Larry Niven's Tales of Known Space
The Technology of Known Space


In theory this section should constant be updated, there's a great deal of tech in the Known Space books and I doubt I'll ever track it all down. But this page will also cover technological concepts that make some of the stuff in Known Space Possible.


Transit Booth
The Transit Booth is responsible for much of the reduced pollution on Earth and the other colony worlds. With such massive populations the cities of Earth couldn't even find room for all the cars that people would fly. The Booths make this unnecessary. Simple dial the code, insert your credit card and instantly your there. Booth to Booth transfer.

Organ Banks
With massive populations comes the need for excellent recycling. The Organ Banks are part of this, making sure no one and nothing is wasted. The Banks are capable of "breaking up" any body and storing the parts in working condition for extended periods of time. Replacement parts are just an order away. And just to make sure that there are plenty of parts to spare the Organ Banks have become the capital punishment of the future. Break the law and be rendered down for parts to save others. Mars and Earth have long established Organ Banks, the one on the Moon was forced on the Lunies by Earth, and the Belters refuse the technology entirely on moral grounds./p>

Police Stunners
Since in the future all criminals are "broken up" into parts its not surprising that the police make use of high powered sonic stunners. Able to render a target unconscious for up to 12hrs and with a respectable range they are the weapon of choice.

ARM Sidearm
This is older tech than the stunner, it fires crystalline slivers of anesthetic.

General Products Hull
The best hull types available in known space. They are guaranteed to well over a billion stars if anyone dies from a hull penetration. The hulls are practically imperious to all impacts, but will allow gravity, kinetic energy, and a client's visible spectrum of light to penetrate. This means the tidal effects of large gravitational sources, lasers, light and the direct effects of being hit can still kill the crew. But aside from that nothing can get through a General Products Hull, and the only time the guarantee has ever been payed was for antimatter damage. Several basic shapes are designed. All look much the same, and oddly enough are completely transparent. Clients paint the interior for privacy.

Hyperdrive
This is the key to all stellar exploration, currently only capable of roughly five times light speed, the drive pulls the ship into a second type of space to beat Einstein's limit. But hyperspace is not a simple place, it reflects the gravity shadows of realspace and has very disturbing mental effects. Those unaccustomed to the perceptual effects have been driven insane.

The Mass Detector
This device is the eyes of a ship in hyperspace, it takes time and effort to read it accurately. However since the device is partially pscionic in nature it cannot be remote observed, a crew member is required to view the gauges all the time to steer the ship safely.

The Ringworld
Perhaps the first stage to building a true Dyson's Sphere. A ribbon of material a thousand kilometers wide, and a thousand kilometers thick and two astronomical units in diameter. Virtually unlimited living surface, mountains on each side of the ribbon to hold in an atmosphere and a steady spin to provide gravity. Built by peoples unknown, discovered by the Puppeteers in their escape from the Galaxy.

The Droud
The tool of the wirehead. A device that is plugged into a cranial socket and then into a power supply. It provides a sence of euphoria equal in duration to the length of time hooke dup, and equal in intensity to the amount ofpower used. Its legality varies by world and region. Users tend to neglect themselves and die off.

Boosterspice
The key to ever lasting youth. Regular doses of the expensive material can literal shave 50 years off your life.

The Autodoc
In the books we see two types of autodoc. The first requires an actual supply of replacements parts to function. And can pretty much cure most major physical problems and most diseases. Its fairly common on starships, but may not carry parts. The far more valuable version is the only use of nanotech in the books I have read. It uses the patient's DNA and a supply of organic soup biomass to rebuild parts on the molecular level. It can correct any imposed damage and even regrow limbs. At onepoint is is used to grow Beowulf Shaeffer back from a severed head, and usinghis DNA template corrects for his proper size on the new world.

The Freezers
Cryogenics is a known and understood science. It is used to store injured patients till medical aid can be provided, store passangers on hyperspace liners, hold people in statis indefinately.


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