This is where technology gets scary GOOD

wisebabo writes: I think it was Newton who said that if you knew the position and velocity of every particle in the universe, you could predict the future down to the effect the flutter of a sparrows wing would have on the weather.

Aside from quantum indeterminacy (which of course he knew nothing about) and questions of free will, it is clear we are a long long way from getting even close to the theoretical limits of prediction. Still here's something that, to me, is very impressive.

Some researchers manage to track raindrops (or snowflakes) in front of a light and, IN REAL TIME, change the beam so that they are not illuminated! Voila! Drastically reduced glare! Obvious application for driving cars in inclement weather etc.

I'm hoping that we're entering a new age where computers (and cheap sensors) have become so powerful as to make possible a whole host of "magical" (like Arthur C. Clarke predicted) applications. So life will rapidly get better and better until the Singularity. :) Or Robot Apocalypse. :(