— g

PUBLISHER’S PAGE

m OMES
the Revolution you will eat caviar, and like it,” the great
,

comic Willy Howard used to tell his admiring audiences.

What he didn't say was that the revolution was actually upon us.
Indeed, we are in it right now, tip to our ankles, even though most
9 ec0t
&' ,

people don't realize it. The brand of caviar we are “eating” Is far
more expensive than the real thing—and it would appear we like it even — °£e fc e
?\ s
trv
%ectv sco9vc «°
though it has changed and will rapidly further transform our lives.
This fancy “caviar” in the present technological upheaval is television, the
jet plane, atomics and automation, to mention only a few of the hundreds of
brands of the electronic age. Yet we have only scratched the surface so far
maybe in 50 years we will be up to our middles in this revolutionary cycle]
» Tuo^; tflt*
% otftau
vt&t so^ots J

Yet we all agree, the beginning thus far has been pleasant; far more so than
the predictions of those dire prophets of doom, who see only chaos in every
important new invention and discovery technological unemployment, de- —
pressions and worse. These false soothsayers have not learned, and never will,
that the impact of every great new innovation on our economy is in reality
T

like a tremendous new capital enhancement, a Marshall Plan of its own. We

should all be grateful that we live in this exciting age, where new wonders are
created every day and where new revolutionary achievements make for sus-
tained prosperity.
On with this modern type of revolution! Steeped and saturated with these
revolutionary sentiments, may I, therefore, as I have for the past 46 years]
—
shake your hand, wherever you are oh yes, I really can do it now (se«
page 4) —
and tender you my customary and cordial heartfelt wishes for 1955,
In addition please let me wish you

Sogaus fflhrietttra*

i\nh a 3Sappg mxb Prosperous 3§t?ar

HUGO GERNSBACK
Despite tt All, Your Editor and Publisher Since 1908,
25 West Broadway, New York

KADIO^EUECTRONICS MAGAZINE GERNSBACK LIBRARY 7 a qC* in m ,, a IdY &

SEXOLOGY MAGAZINE SEXQLOGIA MAGAZINE On Spanish)

Entire contents originated and written by Hugo Gernsback

The
Address all correspondence regarding this magazine to 25 West Broadway, New York 7, N. Y. ;
Putolisliei lines
may reprint contents of this magazine if usual credit is given. Far art work, communicate with its
R. Fall at h t Promotion Manager, RAD ID-ELECTRON ICS Magazine, 25 West Broadway, N. Y, C- 7, N, Y,

Art work by Frank Paul

HITGO GERN.SBACK
Copyright 1954 by Hugo Corns back

I
 Ttf.
the near future patients will be visited by doctors via television* Patient anddistant doctor are connected by telephone and closed circuit
In person.
The distant doctor can do almost everything with his electronic Telehands* Doctor can treat ten times as many patients via teledoctonng as in

Modern man, with new As have pointed out in ear-

Projection of the senses the nostrils of early mammals scien- I

lier articles, it will be possible

over a distance began early in who could then flee promptly, tifictechniques, has greatly im-
proved the projection of some of in the future to smell and taste
avoiding destruction. The
the animal world. The cries ut-
tered by alarmed prehistoric rep-
thus
became sharp-
sense of sight, too, his senses,not only over a few, half-way around the globe and —
but over hundreds and thousands further.* But science does not
tiles, saurians or birds were trans- ly developed in many animals and
especially birds which could then of miles. By telephone, we can stop with this. There is the far
mitted over a distance to warn
others. A
highly developed and observe potential enemies — or hear and speak to distant friends more important conception of the
sensitized olfactory sense brought their own prey —
often from around the world. Via television,
*3ee ^Telebiovision,
1
’
Forecast 19 5B,
the smell of an enemy creature to a point many miles away. we can see across continents. page 22*

4 FORECAST
doctor
 ,

a set of mechanical hands. T lie

transmitter - receiver equipped in and ready* The doctor now
projection of the self at a dis-
tance. This means nothing less latter are now routinely manu- with its telehands. plugs his own set into the tele-

than the possibility now dawning factured by General Electric and phone and in a few seconds two-
other manufacturers. These in- These instruments are never way communication is established.
for man to be in two places at
credibly sensitive hands are pri- sold, only rented to the sick , say The doctor by electronic telecon-
the same time.
marily used in atomic plants for $3.50 a day. They are used trol moves your instrument into
where handle danger- only for closed-circuit work. The the best position, raising or
# I will give here but one ex- scientists
1
rubber- wheeled mechanism is de- lowering your set, which has a
ample of this revolutionary con- ous, “hot '
atomic substances
which, incidentally, is NOT from a distance, without per- livered quickly to your home and swivel mechanism for that pur-
cept,
sonally themselves to
exposing rolled front of the bed. Lo-
in pose.
in the future— it can be realized
danger. With these telehands cated in the drawer of the cab- The camera now
today, with the technical means color is

the scientist can do almost any- inet, right under the TV

set, you
trained on you and the doctor
available
The
now.
average medical doctor to- thing at a distance writing, — will find a thermometer, blood- looks you over. He listens to

