17 January 2003

Roger Williams cusp-of and post-singularity novel online We are reading The Metamorphosis of Prime Intellect... Mad scientist creates self-aware AI, which in a sequence of singular events, takes over (think Wargames) in order to run things better (think Asimov's laws), eventually learning/creating a more efficient API with reality, and then creating a post-mortality post-reality metaverse (think Tron/Snowcrash/Neuromancer/various other things). Other notable science-fiction online of late: Cory Doctorow's Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom and 0wnz0red story Charlie Stross' Scratch Monkey (email Charlie for a password) novel and Lobsters story Ted Chiang's Understand It's worth reading Understand, 0wnz0red, Lobsters and Prime Intellect to connect together the physiological/medical/accelerating technology dots. Then go read the daddy, Vernor Vinge, on "the Singularity": VV interviewed in the Observer, Dec 2002 ("The singularity marks the passing of man from centre stage") and VV: What is the Singularity? ("Within thirty years, we will have the technological means to create superhuman intelligence. Shortly after, the human era will be ended."). 4:28:41 PM     comments

Cooper Interaction Design: How Nokia 8290 does something right It might be tricky to play games on it, but making phone calls is easy 4:22:44 PM     comments

Sarah Hepola: A game of skill, strategy, chance Hepola's stories of relationship told via the (board) games played. 4:20:19 PM     comments