Decimation: The Girl Who Survived is set twelve years in the future and features a variety of new technologies that don’t exist in commercial form today. Take the quiz and see if you can guess how many of the listed technological developments are already in use or have just been made up for the book.
Only one answer is valid per question.
#1. The heart monitoring T-shirt. Made from smart materials, this item of clothing monitors the wearer's heart rate and raises an alert if it detects irregular heartbeats.
#2. Self driving trucks. Trucks that use computers to drive themselves and have no need for a driver at any stage of the journey.
Self driving trucks are at the experimental stage but aren’t yet approved for road use. They do, however, feature in Decimation: The Girl Who Survived.
#3. A watch that can detect the user's menstruation cycle. This device can also tell whether a woman is pregnant.
Whilst smart watches are common these days, I’m not aware of a device that can measure a woman’s menstruation cycle. Such a gadget does feature in Decimation: The Girl Who Survived though.
#4. A T-shirt that simulates a hole through the wearer's body. This item of clothing uses a camera and a flexible display to make it appear that the wearer has a hole through their body.
A T-shirt, which simulates a hole through the wearer’s body, features in Decimation: The Girl Who Survived. You can’t buy one of these yet as far as I know.
#5. A device on a self-driving car that automatically records a photograph when the vehicle has to take action to avoid a pedestrian behaving irresponsibly.
Developers may be thinking about technology to capture images for prosecution of irresponsible pedestrians, but it’s not yet mainstream. However, a device that performs this function does feature in Decimation: The Girl Who Survived.
#6. A wrist band that converts a user's body heat into electric energy
Researchers at the University of Colorado, Boulder, have fitted a thermoelectric generator into stretchable film bands that can be worn around the wrist. This technology does not feature in Decimation: The Girl Who Survived.
#7. An interface that monitors the user's brain. The device measures brain waves to provide direct input to a computer.
Several companies have developed technology to measure a user’s brain waves. One example is Muse, who provide several products that include brain-sensing features. This does not feature in Decimation: The Girl Who Survived.
#8. Human jet packs that enable the user to fly.
While maybe not widely available, companies such as JetPack Aviation have started selling jetpacks although apparently only to “well qualified” buyers. You can currently sign up to a two-day training course, which includes the opportunity to fly at least three times a day, for a mere $4950. Jetpacks do not feature in Decimation: The Girl Who Survived.
#9. The Marilyn dress. The design uses smart materials to move the skirt even when there is no breeze.
Decimation: The Girl Who Survived features the Marilyn Monroe dress. Unfortunately you can’t buy one yet.
#10. An electric-powered surf board. An electric motor allows the user to surf without requiring any waves,
No electric-powered surfboards appear in Decimation: The Girl Who Survived, but you can buy the Yujet Surfer, which uses a battery to power an electric motor. This gadget can drive the user through the water at over 25 mph.
Results
Congratulations! You know the difference between real and fictional technology.
If you enjoy thrillers or Science Fiction, why not give Decimation: The Girl Who Survived a try?
Unfortunately you have scored less than 70%.
But never mind. If you enjoy thrillers or Science Fiction, why not give Decimation: The Girl Who Survived a try? You might just improve your score.
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