day over- worked and short-

is
weighing, pouring liquids, un- pressure appliance, sterile
blanks,
band-
fever
—
your heart not with a stetho-
lived. There are never enough screwing covers of “hot” con- ages, prescription scope, but with the back of his
doctors anywhere, for the world’s tainers —yes, even diapering a chart (with instructions), tongue
adhesive tapes and
right telehand. This has a sensi-
constantly multiplying popula- baby, miles away, including put- depressors, tive microphone which the doctor
ting on the safety pins. The sense other items routinely found in places over your heart. He hears
tion. Many patients die because
the doctor cannot reach them in of touch has been projected over every doctor’s black bag. cord A your heartbeat, now strongly
a distance! The action, of course, with a telephone plug attached
time, particularly at night and amplified, over his loudspeaker.
is watched via television. to the teledoctor instrument is
in remote or isolated regions.
now plugged into a special jack
Furthermore, the doctor wastes
on your telephone. Future tele-
• He next takes your blood
a terrific amount of time visiting • The teledoctor of the near
pressure, looks into your throat
patients in person —
he can see future Jiow an actual
becomes phones will be provided with this
facility. The TV
signals and tele-
or examines any part of you. If
only a few during a day. With projection of the doctor. In front he wants to inject you with peni-
hand electronic signals, etc., will
increasing traffic congestion, of his television transmitter - re- cillin or other medication, he will
ceiver is a panel with a number all travelover the closed circuit
many doctors refuse to make per- ® 1 ask you to place a prescription
of instruments which indicate telephone lines.
sonal calls—except in emergen- blank into a holder arranged for
cies. Even then they arrive often blood pressure, pulse, respiration this purpose. He picks up a spe-
too late. Much of this dilemma and other data routinely required • Next you dial your physi-
cial pencil from the drawer and
in most examinations of patients. cian’s telephone number. He or
will be archaic in the near fu- writes out a prescription, then
Now let us see how you, the his nurse takes the call. A ou give
ture, thanks to the Teledoctor.* signs it. A ou are to get this from
patient of tomorrow, “visit” your your name and state that your
I imagine this innovation as your drugstore as soon as feasi-
doctor, 15 miles away. Suppose teledoctor instrument is plugged
follows: Incorporated as an in- ble. When you have received it,

tegral part combination

into a you come down with a fever. You note * At the present stale
* Technical
you call the doctor once more.
of the art, it is not possible to trans-
television camera and receiver is or your wife make a call to the mit a 525 line TV signal over ex- He places the special injection
who the agent isting telephone lines. A good picture market
* See also on the same subject:
article
local druggist, is
>1
i 250-350 lines, however, can be cartridge, now on the
“The Radio Teledactyl by EL Gems-
1
’
for the teledoctor corporation phone- transmitted today* Sueh a picture called Busker, into his telehand
baelt, SCIENCE & INVENTION maga-
zine, Feb* 1925, page 978*
which stocks the special TV would give sufficient definition for the
proper operation of the teledoctor* Continued on page 3 1

&
FORECAST 1755
7
 KILLER
LMOST every fall, hurricanes kill scores
A of people and destroy property running
into the hundreds of millions of dollars along
the eastern Atlantic seaboard from the Carib-
bean to Canada, not to forget much greater
damage in the lower lands in the correspond-
ing Pacific area.
While many proposals have been made in
the past to destroy or divert hurricanes, noth-
ing has come of them. The chief reason is
that once a hurricane is well on its way, it
packs a fearful force, running into the trillions
of horsepower during every second of its ram-
page. Furthermore, a full-blown hurricane
covers an area from 300 to 500 miles in
diameter and reaches up to lb. 000 feet high
around its eye.
As long ago as 1945, I proposed the use
of specialatomic bombs to divert storms. This
may prove feasible in the future. Others have
proposed spreading burning oil on the ocean
in the path of the advancing storm. The lat-
ter idea would seem futile in case of a ma- A dry, fierce hot fire curtain is created by dropping thousands of napalm-
Slightly deviating hurri-
ture hurricane, for once such a huge whirling magnesium bombs from an airfleef near or on the embryo hurricane*
cane may push it off course*
mass of air has gained sufficient
momentum, nothing known on <1 escribe it graphically,
• IT IS THEN THAT WE This is done successfully at times
earth today can stop it. During the past few years, MUST ATTACK. A day or through what physicists call

The human mind really is un- however, we have learned a great two later, would be useless. To “trigger effects.” Let us note a

deal about hurricanes. Nowa- elucidate, let us keep in mind few examples:
able to fully comprehend the un
believable titanic forces generated days they are tracked by air from that man has in the past con- Spreading a few barrels of oil
by the average hurricane on a the moment they are born—usu- trolled nature to a degree with on a very heavy sea can calm the
comparatively small energies. ocean over an appreciable area
rampage. There seems no way to ally in the Caribbean region.
19SS 9
s FORECAST
 i

near a- ship. The dropping of a
few ounces of silver iodide (or
other chemicals) on a cloud can
release thousands of tons of rain.
If a large lake on a windless day
becomes supercooled, i.e., a num-
ber of degrees below the freez-
ing point, it often does not freeze.
If then we throw a single stone
into the supercooled water, the
entire lake will freeze over solid
in a few seconds, often to an ap-
preciable depth.
# To deal with a hurricane, all
we need to do is: —
divert its
1 The
course, 2 —stop its rotary coun-
# Each plane carries a ton or compass, laying down a barrage out routinely. It may even de-
more of a specially developed type of bombs from that direction. velop that the best means of at-
of Napalm - Magnesium bomb. The planes, flying in formation tack lies through the “eye” of the
These incendiary gasoline - gel at predetermined height, will
a hurricane.
bombs were used during the drop all their bombs simultane- Usually the center of these
Korean War with excellent re- ously . The bombs are fired auto- storms is a roughly circular zone
sults. For hurricane purposes, we matically the instant they strike of comparative quiet. Ships steam-
require a far hotter type of bomb the surface of the water. ing through such an eye have
that will stay afloat on the sur- thus reported them. It may be
face of the ocean until it is en- possible to break up a hurricane
tirely consumed. Such a bomb • Within seconds, a huge, solid by dropping 500 or more fire
can be manufactured today with- curtain of fire rises to the sky, bombs right in the eye somewhere
out difficulty in large quantities engulfing a fair amount of hur- near the rotating “walls” of air.
at prices which are not prohibi- ricane air and diverting it. sec- A
tive. ond wave of planes may now ® In any case, I believe, the
heatgenerated by such drop a further load of fire bombs scheme is worth trying. The cost
super - temperature bombs runs across the hurricane, i.e., across is not prohibitive and we have

