HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: sean_v1@verifone.com
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk
Subject: Re: The Lawnmower Man
Date: 9 Apr 92 01:54:34 HST
Organization: VeriFone Inc., Honolulu HI

I have read Stephen King's story, and it had absolutly nothing to do with the
movie, one scene and a couple of lines matched the story, but the context of
those scenes were just about as screwed up as the rest of the movie.  I thought
it was a very poor refelction of VR, and was quite unbelievable, but it is
moving in the right direction.  I hope to see a good movie that reflects VR in
what it is, and what it will become in the future.




Sean Ventura
Sean_V1@Verifone.com     (Internet)
================================================================================
In article <1992Mar24.180003.14875@eff.org>, peterco@eff.org (Peter A. Cohen) writes:
> In article  Captain Caveman!!, lemon@unssun.nevada.edu writes:
> 
>>Oh come on guys!  All over the net i've been hearing about how much this
>>movie sucked and how blatantly misrepresentative it may or may have not
> 
> I agree!  It's a science fiction movie, with an emphasis on the word
> fiction!  Shit!  It's sad that people that know better take this stuff as
> seriously as they do.  The cyber-dorks and SF nuts that decry "The
> Lawnmower Man" as inaccurate have something in common with the gay
> activists who slam "Basic Instinct" and the fundamental Christians who
> slammed "The Last Tempation of Christ."  All of them are People Without A
> Clue.
> 
> Stephen King wasn't trying to make a statement on technology or V.R. with
> "The Lawnmower Man."  He was trying to tell a goddamn story- an old story
> at that.  "The Lawnmower Man" is a modernized variation of the old
> Frakenstein tale.  C'mon, V.R. freaks- don't read into it any more than
> that.  You'll look as foolish as necrophiliacs that watch "Frakenstein"
> and say "That couldn't happen!"
> 
> - Peter
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk
From: br105@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Jeffrey A. Del Col)
Subject: Re: Term in Gibson's "Mona Lisa Overdrive"
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, (USA)
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 92 02:07:06 GMT


Loa is a term from voodoo, as is Baron Samedi,etc.  Gibson
apparently sees voodoo as some sort of channel for these
extraterrestrial transhuman whatevers that live in the 
net.  Or at least that's how I read it.

J. Del Col
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk
From: Peter A. Cohen <peterco@eff.org>
Subject: Re: Fascism in America / Nazi Germany etc.
Organization: ON Technology, Inc.
X-Useragent: Nuntius v1.1a2
Date: Mon, 23 Mar 1992 19:34:00 GMT

In article  Ice, ice@skynet.uucp writes:

>where people CHOOSE (not told) to be more Vulcan because they have
>seen their irrationality in a way that being preached to by politicians
>and clergy could never, EVER, communicate to them.

There's a flip side to this, as well.  Imagine a virtual society where
facists and racial supremists try to mold everyone's virtual image into
their idea of perfection...that would have given Hitler a pretty serious
mindfuck...

- Peter
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk,alt.sex,misc.legal
From: mpevans@isis.cs.du.edu (Mark Evans)
Subject: Re: Race is an undefined term...
Organization: University of Denver, Dept. of Math & Comp. Sci.
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 92 11:53:27 GMT

csachs@oucsace.cs.ohiou.edu (Colin Sachs) writes:


>As far as I know, no one has ever conducted a study of the human genes of  
>different so-called races to compare them (the human genome (pardon the
>spelling) project would lead to this though, as long as accurate records
>were kept as to the origin of the samples). 
I have a feeling that a study which was done into this discovered that
genetically speaking it is very difficult to identify different human 'races'.

>As to "race" and sexuality... culture is the determiner.  Nothing in the
>genes, just all that "stuff" surrounding us in terms of societal norms 
>(whatever the hell those are).  

