These are a number of terms which were created im the science fiction universe that may eventually become real science terms. The concept of nanotechnology became reality from StarTrek. The terms I have chosen for this paper are as follows: Zero-G which was first stated by Arthur C. Clarke, Warp speed which was stated in StarTrek by Gene Roddenberry, Time travel by HG Wells, Cyberpunk by William F. Gibson, Alien, nanotechnology, clone, cyberpunk and virus. Now most of these terms are popularly used, but some are not.
Robotic is a common word in this day and age, however it wasn't in 1941 when it first came out. It was first published by Isaac Asimov in a novel called Astounding Science Fiction. This word actually became part of really took off in the 1960. By the 1980s "Robotics" had become an everyday term. Its root comes from a Czech term meaning slave.
"Time Travel" was first stated by H. G. Wells in the "Mahabharata." This very well used term was coined in 1894 within the book, "Time Traveling: Possibility or Paradox." One year later he also used it in "The Time Machine." Within this Wells explores time traveling in more detail as the characters move backwards and forwads within time, while encountering mythical creatures.
"Zero-Gravity" also known as Zero-G was first stated by Arthur C. Clarke. Within the story, "The Sands of Mars," which was his first science fiction novel. A year later he published "Island in the Sky" where Zero-G definition was truly explained. This term was officially used in 1960, by astronauts. Its viewed now as a science term as opposed to a science fiction term.
The phrase "Warp Speed" means your traveling more than the speed of light. The phrase comes from an olde English term, wearp, meaning threads running over fabric. It became popular in 1968 due to StarTrek. It has become its own metaphysical term because of this.
"Droid" or "robot" in human form was used as early as the 1700s. However it was first published in 1950s, within the magazine, "If," which printed science fiction short stories. In Star Wars the term was brought into the media. "Droid," is registered to Star Wars, which has caused legal issues with the Smartphones.
"Alien" comes from the Latin term "alienus" which means "belonging to another world." In the 1300s it was brought to the English language. Its meaning was outsiders, someone given birth to in another country or someone unfamiliar. In the 1920s the word reached science fiction, where it means an intelligent being from another world.
"Nanotechnology," "Nanites," or tiny robots built on a small scale were a concept first in scifi. In fact some of them have a real life application now. The term was made by Nikolai Leskov who described them in 1881 as needing 5 million time magnification to be seen.
"Clone" was first used in 1903 in botany, the study of plants. The word originated in Greece, in which klon means a twig which is related to "klondus," meaning "offshoot of plants." "Clone" later became a science-fiction term meaning artifically duplicated in Alvin Tofflers "Future Shock." In the 1980s science started considering this method. In 1996, the first mammal clone of sheep was created.
"Cyberpunk" is a science fiction sub category which was first seen in the second half of the 19th century. It features a plot related to computer's. In 1983, it was first introduced by Bruce Bethke in "Cyberpunk."
"Virus" and "cyberpunk" are usually used interchangeably. "Virus" was first used by Gregory Benford within "virus," where a virus infects a computer system via web. These ideas were used by a great many authors such as Michael Chriton and influenced book and television shows such as Startrek.
Many science fiction terms have traveled to science fact. Through writing this I have identified many such terms. These are growing by leaps and bounds. After all the future is what we imagine it to be. Life is exciting and will become whatever we make of it. So keep on imagining.
yeremiah@aol.com Yeremiah Hardt
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