Freedom, Science Fiction and the Singularity: A conversation with author Vernor Vinge

Mark Frauenfelder 1:46 pm Tue Sep 6, 2011

[Video Link] Reason.tv interviewed science fiction author Vernor Vinge. Good stuff

Vernor Vinge is a former San Diego State University math professor and a Hugo award-winning science fiction novelist. In Vinge's 1993 essay "The Coming Technological Singularity" Vinge wrote, "Within thirty years, we will have the technological means to create superhuman intelligence. Shortly after, the human era will be ended."

We sat down with Vinge to learn more about his influences, his novels and the coming singularity.

Vinge's latest novel, The Children of the Sky, will be released in October 2011.

Crap gadgets reborn as "Dead Startup Toys"

Dead Startup Toys is selection of classic crap gadgets recreated in nonfunctional funsize form. There are adorable Juiceros and Jibos, internet-of-things drink coolers, the well-meaning but hell-bent One Laptop Per Child, and of course the greatest of them all, the Theranos blood assay Minilab that raised nearly a billion dollars and was for all intents… READ THE REST
Team Trump's new social media platform is called "Gettr" and it's recommending that I follow Hitler

Politico reports that a new social network app named "Gettr" is in fact developed by Team Trump. It's described as having been "quietly launched" by Trump's former spokesman Jason Miller, a charitable way of describing something so workaday and generic it's not clear if it's ready to be noticed. There are spelling errors in its… READ THE REST
Venture capitalists launch Future, an "optimistic" tech site

Future is a new online magazine from venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz offering "optimistic" coverage of tech to counter everyone else's growing discomfort with it. Here's Sonal Chokshi, Editor in Chief: We are pro-tech, pro-future, pro-change. But we are also "informed optimists", not freewheeling futurists making predictions without any skin in the game. So even… READ THE REST
Take an extra 15 percent off on these wireless charging stations for your mobile devices

A wireless charger can make just about anyone's life so much easier. Whether you're looking for a wireless charger for your watch or a dock that can tackle a few of your gadgets at once, there are lots of markdowns right now for a limited time. There are even some chargers that are portable, so you… READ THE REST
15 items that are guaranteed to satisfy the neediest dog or cat

You can buy gifts for your bae. You can buy gifts for your mom and dad. You can even buy gifts for your kids. But there's something different you feel when you buy something fun and new for your pet. We don't even have to get into why people have different sets of feelings for… READ THE REST
Gear up for gaming glory with 10 controllers, chargers, and more, all at an extra 15% off

If you're a gamer, there's little that gets you more excited than new gear. Stepping up to a new controller or a new headset can literally change the entire experience of playing every game on your shelf. We know what the charge of playing with new toys is like, which is why you should definitely… READ THE REST