I thought that they got some of it right. I found this part most funny: >The purpose of this improved Zworykin-Von Neumann automaton is to predict the weather with an accuracy unattainable before >>1980. It is a combination of calculating machine and forecaster. The calculator solves thousands of separate equations in a >minute;
Now that's funny. We do billions per sec, and it still is not enough. You can buy 7 Teraflops out of the box, and its still not enough to accurately predict weather. >the automatic forecaster carries out the computer's instructions and predicts the weather from hour to hour. In 1950, >meteorologists had no time to deal with the 50-odd variables that should have been mathematically handled to predict the >weather 24 hours in advance. 50-odd variables.... funny! >Following suggestions made by Zworykin and Von Neumann storms are more or less under control. It is easy enough to spot a >budding hurricane in the doldrums off the coast of Africa. Before it has a chance to gather much strength and speed as it >travels westward toward Florida, oil is spread over the sea and ignited. Yeah, like that would be allowed. The 50's seemed to lack any sort of idea about environmentalism. >There is an updraft. Air from the surrounding region, which includes the developing hurricane, rushes in to fill the void. >The rising air condenses so that some of the water in the whirling mass falls as rain. That would have to be one big damn fire! I found the reference to Orwell helicopter corporation a bit strange.. Orwell? Like George Orwell? What we call robotic factories they call "intelligence integrate industrial production" . I find this interesting because they seemed to lack the proper language to describe robotic automation. They also mentioned using endless punch cards to program the robotic process. and lastly, "It takes no more than a minute to transmit and receive in facsimile a five-page letter on paper of the usual business size. Cost? Five cents." Hehehe... They never envisioned spam! NFH >-----Original Message----- >From: Robert Seeberger [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2003 1:32 PM >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: The limits of vision > > >http://architecture.mit.edu/house_n/web/resources/articles/life >inthefuture/MIRACLES%20OF%20THE%20NEXT%20FIFTY%20YEARS.htm > >The year 200 as viewed from 1950 > > > >xponent >Almost Maru >rob > > >_______________________________________________ >http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l > _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
