Back in 2021, the New York Police Department (NYPD) cancelled a planned deployment of the Spot robot dog [aka "Digidog"] following a public backlash. Now, New York City's current law and order mayor Eric Adams has brought the robot dog back for use in "hazardous situations," The New York Times has reported. "Digidog is out of the pound," Adams said at a press conference yesterday in Times Square.The NYPD will acquire two of the robots for $750,000 and only use them in hostage and other critical situations. "I believe that technology is here; we cannot be afraid of it,” Adams said. “A few loud people were opposed to it, and we took a step back [but] that is not how I operate. I operate on looking at what’s best for the city."Spot/Digidog is built by Hyundai's Boston Dynamics, and is designed to be used in dangerous situations like security and inspections. It was also tested for use in combat by the French army, primarily for reconnaissance.During its previous tour of duty with the NYPD, police used Spot to gather information about a gunmen barricaded inside a building. On another occasion it was deployed during a home invasion, also to give officers eyes inside the house. After critics brought up potential concerns over surveillance and privacy, however, then-mayor Bill de Blasio elected to cancel a $94,000 lease on Spot. "It’s creepy, alienating and sends the wrong message to New Yorkers," a city spokesperson said at the time. Along with Digidog, the NYPD announced... Continue reading at 'Engadget'
[ Engadget | 2023-04-12 06:19:27 UTC ]
A look at the big hits and obscure winners that transported readers to other worlds. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2021-11-18 15:00:42 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The best science fiction and fantasy book deals of the day, curated by Book Riot Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2021-11-15 13:46:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Ms. Mayer reported on Comic-Con and contributed to Book Concierge, NPR’s literary recommendation tool. She gravitated toward science fiction, romance and fantasy. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2021-11-14 18:40:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The science fiction author spoke with WIRED senior correspondent Adam Rogers about climate change and big solutions. Continue reading at Wired
[ Wired | 2021-11-10 20:46:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Book Reviews Photo by Aideal Hwa / Unsplash If reading Adam Wiśniewski-Snerg’s Robot (Penguin Classics, 2021), translated by Tomasz Mirkowicz, makes you think about Stanislaw Lem’s work, you’re not alone. Indeed, both Robot and Lem’s His Master’s... Continue reading at World Literature Today
[ World Literature Today | 2021-11-10 20:14:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Science fiction author Neal Stephenson shares his thoughts on the metaverse, a term he coined, after Facebook's rebrand brought new light to the topic. The post ‘Still a long way from being realized’: A Q&A with author and metaverse inventor Neal Stephenson appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday
[ Digiday | 2021-11-05 04:01:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Mark Zuckerberg changed Facebook’s name to Meta last week – and launched a vision for his company that he claims will transform the way we interact with the internet and each other. So what exactly is the metaverse? And will it ever leave the realm of science fiction?When Facebook scheduled a... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2021-11-04 03:00:23 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The best science fiction and fantasy book deals of the day, curated by Book Riot Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2021-11-01 12:49:56 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The best science fiction and fantasy book deals of the day, curated by Book Riot Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2021-10-25 13:26:34 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Frank Herbert’s magnum opus: masterful or clumsy? Denis Villeneuve’s movie continues the debate. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2021-10-21 13:13:42 UTC ]
More news stories like this
What are the best places to begin exploring the wonderful world of science fiction? Some of the classic novels of the genre, from Frank Herbert’s Dune to Asimov’s Foundation series (which eventually stretched to seven volumes), might appear daunting because of their sheer size and scope. Below,... Continue reading at Interesting Literature
[ Interesting Literature | 2021-10-20 14:00:25 UTC ]
More news stories like this
This post keeps spoilers to the bare minimum since the show will not air until October 28th.While Star Trek certainly has its share of young fans, it’s never been specifically for the kids. Sure, there was the animated show back in the ‘70s, but that was basically a continuation of the original... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2021-10-11 18:30:49 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The audio version of an in-depth article on how science fiction’s hopes and fears can inspire humanity’s response to the climate crisis. Continue reading at The Conversation
[ The Conversation | 2021-10-11 09:13:49 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Danis Goulet's Night Raiders had the widest theatrical opening of any movie by an Indigenous Canadian filmmaker. But while the movie examines very real — and heartbreaking — events, Goulet opted to do so through the lens of science fiction. ... Continue reading at CBC
[ CBC | 2021-10-10 08:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The best science fiction and fantasy book deals of the day, curated by Book Riot Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2021-10-04 13:01:44 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The bestselling, Hugo Award–winning science fiction series, which has reimagined the space opera and spawned an acclaimed television series, will wrap up this November with 'Leviathan Falls.' Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, the writing duo known by the pseudonym James S.A. Corey, discusses their... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-10-01 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
At Time, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Powers discusses his newest novel, Bewilderment, which is set during a period that resembles our own—but not quite. ” I was thinking a little bit along the lines of the form that science fiction writers like to call the ‘near-term future,'” Powers... Continue reading at The Millions
[ The Millions | 2021-09-29 20:30:41 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Romance, crime and science fiction novels are among the five shortlisted books for the £20,000 Kindle Storyteller Award, which this year received a record number of submissions. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-29 00:11:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The best science fiction and fantasy book deals of the day, curated by Book Riot Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2021-09-27 12:35:52 UTC ]
More news stories like this
One of the greatest science fiction writers, Asimov’s work has had a lasting effect thanks to his prescient takes on technology, climate collapse and humanity’s future. Continue reading at The Conversation
[ The Conversation | 2021-09-24 15:01:23 UTC ]
More news stories like this