[< MIND n.1 + MACHINE n.]
1. The human brain or human person regarded as a rational machine.
1903 Contemp. Rev. Sept. 389 When the child plays it is literally organising its brain, myelinising its mind-machine. 1972 H. A. WILLIAMS True Resurrection iii. 70 Man is a rational being—i.e. he is a mind-machine, and therefore it is to his interest to be treated as a mind-machine.2. An electronic device equipped with earphones and flashing lights which is worn over the head for sensory stimulation and relaxation.
1986 Daily Tel. 9 Oct. 28 The plain truth is that a secondary school child would be very lucky to get 10 minutes on a computer a week... It is little more than conjuring, a fashionable sleight of hand to dazzle us with the mystery of these magic new mind machines. 1991 Futurist May 58/2 (advt.) Innerquest Mind Machines, Acoustic Brain Research, Hemi-Sync and Super-Learning Tapes,..Earth Pulse Generators & more. 1993 R. RUCKER et al. Mondo 2000 10/2 Someone had a mind machine with earphones playing pulsed sound to match the flickering rhythms in two rings of tiny red light bulbs mounted in goggles that went over your eyes.
Copyright © Oxford University Press 2008
Notes:
1. When did Mondo 2000 become a credited source in the OED? Are Raygun and Maximumrocknroll next?
2. H.A. Williams, whoever you are, I doff my mind-machine to you, sir: “Man is a rational being—i.e. he is a mind-machine, and therefore it is to his interest to be treated as a mind-machine.”
1 comment:
Its not like Rudy Rucker is the first cyberpunk author in there. I'm sure they credit Gibson with cyberspace, right?
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