Originally shared by Deborah Teramis Christian

This Pentagon training video was developed to briefly explore the challenges presented by megacities in the near future (~2030-ish). It presents a rather dystopian view of high-contrast differences: haves surrounded by have-nots, security threats, technology and poverty, alternate forms of governance, and the huge difficulties presented in terms of security. Their main point is that the military as presently constituted is incapable of effecting security in this kind of setting without significant alteration in force doctrines.

The Intercept article in which this is embedded calls this a hyperbolic vision of a distopian future, but speaking as a sociologist, futurist, and science fiction writer, I think the Intercept itself is hyperbolicly dismissive of a future that is not only highly likely, but already exists in many third-world regions. If anything, this short video understates the conditions and challenges that urban areas (and security forces) will face in about 20 years time; or certainly mid-century at latest, due (if for no other reason) to the massive changes that will happen in consequence of population displacement and economic impact from global warming (flooding of coastal areas, climate pattern changes, forced population migrations, gravitation to economic hubs that are megacities, etc etc).

At the very least, this is great grist for the mill for anyone thinking or writing about our near-future world. Personally I would skip reading the Intercept article first (with its critical, dismissive tone) and initially watch the video instead. Form first impressions from that, and then happy reading.

This video and related military publications have been picked up on by some dystopian analysts on the net, and there is more to be found on the web regarding this vid and the subject matter (although I think the buzz I’ve seen is jumping-to-extreme and cynical conclusions based on this minimal input. One example of this hair-on-fire commentary is here: http://rutherford.org/publications_resources/john_whiteheads_commentary/coming_soon_to_a_city_near_you_the_u.s._militarys_plan_to_take_over_am).

As If, Mike Reeves-McMillan

https://theintercept.com/2016/10/13/pentagon-video-warns-of-unavoidable-dystopian-future-for-worlds-biggest-cities/

The future: like the present, only more so.

Originally shared by Singularity Hub

Here’s How to Make the Best of Virtual Reality—and Avoid the Worst

http://suhub.co/2kdnM9N

Via a private share. Less-invasive implants.

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/603602/this-technology-could-finally-make-brain-implants-practical/?utm_content=buffer9d682&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Lisa Cohen will be interested in this one.

Originally shared by Singularity Hub

Families Finally Hear From Completely Paralyzed Patients Via New Mind-Reading Device http://suhub.co/2kXn5G8

Via C. A. Wilke.

Originally shared by michael barth

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/02/170209142708.htm#.WJ3yzfPWRBc.google_plusone_share

Not humans vs robots, but humans and robots working together to do a job better than either could alone.

Originally shared by Singularity Hub

How Robots Helped Create 100,000 Jobs at Amazon http://suhub.co/2kcTJiF

Quantum computers are a huge step up in speed and power from conventional computers, and can enable modelling of reality to such a level of detail that the models have extreme predictive accuracy. I want to do a story where the country’s leader has pledged to follow the guidance of a quantum-computer model, and finds uncomfortable truths coming out of the data.

Originally shared by Singularity Hub

Physicists Unveil Blueprint for a Quantum Computer the Size of a Soccer Field http://suhub.co/2kwlOoC

I love the green buildings idea, and want to do more with it in fiction.

Originally shared by Ward Plunet

China’s big, beautiful, green ‘vertical forests’ will suck up toxic smog

link: http://mashable.com/2017/02/07/china-vertical-forest-smog