Guest Post – 12 Cool Pieces of Technology from JL Hilton’s Stellarnet Series

Welcome to the fabulous JL Hilton! I’m happy to be part of her blog tour for the second book in her amazing Stellarnet series, Stellarnet Prince. Check out her info below for more information on the rest of the tour.

I love the tech that she describes in the story, no surprise there. What makes it great is that it’s a (very realistic) leap from what we’ve got now. Here JL will give you a little insight to the world she’s created and give you the chance to win ebooks of Stellarnet Rebel, Stellarnet Prince and a r’naw eye necklace.

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I love the Internet. I think it’s the most incredible invention since the printing press, sliced bread, vaccinations, beer or chocolate. It’s changed life on our planet and the course of human history in about a billion ways. So when I sat down to write the Stellarnet Series (http://www.stellarnetseries.com/), of course I included a futuristic version of the Internet. I think contemporary science fiction should have more than just lasers and robots, it should extrapolate from the technology that is such a huge part of our lives now — things like social media, video games and MMORPGs, virtual reality, tablets and smartphones.

Here’s a list of some of the tech that appears in the books Stellarnet Rebel and Stellarnet Prince. Some of it is already on its way to a reality near you.

1) The Stellarnet. A catch-all phrase for the interconnected networks that include the Terranet for the Earth/Moon, Rednet on Mars and the Asternet on Asteria, site of the first extrasolar space settlement Asteria Colony. It functions like our current Internet, but with more regulation. For example, any information about how to build bombs was banned in 2025.

2) Net bracers are thin, flexible, water-resistant devices you wear on your forearm. They have all of the same features as a smartphone or tablet – apps, texting, cameras, maps, etc – but no device to carry, drop or lose. Just touch your arm to activate the icons, and when it’s not in use you can set it to the default “tattoo” app to decorate your skin.

3) Table top keyboards. Dining room tables, kitchen counters, walls, are all interactive and connected to the Net. Lay your hands on the table and a full keyboard appears under your fingertips. No need to be tethered to one location, especially with …

4) Lumina walls. Every flat surface is a potential display. No more computer monitors, TV sets or screens. Open a window right on the bedroom wall or the coffee table to check your messages, watch a movie or add an event to your calendar. Here’s a fun video to demonstrate (btw, I saw this video after I wrote Stellarnet Rebel): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Cf7IL_eZ38

5) Reusable plastic crates replace cardboard boxes. They may be programmed to display a recipient’s address if used for shipping, or the contents if used for storage. Food labels in the Stellarnet Series have similar interactivity, and those are already here IRL:http://www.drinkoftheweek.com/2010/10/medea-vodka-with-programmable-led-labels/ 

6) Genmods are expensive genetic modifications that may be cosmetic or medical. The human heroine of the Stellarnet Series, Genevieve O’Riordan, has genmods to make her stronger, protect her teeth, change her hair color, eliminate motion sickness, keep her thin and have large breasts. The last two are standard in every female prenatal genmod package.

7) Sim projections look like real people, but they aren’t. They might be controlled by real people, like an avatar in an online game, or run on artificial intelligence. Some are programmed to look and act just like a living or deceased person, using an array of personality parameter settings and a database of everything they’ve ever said on the Net. 

8) Net goggles overlay the world with text, icons, ads and all of the things you’d find on the Internet. I had these written into Stellarnet Prince before Google announced its glasses( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c6W4CCU9M4 ). I’m excited that we won’t have to wait fifty years for this technology!

9) Multi-gun looks something like a small Gatling gun and shoots lasers, bullets and grenades. The weapon of choice for Earth’s military troops in 2062. 

10) Digital Christmas decorations. Bringing a real tree into the house is a thing of the past. Instead, people “spruce” up their walls with pics of their favorite pines, and friends and family send each other personalized digital decorations. Touch the ornament in the “box” on the wall, then drag it to the tree. No more tinsel for the pets to eat. 

11) Programmable, antibiotic clothing. Shirt doesn’t match your pants? Just reprogram the color code. Don’t like doing laundry? No problem. Wear your undies for a month, then toss them in the recycling bin. 

12) Smart Skin bandage. More than just a bandage to cover a wound, it displays vital information about the patient’s heart rate, blood sugar, white blood cell count, iron count, and more.

What is your favorite piece of real-life modern technology? What would you like to see invented and marketed within your lifetime?

 

J.L. Hilton is the author of the Stellarnet Series published by Carina Press, including Stellarnet Rebel (January 2012) and Stellarnet Prince (November 2012), & a regular contributor to the Contact-Infinite Futures SF/SFR blog. Her artwork is featured in the books Steampunk Style Jewelry and 1000 Steampunk Creations. Visit her at JLHilton.com or follow her on Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and deviantART.

For more information about the Stellarnet Series and other stops on the blog tour to celebrate the release of Stellarnet Prince this month, see JLHilton.com.

 

 

 

The Giveaways!

Win ebook copies of Stellarnet Rebel and Stellarnet Prince!  a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
Win a r’naw eye necklace! a Rafflecopter giveaway