20 things you (probably) didn't know about Science Fiction

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

From what I've been able to determine, no SF author predicted the lowly transistor before its discovery at Bell Labs in 1947.

Although its cousin, the semiconductor crystal, was demonstrated as early as 1906, no one made the "quantum leap" beyond the technology of vacuum tubes to solid-state transistors until Bell hit upon the first device out of numerous studies and patents, some of which had been around for decades. SF stories of incredibly-miniaturized electronics all appear to have come after that.

(Somebody, if I'm wrong about this, let us know!)

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by carandol

I'm not sure anyone predicted that after we landed on the moon, people would get bored and not bother going to any other planets...

The public are fickle.
Once bright new digital watches had been invented - everyone was supposed to stick with them.
But most people I know have regressed to the 'big-hand, little-hand' type of watch they had when they were children .
It's a wonder we make any progress at all .

[igorsk]

Internet and blogging was predicted by a Russian writer in 1837.
http://archive.dailypicture.net/prin...d_blogging.htm
(original post in Russian)

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

The public are fickle.
Once bright new digital watches had been invented - everyone was supposed to stick with them.
But most people I know have regressed to the 'big-hand, little-hand' type of watch they had when they were children .
It's a wonder we make any progress at all .

I have some of both (I like watches). My digital watches light up, do a dozen different things, and set themselves to the Atomic Clock in Boulder, Colorado. But my battery-powered Skagen watch is classier-looking than any digital watch I've ever had, much better suited to my tastes in office fashions.

At least it's not a hand-wound watch. Battery the size of your pupil, anyone?

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

In that vein, I've been trying to find a list of other significant technologies or developments no SF author has predicted. Haven't found one yet...

Memory foam mattresses
Outdoor christmas decorations
Slippers you can heat in a microwave

The shopping channels are full of 'em!

[carandol]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

The public are fickle.
Once bright new digital watches had been invented - everyone was supposed to stick with them.
But most people I know have regressed to the 'big-hand, little-hand' type of watch they had when they were children .
It's a wonder we make any progress at all .

I'm one of those people who, as Douglas Adams said, "are so amazingly primitive they still think digital watches are a good idea." Mine has a built-in digital compass too!

[exvaxman]

I seem to remember a story where the "drive tube" was amplified by "Crystal Valves" that replaced the older "vacuum valves". A stretch, but who knows. And did you know that there was credible evidence that a Nazi lab had a working transistor at the end of the war? I spoke with one of the investigators that said that the physical lab was destroyed in bombings, but there were notebooks that described the work.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by exvaxman

I seem to remember a story where the "drive tube" was amplified by "Crystal Valves" that replaced the older "vacuum valves". A stretch, but who knows. And did you know that there was credible evidence that a Nazi lab had a working transistor at the end of the war? I spoke with one of the investigators that said that the physical lab was destroyed in bombings, but there were notebooks that described the work.

I get the impression that there were a few separate efforts going on, combining the work of numerous earlier patents and research, including in Russia. We may never know if the Nazis figured it out first, or had just a sound theory, all we know for sure is Bell created a working model and documented it first.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

I get the impression that there were a few separate efforts going on, combining the work of numerous earlier patents and research, including in Russia. We may never know if the Nazis figured it out first, or had just a sound theory, all we know for sure is Bell created a working model and documented it first.

Any even if we did find out what difference would it make? I hate it when everyone tries to find a earlier person to invent something that never made it available to anyone and then trying to get the credit for the invention. There is way too much of that. If society doesn't benefit then IMHO there is no credit due for an invention.

Dale

[Lemurion]

E.E. "Doc" Smith, who created the first starship in science fiction (and also the precursor of the dedicated command ship) spent much of his career as a chemist trying to get powdered sugar to stick to donuts.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by Lemurion

E.E. "Doc" Smith, who created the first starship in science fiction (and also the precursor of the dedicated command ship) spent much of his career as a chemist trying to get powdered sugar to stick to donuts.

Did he ever succeed?

[Lemurion]

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

Did he ever succeed?

Have you ever eaten a donut with powdered sugar on it?

[carandol]

Originally Posted by Lemurion

Have you ever eaten a donut with powdered sugar on it?

We've got to get it working before we construct the first starship, otherwise the sugar's going to clog the ventilation system. The Lensmen never had clogged vents!

[Lemurion]

Clogged vents were not in their visualization of the Macro-Cosmic All.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by Lemurion

Have you ever eaten a donut with powdered sugar on it?

I've eaten a doughnut and gotten powdered sugar all over me...

I guess that'll be one food that'll never make it into space.