Description:

Once in a great while a science fiction story is so visionary, yet so close to impending scientific developments that it becomes not only an accurate predictor, but itself the locus for new discoveries and development. True Names by Vernor Vinge, first published in 1981, is such a work. Here is a feast of articles by computer scientists and journalists on the cutting edge of the field, writing about innovations and developments of the Internet, including, among Danny Founder of thinking machines and the first Disney Fellow. Timothy C. former chief scientist at Intel--a major insider in the field of computers and technology. Marvin Cofounder of the MIT Artificial Intelligence Lab. Chip Morningstar and F. Randall Codevelopers of habitat, the first real computer interactive environment. Mark Cocreator of VRML and the author of the Playful How Technology Transforms Our Imagination. Richard M. Research affiliate with MIT; the founder of the Free Software Movement.