Skaalatut

Skaalatut is a term used in speculative fiction and design theory to describe a systematic method of scaling objects, systems, or phenomena in discrete steps while preserving proportional relationships.

Etymology and scope: The word combines the notion of scale with a fictional suffix -atut, reflecting its origin in invented glossaries rather than formal science.

Concept and mechanics: Practitioners define a base model and a set of scale factors, then apply geometric and proportional rules to extend the model to larger or smaller sizes. Linear dimensions, surface areas, and volumes are scaled according to standard geometric relations, while material properties, strength, and interactions may require adjustments to maintain functional equivalence.

Applications: In worldbuilding, game design, and speculative prototyping, skaalatut helps designers compare designs across sizes and maintain visual or functional consistency.

Limitations: As a modeling concept, skaalatut abstracts away many real-world non-linear effects; real scaling often requires separate analyses of physics, materials, and manufacturing constraints.

In fiction and jargon, skaalatut is used to describe miniature or megastructure systems that behave proportionally to their scale, enabling cross-scale storytelling and simulations.

Related concepts include scaling laws, fractal geometry, and modular design.