |
2003 | Alibi Archive (from Hominids (Neanderthal Parallax) by Robert J. Sawyer) A recording made of transmissions from a personal implant that perceived everything that happened to that individual. |
2003 | Companion Implant (from Hominids (Neanderthal Parallax) by Robert J. Sawyer) Electronic device placed within the body; it has a wide variety of uses. |
2003 | Happicuppa Coffee Bush (from Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood) A species of coffee bush designed for ease of harvesting. |
2003 | Smart Wallpaper (from Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood) Wallpaper that can sense your mood and provide an appropriate color scheme. |
2003 | Pigoon (from Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood) A transgenic pig, bred to grow replacement organs for humans. |
2003 | Philips Squeeze Gun (from Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan) A handheld railgun |
2003 | Traction City (from Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve) Cities re-engineered as enormous, lumbering machines. |
2003 | Traction City Gut (from Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve) The area of a Traction City used for taking apart and consuming captured prey cities. |
2003 | Handipad (from Wyrmhole by Jay Caselberg) An electronic tablet for information browsing. |
2003 | Whuffie (from Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom by Cory Doctorow) A system in which one's actions, as perceived by others, directly procure the necessities of life; reputation-based currency. |
2003 | Biolution (from The Tels by Paul Black) The revolution in biological manufacturing techniques. |
2003 | Autosurgeon (from Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan) A mechanical aid to physicians, performing surgical procedures with surgeons present. |
2003 | Spray-on Surgical Gloves (from Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan) Effective glove for surgeons that is skin tight. |
2003 | Interway (from The Tels by Paul Black) Computer-controlled highway. |
2003 | Alien Tarantula (from Engine City by Ken MacLeod) Interesting illustration of an animal with gecko-like manipulative capabilities. |
2003 | Causality-violation Device (or Weapon) (from Singularity Sky by Charles Stross) Any of a variety of technologies intended to exploit time travel as a weapon. |
2003 | Slow Gun (from Singularity Sky by Charles Stross) Device shoots slow projectiles that use neurotoxin. |
2004 | Muscle Sensor Interface (from The Algebraist by Iain M Banks) Interface senses muscle movements to control display. |
2004 | Loiter-Drone (from The Algebraist by Iain M Banks) A autonomous flying device that hovers protectively over a defined area. |
2004 | Arteria Portal (from The Algebraist by Iain M Banks) A wormhole entrance. |
2004 | Gillfluid (from The Algebraist by Iain M Banks) Breathable fluid that provides oxygen to the lungs, allowing greater pressure on the body. |
2004 | Bee Cam (from City of Pearl by Karen Traviss) Small, airborne, self-guided personal camcorder. |
2004 | Swiss (from City of Pearl by Karen Traviss) A small piece of personal gear that combines a great many items in a single device. |
2004 | Perpetual Train (from Iron Council by China Mieville) A vast machine that lays its own tracks as it moves forward. |
2004 | Emissarial Projection (from The Algebraist by Iain M Banks) An expert system able to converse and act in the capacity of ambassador. |
2004 | Quantum Communications Hub (from Defeated by Sean McKee) A communications satellite that permits immediate communication between planets and ships in the solar system. |
2004 | Signal Skin (from The Algebraist by Iain M Banks) Natural communication form for this species; skin that can spell out text. |
2004 | CTC Computer (Closed-Timeline-Curve Time-Travel) (from Exultant by Stephen Baxter) A device that used time travel to perform computations. |
2004 | Tacspace (from The Algebraist by Iain M Banks) An augmented representation of space battles. |
2004 | Waveform Hypothesis (from Backbeat - A Novel of Physics by J. Frederick Arment) |
2004 | Memory Diamond (from Iron Sunrise by Charles Stross) Very dense memory storage. |
2004 | Implanted Comlink (from Savior by Nancy Kress) Transceiver inserted below the skin. |
2005 | Flexy (or Flexies) (from Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds) A flexible, quasi-living computer. |