ter-clockwise motion, or 3
both means. But to succeed
MUST ACT SOON, AT
THE STORM’S BIRTH.
All of this is feasible today.
We have the technical means as
well as the materiel to carry on
a successful campaign against any
hurricane. And the cost would be
compared to the astro-
trifling
nomical sums we expend each
year undoing the havoc caused
by hurricanes, let alone the thou-
sands of injured and killed peo-
ple left in the wake of these de-
structive storms.
The modus operand would
roughly as follows: We
require
500 to 1,000 Navy or Air Force
planes, depending on how fast
the planes can get to the loca-
tion of the embryo hurricane.
10
—use into several thousand degrees and
WE is effective over an appreciable ra-
dius. The fierce DRY heat also
creates a powerful air updraft.
It should be noted that hurri-
canes thrive on hot ?noist. air
which carries the evaporated
ocean water upward. But I be-
lieve that the hot dry air created
by the napalm-magnesium bombs
may actually divert the hurricane
to great heights where it would
dissipate itself.
The attack by the fleet of air-
planes on the hurricane may take
several forms. The air command
be may wish to try and divert the
storm by pushing or maneuver-
ing it into a new course, away
from the land into the open sea.
In that case, the planes will at-
tack from a selected point of the
FORECAST
both east and west walls of the
A
the means at hand for a full-scale
rotating mass of air. third trial. Our Government has in the
wave may seed fire bombs north past expended far greater sums
or south, if necessary. in less attractive enterprises. And
This entire method may have we may learn a lot once we at-
to be repeated several times, if tack a hurricane in earnest. The
required, and no two storms will whole eastern American seaboard
probably work out alike. After will applaud any reasonable ef-
sufficient experience with a num- fort in this direction.
ber of hurricanes, the final know- The stakes are truly enormous
how will be evolved and carried — the cost comparatively minute.
TO OUR READERS
FORECAST 1955 — like its —
many other predecessors is the annual Christmas
Card of publisher HUGO GERNSBACK. Over 6,000 copies have been printed
for the publisher's friends In and out of the radio, electronic and television
industry. Please do not send money for extra copies —
the booklet Is for NOT
sale.Requests for single copies of FORECAST 1955 can be filled only as
long as the present supply lasts. Quantity orders cannot be accommodated.
1955 11
 "

r T is no longer news that the paying of teachers we cannot

Soviet Union is rapidly over- hope now to reverse quickly the
taking the United States in tech- trend of teacher - instructor de-
nical education. I have called at- fection. We
cannot hold the
tention to this very serious state thousands who abandon their
of affairs in an article recently.* poorly paid jobs to take more
Many stories in the press con- lucrative positions in industry or
tinue to sound the alarm at an elsewhere.
ever-increasing' tempo, with an New instructors — even we if

overtone of despair and frustra- finally see the light and pay them
tion, t Reading these, it would attractive salaries —cannot be re-
appear that there is no remedy cruited overnight. It takes years
in sight, because of fundamental to develop a good teacher or edu-
shortcomings in our educational cator. Not all the money in the

setup for training technicians. world can undo the harm already
perpetrated by our past laissez-
• We are told over and over faire.

that due to our traditional under- The security of our country is

based on technology and science.

These arej in fact , our national By 1955 Russia will have more technicians, which are our lifeblood, than U.S, We can
* RADIO ELECTRONICS, February,
-

only overtake the U.S.S.R. by quickly building a tec-educational, closed circuit TV

1954,
*
'Wanted : Technicians. lifeblood. Yet 1950 the
since
network. At a central U.S, Teletorium the world's foremost technical teachers will
fKEW YORK TIMES, Nov. 1954.
7.
number of our technical gradu- instruct over half a million college students simultaneously all over the country* Giants
“Russia Is Overtaking- U. S. in Train-
1
ates and scientists has decreased of education will then teach hundreds of thousands instead of the hundreds of today.
ing of Technicians/

FORECAST 1955 13
12
 , ,

constantly.
years— we if
Within
don’t reverse the
a few short ocre — teachers and instructors, we such as, the fundamentals of me- aspect of technology in teleduca-
need fewer but outstanding ones,
trend—we
chanics, chemistry, electricity- tion.
will be running far men who are the very best in the electronics, astronomy, etc.
behind the Soviet Union, Just as we have a national
land. These educators will teach
millions of pupil-students at the
The local schools all will have closed - circuit TV network for
• Today the United States, with same time by
large projection type screens, TV grade and high schools, there will
television from one so no pupil will have to strain be a similar one for colleges and
160 million inhabitants, has a Central Teletorium which could his eyes to see the distant lec- universities, covering the entire
scant 700,000 engineer-scientists. be located say in New York, Chi-
The Soviet Union, with a popu- turer. Loudspeakers placed country. In principle, it will be
cago, Washington or anywhere around the classroom will repro- similar. The
lation of 213 millions, has almost faculties of the vari-
else. Classrooms all over the duce the voice of the teleteacher ous colleges and universities will
600,000. While our yearly num- country would be interconnected
loudly and clearly. remain as they are, but they will
ber of technical graduates is by a closed-circuit wire or micro-
Teleducation tvill not displace be augmented and amplified by
rapidly decreasing, the Russians
are increasing theirs as rapidly.
wave relay system to the Central
Teletorium.
present teachers — it will supple- scientific and technological giants
By 1955, THE SOVIETS ment a?id augment them. Thus, of the world from the Central
Because of the magnitude of Teletorium.
WILL HAVE SURPASSED such a national universal educa-
the teleducation programs can be
US BY FAR. broadcast into the classrooms
What the effect of
tional undertaking , it would of
every other hour. The hours in be- # No single university could
this will necessity have to be a Federally possibly afford a constant
be on our economy, our war po- tween are left open for the local
built The Government
one.
teachers for individual instruc- stream of our country’s and
tential and our very survival can
would not operate such a system, tion, blackboard work, supervi- the world’s greatest scientists,
be readily imagined. What is the but finance through the States.
it
sion during tests, etc. It will be which can now be summoned
answer ? While the fundamental idea of seen from this that the system can either in person or by remote
Since 1950, I have been advo-
teleducation is simple in concept, be made as flexible as required. control and connected into the
cating mass education via televi-
I can visualize endless ramifica- Time national T e c -T e leducation
sion.* This was spearheaded by between re-
difference
an editorial article I wrote for
tions. For a better understanding
mote points of the country and university hookup. How fool-

