Links for 19-09-2006
Space elevators, finger forks, Vernor Vinge, arphid passports, computer simulations of Palestine conflict…
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“A radically different way to reach outer space — the space elevator — may finally be getting off the ground floor thanks to recent huge advances in technology.” CNN gets on the space elevator bandwagon.
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“No more sticky fingers! Feel like Edward Scissorhands as you stab at your party food delights. These stainless steel finger forks are ideal for buffets and parties.” I want some! Link via half the blogosphere.
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“Award-winning science fiction Vernor Vinge, speaking at the Austin Game Conference, gave his vision of a future in which connectivity was literally in the air around us.” Hat-tip to Bruce Sterling for this one.
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More sf meta-humour over at Memetherapy.
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“In many countries, including the United States, passports will soon be equipped with RFID chips. And you don’t want one of these chips in your passport.” Too late for UK residents, according to commenters. B*gger.
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“Although the triple-standard disc will cost more to make, it should still be cheaper than pressing three, and shops should be pleased not to have their shelves overloaded with so many different discs.” An olive branch in the format wars?
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“It takes a certain ambition to try to get your editorial arms around space opera because it seems that everyone has their own definition of it.” It also takes a certain ambition to write a review this detailed! Go read.
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“The advance will make it possible to use laser light rather than wires to send data between chips, removing the most significant bottleneck in computer design.” Another shot in the arm for Moore’s Law, perhaps? Ray Kurzweil is smiling.
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“Our ability to empathise with others seems to depend on the action of “mirror neurons” in the brain, according to a new study.” The brain is one weird piece of meat.
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“The sheer volume of personal information that people are publishing online – and the fact that some of it could remain visible permanently – is changing the nature of personal privacy.” Provocative stuff at NewScientist.
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“Ted got busted because we do graffiti. Losing Ted was a big setback, as Ted was the only guy in our gang who knew how to steal aerosol spray cans.” It’s a short story from Bruce Sterling! Rejoice!
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“The two games share a goal of showing players how complex this often-simplified conflict really is, and even fostering hope of resolution.” Intriguing; but will anyone buy them?
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“Joan is just a few years old and very talkative – and now she is officially the world’s most human computer program.” You write the closest thing to a Turing Test pass, and all you win is a grand?
Tags: links
September 19th, 2006 at 7:41 pm
Cheers, another excellent set of links. I paticularly liked Vinge’s speech. I find it silly that one commentator found his speculation of the future sickening, but hey different strokes for different folks.
As to the living online business I do think we’re in the process of redefining privacy and I think in the end it may not be as big a deal as many we make it out to be. At least as long as we don’t devolve into totalitarian states.