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Science Fiction in the News Articles
Related to material in Stranger in a Strange Land
by Robert Heinlein

Remarkable novel about the life of Valentine Michael Smith, born during the first mission to explore Mars. Educated by Martians, he is helpless when returned to Earth. Or is he? Tutored by Jubal Harshaw (a classic Heinlein character) he develops into an extraordinary person. Winner of the 1962 Hugo Award; this story is not for children.

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:

Three Dimensional Flat Panel Screen Announced
   On October 13, 2003 Sharp Electronics released the first laptop computer capable of 3D images without needing to use special glasses, the Actius RD3D.

Electric Sheep Distributed Screen-Saver: Collective Computer Unconsious
   The Electric Sheep Distributed Screen-Saver taps into the collective unconscious of sleeping computers all over the world. When your computer sleeps, does it dream of electric sheep?

Processing Three-Dimensional Video In Real Time
   You may have seen the Matrix-like replays during the last Super Bowl, in which the sportscasters could freeze the image, rotate it to another viewpoint, and then continue with the action. Wouldn't it be great if we, the viewers, could use this featur

Mars Crew Selection Fact And Fiction
   According to a recent article in The Scientist, psychological factors would seriously challenge the crew of a manned Mars mission.

3D Holographic Images And Heinlein's Stereovision Tank
   Harold Garner and his research team have used a gel-filled tank and a Texas Instruments Digital Light Processing (DLP) Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) to generate dynamic three-dimensional views from holograms.

Married Couples! Want To Go To Mars?
   '...someone who was willing to look up for him the names of single female volunteers who might (with him) complete a crew...'- Robert Heinlein, 1961.

Lucent DVR Sleep Detector
   Robert Heinlein anticipated Lucent technologies by forty-five years on this one.

Lifeblood And Beta Tank Bubble-Based 'Stereo Tanks'
   Unusual sculptures that use bubbles as pixels in low-res displays - 2D and 3D.

gCubik 3D Handheld Display
   Display prototype aims towards three-dimensional images without special glasses, in a hand-held form factor.

Jetpack From New Zealand Takes Off
   Pretty nifty DIY jetpack from New Zealander Glenn Martin; includes better video than that provided by the New York Times.

Holographic 3D Television - And No Glasses
   A nice step forward has been taken in creating true 3D holographic displays without funny-looking glasses.

Living Floor Like Heinlein's Grass Carpet
   Jeri has found the secret to true relaxation - a living green carpet. Walk on living things? It is a goodness.

Book Time Page-Turning Robot
   Simple but effective 'robot' helps hospitalized readers. Now with video!

3D Television Display In Real Time
   Interesting implementation of the 3D display idea; an exemplary video both explains the concepts and demonstrates the device.

Sony 360 3D 'Stereo Tank' Video
   A video of the Sony prototype 360 degree viewable 3D display has finally made it onto youtube.

pCubee 3D Display Skips iPad For iCube
   Pretty neat hack lets you hold three dimensions in the palm of your hand. Is this the next generation iPad?

400 People Volunteer For Mars
   Would you volunteer to colonize Mars?

Head-Coupled Perspective For iPad 2
   Pretty nifty demo video shows how even the iPad 2 can create 3D images.

30-Day Trip To Mars?
   'The Federation Ship Champion... made the crossing under Lyle Drive in only nineteen days.'- Robert Heinlein, 1961.

Netflix Smart Socks Know When You Doze Off
   'Presently the speed control slipped out of her relaxed fingers, the lights went out and she slept.' - Robert Heinlein,

Nuclear Rockets To Fly In Space!
   '... the only type of engine which could possibly transport a heavy machine from our earth to some planet, would have to be the atomic-energy engine.' -

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