Radio
of its scope, I will enumerate the Central Teletorium is no ish we once were, our chil-
- Electronics, September here only a few of its aspects. problem. The programs can be dren will say in the future, to
1951, entitled “Teleducation.”
repeated to remote towns via film allow our great scientists to
I he Board of Education of
New • Emanating from or tape, as we do today in com- talk only to a few dozen or
Vork City evinced a single Cen-
interest in perhaps a few hundred pupils
the idea; but so far it has not
tral Teletorium, a number of mercial TV.
teaching programs can be broad- Subversion by individual local
when the great man could lec-
been adopted, evidently due to
cast over the closed circuits. Thus teachers will become very diffi- ture to 500,000 at the same
lack of funds.
one set of teachers can teach cult under the teleducation sys-
time! And what student would
• The
idea in its simplest terms grade schools. Another group will tem because the teacher no longer wish to be absent when the
can be described as follows: In- teach higher grades, A
third can controls the classroom as hap-
latest Nobel-prize scientist or
stead of more —
and often medi- teach science for the lower grades.
Eor high school purposes, there
pens sometimes at present.
the Einstein of his day speaks?
Fortunately for America,
*See my
Christmas bookie* NEWS- will be we have in our hands today
PEEK, December, 1950. “Few specially
selected and • Most important, however,
Teach- for
ers Reach Many Via TV.' 1
more diversified science programs, the technical means of making
the future of our country is the Continued on page St
14
FORECAST 1955
15
 umrnd / 0 \

TV RECEIVER
f
1
1
HE technical world never stands still.
As new know-how, new inventions, new
facts and new techniques evolve, they are
seized on immediately to improve present-day
devices of every kind, whether pens, auto-
mobiles, floor mops, radios, corkscrews or
television sets. Nothing is ever perfected;
improvements, like evolution, never stop.

• This has been ever true in the radioelec-

tronic industry, famous for rapid changes.
No sooner has the latest model been an-
nounced, than its designers have already TV set of the future has functions* Has no aortal* fance. Transmits to other house sets. Pushbutton oper-
Is three dimensional. Has luro tube. Hangs flat on ated* Brings live Broadway shows by subscription. Turns
scrapped it in their minds and have moved wall. Sees and hears o telephone, long dis- off and on automatically. Is its own burglar watchdog.
on to next year’s designs. This
trend is even more common in receiver of the future will bear It is still in its swaddling clothes. fused with its parent, electronics
television where the leading man- little resemblance to present-day For that reason, we should not — the latter itself of recent origin
ufacturers bring out new and models. This becomes even more he" overly surprised at the radical —anything is possible in the fu-
more modern designs throughout apparent when we reflect that and perhaps fundamental changes ture. Here are a few ideas on
the year. television has been with us only a tfiat lie ahead for the new art. television as your children will
It follows that the television comparatively short time 8 years' — \nd as television is intimately know them in times to come.
16 FORECAST 1955 17
 —
switching to other programs au- across the continent and they (at
be for the bass or low notes. The
• The televiser of the future
tomatically. You will also be able least their faces) will appear life-

will certainly require no outdoor high notes will have a special

to turn the set on or off from size on your receiver.
antenna, except in very special speaker incorporated in the frame
which surrounds the receiver. any part of the room merely by
cases (fringe areas, etc.).
blowing a tiny supersonic whistle • you are a subscriber to the
If

that humans cannot hear. 1 he drama, the opera, the concert

• receiver will be stereo-
Your • The TV set hanging on the TV
set will bring you
whistle is similar to the special hall, your
scopic, i.e., the pictures will have
wall, when not turned on, will
dog whistles now on the market. the latest Broadway show alive
—
depth it will be three-dimen- appear as a beautiful painting,
water color or drawing. 1 his pic-
or whatever entertainment you
sional.
ture part disappears the instant
® Merely by pushing an extra desire —
for a price of course

