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Science Fiction in the News Articles
Related to material in Snow Crash
by Neal Stephenson

Cyberpunk classic; be sure to read one of the books that set the tone for many others. And yes, it does contain the greatest pizza delivery scene in all of world literature.

Science fiction in the News articles describe real-world events that relate to the ideas and inventions in sf novels and movies. Select a news article:

Quik House: Neal Stephenson's U-Stor-It?
   Meet the quik house - a prefabricated kit house made from recycled shipping containers. Sounds like what Hiro Protagonist from Snow Crash lived in.

VLe Provides Non-Lethal Response
   The VLe handgun provides variable-lethality in the same weapon, giving law enforcement and homeowners a non-violent alternative; like Stephenson's Loogie Gun, only less icky.

Church of Fools: The Coming Of The Avatar?
   The Church of Fools, an experiment in online, interactive worship, will open its virtual doors this coming May 11th. The service will be lead by real priests or pastors who appear as "avatars."

The Rapture Of The Avatar
   The Church of Fools, the Internet's first virtual-reality place of worship, got off to an unusual start when the avatar of Reverend Jem Clines turned to face the sanctuary wall and disappeared, leaving virtual parishioners thinking about The Rapture.

Soft Robot Powered By Shape Memory Alloy Spokes
   A remarkable new kind of robotic locomotion has emerged in the form of small "robots" that are constructed in the shape of a wheel. The spokes are made of a shape memory alloy; the rim of the wheel is made of an elastic polymer.

Alter Ego Exhibit - Avatars Revealed
   Earlier this month, an exhibition of avatars and their real-life counterparts opened in London. Is there a relationship between the visage of the avatar and the form of the real person?

Carbon Nanofiber Makes Smart Yarn
   Carbon nanofiber can now be spun like yarn to make an amazing variety of new inventions possible.

Rape Trap Like Snow Crash 'Dentata'
   South Aftrican inventor Sonette Ehlers has invented an anti-rape device similar to one mentioned in Neal Stephenson's novel Snow Crash.

Google Earth And VPlanet Explorer
   These two products provide functionality similar to the CIC Earth software in Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash.

Games Of Tomorrow Built By Players Wiki-Style
   The world's megacorporations are counting on you to do the work in the next round of online game creation.

North Face (Or Snow Crash?) Avalanche Airbag Clothing
   The Powder Guide ABS vest is just the thing for your active lifestyle, on and off the slopes.

IMPASS Robot Has Snow Crash 'Smart Wheels'
   Neal Stephenson's smart wheels from Snow Crash are ready to move off the drawing board.

50 MPH Rollerblade Ride
   There is a safer way to hitch rides from cars - in Snow Crash.

Liquid Armor With Shear Thickening Fluid
   Science fiction writers were first on the scene again in conceptualizing armor that flows with the body but hardens upon impact.

Second Life - Your Virtual World Is Ready Now
   CNet moves to the virtual world of Second Life.

Second Life Now Has Reporters, Taxes
   My enthusiasm for an escape to onlife life is waning...

The Church of Elvis
   This is not the first online church virtual experience, but you might actually be closer to Elvis.

iEarth From Google, Nasa... Snow Crash?
   New application effectively implements application envisaged in Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash.

Use Google To Search The Heavens
   Google has once again allied themselves with a spectacular scientific project - have they bitten off more data than they can chew?

Smart Wheels Are Artificially Intelligent
   Looks like the old 'Tiger Paws' advertisement will finally come true - not the tires, but the wheels themselves.

Tribal Pizza Carputer For Snow Crash Deliverator
   It's just the first generation, but I can almost smell that fresh 'za gliding silently to my house.

Pizza Computer Is One Smart Box
   Outrageous case mod made me think immediately of an sf classic.

Segway's New RMP - Robotic Mobility Platform
   Although I've filed this one under 'robotics,' you might want to use it yourself - as a vehicle.

DubMeNow Business Cards Update Magically
   Interesting concept for exchanging virtual business cards that opens a link between you, allowing auto-updated information. With video.

