Legemat

noun
An optical character reader and universal language translator for text.
Origin
Derived from legere (to read) and Automat (machine).
Source
Changing Planes

Translatomat

noun
A universal language translator for speech.
Origin
Pairing of ‘translate’ and Automat (machine).
Source
Changing Planes

Tempophone

noun
A telephone able to place calls across time and space.
Origin
Derived from tempus (time) and phone (sound).
Source
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe

Astrotrope

noun
A mount that allows a telescope to accurately follow the motion of the night sky.
Origin
Formed from ástron (a celestial body) and trópos (a turn).
Source
The Crucible of Time

Musculator

noun
A creature that contracts its body when one end is in fresh water and the other in salt water, bred for use as a pump or motor.
Source
The Crucible of Time

Beemee

noun
A device for transmitting the sensorium.
Origin
Phonetic transcription of “be me”.
Source
The Fractal Prince

Calcker

noun informal
A computer.
Origin
Corruption of ‘calculator’.
Source
Wish Upon a Star

Vibrometer

noun
An instrument that can interweave, differentiate, coordinate or completely counteract vibrations of any source or nature whatsoever!
Source
The Vibrometer

Voxware

noun
A hardware/software device that synthesises speech.
Origin
Formed from vox (voice) and the suffix ‘-ware’.
Source
Embassytown

Chronopathic

adjective
Able to distort time.
Origin
Formed from khrónos (time) and the suffix -pathic (abnormality).
Source
The Crime and the Glory of Commander Suzdal

Ansible

noun
A device that allows instantaneous communication over any distance.
Origin
Contraction of ‘answerable’.
Source
Rocannon’s World

Psychopraxiscope

noun
A device purported to offer instantaneous viewing of any subject’s thoughts.
Source
Great Breakthroughs in Darkness