[GreenKeys] OT Fwd: News by Radio Fax 1920 - 1930

[David Christ]

Depends on how close to how they turned out you need it to be.  

There is a book “Inherit the stars” from the 50s or 60s (don’t have the author at hand) where one of the characters lifts the lid on his briefcase and there is a view screen and keyboard.  He uses it to make vehicle reservations while on a jet liner.  No clues as to what else it could do.  Pretty close to a PC.

An additional device from this book that came true was a device that could scan a solid in what we call tomography.  It was used for non destructive autopsy and also to read the text on pages of a book that could not be opened.  This is interesting because they are now using such a technique to read ancient metal scrolls that cannot be unrolled.

As for jet engines - jet engines are classed as reaction engines as are rocket engines.  One could argue that a jet engine is a rocket engine that doesn’t carry its oxidizer and must get it from the atmosphere.  So as long as you are not describing the actual workings of the mechanism, once you posit rockets there is no need to predict jet engines.

David K0LUM


> On Dec 3, 2016, at 7:49 PM, Richard Knoppow <1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> 
>   It was pointed out to me that two inventions never mentioned in science fiction were jet engines and personal computers.  I wrote this before and someone referred me to a story that did predict small computers but I've forgotten what it was. Most stories about computers were about very large scale machines taking over the world. No one thought in terms of a computer empowering individuals. They have certainly revolutionized communications.
>   I do remember a story, again I can't remember the title of author, which explored a time when everyone communicated via computer and no one ever left home. A boy and girl meet on this system and decide to meet in person but each is so set in his/her ways that achieving satisfactory conditions is impossible. Not quite there yet and people seem to be just as personally sociable as ever. Most of the horror stories about computers turned out to be false. Of course books have been written about science fiction and the impact of nuclear warfare on it.
>   Many of these 1950s vintage stories were well dramatized on an old NBC radio show called "Dimension X" later changed to "X Minus One" all to be found on www.archive.org
> 
> On 12/3/2016 4:27 PM, Ed Sharpe Archivist for SMECC via GreenKeys wrote:
>> The wonderful thing we can do today we could not do before  is having
>> microcontrollers to stabilize it.  We used to dream of things like this
>> is the 60s, but there was no  small  computers!
>> 
>> The  fact  he is getting 10 minutes flight time out of it  is  good  for
>> the  the mass of  it and the pilot.
>> 
>> The future is just around the corner!
>> 
>> Ed#  www.smecc.org <http://www.smecc.org>
>> 
>> In a message dated 12/3/2016 4:34:22 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
>> rmowery28146 at earthlink.net writes:
>> 
>>    Forget the flying car and check this out for getting around.
>> 
>>    It makes that Back to the Futcher hover board look really obsolete.
>> 
>>    http://www.flixxy.com/the-incredible-flyboard-air.htm
>> 
>> 
>> 
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> 
> -- 
> Richard Knoppow
> 1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
> WB6KBL
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David K0LUM