Category Archives: future

‘Junior’ the Self-Driving Car

Stanford’s entry into the Darpa Urban Challenge is a car named “Junior”. It is capable of reading road signs, reflective markers on the road, and avoiding other cars. This suggests to me that we are on-track for self-driving cars in … Continue reading

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How to build a Universal Translator

It occurred to me that something like the “Universal Translator” of Star Trek could be constructed without very advanced technology. I call my more primitive device a “Drongo.” If you have two technologically advanced races, and they meet, there is … Continue reading

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The Coming Intelligence Explosion

The Singularity institute has a post describing what it calls the upcoming “inteligence explosion.” The concept is that once we learn to start modifying the brain to make ourselves smarter we get a positive feedback loop — more intelligence gives … Continue reading

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Hope for the Future

There are so many promising alternative energy sources just around the corner, I thought I’d start maintaing a page for them, and update it as I come across links of interest. Bio-Fuel LS9: Using microbes to generate hydrocarbons Plastic that … Continue reading

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Standard Problems of Science Fiction

This may not be a new observation, but a large set of science fiction problems must solve a set of common problems in order to proceed: Getting around: This may involve faster than light drive, or some alternative. In the … Continue reading

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Self-Driving Cars in 10 years

Self-driving cars: I had guessed that this was coming in 2030-2040, but it looks like I was pessimistic. Once cars can drive themselves, how many jobs will be left for humans to do? Will the machines keep us as pets? … Continue reading

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