1401 points alankay | 2 comments | 20 Jun 16 18:04 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source

This request originated via recent discussions on HN, and the forming of HARC! at YC Research. I'll be around for most of the day today (though the early evening).

1. kgr ◴[21 Jun 16 21:57 UTC] No.11949750[source]▶

Hi Alan,

In your paper "A Personal Computer for Children of All Ages", where you introduce the concept of the DynaBook, you explicitly say that the paper should be read as a work of science fiction. I understand that you're a big fan of science fiction. Do you draw any inspiration from science fiction when inventing the future?

Thanks,

Kevin

Related: I've given a talk on "What Computer Scientists can Learn From Science Fiction":

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1CaieHjx9j24UFXq0GwmC...

replies(1): >>11953667 #

2. alankay1 ◴[22 Jun 16 13:24 UTC] No.11953667[source]▶

>>11949750 (TP) #

I was a big fan of science fiction in the 40s and 50s -- pretty much literally "read everything" -- and tapered off in the 60s -- partly because science was taking more of my time than science fiction, and partly because in many areas science and technology over-ran sci-fi, and partly because my favorite authors were writing less (and writing less good stuff).

↑

Alan Kay has agreed to do an AMA today