>As to "interracial" sex... just a term meaning sex with someone whose
>skin happens to be different from yours, or who was born elsewhere (usually,
>a different country).
Surely these are two different factors, the skin/hair/eye colour (closely
linked factors) by itself is likely to have about as much effect on
a persons sexuality as their ABO blood group.
Surely it is their culture and upbringing which will have the greatest effect
If someone has been brought up to consider sex to be un-natural, or dirty
or is ingorent of the basic facts about either themselves or their potential
partner then that could cause problems.
I what will make someone good sexually is that they feel secure in their 
own sexuall feelings and know how to enjoy sex WITH a partner of THEIR choice.
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
From: rlv@silver.lcs.mit.edu (Ralph L. Vinciguerra)
Subject: Re: arcologies
Organization: MIT Lab for Computer Science
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 16:30:16 GMT

In article <1992Apr13.144853.22171@cbfsb.cb.att.com> motto@cbnewsf.cb.att.com (mary.rita.otto) writes:
>
>So, why aren't people doing arcologies?
>
>
>Arcologies are boring.  Everything is built at the same time
>and has the same history, the same architecture.  Everyone
>works for the same company, etc.  Boring, boring, boring.
>
>Mary

I would disagree here.
Although the main structure must be built at one time, that doesn't
mean that the appearance can't evolve over time. Many times in the
Boston downtown area I've seen a solid building be gutted to reveal the
interior structure and then have new outer panels give it a completely
new look. I think this makes alot of sense instead of performing the
heavy construction over and over again. Also, in Soleri's book
there is a scheme to reconstruct the arcologies over time in an organized
manner. The book is really worth checking out.

About the one-company issue, there would realistically be a mix of small
companies and large manufacturers. I see no reason for it to be restricted
to just a new mega corps. Lots of small consulting firms, financial offices,
engineering firms, entertainment complexes, etc etc etc.

I think it would be boring if the designers are boring.
I've been in both boring and exciting urban settings manys times. It's all in
the design and implementation.
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
From: mike@highlite.uucp (Mike Wiik)
Subject: Re: ALPHA SHADES
Organization: Gotham Communications Research, Laurel, MD
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1992 15:47:05 GMT

In article <1992Apr8.232724.14112@ddsw1.MCS.COM> whos@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Ben Feen) writes:
>Yep.  I built a little thing (even etched a PC board for it, 'cause it was
>an independent project for my Electronics class) that blinked two LED's 
>alternately using a 555 timer.  However, the thing you really want is a 
>certain chip which does LED flashing as its raison d'etre.  I can't find my
>favorite parts catalog at the moment, but it's a four-digit number, beginning
>with 3.  Someone have a TTL book?
>-- 
I don't have a TTL book, but I've got several "bracelets" I made with
3909 chips for LED flashing. I think you can also get these chips inside
an LED now (like at Radio Shack).


-- 
   | o==== . : ... :  :  .     |Mail Me Neat Stuff->POB 3703 Arlington VA 22203
 --@-- . o o o ... O -O- o o : |No disclaimers needed: I actually pay for this.
   |           ... :  :        |-----------------------------------------------
mEssAGE fRoM sPAcE ARt stUdiOs |                 SinGulaRNosC!
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
From: kj@solbourne.com (Ken Sullivan)
Subject: Re: auditory input via electrical connection?
Organization: Solbourne Computer, Inc.
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 22:34:53 GMT

In <1992Apr13.180643.11331@news.Hawaii.Edu> dfrick@uhunix.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (Doug Frick) writes:

>I once read an article about a patent for a device that could send 
>sound directly to the brain, possibly through the auditory nerve;
>the mechanism was unknown. The device was (if I remember correctly)

The device is called a cochlear implant, it is implanted under the skin
in a cutout made in the mastiod process just behind the ear.  A 28 channel
D-to-A converter processes sound that is picked up by an external microphone, is
digitized, filtered and transmitted through the skin to the implant.
The receiver is a passive receiver ie. no battery. The transmitter is low 
power and held next to the implant with a magnet. It is very light weight.
The microprocessor is worn on the hip like a sony walkman. It has programmable
filters, DSP, volume, etc, however the application is rather crude.
Patients who have lost their hearing and receive the implant say that the
audio sounds like mikey mouse, probably due to the limited frequency bands
being stimulated. The implant has a tiny bundle of 28 wires which are fed
into the spiral shaped cochlea during surgery. Each of the wires has a bare
end which makes direct contact with the nerve endings in the cochlea. The 
frequencies are distributed linearly along the cochlea. By using different
lengths of wire in the bundle different frequency bands can be stimulated.
In actual practice, not all 28 wires make good contact, thus further limiting
the frequency range for the patient.  I have seen, photographed and talked to
both the patients and the surgeon. Dispite the limitations of the current
technology, it is truly amazing to see a deaf person hear for the first time.
Even if it does sound like Walt Disney :-)  My wife was the Adminstrator of
the Childrens Deafness foundation in Denver. She is not there any more.
I am not associated with the Foundation in any way.

