A lobster's eyes, which look like small antenna, are made up of thousands of tiny square channels that allow the eyes to focus by reflection, rather than by refraction -- or the bending of light -- as human eyes do.
That unique optical geometric design, which allows lobsters to see in the dimmest light, is being adapted into a "lobster-eye lens" that focuses the X-ray images so that the device can actually see through a wall and project an image of what's on the other side.
Given the way people are treated at airports post 9-11, I'm surprised this gadget doesn't come equipped with pincers.
In Charlie Stross' Accelerando, the first uploaded creatures were lobsters. In the VR environment, they bootstrapped themselves to sentience and hitched a ride on an interplanetary probe.
ReplyDeleteProphecy maybe?
I *still* haven't read "Accelerando." But I'm more intrigued every time I hear about it!
ReplyDeleteGreat read. Fast paced. Not for a novice though, one definitely needs some idea what a technological singularity is.
ReplyDeleteImagine swallowing a handful of "bennies" and chasing them down with espresso.
Good shit.
Dad--
ReplyDeleteI've read "Singularity Sky," which I thought was refreshingly funny and astute.
Mac-
ReplyDeleteCharlie's prose in most of his work has that satirical, humorous and insightful quality. He has a good grasp on the human condition.
Of course you already know this. I envy you people who can write great fiction, or any other form of art.
I'm still trying to recover my muse. She got buried pretty good when I was in the Marines.