this was originally just a response to Sten's comment, but I liked it so much I thought I would give it it's own post

Here I am, wanting to come up with some witty response, to show you up, but I can't. One of my favorite writers, Robert Heinlein, envisioned exactly that (referring to doing surgery via the internet). The robots were called "waldos" after the inventor in the book: "Waldo & Co."

It turns out that that is exactly what they call them in the real world. The idea behind the real world application actually came from the book I referenced.

& there are tons of other real world scenarios were that is the case, Submarines being one of the most notable (at least in my mind). Deep Blue in 1997 (quite a shocker to the chess club, extasy for the computer club, but the sci-fi club just nodded and said, yes, that was where we were headed). Dolly^2.

I also find myself agreeing with your assesment of technology shifting to accomodate an "e-world order", but I can't help feeling that I have been let down. & I can't be the only one who feels this way. This world is overcrowded, and getting more so every day. It seems that we are going to have to reach breaking boint b/f people start making those other advances.

But how long are we to wait? Already, we can no longer "go west" (unless, of course, we get gills). Soon the only way away will be up, up and away. I am saying that I am ready to defy gravity. Right now.

Now if only I could figure out how to program my VCR.