Yep, another one: the Star Trek/"Email" creation link

Didn't exactly realize it til today, on the 29th birthday of the copyright of the term "email"—another brand lost to generic language use!—but the guy behind the name and early system credits Star Trek for that, too.


Says developer V.A. Shiva on his website, getting attention today in news stories for the anniversary of his Aug. 30, 1982 copyright filing—first developed at age 14!—for his EMAIL messaging system.

"The two words, 'Electronic' and 'EMAIL' juxtaposed together for me originally brought images of vaporizing paper and somehow transporting it across electrical wires, like the transporter in Star Trek," says Shiva. "That is how NEW those two terms next to each other were in 1978." 

Once again, it's NASA and/or Star Trek that inspired the dreamers—plus, in this case, a a college computer lab professor's personal challenge to create such a system. We never know where, or how—but it comes back, time and again. And it's waaaay beyond just cell phones.

That's why we need them BOTH back—at full funding, and more frequently than just the occasional splash! (I'm lookin' at you, Congress and CBS...)

There's a lot more about it all on Shiva's website (Shiva, at left), including a great timeline infographic about his work and others' in the development of email—a great snapshot for those of you whom this all sneaked up on, or for those of you who never knew anything else!

iPad frenzy: This Facebook page asks for what's right!

From the "Things that got buried on my desk" Dept.:

...I don't know how many thought to grab the great unsung artist Wah Chang—he of the original TOS communicator design— when flip-top cell phones "debuted"... but I was sitting here and had to wonder what Mike Okuda and Rick Sternbach were thinking, PADD-men all, when Jobs finally let the iPad out in the open. :-D

So... I asked Rick what he was thinking the day it was unveiled, and he emailed:

"I'm thinking that it would be nice if Steve Jobs sent me a 64GB model with 3G wireless and a free data plan. :) Good to know that we had some really good ideas back in the day."

Rick"

I had nothing to do with it, but now for you Facebookers out there: it's not too late to join the page that does demand Rick and Mike O. get their due—at least according to us in Trekland:

Have Steve Jobs give Rick Sternbach and Mike Okuda iPads

Of course, of all the talk and debate, the true question for Jobs is:
Why not double-D it and give us the "iPADD"?

Stunning development, but it's still no go against cloud vampires

OK, so what if this only works on worms...for now. Didn't you ever see Tremors?
(Or... what was that other big worm movie? "Sand"?)

Star Trek-like phaser developed

Scientists have developed a Star Trek-like phaser, capable of causing paralysis with a beam of light. However, anyone hoping that the machine will become a powerful new weapon could be disappointed: scientists have only proven the effect on worms. ...

In any case, this is a small but tremendous jump—and once again, the writer couches it in Trek terms because that's how the mass public can best digest the concept. Even in England:

Meanwhile, maybe this R&D would move along a lot faster if we all took notes from here ....


Blu-Ray Laser Phaser! -

Another icon coming true?

Is the PADD next in line for "realification?"

About those Apple rumors, this Wired columnist says it all—and even gives a rightful nod to Mike Okuda and Rick Sternbach:

What I do know is that for a geek like me, another little piece of sci-fi futurism from my youth is about to hit the market, and I couldn’t be more excited. ... due to having been a huge Star Trek: The Next Generation fan.

And now--Schooldesk Trek!

They love to throw Star Trek into the lead of all kinds of mainstream science news stories. Sure, it's a great compliment that shows how iconic Trek is re: how the layman relates to science and new technology—but newshounds do it all the time.

Well, now we've gone from basic Trek future concepts ... to hero props ... to background props ... to set dressing.

Yes ... school desks!

Check out how researchers at Durham University in northeast England have unveiled a touch-system interface self-described as "Star Trek"-like. Very cool and helpful, obviously—the wave of future learning. But is this story a sign of how deeply Trek has permeated modern-day life and design ... or are science reporters just Trek-drenched? And will any new "future" Trek TV series find it impossible to reinvent futuristic design if THIS is how quickly real life catches up?

For some reason, I think we are far from being "tapped out" on touch-interfaces.