2005 | Computronium (from Accelerando by Charles Stross) Intelligent matter; nanocomputing processors masquerading as ordinary material. |
2005 | Dumb Matter (from Accelerando by Charles Stross) Ordinary matter, with no nano-value added. |
2005 | Hyper-Developed Mulies (from The Calorie Man by Paolo Bacigalupi) Bioengineered animals that optimally transform vegetable matter into usable mechanical energy. |
2005 | KloraDerm (from Old Man's War by John Scalzi) Human skin variant that contains chlorophyll to provide energy. |
2005 | Sterile Seeds (from The Calorie Man by Paolo Bacigalupi) Seeds that are bioengineered to grow, but not to produce fertile seeds. |
2005 | Computational Textile (from Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds) Wearable computer sensors. |
2005 | BrainPal (from Old Man's War by John Scalzi) A neural implant. |
2005 | Lobster AI (from Accelerando by Charles Stross) Scan a lobster brain, get a learning machine. |
2005 | Kink-Spring (from The Calorie Man by Paolo Bacigalupi) A device that stores energy with near-perfect efficiency. |
2005 | Motorized Combat Boots (from Accelerando by Charles Stross) Russian army-surplus self-propelled footgear. |
2005 | Virtual Panopticon (from The Traveler by John Twelve Hawks) A method that gathers information from many sources to effectively surveil any citizen as effectively as if he was in a glass cell. |
2005 | Sprayrock (from Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds) Special compound that can be sprayed onto a surface, that hardens into rock. |
2005 | Starwisp (from Accelerando by Charles Stross) An small interstellar probe using a light-sail for propulsion. |
2005 | Megadont (from The Calorie Man by Paolo Bacigalupi) An engineered mastodon, used to convert vegetable matter into energy. |
2006 | Disperser (from Sagramanda by Alan Dean Foster) Device that gives an electric shock to anyone who touches a vehicle. |
2006 | House-of-Cards Construction (from Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge) Architectural technique that uses computers to help buildings maintain their balance during earthquakes. |
2006 | Wearables (Wearable Computers) (from Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge) Computers and peripherals that use textiles for electronic circuitry. |
2006 | Librareome Project (from Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge) Blasting libraries into bits to create a library of perfect digitized electronic books. |
2006 | Navicloud Custom Debinder (from Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge) A machine that pulls books apart and scans the contents. |
2006 | Amphibious Skimmer (from Storm Thief by Chris Wooding) Amphibious drone with blades. |
2006 | Clothing Size Scanner (from Sagramanda by Alan Dean Foster) A device that scanned a living person to determine clothing sizes. |
2006 | Voxcoder (from Storm Thief by Chris Wooding) Device for secure communication. |
2006 | Mobile Advertisements (from Sagramanda by Alan Dean Foster) Advertisements presented in mid-air in public spaces. |
2006 | Answerboard (from Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge) A forum or computer meeting location with experts on a particular topic. |
2006 | Municipal Cattle Remover (from Sagramanda by Alan Dean Foster) A device to pick cattle up and place them in a truck for later dispersion in the countryside. |
2006 | Pocket-Sized Ad-Blocker (from Sagramanda by Alan Dean Foster) A device that prevented targeted advertisements from reaching you. |
2006 | Persuader (from Storm Thief by Chris Wooding) Device secured to a person that ensures compliant behavior by threat of force. |
2006 | Microwave Pistol (from Blindsight by Peter Watts) Device designed to cause internal injury. |
2006 | Stopper Bubble (from Red Lightning by John Varley) Device that halts time within its boundaries. |
2006 | Browser Paper (from Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge) A paper-thin computer display. |
2006 | Automated Taxi (from Sagramanda by Alan Dean Foster) A driverless taxicab. |
2006 | Timebroker (from Shuteye for the Timebroker by Paul Di Filippo) A person who traded in the commodity of other people's time. |
2006 | A-Som (Antisomnolence Drugs) (from Shuteye for the Timebroker by Paul Di Filippo) One simple pill removes the need for sleep. |
2006 | Magnetic Ram (from Storm Thief by Chris Wooding) A device that fires pulses of magnetic energy. |
