“Explains” is much too yang a word for what she’s doing here. It’s more “suggests”.
I happen to be interested in utopias where natural balance, not powerful authority, is what keeps things working, though history shows us that’s hard to achieve (to say the least).
Via the Adafruit blog.
When the usually-utopian Singularity Hub sounds a note of caution, it’s smart to pay attention.
As this article points out, it’s all too easy to be caught up in the technical possibilities of a technology and ignore history and on-the-ground realities that may make it less useful, or not useful at all – at least, for the purpose claimed. I can see a possible place for bulk freight hyperloops replacing some trucking with more efficient transport – but, again, political distortions already favour trucking over more efficient rail.
Originally shared by Singularity Hub
History Suggests the Hyperloop Is an Uncertain Promise for Future Cities http://suhub.co/2AHwkl8
There are various reasons why we have humanoid robots in our SF, but they’re mostly to do with using them as symbols of how we’ve historically treated humans (and being able to put an actor inside, in the case of movies), rather than because a humanoid robot is really useful.
Originally shared by Singularity Hub
Why Humanoid Robots Are Still So Hard to Make Useful http://suhub.co/2kwzSkn
Pleased to get an acceptance today from the NZ anthology Korero Ahi Ka for my story “Gatekeeper, What Toll?” (originally published last year in Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores).
It’s a piece in what I think of as my Zelaznian style, which sets out to imply a six-book epic fantasy series in a thousandth of the wordcount. I don’t know if it succeeds at that, but judging from the very positive editor comments it clearly succeeds at something.
This makes a lot of sense.
Originally shared by Singularity Hub
Robotic Materials Will Distribute Intelligence All Over a Robot’s Body http://suhub.co/2AUItE4
If the future is better than the past, it will be because of people like this.
Originally shared by Self-Rescuing Princess Society
“It is an honor and a great responsibility to be part of the network that gathers the best of the best of women (and some great men) from across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa and now Latin America, who have the same issue to fight, who face radicalization and foster sustainable peace. I found a diversity of expertise. We have the common goal, and I am learning from them and they are learning from me. It was a blessing to have women from different ages, backgrounds and religions come together. I want to have that wisdom to represent my community.”
A grand scheme gone awry may be just what your story needs. Here’s one.
Originally shared by Singularity Hub
Desertec and the Tantalizing Dream of a Solar Sahara http://suhub.co/2AECLpN
For your alternate computing story needs.
(Accessibility issue: small, non-adjustable font.)
Originally shared by Winchell Chung
https://spectrum.ieee.org/computing/hardware/not-your-fathers-analog-computer
Some good info on the OP. It takes a lot of infrastructure, and consistent demand, to make brickmaking feasible. (Since I work for a company that makes masonry blocks, I have both some knowledge of and some interest in this topic.) So if you chuck brick buildings into your setting, you’re implying a lot about the state of industry.
Adobe (sun-dried) bricks are a somewhat different proposition.
Originally shared by Derrick “Quite Clever” Sanders
Here’s a weirdo topic that is probably of some interest to fantasy gamers (of a certain stripe) as well as those of you with some historical and archaeological curiosity.
Bricks. Ancient Romans could make bricks. They built lots of buildings out of them. However, in medieval Europe we see brick construction become sporadic. My understanding is that the making of the bricks themselves became guild secret.
I’m hoping that the esteemed Ara Winter can hook us up with some primary documentation on this one (and I bet he can). Or maybe Amanda Rachelle Warren?
Tim Powers’ The Anubis Gates, which is my personal favourite of his books, is on sale at Amazon. Excellent use of time travel in the plot, a kind of proto-steampunk feel (very well executed), and all around a unique and memorable book.
https://smile.amazon.com/Anubis-Gates-Ace-Science-Fiction-ebook/dp/B006UMI0OK/