Imagined in the 1870s

No prize. Machines slowly growing aware is something that happens in the story and not a product.

Who is paid. Nothing is sold, so nobody pays and no seller keeps anything.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.

A small prize. Printing the paper at home saves a delivery and is a convenience for readers.

Who is paid. Readers pay for the machine and the paper they pick, the machine is easy to copy, and the newspapers that own the news collect.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.

A large prize. Putting people safely into long dormancy would make very long journeys possible and give hospitals time to treat the gravely ill.

Who is paid. I assumed carriers and hospitals buy it; the method could be copied once known, so the firms that already run ships and hospitals collect.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A small prize. Breathing gear for roaming the sea floor opened diving for sport, salvage and science, which is a real but modest trade.

Who is paid. I assume sport divers are the main buyers, and many firms can make tanks and valves, so no seller keeps much.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.

A large prize. A submarine that stays under for long periods and feeds itself is worth a great deal to a navy and an industry to those who build it.

Who is paid. I assume navies are the main buyers, and the shipyards that already hold naval contracts collect.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.

A vast prize. Sending things instantly across any distance would replace most shipping and haulage, which changes how most people are supplied and how most firms work.

Who is paid. Traders and carriers pay, since the description sends objects and not people, which is why the payer differs from the booths for travellers; once a firm had built it others could, so the carriers and builders that already own the depots and the customers collect.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A large prize. Metals from the deep ocean floor would add a great new supply for industry.

Who is paid. Metal users buy the ore, and many could build the gear, so mining firms with ships, money and seabed claims collect; I assumed claims are not scarce.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A small prize. Charging a hull to shock boarders is a simple trick for a few vessels.

Who is paid. Assuming shipowners fit it against boarders, any marine electrician can do the work.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A small prize. An electric projectile for hunting under the sea serves a small group of divers and fishers.

Who is paid. Hunters and divers buy it, and a charged dart is simple enough that many workshops could make it, so no seller keeps much.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.

A large prize. Judged as if it worked, one tablet that feeds a person for weeks would be an industry of its own and would change how armies, travellers and the hungry are fed, though I assumed most people would still eat ordinary meals for pleasure.

Who is paid. Households buy it, and I assumed the recipe can be copied once it is known, so the food and pharmacy brands with shop space collect.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

No prize. Using scarce old shells as money is a custom, and the shells are found, not made.

Who is paid. Nothing is sold, so nobody pays and no seller keeps anything.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.