button on the side of your re- over the switched-on closed cir-
the set is put in operation.* Thus,
• Your TV set will not have
instead of a cumbersome appear- ceiver will change it from broad- cuit.
a huge picture tube and most cast to closed circuit. It also be- If you are afraid of burglars,
ing big receiver using a large
probably it will not be a cathode- comes a transmitter noiu. Lenses you can become a member of a
floor area as do present sets, the
ray tube at all. Consequently, microphone special safety service supervision
future TV set becomes an es- for viewing and a
there will be no dimensional scan- for listening will be built into company. hey will monitor your
1
thetic picture on the wall. It will
ning which makes for today’s top of the television set home 24 hours a day via your
weigh less than 25 pounds, mak- the
long electronic scanning beams
ing it easy to service. frame. Similar TV sets located TV set. They will watch your
and long picture tubes. In the fu- in various rooms in 5 our home r home whether you are in or out
ture television screen there will (or office) automatically become or on a trip. It would be diffi-
be millions of special spots, self- • All controls of the future
intercommunicating. Hence you cult for burglars or intruders not
glowing in three colors when ex- TV set will be pushbutton-
can carry on conversations as to be seen. Cutting wires or
cited electronically in their proper operated. Almost invisible, these darkening the supervised rooms
well as see other persons in vari-
linear sequence. They probably buttons will be set in the lower be disastrous for the rob-
ous rooms as desired. Note T hose :
will
will be “steered” by atomic auto- part of the frame of the set. bers—it will instantly bring the
desiring full privacy simply do
transistors or like devices. Each receiver will have a plug- police on the run.
not press the special closed - cir-
in cord for remote control opera-
cuit button of their set. They
0 The resulting picture will be tion; and a small disc that fits • Lackof space precludes the
the hand will have its own but- are thus excluded from inter-
so brilliant that it can be viewed listing of numerous other uses of
bright sunlight. The size of
tons for tuning, volume, off-on communication.
the future Universal set. TV But
in
your TV
set will be only as large
switch, etc. one conclusion is certain — the
* This does not end the versa-
as its screen. Thus a 21 -inch set t elevision set in the home can
will about 23 by 16
measure • Other more elaborate models tility of the future TV
by set
easily become the most impor-
inches, but it will be only 2 or will be almost wholly automatic. any means. It can be connected
They will turn themselves on tant and valued, as_ well as the
3 inches thick. The receiver can to your telephone by throwing a
and off at certain specified times, indispensible possession of
be placed on a table or hung on -.pedal switch on the phone. You tr uly
for certain selected programs only, talk with and see people the future household.
the wall like a picture. can now
Its glass, plastic or other spe-
* First described by the author in
cial face plate will also be the BA DIO ELECTRONICS,
- January, 1954,
loud speaker. This speaker will page 33,
19
FORECAST 1955
IS
 —

A S publisher
Sexology — a
cal magazine, now in its 22nd
and editor
largely medi-
of they
training.
do have the proper
not
Many
do more harm
than good. Others and their —
year — I have come into continu- —
number is legion are amateurs,
ous contact with scores of psy- often quacks. Let us also record
chiatrists and psychoanalysts in that there is a fearful shortage of
both the U.S. and abroad. I be- good psychiatrists and psychoana-
lieve, for this reason, that I am lysts in the U.S. today. This ac-
qualified to make a number of counts for the fantastic over-
observations and recommenda- crowding of our mental institu- The psychoanalyst's couch is pass£! For better results let the patient stay
home and talk into a taperecorder, mailing recorded tape to his doctor.
tions which may be helpful to tions.
many practicing members of the The dictionary defines psycho- patient often on the road to re-
is tor in charge of that department.
psychoanalytic fraternity. analysis as that branch of psy- covery. While this may be an The analyst’s work is long and
Perhaps the greatest and ad- — chotherapy that prescribes treat- oversimplification, it will help the tedious —each patient conies for
—
mitted shortcoming of the pro- ment in the light of experiences average reader whom we do not consultations of )A to one hour,
fession is the large percentage of elicited from the patient. In prac- wish to burden with extended usually several times a week,
non-medical members, those who tice, this means that the patient, technicalities. often for two or more years. The
have no medical (M.D.) de- while reclining on a couch, ram- cost to the patient high -not
is —
gree. A
qualified Freudian (and bles on and on, while the analyst In any event ,
it isa fact that many cases can be seen per day
associated schools) psychoanalyst sits aside, listens
The
and takes notes. psychoanalysis is
upon the mental catharsis of the
based chiefly 8 to 12 —
a pitifully small number.
must undertake special training patient, by unburdening
for two or three years in addition himself of his most secret and patient, and frequently the men-
• The remedy: Do aivay with
to the regular 6 year medical innermost thoughts—particularly tal block rests squarely upon some the couch in the analyst’s office.
education. For that reason, also, those of his early childhood can — youthful sexual experience. an anachronism. Let the pa-
It. is

the fees charged by a graduate often untrigger the roadblock For over two decades, we of tient use his bed or sofa in his
psychoanalyst are usually higher which causes much of his trouble Sexology have seen this routine- own home. He now can talk in
than those of the average medical or illness. One important difficul- ly in a never-ending stream of the privacy of his home into the
doctor. ty is the frequently strong reluc- letters — some as long as 92 pages .

microphone of a tape recorder

tance of the patient to reveal very Such letters serve as enormous
0 Unfortunately, too many non- intimate details in the presence «
athartic expressions for the writ- which he rents, for as long as
medical psychoanalysts are quite of the analyst. This is particu- ers, who often profess themselves needed. The recorded tape is taken
unable to be of much benefit to larly true of women. Once the relieved after one ortwo answer- or mailed to the analyst, once or
their patients, simply because mental channel is cleared, the ing letters from our medical doc- Continued on page SI
20 FORECAST ms 21
 ightmares beginning of the dis-
N to
may be said
be harmless to the
discomfiting, and
fast at the
turbance,
rate increases.
i.e., when the pulse

healthy, even if

often frightening. In electronics, have a num-

we
But to the ill, particularly ber of different means to accom-
those with defective hearts, these plish the same results — among By using a special electronic tube placed
pulse at the start of a nightmare operates
in
a
wrist band, a quickening
device that wakes you up.

bad dreams are not only danger- others, varying the capacitance of
tronic tube which now energizes which must be long enough not
ous, but even fatal. This can be a condenser or directly affecting
an amplifier. This in turn closes to upset the box containing the
readily understood by those who the grid of a vacuum tube.
a relay. The latter then operates main elements.
have experienced a severe night- I will describe only a single
A
metal band- a small induction coil connected The circuit usually chosen al-
mare and who have been awak- one, the latter.
with two contact points under lows for plugging the outfit into
clasp with hinges is attached to
ened by its alarming after-ef- the metal wristband. The mild the house 117-Volt a.c. supply.
fects: a wildly beating heart, the wrist. Inside the metal band
tingling series of shocks felt by
a special miniature
strained to near bursting, and there is
he wearer awakens him. ® Patients need not fear an ac-
a body soaked in perspiration. vacuum tube. It is known as 1

