News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

focal

focal on Hacker News

Re:Mark Hurd Has Died on Friday October 18, 2019 @08:28PM (#21296066)
This type of authentic and honest response is why I come to HN. Thank you for sharing and I hope you get some good news soon.
Re:Ask HN: Favorite technology predictions in science fiction? on Sunday January 13, 2019 @05:22PM (#18899093)
There was a $10m XPRIZE for a Tricorder[1] and they awarded a $2.6m prize to Final Frontier Medical Devices in 2017 [2]. We're getting closer.

[1] https://tricorder.xprize.org/prizes/tricorder [2] https://tricorder.xprize.org/prizes/tricorder/articles/famil...

Ask HN: Favorite technology predictions in science fiction?

Posted by focal on Sunday January 13, 2019 @03:29PM
from the ask-hn dept.

I loved @ajus's comment about Stansislaw Lem's ebook prediction in 1961[1].Another favorite is E.M. Forster's prediction of video calling and more in 1909 with The Machine Stops[2]. "But it was fully fifteen seconds before the round plate that she held in her hands began to glow. A faint blue light shot across it, darkening to purple, and presently she could see the image of her son, who lived...

( Read More... | 59 comments | 52 points | on HN )
Re:Musk, Zuckerberg, Bezos, and Ethically Iffy ‘Philanthropy' on Wednesday May 16, 2018 @07:37PM (#17087329)
Reminds me of Haber-Bosch, credited for saving billions of lives via synthetic fertilizer. http://www.scienceheroes.com/
Re:A Reddit user is donating 5057 BTC ( 86M USD ) to charities on Wednesday December 13, 2017 @06:48PM (#15918783)
Dupe: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15917598
Re:Pineapple Fund: Donating $86M of Bitcoins to Charity on Wednesday December 13, 2017 @06:45PM (#15918769)
If it is a US based charity or foundation you can look at their IRS Form 990 to see sources and uses of funds. http://990finder.foundationcenter.org/
Re:Pineapple Fund: Donating $86M of Bitcoins to Charity on Wednesday December 13, 2017 @06:39PM (#15918742)
I love that its anonymous and simple and the donations are transparent. Does anyone by chance know if there are restrictions on charities receiving anonymous bitcoin donations?