(2004-07-16) Vinge Sensors

Vernor Vinge adapted a piece of an uncoming novel into a story for IEEE/Spectrum. Years ago, games (Computer Game) and movies were for indoors, for couch potatoes and kids with overtrained trigger fingers. Now they were on the outside. They were the world... He suddenly realized he was whistling as he walked. What did matter...was a wonderful surprise. He had coordinated something today (Collaboration). He had been the person who helped other people. It was nothing like being a real top agent - but it was something... It suddenly occurred to him that there could be something beyond top agents. There could be people who helped others on a time scale of years. Something called teachers. (Educating Kids)

Side commentary by Harry Goldstein.