In a few seconds his pulse rate cidental connection to or harm

an electro-mechanical transducer
subsides and the shocks stop. from house current. The
the
• Medical science so far has not tube.
Once used to the instrument, the wrist tube and the induction coil
come up with a workable solu-
• The part of the tube
grid
subject —he is a sound sleeper
-if which supplies the harmless
tion. Drugs, for instance, are not
the answer. Heart patients can- goes right over the inside of the
— may not even wake up. He shocks are battery operated. Only
probably will turn over on his the amplifier is connected to the
not be drugged night after night, wrist near the pulse artery. This
to side and sleep on. (Most indi- house a.c. supply.
and there are few harmless drugs tube is enormously sensitive
viduals who have nightmares While a patent is pending on
that will suppress dreams, par- pulse variations. During normal
deep on their backs.) this device, you may build a
nightmares. pulse, the electronic circuit is not
ticularly
The wearer of the electronic nightmare stopper for your own
affected; it “idles.” An increas-
The electronic device which I
describe here isan effective night- ing pulse rate, however, imme-
wrist band is not discomforted —
use so long as it is not made
tty it or the thin connecting cord or sold commercially.
mare killer, because it operates diately influences a second elec-
1955 23
FORECAST
22
 is

THE

E C C
DUEL
niece, started a thenticated cases of lightning
chain reaction by striking simultaneously in two
taking a minor places, wreaking havoc in the
position in the process.
Laboratories’ ac- Frank and Jed, within two
counting depart- days of Gigi’s flamboyant entrance
ment. into the Laboratories, quite natu-
rally had fallen in high-potential
0 It came as a love with her. They began dating
surprise to no her continuously, if not furiously.
one that Gigi’s The love-making, too, was in the
scintillating black upper regions of volatilizing fis-

eyes,her high- sion.

Gauss personal In a few short weeks, the two
magnetism, her male lovers had almost complete-
low-decibelle au- ly exhausted their passion - volt-
dio voice, her age,which approached zero level.
sine- wave curva- Their love capacitance, too, had
A deadly duel is fought by electronics, the weapons: two flashlights* No skiH The t i mekeeper cious chassis, and sunk to a low current ebb down—
of arms is required in this amazing encounter and more surprising ending. counts f he seconds. in the milliampere reaches.
her wondrously
VU
""
HEN the two boyhood advanced rapidly. The head of line, 50 AWG
gauge, glistening Fi'ank was so exhausted that
friends, Frank Wallace and the Laboratories predicted great black hair completely short - cir- he caught a severe case of full-
Jed Carrel, graduated from col- achievements for both of them. cuited all Frank’s and Jed’s will- wave virulent virus that put him
lege as electronic engineers, they The future looked electrifying power. Their capacitance for hors de combat Jed, however,
.

landed lucrative positions with indeed until that fateful day further resistance was totally played smart. He laid low for
it

Electronda Laboratories, Be- when the high-tension, sexually punctured as well. two days, not out of fairness to
ing brilliant young men, they explosive Gigi Gamier, the boss’s History abounds with many au- a sick friend, but to boost his

24 FORECAST 1955 25
 ,

own knowing well that returned to his office. Frank con- stern rebuffs. Because, as Jed put
strength, when the surging currents of
Frank was incapacitated for sev- despair kept building up danger- gratulated him with biting sar- it succinctly, “There is not suf-

eral weeks. Then he redoubled ous peaks which only slowly casm and sly innuendos, and ficient room on this planet for
his onslaught on the electrifying charged to a normal level.
dis-
ended it all with an oblique refer- both of us —one must die!”
Gigi in earnest. He amplified all ence to Gigi’s questionable past. The dueling arrangement,
his signals and there was no doubt Indeed, he vouchsafed that he, Frank explained, was eminently
her mind that his hi-fi love
left in
0 Frank took the perfidiousness
Frank, was extremely pleased to fair to both men. They would
of Jed and Gigi badly. He felt
output was “true dimension aid
’
have palmed oft the shopworn with extreme-
fight for their lives
He soon began to sense her con-
that they had taken unfair ad-
vantage of him while he was ill.
Gigi on Jed so successfully! ly simple —
weapons two ordinary
version when his ardent kisses flashlights. Both men would sit
He was certain that in a bal-
on metal chairs, twenty feet
generated a firmer reciprocal con- anced contest he would have come 0 Jed, in a hot b unsen- burner
tact with a high-level feedback
that was eminently satisfactory.
—
out the winner at least he would rage, struck several vicious
at Frank, who
thereupon insisted
blows apart, but facing each other.
Strapped over their hearts, each
have had a chance. But now
that the two should have it out man would have a light-sensitive
he felt cheated and he swore
photoelectric cell, such as com-
• He could resistor no longer. vengeance. that very night. Frank then also
“Will you marry me — now, to- As the days wore on while — suggested casually
Jed
thought his honor was at stake
that if
monly used in electronic labora-
tories. Each photo cell and a relay
night?” he panted. She scanned the “cheaters” were enjoying their
was connected to a separate and
her two gorgeous ’scopes only for ill-gained honeymoon — a diaboli-
they could best set matters right
by fighting a duel an electronic— powerful 50,000 -volt high-ten-
seconds, her eyelids oscillating cal plan began to crystallize in
duel. In the heat of the moment, sion transformer,
lazily, as she exhaled a weak Frank’s feverish brain. The more
“Yes,” nestling in his arms. he thought about it, the better the outraged Jed agreed to this
Within hours, a willing jus- he liked it. and it was decided that they 0 The scenario went as fol-
tice of the peace had engineered a He would challenge Jed to an would meet at the Laboratories lows: If subject trained his
1