2006 | Traffic Lane Discharger (from Sagramanda by Alan Dean Foster) A device that electrically shocked vehicles whose drivers attempted to evade traffic control devices. |
2006 | Aether Cannon (from Storm Thief by Chris Wooding) A hand-held energy weapon. |
2006 | Coder (from Storm Thief by Chris Wooding) Specialized humans who excel at engineering tasks. |
2006 | Camera Tunnel (from Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge) A device that captures images of shredded documents from all sides for reassembly. |
2006 | Command Bracelet (from Sagramanda by Alan Dean Foster) A wrist-borne device with a variety of capabilities. |
2006 | Pocket Scanner (from Sagramanda by Alan Dean Foster) A device that scans for the codes that will open a vehicle's door on command. |
2007 | Lifelog (from Halting State by Charles Stross) A life record made constantly. |
2007 | DC Mini (from Paprika by Satoshi Kon) A therapy tool that allows a psychotherapist to enter a patient's dreams. |
2007 | Max Detention (Virtual Counsel) (from Quantico by Greg Bear) A software implementation of a lawyer; an artificially intelligent legal advisor. |
2007 | Scanner Palm (from KOP by Warren Hammond) A document scanner implanted in the palm of the hand. |
2007 | SPOOKS (from Halting State by Charles Stross) A live-action role playing (LARP) game that lets ordinary people play at being secret agents. |
2007 | Bubble-Gum Pylon (from Quantico by Greg Bear) Device used to capture entire vehicles in car chases. |
2007 | Cop Block (from Quantico by Greg Bear) A device that allows law enforcement officers to shut down the engine of a suspect's car or truck. |
2007 | Weapon Sound Tracker (from Quantico by Greg Bear) Locate an enemy by the sound of gunfire. |
2007 | Tongueprint Verification (from Fleet of Worlds by Larry Niven (w/E.M. Lerner)) A device that verifies the unique print of the tongue against a a database for identification purposes. |
2007 | Airboarding (from Halting State by Charles Stross) Typing in thin air to input characters into a computer. |
2007 | Remotely Operated Auto-targeting Gun (ROAG) (from Quantico by Greg Bear) A weapon able to pick out its own targets; it's action can be remotely initiated. |
2007 | Virtual World Theft (from Halting State by Charles Stross) A method of stealing or reassigning ownership to items of value in virtual worlds. |
2007 | Orphids (from Postsingular by Rudy Rucker) Nanomachines replicate theselves from dust - and cover the Earth. |
2007 | Magnetic Levitating Bed (from Spook Country by William Gibson) A bed that hovers above the floor, with no visible means of suport. |
2007 | Overlay Specs (from Halting State by Charles Stross) Glasses that provide an additional feature; an overlay that lets you see information and graphics along with the real-world view. |
2007 | WAGD Germ Detector (from Quantico by Greg Bear) A hand-held biohazard analyzer. |
2007 | Orbital Weapon Lancet (OWL) (from Quantico by Greg Bear) A kinetic energy weapon placed in Earth orbit. |
2007 | Blacknet (from Halting State by Charles Stross) An antisocial networking site. |
2007 | Driverless Drones (from Halting State by Charles Stross) One remote supervisor can drive a half-dozen drones, with some computer assistance. |
2007 | Digital Paper Pad (from KOP by Warren Hammond) Just one molecule thick, it flips bits by flipping molecules. |
2007 | CopSpace (from Halting State by Charles Stross) A virtual location for police lifelogs, official communications, paperwork, informational databases and evidence of all kinds. |
2007 | Midge (from Quantico by Greg Bear) A very small flapping wing UAV that can be carried by a larger flying device. |
2007 | OSMO (Osmic Mobile Observers) (from Quantico by Greg Bear) UAV with the ability to "smell" their human quarry. |
2007 | Anemopter (from Finisterra by David Moles) Special craft for journeys through the atmosphere of a gas giant planet. |
2007 | Tongue Mouse (from Quantico by Greg Bear) A pointing device using input from the tongue. |
2008 | Angel Music Player (from Flood by Stephen Baxter) A device that beams music directly into your brain, without wires. |
2008 | Headspace (from Flood by Stephen Baxter) A virtual world in which a person could raise a virtual baby with full haptic realism. |
2008 | Spine-Clamp (from Anathem by Neal Stephenson) A device that constrains the movements of convicted criminals. |
2008 | Fuel Tree (from Anathem by Neal Stephenson) Plants raised as fuel. |