Dynamic Augmented Wheel System Eight-Part Wheel
   Interesting concept seems to work as prototype, but despite similarity to smartwheels, I think there is a traditional solution that works better

Green Box 'Futuristic' Pizza Box
   Take a look at the video showing how to use this attractive, recyclable pizza box. But futuristic? I think Snow Crash has set the standard for the smart pizza box.

Air Bag Jacket Saves Life Of Motorcyclist
   Although this is an old story, it's a pretty good call by an sf writer.

IMPASS Robot 'Smart Wheel' Video
   They're making great progress with Neal Stephenson's 'smart wheels' - take a look at the video.

'Loogie Gun' Deployed On Pennsylvania Turnpike
   Ever been stuck on the highway?

Business Cards Give Way To Bump
   The time-honored business practice goes digital.

Real-Time Avatars Mirror Your Expression
   'These people are pieces of software called avatars.'

'Invisible' Bicycle Helmet
   Would go well with your airbag jacket.

MIT's Cheetah Robot Runs Easier Than Real Cheetah
   Different from Boston Dynamics' robot! 'The legs are long, curled way up to deliver power, like a cheetah's.'- Neal Stephenson, 1992.

MIT Robot Cheetah Video Shows Gait Transition
   'The legs are long, curled way up to deliver power, like a cheetah's.'- Neal Stephenson, 1992.

Eye-Controlled Data Glasses
   I've been reading about being able to have useful information overlaid onto my view of the world for years.

WildCat Runs Faster Than You, Untethered
   '...moving with such drifting ease that it was like a single solid cloud of black-grey smoke blown at him in silence.' Ray Bradbury, 1953.

Motorcycle Racing Suit With Airbags
   She jerks the manual release on her cervical collar and goes into full Michelin Man mode- Neal Stephenson, 1992.

Is The OutRunner Robot Like Smartwheels?
   'Each spoke telescopes into five sections.'- Neal Stephenson, 1992.

High Fidelity Produces More Expressive Avatars!
   'They are the audiovisual bodies that people use to communicate with each other...'- Neal Stephenson, 1992.

What Can Magic Leap Expect From New 'Chief Futurist' Neal Stephenson?
   'The goggles throw a light, smoky haze across his eyes...'- Neal Stephenson, 1992.

Why, Oh Why, Must We Develop Robots That Run Faster Than I Do?
   'The legs are long, curled way up to deliver power, like a cheetah's.'- Neal Stephenson, 1992.

Cheetah 2 Robot Now Leaps Obstacles To Get You
   'The legs are long, curled way up to deliver power, like a cheetah's.'- Neal Stephenson, 1992.

Snow Crash And Domino's DXP Pizza Delivery Vehicle
   'The electromechanical hatch on the flank of his car is already opening to reveal his empty pizza slots...' - Neil Stephenson, 1992.

Flexup Tire Design Good For Tumblebugs
   'Each spoke telescopes into five sections.'- Neal Stephenson, 1992.

Tesla Augmented Reality Hypercard
   'The hypercard is an avatar of sorts.' - Neal Stephenson, 1992.

Flying Car Concept By Kash Sirinanda
   'Each one consists of a hub with many tiny spokes... On the end is a squat foot, rubber tread on the bottom...' - Neal Stephenson, 1992.

Entire Planet Modeled In New MS Flight Sim
   'CIC uses [it] to keep track of every bit of spatial information that it owns...' - Neal Stephenson, 1992.

Kelly Clarkson Show Like Black Mirror '15 Million Merits'
   'These people are pieces of software called avatars.' Neal Stephenson, 1992.

Unitree A1 Robot ala Black Mirror and Snow Crash
   'The legs are long, curled way up to deliver power...' - Neal Stephenson, 1992.

Hip'Safe Airbag For Seniors, From Helite
   'Other airbags go off around her torso and pelvis...' - Neal Stephenson, 1992.

Vendetta 2023 All-Terrain Skateboard Could Use Neal Stephenson's Smartwheels
   'If you surf over a bump... If you surf over a pothole...' - Neal Stephenson, 1992.

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