permanent hookup for the lovers, electronic duel, which he could at 8 that mutual
night. Two flashlight full on subject 2 ’s photo
who next morning, with their em- not refuse. friends, sworn to secrecy'', were cell, even for an instant relay
ployer’s blessings, departed for a Accordingly, he began to rig to witness the affair. It was fur- No. 2 would close its circuit.
three- week honeymoon. up an assortment of deadly elec- thermore stipulated that Gigi Transformer No. 2 would now
Not willing to face Frank, who tronic equipment in his own quar- would not be informed of the discharge its lethal current
was slowly regenerating, they ters at the Electron da Labora- duel. through subject 2 , by way of
sent him wedding announce-
a tories. His spacious office lent it-
As both men had keys to the the metallic flashlight he w^as
ment en route, after they were Laboratories, they, as well as the holding. Separate return circuits
self well to this. No one paid
certain he was well enough to attention when research engi- two witnesses, Philip Roche and were wired to each chair, the
leave his bed. Frank, however, neers assembled special electronic Franz Frantzen, assembled in seat of which was wetted, assur-
had already heard the news by equipment from time Frank’s office promptly at 8 P.M. ing a perfect contact for the elec-
to time. In
underground transmission, and a few days, everything was in Philip and Franz
as is rou-— trocution. It would be a noise-
no one can blame him if he readiness and he could now af- tine standard duels
in all in — less and painless death.
blew a fuse and his insulation ford to await calmly the return vain tried to persuade the two Frank and Jed personally
broke down badly. Indeed, he suf- of the enemy. former friends to abandon their tested the circuits. Then one of
fered a self - induced relapse — On a Monday morning, Jed mad project, only to be met with the seconds flipped a coin, de-

26 FORECAST ms 27
aiding which duelist should oc- • Here I necessary
find it and — band. So Frank, the rat, survives
triumphantly, if cynically. Natu-
to get away from Jean Pierre
Coquemar, her boyhood friend,
cupy chair 1 and who should sit I apologize for the interruption
now sous-chef at Antoine’s Res-
in No. 2. — to point up a most disagree-
rally he hotfoots it to the widowed
Gigi and tries to console her, taurant. “At least,” says Gigi
The men then them-
seated
selves, pale but composed. It had
able problem.
You have become beset
see, I
pleading that the whole thing with aplomb, “he can cook
!”
—and
was an unfortunate accident. Tn how
been agreed that both Frank and by grave doubts about this most
time, this vile snake in Gigi’s
interesting account, and, quite
Jed were to dangle their right perfumed garden will of course • No. 4. Surprise Ending.
The
frankly, I don’t know just how
arms over the backs of their chairs
in the now darkened room, the to proceed. I have carefully
—
marry her. Brrrr what a mis- When Jed leaves Gigi on that
match! No, this won’t work. fateful evening of the duel, after
flashlights turned on, but point- weighed some very dramatic fin-
kissing her goodbv and pleading
ing to the floor. ishes, but the more I ponder
One of the witnesses was to them, the less sure I become. • No. 3. The Clever Ending. an important business meeting,
Remember ’way back we planted something in his manner disturbs
tick off 25 seconds, counting the Let us therefore inspect the pro-
that lightning gag, striking in two her. She is perturbed by his un-
time back from 25 to zero. At posed endings, one by one:
spots simultaneously f Well, why usual tenderness and the long-
zero, both duelists were to point
We lingering hot - incandescent - cath-
their flashlights at each other as * No. 1. The Popular Ending. not? kill the two heroes si-
multaneously! Fortunately, with ode kisses.
quickly as possible, each trying Obviously, Frank is a dirty cad.
electronics— a form of lightning After he is gone, her feminine
to be first in training the light He besmirched willfully and
rays on his adversary’s photo cell knowingly the fair damsel Gigi’s — this is child’s play, easy as pie. short-wave intuition signals an
electronic danger warning. She
As any electrical engineer will
for a certain death. reputation. T he reader knows
you, it works. So now we callsup her uncle-boss, but. he
The left hands of the rivals well that this was a dastardly tell
have both boys good and dead. knows of no business meeting.
were taped to the backs of their trumped-up calumny of a bad
But that emphatically does not Then she up Frank- -but
calls
—
chairs so neither contestant could loser. So, let’s electrocute Frank,
end it. We
still have Gigi on there is no answer. Thoroughly
possibly cheat by placing his left and our true and vindicated lov-
our hands, and I can’t see how alarmed, she takes a bus to the
hand over the photo cell which ers will live happily ever after.
would then not function because That’s what you think! What we can kill her, too — or can we? Laboratories. But there are few
Is she heartbroken and pros- busses in the late evening and
the flashlight’s rays could not op- about Gigi? Will she just swal-
trated? Gad, no! Not Gigi. For she loses much valuable time.
erate the light-sensitive cell. low all this gaff and never re-
she glibly tells reporters that she Finally she arrives at her des-
All preparations made,
final proach Jed for having killed her
was sick and tired of these per- tination and tries the main en-
the duelists sat grimly facing each
other in the dark, both flashlights
former lover in cold electronics?
After all, he knew how to make sistent electronic hot-finger boys trance — fortunately it isn’t

lit, illuminating the floor with
two ghostly circles. The quiet
was ponderous and nerve-wrack-
ing in its intensity,
methodic and clear voice droned
the fleeting seconds
17 ... 16 ... 15. ..
. .
anyway. She really married Jed locked. She runs from one office
love, too! Won’t she, in a sacred
anotherand finally locates
moment of passion, hiss at Jed, only in desperation, knowing full to
well that she had been spliced to Frank’s. She bursts in just at
with a “Go
away, you murderer!
a supercharged hot wire. No more zero second and in the dim light
as Franz’s Don’t touch me with your yel-
of such nonsense. She’s packing shining through the door, she sees
low electronicotined hands!”
and flying down to her own New both Frank and Jed slumping in
. 18 . . .

