HP Calculators in 2025, As Predicted In 1978

In 1978, the HP Calculator Journal published a cute short story by science fiction writer Gordon Dickson entitled, "Thank You, Beep!"

It described a day in the life of a business traveler in the year 2025, armed with his trusty "HP XX-2050" handheld computer (which he nicknames "Beep"), capable of storing personal data, functioning as an "auto secretary" to make appointments, and interfacing with other machines through various "computer nets".

In retrospect, the predicted 1 GB of memory seems small by modern standards but was of course enormous by the standards of 1978.

The related article, "Smartphone futures -- Thank You, Beep...!" does a nice job comparing some of Dickson's other fictional predictions with current day reality.

The fictional HP XX-2050 is a bit chunkier than current smartphones:

But overall, Dickson did a pretty good job for someone writing in 1978.

I remember reading "Thank You, Beep!" when it was originally published, thinking how cool it would be to see something like that in real-life. Today's smartphones aren't quite there yet, but they're astonishingly close. And if current progress continues, they may well exceed Dickson's predictions by the time 2025 rolls around.

Alien Brain Hemorrhage Cocktail Recipe

Cocktail recipe for a "Alien Brain Hemorrhage" drink.

Instructions: To make an alien brain hemorrhage cocktail, fill a shot glass halfway with peach schnapps. Gently pour Bailey's Irish Cream on top. After the shot is almost full, carefully add a small amount of blue curacao. After it settles, add a few drops of grenadine syrup. (Via Neatorama.)

A Swarm of Nano Quadrotors

"A Swarm of Nano Quadrotors". (Via @SupaTrey.)

Password Sharing Among American Teenagers

"Password Sharing Among American Teenagers"

[Off Topic] TOS: "The Grey: A Great Reminder of Crucial Truths"

Off-topic: The blog for The Objective Standard has posted my short piece, "The Grey: A Great Reminder of Crucial Truths".

Drive-by Gun Scans Prompt Privacy Questions

Legal implications of terahertz imaging: "Drive-by Gun Scans Prompt Privacy Questions"

Magnetic Soap Made For Oil Spills

"Magnetic soap made for oil spills"

Chinese Oreos Are Tube-Shaped

"Rethinking The Oreo For Chinese Consumers". (Via Kottke.)

The World's First Computer Password Was Useless, Too

"The world's first computer password? It was useless, too."

How Google's New Privacy Policy Could Affect You

"How Google's New Privacy Policy Could Affect You"

204 Lay's Potato Chip Flavors from Around the World

"204 Lay's Potato Chip Flavors from Around the World"

Sh*t Programmers Say

"Sh*t Programmers Say". Watch through to the end.

Serious Flaw Emerges In Quantum Cryptography

"Serious Flaw Emerges In Quantum Cryptography"

Crude Gags and Riddles About Beer Found Dating Back to Exodus

"Tablet full of crude gags and riddles about beer is found -- dating back to Exodus".

Technology changes. Human nature does not. (Via @debbywitt.)

Why Video Games are Good For Your

"Why Video Games Are Good For You"

HI Proposing Tracking All Websurfing

"Hawaii's legislature is weighing an unprecedented proposal to curb the privacy of Aloha State residents: requiring Internet providers to keep track of every Web site their customers visit."

Of course, if customers choose give up personal information to a service provider as a matter of voluntary contract (e.g., for some promised benefits), then that's completely legitimate. But mandating such data collection is outside the proper scope of government.

Pac-Man Proved NP-Hard By Computational Complexity Theory

"Pac-Man Proved NP-Hard By Computational Complexity Theory"

The Looming Threat of a Solar Superstorm

"The Looming Threat of a Solar Superstorm"

Lego Man Sent to Space by Toronto Teens

"Lego man sent to space by Toronto teens". (Via T.N.)

Tiny Tunable Terahertz Beam Could Enable Real Handheld Tricorders

"Tiny Tunable Terahertz Beam Could Enable Real Handheld Tricorders"