Erratica Reduex

In 1987 a group of science fiction writers put their predictions for the future in a time capsule, to be opened 25 years later.

This is what they wrote.

http://www.writersofthefuture.com/time-capsule-predictions

We got a new used microwave this weekend, one that fits into our kitchen better. In discussing how to dispose of this piece of e-waste (the creek-bed next door was ruled out, even though it is traditional for the neighborhood), I got to thinking.

Thinking about those traditional SF societies ALA Heinlein and company, where they have such a casual attitude toward atomic power that nearly everything is atomic powered. It occurred to me that even in those civilizations they couldn't have a completely blase attitude toward atomic waste- hence the notion of R-waste. As in: "Ah man, I gotta take the kitchen's atomic power cells down to the dump today." "Well, could you take the cells for the household computer with you?"

Of course people being people, gullies and creek-beds in neighborhoods like mine in those worlds must glow with a quite pretty blue color at night.

So there was a bit of fuss over Le Trung, the man from Toronto who's trying to construct a robotic maid. Evidently the assumption is that the intent is to make himself a robotic girlfriend, even though the inventor insists his robot "Aiko" it would be made primarily for assisting old people or invalids. At least that's what the Globe and Mail article says. Admittedly, it doesn't help his case, that in spite of his protestations, he is willing to answer all-too intimate questions on  Aiko's anatomy, and he evidently used as a base what suspiciously sounds like a Realdoll.  So naturally, the internet reaction hasn't been very pleasant: as one poster said contemptuously, ""Has there been any progress in AI at all? That is just a glorified chatbot."

Hum.

Unfortunately, there's more than a few people out there who would WANT a glorified chatbot. One with attachments for sex. And who could fix dinner and clean the house without complaining, without having the needs and desires that a human companion would have.  And frankly, it that keeps those people out of the dating pool, I see no downside.
 

But let's look beyond the tawdry sex toy element of this whole affair, and take Le Trung at his word, that Aiko is designed for things like helping the elderly.  Sadly, I can actually see how it would be very helpful in that capacity; given the state of our elder care, there's more than a few people who may actually need a glorified chatbot.  One with attachments for giving them pills and helping them up after they've fallen.  That need is only goin g to increase as the baby-boomers begin to need full-time care, and the nuclear family continues to disintegrate.  If you can't rely on children to take care of you in your dotage, a robot, especially a pleasant-looking and sounding one might seem like an attractive option.
 

Now, does anyone want to speculate how many Metafilter, Livejournal, Blogspot and other internet pundits are going to end up all alone in a warehouse-style nursing home, bedridden, with almost no human contact?  With just a nursebot to medicate and clean up after them?
 

...and of course their full-sensory, 360-degree holographic game consoles, and their 24-7 connection to their World of Warcraft accounts.

 Supposedly from the hype piece, this inflatable electric car could be delivered in two cartons by mail, be assembled in a couple hours, get 2500 miles on an electric charge.  it would also, supposedly be much safer than a regular car, since it's essentially made out of airbags.

Looking at the actual company website, it appears that they have simply done designs, and no actual prototype has been produced.  This automatically raises my skepticism meter, since we've seen similar displays of enthusiastic hype that never produced an actual product.

Still, if they're on the level (Unlikely) and actually manage to produce a product (doubtful), it would be neat.  And their idea for the backpack emergency vehicle is just too cute.

So, Charlie Stross has a rant up about the latest   "What your Freshmen Don't Know" list at Beloit college.  The list itself is rather overblown, and my reaction to the items ranged from "so?" to "hmm.".  What may be more interesting is the commentary, with people of various ages arguing about how alien teens really are.  And of course there's Mr. Stross' reaction.

Is it a bad sign when a noted SF author shows signs of culture shock?  maybe even Future Shock?  Admittedly, the whole list is an exercise in Future Shock, a prose version of Billy Joel's "We Didn't Light the Fire".  So Mr. Stross may be playing along.

Still, I'm wondering if in a couple years, somebody will find him huddling under his living room table screaming "It's here!  the Singularity is here!  And it left me behind!" 

I've been having an interesting time looking at the Google Maps mod that overlays the projected 7 meter sea level rise in the next century. I was a bit surprised actually, since I thought that the Santa Clara County area would be harder hit than it will be. Google and a few other companies will have to relocate of course, but on the other hand,t he redevelopment problem regarding East Palo Alto will be solved, permanently. It's interesting to note that my current location seems to be safe- though the house of the person I was cat-sitting for will be on the oceanfront...I can't really tell which side of the oceanfront it will be though.

As for my old hometown...not as badly hit as I thought, though the downtown area will be pretty much gone. My high school (big square at the corner of Milpas and Anapamu) will be able to easily have a canoing and sailboarding program. Goleta will get hit bad though: the airport and downtown Goleta will be pretty much gone, and UCSB will be even more of an island than it currently is. Things down't look too good for Carpinteria either, and it's worth noting that most of Highway 101 down to Ventura will be submerged.

Moving south to Los Angeles, surfers in Long Beach will be able to dodge the ruins of buildings as the shoreline moves inland, and Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley seem to be looking at some major water incursions as well. But in any case, the people in these areas can take comfort in the fact that at least they don't live in Louisiana or South Florida (note to self- visit New Orleans and Everglades while they still exist).

While I probably won't be alive to see the water levels hit this height, my niece will- and I will live to see the beginning of the process.

Interesting times (in a Chinese sense) lie ahead.