® No. T he Doubtful Ending. Orleans —

pronounced Nu (Tr- their chairs — both
- dead. (See

» * *
. 2.
All right. Let’s kill Jed, her hus- ie on —
from where she escaped Ending No. 3),
29
FORECAST 1955
28
 ! a

With a curdling ten - decibel
shriek, shethrows herself on Jed,
grasps the hand that still clutches
the 50,000-volt charged flash-
light, kisses Jed full on the lips
with a low heartbreaking moan
—
the kiss of death for her. The
two witnesses, Franz and Philip,
who had no time to turn off the
lethal current that energized the
death-dealing transformers, lose
their heads when they see the
three corpses and flee in panic.
Patently, such an ending,
where the three
principals of the
story are cooked —though
Icould go on to tell you at
least four more interesting end-
ings, but, unfortunately,
out right. Yes, there is even one
where Gigi had a black-sheep-of-
the-family twin sister named
Giga, who could be dug up and
palmed off on that lowviper
Frank. But these skeleton-in-the-
closet relics- —
even if they are as
gorgeous as Giga are odious and
down-right corny. And who in
these spaceless days has a closet
big enough to store a skeleton?
They don’t build them that big
elec- anymore
THE TELEDOCTOR
Continued from page 1
none pan and presses against your skin.
it
By spying action, the medication
is shot into the arm quickly.
The doctor then gives you
whatever other instructions are
required and promises to “visit”
you again early in the evening.
When you are well again, phone
— your druggist who will call for
the tele-doctor
instrument.
# It should be noted that , short
of a serious operation , the doctor
of the future zuill be able to do
TEC-TELEDUCATION
Continued from page tB
teleducation a reality in the
immediate future. We need not
wait for a new development to
—
make it possible all the neces-
sary elements are here now. All
we have to do is bring the new
system into being. We do not
have to be outclassed and out-
distanced by any other coun-
try in the world.
AUTO- ANALYSIS
Continued from page SI
twice a week. The
analyst, or his

tronically — at the end, is hardly So you see what I’m up

almost anything by teledoctoring
that he can do in person. He can
staff, answers by mail after the
tape has been listened to and proc-
appropriate. The public would against. I started out blithely essed. Thusthe analyst, instead
remove your bandages after an
not stand for it. No movie mogul with a sure-fire elegant idea. But
operation, bandage you, remove of treating eight or ten patients
would deign to buy the film what happened? It imploded like a day, can treat over a hundred
rights for such a gruesome tale. a punctured picture tube
complete internal collapse.
TV — stitches post-operation ally, swab
wounds, all at a distance. at much less cost to the patient.
I know If the analyst wishes and has
® No. 5. J'he Corny Ending.
Somebody dreams the duel and
when I’m licked — I give up. I
In the more distant future, he
will even be able to perform
the space, he can install ten or
really should stick to my fore-
emergency more soundproof airconditioned
wakes up screaming. These long-distance opera-
casting. . . .
booths, for patients desiring analy-
tions, provided a nurse or nurses
dream finishes are the hackneyed sis in the doctor-analyst’s office.
NOTICE: * r
The Electronic Duel" will can be secured to assist him.
finale of many misguided authors. be published In Esquire Mogorlire pit the
1 hey are too silly for words, the May 1955 issue. This story cannot be Soon, your doctor will be able • In small centers which now
reproduced without permission from the to see far more patients with in- have none or only few analysts,
dreams, that is. copyright holders.
finitely greater efficiency. He will the nearest hospital could well
not only save untold lives, and become a county psychoanalytic
POTP U RE E generate better health for his pa-
tients, but his own life will be
center, treating thousands by mail
where only a few can be seen to-
Congressional Inquiry Beastly Thought made far easier and lie will him- day. All this requires intelligent
He who fakes whaf isn't his'n • Hope springs eternal in the human
self livelonger and so serve suf- organization. It can be done for
Most return it or risk a quietin'. beast. fering humanity far better than the benefit of people who need
Defi notion was ever possible before. psychiatric help, but who either

®
Meferdollargy
Riches are not a measure of ability
• Electronics —
mar's controlled essence cannot afford the average fee or
of lightning which he directs at will, NOTICE: Reproduction rights to this
but often a yardstick of greed. have been acquired by The Amer-
(article have no access to qualified psy-
near and far, to do his bidding.
ican Weekly, and may not be reprinted. chiatrists in their communities.
30 FORECAST 1955
31
 Hugo Gernsback, editor and
7fj djt/r taft&ri' dJ^ovve&njsmeti^&>is crjn4ei& publisher of RADIO-ELEC-
TRONICS, was decorated last
year byHer Royal Highness,
. $/MMA&.dwsd*/ndevzdc(S <de/'/ncvnvrwr^ ..
Grand Duchess Charlotte of
Luxembourg. The presentation
OFFICIER was made in New York City,
by B. N. Zimmer, Honorary
Consul General of Luxembourg.
(TRANSLATION)
WE, CHARLOTTE, BY THE
Monsieur Hugo GERNSBACK GRACE OE GOD, GRAND
DUCHESS OF LUXEMBOURG,
Savant et homme de lettres
DUCHESS OF NASSAU, ETC.
On the report of our Minister
Foreign Affairs and after
NEW YORK of
of the gov-
due deliberation
ernment in session; have found
au Palaie de Luxembourg , le lb d^cembrc 1^53* proper and arranged to
it
name as
OFFICER
OF THE GRAND DUCAL ORDER
OF THE OAKEN CROWN
MR. HUGO GERNSBACK
/ SAVANT AND MAN OF
LETTERS
jQ'
Sffi&t'rUA £r*z-’ OF NEW YORK
*2fc» iO^OAUO €**<4 Given at the Palace of
ai g n £ Joseph BECH Luxembourg, December 16, 1953
(signed) CHARLOTTI
The Minister of Foreign Affair*
(signed) Joseph Becli