Friday, December 15, 2006

Programmer's Almanac: Dec 16th, 2006

On this day in 1917, Science Fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke was born. He is credited with coming up with the idea of using geosynchronous satellites for communications in a science fiction novel. And with the idea of a space elevator.

From his fiction also comes the HAL9000 computer, from the movie 2001 A Space Odyssey.

Hal Quote (from the movie): "I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that. "

Clarke Quote: "Any sufficiently advanced technology will be indistinguishable from magic..."

(c) 2006, Jorge Monasterio

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