Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge:
Science Fiction Inventions, Technology and Ideas

Excellent near-future novel by Vernor Vinge. A recovering Alzheimer's patient slowly regains his wits in the San Diego of 2025. A poet, he learns to adapt to a world in which real and virtual blend perfectly. Select an invention:

Answerboard - good name for it
A forum or computer meeting location with experts on a particular topic.

Browser Paper - one page IE
A paper-thin computer display.

Camera Tunnel
A device that captures images of shredded documents from all sides for reassembly.

House-of-Cards Construction
Architectural technique that uses computers to help buildings maintain their balance during earthquakes.

Librareome Project
Blasting libraries into bits to create a library of perfect digitized electronic books.

Navicloud Custom Debinder
A machine that pulls books apart and scans the contents.

Wearables (Wearable Computers) - embroidered circuits
Computers and peripherals that use textiles for electronic circuitry.

 

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