Google's Self-Driving Car

Wow!  The headline says it all.

Check this video out:



Forbes reports:

Much of the reporting about Google’s driverless car has mistakenly focused on its science-fiction feel. While the car is certainly cool—just watch the video below about a 95%-blind man running errands—the gee-whiz focus suggests that it is just a high-tech dalliance by a couple of brash young multibillionaires, Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin.

In fact, the driverless car has broad implications for society, for the economy and for individual businesses. Just in the U.S., the car puts up for grab some $2 trillion a year in revenue and even more market cap.  It creates business opportunities that dwarf Google’s current search-based business and unleashes existential challenges to market leaders across numerous industries, including car makers, auto insurers, energy companies and others that share in car-related revenue.

Read more here:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/chunkamui/2013/01/22/fasten-your-seatbelts-googles-driverless-car-is-worth-trillions/ 

Blade Runner (The Movie)

Blade Runner is one of our favorite movies -- and has been rated by some as one of the best science fiction movies of all-time.  Blade Runner was recently on the Sci Fi channel -- and it reminded us of some interesting facts about the movie.

Blade Runner is much more than your typical science fiction movie.  Based on the book, "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" -- it is a story about humanity and life -- of science & technology -- and the future of mankind.

There are interesting facts about the movie:

• The movie is based on the book, by one of the greatest sci-fi authors of all time, Philip K. Dick.  Dick also wrote stories that eventually led to movies such as Total Recall and Minority Report.
• Casting for Blade Runner was a long process, with many actors considered for the role of Deckard, before Harrison Ford was ultimately chosen.  On the other hand, the chose of Rutger Hauer for Roy Batty was made almost instantaneously by director Ridley Scott.  
• Hauer's portrayal of Batty was regarded by Philip K. Dick as, "the perfect Batty—cold, Aryan, flawless..." 

Over the years, there has been much talk about different variations of the movie, including:

• Voiceovers: many debate whether the voiceovers were necessary.  Some feel that it made the deep messages of the movie easier to understand.  Others, including Harrison Ford, argue that it ruins the movie...
• Director's cut: there are various versions of the movie -- including the original, a director's cut (that includes a unicorn dream sequence), and broadcast versions that reduce violence and nudity.  

There has also been talk about whether or not Deckard himself is a replicant.  Here is a great article on this topic, based on various versions of the screenplay.  

For more on the movie, check out:

• the Wikipedia page for the Blade Runner movie.  
• Other Blade Runner thoughts by Alan Scott.

There are great messages and quotes from the movie:

•  "The candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long..."
• Message: about the importance of every moment; and that we should enjoy these moments.
• On technology and humanity: that we should try to stay human -- and avoid the cold and impersonal path that technology can lead us...