Ten Inventions Inspired by Science Fiction
The innovators behind objects like the cellphone or the helicopter took inspiration from works like "Star Trek" and War of the Worlds
- By Mark Strauss
- Smithsonian.com, March 16, 2012
«« Previous | 5 of 11
| Next »»
Operations Specialist Seaman Recruit Alexander D. Rumpf monitors a radar console in the combat information center of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) during a detect-to-engage exercise. (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Casey H. Kyhl / Released)
Combat Information Center
In the 1930s and ’40s, E.E. “Doc” Smith delighted readers with his “Lensmen” novels, chronicling the adventures of a futuristic Galactic Patrol. In a 1947 letter, sci-fi editor James W. Campbell informed Smith that the Directrix—a command ship featured in his series—had inspired a U.S. naval officer to introduce the concept of combat information centers aboard warships.
«« Previous | 5 of 11
| Next »»
Comments (32)
+ View All Comments
Please check this link: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_de_la_Cierva Juan de la Cierva had already developed and tested his own helicopter in 1923, later on his patent was used by the US to produce the Pitcairn PCA-2. Kind Regards.
Posted by David Fernández-Renau on January 31,2013 | 08:20 AM
Excuse me for my comment, but I just want to point out a forgotten fact. Isaac Peral had already launched a much bigger and successful submarine ten years before, in 1888. Please check this link: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Peral Thank you for your attention and kind regards.
Posted by David Fernández-Renau on January 31,2013 | 08:11 AM
Why wasn't the satellite mentioned in this article. Satellites were first described by Arthur C. Clarke many years before we actually had them.
Posted by caivey on January 26,2013 | 06:31 PM
11th Invention inspired by Sci fi SCIENTOLOGY
Posted by B Howell on January 19,2013 | 08:05 PM
Robert Fulton, working for Napoleon Buonaparte in 1800 developed a submarine that in sea trials in Brest stayed ubmerged at 2 meters for 2 hours. Subseqently the french didn't see the benefit and refused further interest in the project. He , Fulton did go on to build the first comercially viable staem ship to cross the Atlantic in 1807.
Posted by Scott Martin on December 24,2012 | 10:13 PM
I think you meant "John W. Campbell" in segment 5.
Posted by Wm. Plumpe on December 2,2012 | 07:59 PM
DaVinci said: "I find it ridiculous this site gives Jules Verne the credit for things like the submarine and helicopter when Leonardo da Vinci envisioned them HUNDREDS of years earlier. If anything, Jules Verne was inspired by da Vinci's drawings." I find it ridiculous that you are mistakenly blaming this site, when all the site did was quote the person's admitted inspiration for the invention. This site had NOTHING to do with the selection of that person's inspiration. If you have a problem with each person's admitted influence/inspiration, I suggest you take the issue up with their heirs. Don't shoot the messenger.
Posted by Big Mack on November 29,2012 | 10:13 PM
Neal Stephenson Novel was probably based on technology that already exist. In 1976 there was already the MuD concept that allowed user to interact in a D&D fashion. The concepts of MMO's have been around as long as the internet as. Neal gets no credit.
Posted by Anthony Gordon on November 23,2012 | 09:16 AM
Campbell's name was actually *John* W Campbell, and he was the original editor of Astounding Science fiction, later renamed Analog. It is still being published. His pen name as a writer was 'Don A. Stuart'.
Posted by DeeDee Wilson on November 22,2012 | 12:50 PM
American engineer Robert Fulton designed and built a working submarine for Napoleon Bonaparte in 1800
Posted by Brian D Finch on November 22,2012 | 10:05 AM
Snowcrash does deserve some credit for virtual worlds however credit really belongs to Simulacron 3 by Daniel Galouye (1964) which predicted multiple virtual worlds, helmet and glove interaction, avatars, artificial intelligence, simulation vertigo, and high resolution graphics accelerated rendering via parallel computers. This book predates Snowcrash (2003) by 36 years!
Posted by J D on November 21,2012 | 08:30 AM
TASERS have been proven time and again to be far from non-lethal. TASER is also famous for suing ME's to get causes of deaths involving TASERS changed so as not to implicate the obviously coincidental death that occurred immediately after TASER use was connected to said use.
Posted by Eric on November 21,2012 | 07:51 AM
I find it ridiculous this site gives Jules Verne the credit for things like the submarine and helicopter when Leonardo da Vinci envisioned them HUNDREDS of years earlier. If anything, Jules Verne was inspired by da Vinci's drawings. Heck, I'd give the ancient Egyptians temple hieroglyphics (that resemble modern vehicles to modern eyes) more credence than Jules Verne since they came thousands of years earlier than him.
Posted by DaVinci on October 18,2012 | 05:38 PM
Well that's poorly researched. is this FOX news? Monturiol built a true submarine (Ictíneo II) in 1864, it was double hulled and steam powered, the combustion generated the ship's oxygen. This feat wasn't equaled until near WWII. It's design wasn't equaled until the Albacore.
Posted by Paul Neubauer on September 29,2012 | 06:42 PM
+ View All Comments