KJ Sullivan
Solbourne Computer
My opinons and knowledge are mine alone, my employer justs rents them.
From: rjwalsh@maths.tcd.ie (Robert Walsh)
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
Subject: Re: auditory input via electrical connection?
Date: 14 Apr 92 08:03:30 GMT
Organization: Dept. of Maths, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.
Organisation: Amalgamated Durables

In <1992Apr13.180643.11331@news.Hawaii.Edu> dfrick@uhunix.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (Doug Frick) writes:

>I once read an article about a patent for a device that could send 
>sound directly to the brain, possibly through the auditory nerve;
>the mechanism was unknown. The device was (if I remember correctly)

I remember seeing some time back on a TV science program (Tomorrow's
World, I think), a device that allowed blind people to see through a
video camera. The camera was linked up to something on their head
which was connected to some nerve somewhere or other (I forget the
exact details - it could have been the optic nerve directly). Anyway,
the person that was using it could see what the video camera saw,
which, for test purposes, was a projection on a screen of some braille
patterns (this person was blind from birth, so braille was all he could
identify). The device actually worked and as the braille was displayed
on the screen, the person could actually read it.

I haven't heard anything on this since then (this was about 3 years ago).
Does anyone know if this has been subsequently developed???
--
rjwalsh@maths.tcd.ie   \ The above comments are not Trinity's.
Robert Walsh             \ Hell, they're not even mine!
Advanced Development Group \
Trinity College, Dublin.     \
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
From: ratner@owlnet.rice.edu (Logan Joshua Ratner)
Subject: Re: arcologies
Organization: Rice University
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1992 14:39:59 GMT

Okay, thanks for the clarifications, everybody.
If arcology simpliy implies a newer, better organized, (cleaner?)
city then I am all for the principle.

Of course I've seen city planning go belly-up before, but hey, at
least people are trying.

To all those who fit the 'traditional mariner, explorer, pusher-of-envelopes'
lable (all due reguadrs to thantos) I suppose a bit of an appology is in order.
If you think it will work, its your life, go for it and GOOD LUCK (in all
sincerity)

By the way, I am a bit of a sailor. I've never met "Hurricane Bob-Barker"
but I have been in gale force winds in a Cat that should never have been out
(I will never ignore small craft advisories again) so don't think I have
no concept of the nautical aspects.

Of course, IMHO the cities are still where its at (at least for now?)
and I'm not leaving til they kick me out. Then I'll probably try to 
slip back in.

Oh, and by the way, I really did enjoy the commotion I stirred up.
Even if you disagreed w/ me (especially if you disagreed w/ me)
thanks.  I guess I'll keep firing from the hip as long as there's
someone on the recieving line.

RATNER
From: wce@hogbbs.scol.pa.us
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
Subject: Re: arcologies
Date: 17 Apr 92 05:01:24 GMT
X-Maildoor: WaflineMail 1.00r

>In article <1992Mar30.232830.2987@rice.edu> ratner@owlnet.rice.edu (Logan Jos
  > Ratner) writes:

>>To ask what may in fact be a really dumb question to some people,
  >>why bother with all this stuff?  Whats the point of floating utopias
  >>(which I doubt will be any more utopic than anyplace else)?
  >>Why archologies.  What will they have that cities don't?
  >>I'm sorry but I just don't get it.
  >you can also turn that arround: what would a city have that an arch. wouldn't
  >for example: smog, heavy crime, overpopulation, etc

Soleri's idea is that, as fossil fuels are used up, higher efficiency in
lifestyle will be an absolute necessity in a planet with ten billion
people (which is the estimated population in some 50-70 years, which is
when the fossil petroleum will be so scarce as to be too expensive to
burn). The whole concept of the arcology is to provide the maximum
benefits of the city with a minimum of expense.

JE>>Face it, the sprawl is where the action is. The cities are the
  >>only real testing ground for newtech; the ultimate field testing.

Nobody minds if you prefer the sprawl-- but the whole urban suburban
complex depends upon the gasoline burning automobile-- maybe we'll come
up with an alternative to petroleum that's cheap enough to maintain
sprawl lifestyle, but then again maybe we won't.

