What is io9 and How Futuristic Realy is the United States?

Author: Demerzel

2 Jan

My co-worker introduced me to a brand new sci-fi website (literally started today it seems) called io9. Rest assured it’s a horrible name for online marketing, but a great website to recommend (here’s an excerpt from Wired):

The new blog, which launches Jan. 2, is the latest addition to Gawker Media’s network of 15 blogs. Newitz, a former Wired News writer, edits and steers io9, whose contributors include Geoff Manaugh (founder of architecture blog BldgBlog), Graeme McMillan (of comic blog Newsarama), Kevin Kelly (contributor to Joystiq and Cinematical) and feminist retro-futuristic writer Lynn Peril (author of Pink Think: Becoming a Woman in Many Uneasy Lessons).

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Wired News: What is the significance of the name io9?

Annalee Newitz: Well, io9s are input-output devices that let you see into the future. They’re brain implants that were outlawed because they drove anyone who used one insane. We totally made that (device) up to name the blog. The blog is about looking into the future and science fiction, so we wanted to come up with a fictional name, something that was science fiction.

The blog is already kicking off into high gear and I’ve already fallen behind, but hopefully will catch up on the weekends as I already like their content already (go, go, RSS feeds).

Mostly I like to just read a lot of the sci-fi, but I figure I had to make one post of disagreement about their view that the US is the least futuristic (read: most technological) society.

As much as I would love to agree (I know how uninformed people can be outside of tech hubs on technology), but one really should compare tech centers to tech centers rather than certain parts of countries to another.

For example, yes, I love that Tron building in Dubai, but in SF, up went a recent government building that uses panels along the sides to retain heat, block out the sun, and natural ventilation for a more green skyscraper. Not only that, but there’s talk about the newest and tallest skyscraper to follow will be green as well. What’s more futuristic than utilizing new technology and design than just pure style?

So, let’s hit upon the next ones:

Robots? Plexo.
Architecture? Read above.
Trains? Well, since they count talks about building stuff, then fair is fair–California is talking about building one as well.
European fashion? Thank you, but no. Americans and European fashions do not mix. And to repeat: there is no such thing as a “man purse”
Stem cells? Yeah, alright, one area.

So what else have we been working on far better than everyone else to show for our futuristic society?