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Related to material in 2001: A Space Odyssey
by Arthur C. Clarke

This novel was written at the same time that Stanley Kubrick created the film by the same name. The novel contains many wonderful details that are not present in the movie. The basic story is simple: a mysterious monolith, or stone monuments, is found on the moon. Investigators are led to Jupiter, where more mysteries are found. This novel contains a lot of references to the Hal 9000 computer, one of the first artificially intelligent computers created in fiction.

Science fiction in the News articles describe real-world events that relate to the ideas and inventions in sf novels and movies. Select a news article:

Robots and Emotion: Tetchy the Turtle Meets HAL-9000
   In 2001: A Space Odyssey and in I, Robot, robots had the ability to understand human emotion. Affective Media, based in Scotland, is working on it now.

Dyson Intelligent Vacuum Cleaner Is Self-Diagnosing
   James Dyson has added a new feature to his vacuum cleaners - they can tell service personnel exactly what the problem is. All you need to do is "phone home" - that is, call the service center.

Sony Reader Electronic Paper Book
   Sony tries again with the Sony Reader - much improved DRM over its lockdown predecessor the LIBRIe.

XPod Activity And Emotion Aware Mobile Music Player
   A sensitive iPod? These researchers have a player that knows what you want before you do.

News E-Papers From Plastic Logic
   Newspads and mediatrons, science fiction staples, are now making the prototyping rounds.

Starfish Robot Shows Robotic Introspection And Self-Modeling
   Amazing proprioceptive robot creates a model of its shape automatically; it can sense damage to itself and reconfigure its walk.

Robot Walks After Conceptualizing Own Structure
   Amazing video shows robot introspecting to determine its own structure, and then constructing a gait for itself.

Computerized Lip-Reading Crime Fighters
   Interesting project to teach computers how to lip-read automatically.

Sony DataTiles Inspired By What SF Movie?
   The cool Sony DataTiles are back in the news, and they were inspired by a particular science fiction movie.

Big Brother To Read Lips Like HAL
   The British are at it again, taking a technology designed to deal with criminals, and applying it to everyone.

HAL-Buffett 9000 To Make 50 Percent Of Trades By 2010
   The computers are taking over at Wall Street firms this year.

Frustration-Detection System Patented By Microsoft
   I seem to recall an earlier, science-fictional solution to this problem.

Nanny Robot Senses Emotions Of Autistic Children
   This robot may be able to use its emotion-sensing abilities to take over for people in the care of autistic children.

Roomba Detects Emotions Like HAL-9000
   Just wait until this device is used to control more powerful technology. Let sleeping Krell lie, I say.

Machine Dispenses Snacks When Economy Goes Bad
   This device responds to bad economic news by dispensing comfort food. Would HAL have done better to offer Dave Bowman some nice snacks rather than a stress pill?

Computer Learns Sign Language From TV
   Human beings just don't have that many ways to communicate basic (ie, life-sustaining) ideas in ways that are outside the realm of a computer's understanding. Now, another safety barrier falls.

Buying a Tablet Computer?
   I think that tablet computers might just make it this time around. Here's why.

NASA's Spring Tire For Improved Lunar Mileage
   The tires on the original Lunar Roving Vehicle were fantastic; however, plans to drive the LRVs of the future for thousands, not merely hundreds, of kilometers means we need better tires.

In-Flight Wi-Fi Gives Me Clarke Moment
   Actually, yes, Arthur C. Clarke's vision of checking the news on a tablet computer while in flight can be improved upon...

Robots Learn To Lie
   What are the consequences for humanity if we encourage robots to learn how to lie? What are the consequences for the robots?

Computers Now Lip Read Like Humans
   Remember that very far-fetched scene in 2001 where a computer reads lips? Not so far-fetched anymore.

Lev, Theremin-Playing Robot
   Pretty cool DIY robotic device reprises a classic song from the 1950's, the same ere during which the theremin dominated sf movie soundtracks.

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