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Science Fact From Fiction
Embedded Geek writes "The European Space Agency maintains an ongoing project called Innovative Technologies from Science Fiction for Space Applications (ITSF) (Cliquetez ici pour la version française). Its goal is "to review past and present SF literature, artwork and films in order to identify and assess innovative technologies and concepts described which could be possibly developed further for space applications." While I had known about Clarke first envisioning the geostationary satellite, the site also lists some other interesting ideas first pitched in SF: planetary landers, rocket fins, and space stations assembled in orbit. Visitors to the site are encouraged to submit technologies from SF works, although they should look at the master keyword list to avoid duplication first. Also of interest is a spiffy little brochure and a writing contest. Even if it never results in any new technology actually being developed, the site is a nice resource for science educators and science fiction fans."
Does this mean that we could finally end up with a guy named dark helmet flying commuter routes to Duran Duran? "Today's inflight meal provided by Pizza the Hut"
-- http://www.criticalassets.com
Remember the giant maid in spaceballs? That could be reality in a few years.
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Haven't you paid attention to Star Trek? Whenever Kirk and crew got their hands onto some alien technology they would immediately be able to control it, often using their tricorders. You'll notice that these have nearly 100% inter-operability with any tech out there (alien or not), and it is wireless.
;-)
Bluetooth is much the same. The reason you don't see many UFO reports these days is because the aliens are now afraid some madman with a bluetooth-enabled mobile phone will hijack their ride. That's how good those phones are.
Bluetooth: yesterday's SF, today's reality!
Under normal circumstances, I'd suggest a Death Star. In these heady days when we're considering technologies that might, in our lifetimes, get us to other star systems, it's important to have something that'll enable us to blow the shit out of anything that looks at us funny.
Of course, there would be problems. Remember the arguments about the status of Pluto? That'd be nothing compared to something like the death star.
"That's no moon."
"Yes it bloody is"
etc
You don't need UFOs. This is even more scary.
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There are fewer illiterates than people who can't read.
...reclassify Animaniacs as Scifi. Remember that garage door opener that Yakko had that could turn women upside down?
Someone from the CIA admitted this.
Pleeease! Rumours are true when, and only when CIA denies them.
Any sufficiently advanced libertarian utopia is indistinguishable from government.
I've got a credit card right here just itching to dump it's entire purchasing power in one swell foop on anyone who can install a "somebody else's problem" field around my home.
KFG