2008 | Allswell (from Anathem by Neal Stephenson) An organic compound found (or placed) in food that calms and mellows those who partake of it. |
2008 | Blithe (from Anathem by Neal Stephenson) A plant engineered to produce a substance that brought out compliant behavior in those who consumed it. |
2008 | Ultimate Football League (UFL) (from The Sun Also Explodes by Chris Nakashima-Brown) A football league without restrictions on human modification. |
2008 | Kinagram (from Anathem by Neal Stephenson) Small print-size icons that presented a moving image. |
2008 | SchoolBook (from Little Brother by Cory Doctorow) A standard-issue laptop computer for school use. |
2008 | Photomnemonic Tablet (from Anathem by Neal Stephenson) A device that both records and displays images with the same element. |
2008 | ParanoidLinux (from Little Brother by Cory Doctorow) A computer operating system that deliberately obscures the activities of the user. |
2008 | Defuser (from Moxyland by Lauren Beukes) Electroshock cellphones to keep unruly individuals under control. |
2008 | Homing Butterflies (from Moxyland by Lauren Beukes) Butterflies modified to accompany a purchased bouquet. |
2008 | Sky-Bike (from The Last Theorem by Arthur C. Clarke (w/Pohl)) A human-powered floating bicycle built for use in lunar sports. |
2008 | Photonomous (from Little Brother by Cory Doctorow) A program that strips out the digital noise signature from a picture file. |
2008 | Gait-Cam (from Little Brother by Cory Doctorow) A surveillance camera system that analyzes the unique way in which people walk, to identify them. |
2009 | Digital Ink License Plate (from Daemon by Daniel Suarez) License tags that can change both state and number in the blink of an eye. |
2009 | Razorback (from Daemon by Daniel Suarez) Autonomous motorcycle weapons platform. |
2009 | EyePod (from WWW: Wake by Robert J. Sawyer) A generic term for the external computing processing unit needed for eye implants. |
2009 | EPR Phone (from Mariposa by Greg Bear) Telephony that uses quantum effects for transmission - and is therefore the ultimate in anti-eavesdropping technology. |
2009 | Robot Snake Spy (from Mariposa by Greg Bear) A small robot in the shape of a snake, used for field work by spies. |
2009 | Zip Paper (from Mariposa by Greg Bear) Very thin display like a single sheet of paper. |
2009 | Dattoo (from Mariposa by Greg Bear) A data exchange device worn on the skin like a tattoo. |
2009 | AutoM8 (from Daemon by Daniel Suarez) A remote-controlled automobile. |
2009 | Controllable Drone Army (from Daemon by Daniel Suarez) Darknet sorcerer uses gestures to control a network of drone servants. |
2009 | Websight (from WWW: Wake by Robert J. Sawyer) A way of visualizing the Internet internally. |
2009 | Robobug (from The Golden City by John Twelve Hawks) A cyborg insect. |
2009 | Exfection (from The Caryatids by Bruce Sterling) Tailored microbes to repair human flesh. |
2009 | Third Eye (from Daemon by Daniel Suarez) An output device that uses the skin of the user. |
2009 | Mind-Reading with MRI (from Daemon by Daniel Suarez) Making use of direct brain imaging to discern a person's thoughts. |
2009 | Distributed Assembly Plant (from Daemon by Daniel Suarez) Bringing parts together for assembly in a crowd anonymously. |
2009 | HUD Glasses (from Daemon by Daniel Suarez) Integrated glasses and projector provides a portable heads-up display for augmented reality. |
2009 | Laser-Induced Plasma (from Daemon by Daniel Suarez) Shoots lightning from your fingertips. |
2009 | Skin Computer (from Mariposa by Greg Bear) A computer that looks like a tattoo, on a stretchable base. |
2010 | Aeromuse Pillow (from The Human Blend by Alan Dean Foster) A pillow that doubles as a music player. |
2010 | Nutrient Extractor and Maximizer (NEM) (from The Human Blend by Alan Dean Foster) Device that replaces and extends the capabilities of the human digestive system. |
2010 | Power Stilts (from The Human Blend by Alan Dean Foster) Platforms that push inundated cities ever higher. |
2010 | Angel Teeth (from Freedom by Daniel Suarez) Essentially a spear dropped from a great height (or from orbit) with a guidance system. |
2010 | Darknet Farm (from Freedom by Daniel Suarez) A farm that uses computer networked information systems to achieve sustainable agriculture in a community. |
2010 | Metallic Display Scroll (from Freedom by Daniel Suarez) A rollable video screen. |
2010 | Rocket Pine (from The Human Blend by Alan Dean Foster) Genetically engineered trees for wood pulp. |
