> > Umberto, > > You have to convince me here. Ok, let's do it. > The science fiction writers more of fail to predict correctly (as > opposed to EJ) than to actually manage to do it. Miniaturization for > instance in the computer area was never predicted by the sf-writers. > Instead older sf describe huge threatening central computers. Just read PK Dick's "Autofac", which was published in the early Fifties. > Hal Clements _Answer_ (1947) is a satellite full of radio tubes. > The terminal nets in older sf are "stupid", non distributive. There > are global nets in for instance Algis Budtry's _Michelmas_ (1977) > but by that time Arpanet was already starting. A possible prediction > concerning Internet might have been _A Logic Named Joe_ (1946) but > other sf- writers failed to notice. No PC and no www in sf, until it > had already arrived. The basic idea of the Internet and the cyberspace can be found in several works written well before 1980. There are many stories written bu Phil Dick where the theme of artificial reality, both mechanical and electronic, is used, but I would just like to point out the brilliant Dr. Adder written by Kevin W Jeter in the early seventies. You do not heve the technicalities there, but the basic idea is already there. > Did the toes of some sf-fan got stepped upon. No, it is the knowledge of an Sf scholar who was puzzled by superficial statements. > Same with the mobile phone. Also missed by the sf writers. Walkie > talkies, yes. The favourites of sf writers have been the Dick Tracy > style picturephones. In some stories of the early sixties you have communication devices not bigger than wristwatches. Once again, which Sf are we talking about? > But all right. If you can provide evidence of sf writers predicting > PCs, www, and mobile phones before say, 1975, please do. > > Sitting back and waiting. You want the titles and names? You just wait. Umberto Rossi Se non sei sul web, hai torto! If you're not on the web, you're wrong!
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