JE>>If you guys can't cope, hey thats fine with me, but in my opinion
  >>abandoning ship (excuse the expression) is hardly what Cyberpunk
  >>is all about (You may have the cyber...)

Perhaps that's for us to decide-- I see it as being the essence of
cyberpunk, real cyberpunk, as oppoosed to gibsonian fantasy. Gibson only
has to write about the future-- we have to live into it...
---
 * SLMR 2.0 * Hard Disk Not Responding:(A)bort, (P)anic, (D)etonate
From: maupb@warwick.ac.uk (RouE)
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
Subject: Re: auditory input via electrical connection?
Date: 15 Apr 92 03:17:11 GMT
Organization: Computing Services, Warwick University, UK

In article <1992Apr14.080330.6303@maths.tcd.ie> rjwalsh@maths.tcd.ie (Robert Walsh) writes:
>In <1992Apr13.180643.11331@news.Hawaii.Edu> dfrick@uhunix.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (Doug Frick) writes:
>
>>I once read an article about a patent for a device that could send 
>>sound directly to the brain, possibly through the auditory nerve;
>>the mechanism was unknown. The device was (if I remember correctly)
>
>I remember seeing some time back on a TV science program (Tomorrow's
>World, I think), a device that allowed blind people to see through a
>video camera. The camera was linked up to something on their head
>which was connected to some nerve somewhere or other (I forget the
>exact details - it could have been the optic nerve directly).

	I remember that programme too. As for the auditory job, there was
an article in the local paper about someone who went deaf from meningitis
at the age of two having an operation at Queen Elizabeth hospital in
Birmingham, where a hearing aid which electrically stimulates the
auditory nerve was fitted. The patient was then able to hear her own
voice. However, the article also mentioned that a patient must be trained
to interpret the signals produced by the device.
-- 
                       Jason L Saunders [ RouE ]      
                     email: maupb@csv.warwick.ac.uk
snail: Warwick Business School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
From: dfrick@uhunix.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (Doug Frick)
Subject: auditory input via electrical connection?
Organization: University of Hawaii at Manoa
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 18:06:43 GMT

I once read an article about a patent for a device that could send 
sound directly to the brain, possibly through the auditory nerve;
the mechanism was unknown. The device was (if I remember correctly)
a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) running at about 1500 KHz
that was attached to the base of the spine with a electric pad, and
the ground was attached to the foot. The patent was granted in the
mid-60's to some people who later got into acid, etc. and that's about
all I remember. The reference was, as best I can recall, in the
Omni Book of ... (no, not Science Fiction) somewhere between 1984
and 1989. I had also seen a reference to this patent back in the
late seventies. My Omni Book of ... was discarded during a book cull.
If any of you'all have any clues as to this article or patent, please
let me know, directly or post. Thanks.
--
Doug Frick
dfrick@uhunix.uhcc.Hawaii.edu
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
From: ptorre@milton.u.washington.edu (Phil Torre)
Subject: Re: ALPHA SHADES
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1992 09:53:21 GMT

I think you're thinking of the LM3909 LED flasher chip from National Semi.
(About every sort of LED-flashing function you could want on a little 8-pin
DIP.  Out of stock at a Radio Shack near you.)
From: wce@hogbbs.scol.pa.us
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
Subject: Re: arcologies
Date: 17 Apr 92 05:01:36 GMT
X-Maildoor: WaflineMail 1.00r


   >From: jlowrey@skat.usc.edu (John 'Fritz' Lowrey)
J'L>        Folks,
>        Has anybody here, besides me, read David Brin's recent book "Earth"?
>In it, amoung other things, he describes a future society that is high tech,
>generaly peaceful, and ecologicaly concious.  However, it also has the
(IMHO) not so lovely feature of enforced lack of privacy and overpopulation.

