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Science
Fiction in the News Articles
related to the works of
Isaac Asimov
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Isaac Asimov was born in Petrovichi, Russia in 1920. He was awarded a PhD in Biochemistry in 1948 and joined the faculty of Boston University. He started writing science fiction in 1939. He wrote:
"at the age of nine, he found the love of his life (in the inanimate sense) when he discovered his first science-fiction magazine. By the time he was eleven, he began to write stories, and at eighteen, he actually worked up the nerve to submit one. It was rejected. After four long months of tribulation and suffering, he sold his first story and, thereafter, he never looked back."
His extraordinary output comprises some 500 volumes on every conceivable subject. His most famous science fiction works include the Foundation trilogy and I, Robot.
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: |
Speech Recognition Algorithms Improve
Scientists at the University of California, San Diego have created a new formula that improves upon the Good-Turing algorythm and may lead to better quality speech recognition.
RobotCop III - Not Quite R. Daneel Olivaw
In his classic 1953 robot story Caves of Steel, Isaac Asimov teamed a human detective with a robotic one - R. Daneel Olivaw. Hong Kong has been testing robotic police officers for years, and has now introduced RobotCop III.
MusicPad Pro: Digital Sheet Music File Player
You can store your entire music library on this device, using digital sheet music brought in from music composition programs and even scanned sheet music files.
RAFFE Helps Remote Mobile Investigator Gather Fingerprints
The Pedsco RMI robot, used for remote handling of explosive devices and other hazardous materials, now has the ability to gather fingerprints. Good news for the humans who might otherwise perform this task.
Robotic Safety Barrels: Smart Traffic Cones
Robotic Safety Barrels (RSBs) developed by Shane Farritor may be the kind of smart traffic cones that can save many lives and $100 billion per year in losses due to accidents and delays on U.S. highways.
Ticketed Passengers Only Aboard Soyuz ('TANSTAAFL' Says Roskosmos)
Russia's space agency Roskosmos announced that it would stop giving free rides to US astronauts beginning in 2006. US space shuttles have been grounded since February of 2003, when the shuttle Columbia burned up on re-entry.
SWORDS - First Robots To Break Asimov's First Law Of Robotics
Next month, the US Army will be putting robot soldiers in the field in Iraq. The SWORDS robots are fully armed, and thus the first to break Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics.
Earth Now Needs Agricultural Worlds
SF writers pondered this problem a generation ago, and came up with the answer.
Pulsed Energy Projectile EMPs Your Nervous System
PEPs use plasma to electromagnetically pulse your nervous system into thinking something bad is happening. And you can fine-tune it.
Asimov's First Law Of Robotics Real-Life Beta
Japan makes a serious effort to make sure robots first do no harm.
MulTicket Is Isaac Asimov's Idea
Very cool concept - but it's been around for a while.
Robot Designed To Break First Law - In Order To Save It
A researcher takes a somewhat different direction in trying to figure out ways to keep robots from hurting people.
Talking Lights Help Patients Navigate
This is a unique system to help people find their way around in one of the most confusing environments in the world - hospitals.
Ticketime Concept Timepiece Ticket
Neat concept reminds me of the master, Isaac Asimov, who also wanted to improve tickets.
E-paper You Can Write On From Seiko Epson E Ink
Collaboration produces a very nifty e-paper display that you can write notes on if you wish.
Robot Cops By 2084?
Not a very daring prediction, but at least they're thinking about it.
Paul Krugman's Asimov Inspiration
Dr. Paul Krugman has an interesting connection with sf; his career choice was inspired by a well-known work by Isaac Asimov.
Multi-Robot Pursuit System: We'll Be Back!
I'm sure that everything will go fine with this project, which could have useful applications in search and rescue, fire fighting and for all I know, the food service industry.
Palm Pistol Defensive Firearm
Interesting little device is a pretty close analog to an Isaac Asimov device from the 1950's.
Proteus Microrobot Video: A Fantastic Voyage
Scientists have named their microrobot the Proteus, after the 1966 movie. With video.
Dynamic Agenda Wallpaper Glows With Your Achievements
This room-sized tribute to your busy life is the best possible way to dominate a meeting.
NASA's Multi-Robot Planetary Exploration
Science fiction writers caught on to this almost seventy years ago; I'm glad it's finally being addressed formally by NASA.
TASC - DARPA's Psychohistory
Interesting effort to develop 'branch of mathematics which deals with the reactions of human conglomerates to fixed social and economic stimuli.'
Yoshiyuki Sankai And His HAL Exoskeleton
Fascinating series of interviews on video shows how a prominent roboticist read science fiction as a child, and then worked to make it come true as an adult.
Brain Chip Hardware Neurons And Synapses
Finally, robots will be able to get the brains they really need, not just some sort of microprocessor.
Universities Irrelevant By 2020
A Brigham Young University professor foresees the end of the university as we know it. But will it come soon enough?
Sky-Terra Towers Blot Out Sky
'Centuries ago, Stratos was built by leaders that gave their word... that all inhabitants would live there.' Identify that quote.
Saya Humanoid Robot Teacher
Did you think that 'no more teacher's dirty looks' would prevail in the era of the robotic teacher. Au contraire.
Asimov's Psychohistory May Be Possible
Many of us enjoyed the Foundation stories; did you think that psychohistory might actually be a workable discipline?
Nanobees Sting Tumors With Melittin
Unique use of nanoparticles to deliver melittin, a component of bee venom, directly to cancer cells.
Liquid Semiconductor Nuclear Battery Big As A Penny
You might have trouble believing that a nuclear battery could be no larger than a dime, even if you didn't study under the great Bler at the University of Trantor.
Farming Detroit Like Trantor
An agrarian Detroit may well be in the offing in the decline of the Big Three automakers.
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Quadraturin
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