Still can't figure out what the heck this company does. Guess it plans to sell hype.
The last time I remember this much hype was in the lead up to the segway.
http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/2013/1019/Inventions-tha...
Neal Stephenson Joins Magic Leap
71–80 of 167 posts
Re: Neal Stephenson Joins Magic Leap
#72Earlier quoted context omitted.
Stupid question: Who is Neal Stephenson, and why is he famous? Wikipedia suggests that he's a sci-fi author, is there a particular reason for his fame, could you recommend some of his works?
Snow Crash for old school howling-metal cyberpunk. The Baroque Cycle for a semi-fictional view of the beginnings of science - the Newton and Hooke era. Anathem for an interesting take on the philosophy of science disguised as a sci-fi epic.
All are fantastic. I was put off by the beginning of Snow Crash initially, as there are some tongue-in-cheek bits that struck me as too campy. But I might not say that now, having read it a few times.
The Baroque Cycle is a massive piece of work spanning 3 volumes, comprised of 8 nominally independent books. If it seems intimidating, just try the first one and see if you're not hooked. I'd love it if there was twice as much material.
Anathem is by far my favorite. Its hooks take longer to set, but for me they set much deeper. There is a lot going on in this book, and it will truly blow your mind if you let it.
Re: Neal Stephenson Joins Magic Leap
#73This is notable not just because of Neal Stephenson, but because his blog post contains what I think is the most detailed public description of the tech so far: --- Here’s where you’re probably expecting the sales pitch about how mind-blowingly awesome the demo was. But it’s a little more interesting than that. Yes, I saw something on that optical table I had never seen before--something that only Magic Leap, as far…
Stupid question: Who is Neal Stephenson, and why is he famous? Wikipedia suggests that he's a sci-fi author, is there a particular reason for his fame, could you recommend some of his works?
As others have mentioned, Stephenson is known for his fiction. However, his nonfiction piece from 1996 for Wired magazine is my personal favorite piece. It recounts his trip around the world investigating undersea fiber-optic cables and speculating on what it all means for the future:
Re: Neal Stephenson Joins Magic Leap
#74This quote "I sometimes feel that the creative minds who make games have done about as much as is possible in two dimensions. It’s hard to imagine how the current crop of games, for example, could be more finely tuned to deliver that particular kind of entertainment." isn't particular inspiring coming from a Chief Futurist. I can imagine a ton of 2D (or text based, for that matter) games that haven't been attempted let alone perfected. I also feel like I play new novel 2D games all the time.
I say this as someone that is excited about VR, AR and would love to see whatever Magic Leap is cooking up, and is a huge Neal Stephenson fan.
Re: Neal Stephenson Joins Magic Leap
#75Re: Neal Stephenson Joins Magic Leap
#76This Gizmodo article does a great job of demystifying MagicLeap's tech by digging into the founder's background, patent filings, and trademark applications: http://gizmodo.com/how-magic-leap-is-secretly-creating-a-new...
This is the most informative story I've read in this submission.
Re: Neal Stephenson Joins Magic Leap
#77This is notable not just because of Neal Stephenson, but because his blog post contains what I think is the most detailed public description of the tech so far: --- Here’s where you’re probably expecting the sales pitch about how mind-blowingly awesome the demo was. But it’s a little more interesting than that. Yes, I saw something on that optical table I had never seen before--something that only Magic Leap, as far…
One of the things that's interesting to me about that quote is the phrase "optical table." I think that there's a presumption (that I've shared) that Magic Leap is trying to make AR goggles or glasses. But, as has been extensively commented upon in the past, that's just crazy. We're just barely at the point of doing semi-decent VR (Oculus Rift) and just barely at the point of doing semi-decent wearable heads-up displ…
It sounds more to me like a direct projection to retina. Has this ever been attempted ? Would that be working with lasers ?
Re: Neal Stephenson Joins Magic Leap
#78Earlier quoted context omitted.
Stupid question: Who is Neal Stephenson, and why is he famous? Wikipedia suggests that he's a sci-fi author, is there a particular reason for his fame, could you recommend some of his works?
Snow Crash for old school howling-metal cyberpunk. The Baroque Cycle for a semi-fictional view of the beginnings of science - the Newton and Hooke era. Anathem for an interesting take on the philosophy of science disguised as a sci-fi epic.
I would also highly recommend:
The Mongoliad semi-fictional view of mid-thirteenth century Mongol invasion of Europe
Reamde MMO gold farming, social networking, criminal methods of the Russian mafia, Islamic terrorists
Re: Neal Stephenson Joins Magic Leap
#79Earlier quoted context omitted.
Stupid question: Who is Neal Stephenson, and why is he famous? Wikipedia suggests that he's a sci-fi author, is there a particular reason for his fame, could you recommend some of his works?
Snow Crash for old school howling-metal cyberpunk. The Baroque Cycle for a semi-fictional view of the beginnings of science - the Newton and Hooke era. Anathem for an interesting take on the philosophy of science disguised as a sci-fi epic.
Have you not read 'The Diamond Age'?
IMO it is one of his best works. Nanotech/Networks/Crypto for the masses to understand. I read, loved and was caught up in the VR fever of the 90's via Snow Crash, and love his other books, but TDA is the one I'll never get rid of.
Re: Neal Stephenson Joins Magic Leap
#80Did this "revolutionary startup hires top SF writer" thing ever happen before? If so, how it turn out last time(s)? I hope it doesn't end up like the whole "revolutionary CPU maker hires Linus" thing.
It happens (sort of) in REAMDE. :P
There, it ends up precipitating a gigantic MMO war.