>I think it's been mentioned here before but it's worth reading Dr. Vinge's
>latest book "A Deepness in the Sky". Apart from being an excellent story,
>it features an interface to a ubiquitous system that's several degrees more
>intimate than even Don's efforts.
I followed earlier recommendations and read that book. Some points:
-It was hard to find. I went to 7 book stores before I found it. Vinge
has another title that's more prevalent.
-It's long, and Vinge likes to drop hints over a 100 page spans before he
tells you exactly what he's talking about. Some readers like that, though.
-Some of his ideas are refutable. For example, he calls this period we're
living in now "The Age of Broken Dreams". One of the dreams is that
we'll figure out the aging process and become immortal, and that never
happens. I don't see why not. Another key idea is a network of microscopic
computers that float in the air. You unknowingly inhale them, and the
operator is able to read your neurons (i.e., your thoughts). How are
your gonna fit code, cpu, and radio transceiver in a bacterium-sized
package? Vinge doesn't say what it's made of.
-Although HUDs are mentioned often, so what? The idea of overlaying
the real scene with a computer display has already been covered, and
Vinge doesn't really add substantially to that idea. His characters
are very dependent on augmented reality, however. Maybe that
social/psychological factor appeals to you.
In all, I found it an above average book. Not great. 'No ideas I hadn't
been exposed to already. But I'm glad I read it.
--
Subscription/unsubscription/info requests: send e-mail with subject of
"subscribe", "unsubscribe", or "info" to 
Wear-Hard Mailing List Archive (searchable): http://wearables.blu.org
please, Please, *PLEASE* don't subscribe through a forward/false domain
From Wear-Hard Mailing list Archive (WH)
Maintained by R. Paul McCarty
Archive created with babymail