2010 | Necap (from The Human Blend by Alan Dean Foster) A device that burns out neural connections. |
2010 | Disabler (from The Human Blend by Alan Dean Foster) A device that drains power quickly from an electric vehicle. |
2010 | Barker (from The Human Blend by Alan Dean Foster) A device that scans for nearby medical implants, and allows the operator to take control. |
2010 | Alien Trojan (from Out of the Dark by David Webber) Malware from another world! |
2010 | Office Hand (from The Human Blend by Alan Dean Foster) A robotic hand with each finger customized for a different function. |
2010 | Humeld (from The Human Blend by Alan Dean Foster) A human being with augmented body parts. |
2010 | Neural Lace (from Surface Detail by Iain M Banks) An interface between the brain and computer facilities. |
2010 | Ugly T-Shirt (from Zero History by William Gibson) Uses disruptive patterning to make the wearer invisible to computerized surveillance techniques. |
2010 | Millenniaire (from The Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaniemi) A person with much more Time than an ordinary person. |
2011 | Onionskin Transparent Jeans (from Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart) See-through pants. |
2011 | Virtual Punishment (from Complete Sentence by Joe Haldeman) It seems like decades in prison. |
2011 | DNA Publishing (from Spiral by Paul McEuen) Encode a poem or story in DNA, then multiply. |
2012 | Parent Drone (from Kill Decision by Daniel Suarez) A drone platform that launches smaller drones. |
2012 | DNA Music Storage (from Year Zero by Rob Reid) Encoding music in junk DNA. |
2012 | Robotic Eel (from Re:Set by Susan Beetlestone) A five-foot long artificial eel, controlled by an operator. |
2012 | Eel Operator (from Re:Set by Susan Beetlestone) A surgically modified human being able to operate a robotic eel |
2012 | Wildcode (from The Fractal Prince by Hannu Rajaniemi) A vast, actual desert comprised of nanites, nanomachines. |
2012 | Autonomous Assassination Drone (from Kill Decision by Daniel Suarez) A flying UAV that is self-guided to a target, destroys the target, and is capable of destroying itself after mission completion. |
2012 | Brain-Jacking (from Kill Decision by Daniel Suarez) Using insects for surveillance. |
2014 | Norm-All Program (from Spark by John Twelve Hawks) A set of algorithms that determine a reasonable location for every citizen. |
2014 | Oxygen Fountain (from War Dogs by Greg Bear) A small factory for making oxygen on the Martian surface. |
2014 | Puff (Puff Balls) (from War Dogs by Greg Bear) Material that is used to help Skyrines dropped to the surface of Mars get rid of some of that excess velocity. |
2014 | Timeout (from War Dogs by Greg Bear) The part of a Skyrene's life that is spent in Warm Sleep travel between Earth and the destination planet. |
2014 | EYE Program (from Spark by John Twelve Hawks) A massive government database on civilians. |
2014 | Freedom ID (from Spark by John Twelve Hawks) A chip inserted into the hand for identification (and surveillance) purposes. |
2014 | Cosmoline (Warm Sleep) (from War Dogs by Greg Bear) Special gel that offers healing and hibernation for space travelers. |
2014 | Nubot (from Spark by John Twelve Hawks) An android that directly replaces a human at their job. |
2014 | Replaced Worker Benefits (from Spark by John Twelve Hawks) Compensation for people whose jobs are taken by robots. |
2014 | Skintight (from War Dogs by Greg Bear) Specialized space suit for low atmospheric pressure environments like Mars. |
2015 | Vehicle Seeds (from Killing Titan by Greg Bear) A matrix of materials and instructions that allow vehicles to grow themselves when placed in an environment of plentiful materials. |
2015 | Centipede (from Killing Titan by Greg Bear) Perfect craft for crawling through slushy, frozen lakes - on Titan. |
2015 | Cranial Amplified Programming CAP (from Killing Titan by Greg Bear) An aid to learning, which you apply directly to your skull. |
2015 | Clearsac (from The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi) A simple device that filters water perfectly for reuse. |
2015 | Face Recognition Sunglasses (from The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi) Sunglasses that connect with a remote database to perform face recognition. |
2015 | Public Urine Collection (from The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi) Arcologies offer public latrines, then collect for reclamation. |