Brin's "Earth", despite the lack of realism in his ending and gravitonic
laser concept, is an absolute classic already, and a must read for those
interested in cyber fiction, and future scenarios.
---
 * SLMR 2.0 * G=Guns, PG=Plenty of Guns, PG-13=More than 12 guns...
                                                                                                                         
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech,alt.cyberspace,rec.arts.sf.science
From: tolman%asylum.utah.edu@cs.utah.edu (Kenneth Tolman)
Subject: Re: Virtual reality, the brain, and high-speed modems.
Date: 11 Apr 92 17:21:16 MDT
Organization: University of Utah CS Dept

>In article <1992Apr7.160153.13146@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> mjg51721@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Michael James Gebis) writes:
>I have recently read a variety of stories concerning COMPLETE virtual reality..
>where the user has had an implant 
>in his brain which totally simulates all sensory input, and also receives
>all commands from the brain.
>My question is....how much information is this? 
> How fast an interface would be

I wondered this a few weeks ago, and came up with these figures.  There are
approximately 1.2*10^7 in and out neurons.  The fastest of these can fire
at a rate of 1*10^3 action potentials per second.  This is a rate of:

1.2*10^10 bits per second for full simulation

Notice that I am assuming that we are able to stimulate just at the end of
the refractory period.  The discretation does not seem to be to be a problem.

Current fiber optic cables handle about 1 billion bits per second, or 10^9.
Thus, we need at least 12 fiber optic cables.

This number is WAY high.  Most of our incoming data is continuous, that is
half that number of cables could be used with interpolation or some other
scheme.  Maybe just one cable.  Keep in mind a cable is some 150 microns
across, so even 100 would be extremely tiny.

The major problem is ennervation (actual transduction of light pulses into
action potentials).  With todays technology, there is a minimum electrical
gradient applied across the neuron to get it to fire.  With only a few of 
these it is fine (such as for parapalegics walking) but for a lot this
would burn out the region.  Today, we can not do this without causing 
electrical overload.  Also some sort of minicomputer and array of wires
would have to carry the information to the right spot.  We could not do
this today either.


MATH FUN:
 
Take the above figures, and figure out:

How much memory (in bits, megabytes, whatever) is required for storing an
experience of 1 second, 1 day, 1 life?

Knowing how much experience occurs in a life, how many "different lifetime"
experiences are there, how many lives are possible to experience?

How many years would you have to live to experience all these, how does this
compare to the estimated length of the universe? (10^40 seconds)
From: wce@hogbbs.scol.pa.us
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
Subject: Re: arcologies
Date: 17 Apr 92 05:01:12 GMT
X-Maildoor: WaflineMail 1.00r


  >From: nessus@wpi.WPI.EDU (Nessus)

NE>Could you tell me(us) where to get more info on these projects...
NE>Particually New Alchemy, as I am closest to there...

Send a letter, naturally including a buck or two for postage, and ask to
be sent the catalog and put on the mailing list, to:

New Alchemy Institute
237 Hatchville Road
East Falmouth, Ma, 02536

The catalog contains visitors information.
---
 * SLMR 2.0 * G=Guns, PG=Plenty of Guns, PG-13=More than 12 guns...
                                      
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
From: whos@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Ben Feen)
Subject: Re: ALPHA SHADES
Organization: ddsw1.MCS.COM Contributor, Chicago, IL
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 23:27:24 GMT

In article <JiXiiB1w165w@vector0.UUCP> jon%vector0.UUCP@sactoh0.SAC.CA.US (Dazed N. Confused) writes:
>dwatanab@mothra.nts.uci.edu (Dana Watanabe) writes:
>
>> there is actually a product out there that does this
>> it is comprised of two LEDs in the middle of each lens of 
>> dark sunglasses,  
>
>        Such a device is easy to construct with a timing chip and
>a pair of sunglasses.  See Radio Electronics, May 1989 for complete
>plans (they used underwater goggles instead).
>
>
>        All it does is control the speed of two LEDs blinking in
>sync.  Amazing what it can do.
>
Yep.  I built a little thing (even etched a PC board for it, 'cause it was
an independent project for my Electronics class) that blinked two LED's 
alternately using a 555 timer.  However, the thing you really want is a 
certain chip which does LED flashing as its raison d'etre.  I can't find my
favorite parts catalog at the moment, but it's a four-digit number, beginning
with 3.  Someone have a TTL book?
-- 
Mail whos@ddsw1.mcs.com. | Whos at ddsw1? | Yes! | What? | No, whos! | Huh? |
Who? | Who what? | No, whos@ddsw1.mcs.com!  | Where? | DDSW1! | Who's there?|
Right! | Right? | Yes! | Oh, right@ddsw1.mcs.com? | No, WHOS@ddsw1.mcs.com! |
That's what I wanna find out! | What? | Who! | He's at ddsw1! | AAAAAAAAAGH!|
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech