His opening column deals with trends in tablet computing devices
(iPads, etc.) and the future of publishing (Kindle, iPad, etc.).
In the course of the article, he cites "The Mote in God's Eye," which
he and Larry Niven wrote back in 1974.
That book is one of my favorite reads, and in it the authors foresaw a
number of technological developments. As a result, everyone in the
31st century is walking around with their pocket phones and pocket
computers.
Visionary for 1974 (cell phones were only barely invented–and
huge!–at that point, and the personal computer revolution was not yet
really begun). They just didn't realize that pocket phones and pocket
computers would end up being the same thing.
Also, they had the pocket comps using a stylus interface (a reasonable
prediction, but I don't think one that will last that long; it's
already being replaced by touch screens and voice activation), and you
had to establish a special link with the local mainframe, at which
point the device would buzz to let you know it was in communication
with it. (Overly complicated way of connecting to the local wi-fi.)
Still, *very* impressive.
And a ripping good story, too.