2015 | Jonnytruck (from The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi) A movable bathroom for hire; cost is offset by reclamation. |
2016 | Crowdcutter (from Infomocracy by Malka Older) A device worn to part crowds. |
2016 | Logical Pathogen (from The Medusa Chronicles by Alastair Reynolds (w/S. Baxter)) Malware concealed in DNA. |
2017 | Superscraper (from New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson) Buildings that are hundreds of stories tall. |
2017 | Wristpad (from New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson) A tablet computer worn on the wrist. |
2017 | Hotello (from New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson) A portable room within a room. |
2019 | VEIL (from Fall; or, Dodge in Hell: A Novel by Neal Stephenson) A wearable device used to foil facial recognition systems. |
2019 | Forward Warehousing (from Stealing Worlds by Karl Schroeder) Using the trunks of cars as little warehouses. |
2019 | OLED Body Film (from Waste Tide by Chen Qiufan) Attaching or implanting flexible screen material to the body as decoration. |
2020 | Bio-Implant (Compensator Chip) (from Hella by David Gerrold) A neural implant that helps an autistic child to live a more complete and useful life. |
2020 | Burner Modem (from The Breach by M.T. Hill) A connection device that can be thrown away if necessary. |
2020 | Sloth Pill (from The Breach by M.T. Hill) A medication to induce a kind of somnolence like short-term hibernation; used in air travel. |
2020 | Scuttle-bot (from Hella by David Gerrold) An all-purpose surveillance robot that climbed rather than flew. |
2020 | Pacification Drones (from The Breach by M.T. Hill) Surveillance drones that emit calming notes. |
2020 | DNA Swab Palate (from The Breach by M.T. Hill) Adheres to the palate, and provides false material for DNA swabs. |
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SpaceX Wants A Moonbase Alpha
re: L. Ron Hubbard
(4/6/2024)
Vast Apartment Living Will Get Even More Vast
re: Louis Tucker
(4/4/2024)
NASA Wants Self-Driving Or Remote-Controlled Vehicles For Lunar Astronauts
re: Stanley G. and Helen Weinbaum
(4/2/2024)
Elon Musk Says Robotaxis Will Be Ready This August, 2024
re: Miles J. Breuer
(3/30/2024)
Moonwalkers AI-Controlled Electric Shoes
re: Hugo Gernsback
(3/28/2024)
Steve Jobs: 'Capture The Next Aristotle - With AI'
re: William Gibson
(3/26/2024)
No Tips! Robotic Food Delivery In Phoenix
re: Robert Heinlein
(3/24/2024)
Electric Catamaran 'Explorer Eco 40m' Has 'Solar Skin'
re: John Baker Hopkins
(3/22/2024)
Orbital Mechanics, The Liftoff, The Turnover, The Retrograde Burn
re: EE 'Doc' Smith
(3/20/2024)
Harvest Power From Tears And Blinking With Smart Contact Lens
re: Vernor Vinge
(3/18/2024)
Europa Clipper Plate Carries A Special Message
re: John Edwards
(3/16/2024)
Micro-Robots Are Smallest, Fully Functional
re: Raymond Z. Gallun
(3/14/2024)
AI Enhances Images Your Brain Sees
re: Stanley G. Weinbaum
(3/12/2024)
Illustrating Classic Heinlein With AI
re: Robert Heinlein
(3/10/2024)
Deflector Plasma Screen For Drones ala Star Wars
re: EE 'Doc' Smith
(3/8/2024)
DIY Robotic Hand Made After Loss Of Fingers
re: Boris Zhitkov
(3/6/2024)
Cheap Drunk Driver Detection From UofM
re: Philip K. Dick
(3/4/2024)
Can A Human Land A SpaceX Rocket On Its Tail?
re: Stanley G. Weinbaum
(3/2/2024)
Robot Snakes No Longer Stopped By Stairs
re: Lee Chaytor
(2/28/2024)
Has Turkey Been Stealing Rain From Iran?
re: Neal Stephenson
(2/26/2024)
We Need To Build Anti-Drone Systems For Civilian Spaces
re: Neal Stephenson
(2/24/2024)
SensorWake Scent-Based Alarm Clock
re: Frank Herbert
(2/22/2024)
AI Worms That Spread
re: John Brunner
(2/20/2024)
Challenges Of Two-Armed Robots
re: Various
(2/18/2024)
FlexRAM Liquid Metal RAM And One Particular SF Movie Robot
re: Philip K Dick
(2/16/2024)
Ulm Sleep Pods For The Homeless
re: Larry Niven
(2/14/2024)
Prophetic Offers Lucid Dreaming Halo With Morpheus-1 AI
re: Peter Watts
(2/12/2024)
More Like A Tumblebug Than A Motorcycle
re: Robert Heinlein
(2/10/2024)
Tesla Camera-Only Vision Predicted In 1930's SF
re: Miles J. Breuer
(2/8/2024)
First Ever Proof Of Water On Asteroids
re: Raymond Z. Gallun
(2/6/2024)
Aptera Solar EV More Stylish Than Heinlein Steel Tortoise
re: Robert Heinlein
(2/4/2024)
Gigantic Space Sunshade Would Fight Global Warming
re: Arthur C. Clarke
(2/2/2024)
(See More Science Fiction in the News)
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