Knihy - Veda, technika, elektrotechnika strana 29 z 51

Newton's heretical writings on theology, spirituality, alchemy, and prophecy, uncovered and analyzed. Isaac Newton (1643-1727) is still regarded by the world as the greatest scientist who ever lived. He invented calculus, discovered the binomial theorem, explained the rainbow, built the first reflecting telescope, and explained the force of gravity. In his famous masterpiece, Principia Mathematica, he described the mechanics of the physical universe with unimagined precision, proving the cosmos was put together according to laws. The perfection of these laws implied a perfect legislator. To Newton, they were proof that God existed. At the same time Newton was writing Principia Mathematica, he was writing a twin volume that he might have called, had it been completed, Principia Theologia--Principles of Theology. This other masterpiece of Newton, kept secret because of the heresies it contained, consists of thousands of essays providing equation-incisive answers to the spiritual questions that have plagued mankind through the ages. Examining Newton's secret writings, John Chambers shows how his brilliance extended into alchemy, spirituality, the search for lost continents such as Atlantis, and a quest to uncover the "corrupted texts" that were rife in the Bibles of his time. Although he was a devout Christian, Newton's work on the Bible was focused not on restoring the original Jewish and Christian texts but on rediscovering the one true religion that existed prior to the Flood of Noah, when science and spirituality were one. The author shows that a single thread runs through Newton's metaphysical explorations: He is attempting to chart the descent of man's soul from perfection to the present day. The author also examines Newton's alternate timeline of ancient history and his study of prophecy through the Book of Revelations, including his prediction of an Apocalypse in the year 2060 followed by a radically transformed world. He shows that Newton's great hope was that these writings would provide a moral compass for humanity as it embarked upon the great enterprise that became our technological world.

Introduction by Professor Stephen Hawking. When Edwin Hubble looked into his telescope in the 1920s, he was shocked to find that nearly all of the galaxies he could see through it were flying away from one another. If these galaxies had always been travelling, he reasoned, then they must, at some point, have been on top of one another. This discovery transformed the debate about one of the most fundamental questions of human existence - how did the universe begin? Every society has stories about the origin of the cosmos and its inhabitants, but now, with the power to peer into the early universe and deploy the knowledge gleaned from archaeology, geology, evolutionary biology and cosmology, we are closer than ever to understanding where it all came from. In The Origin of (almost) Everything, New Scientist explores the modern origin stories of everything from the Big Bang, meteorites and dark energy, to dinosaurs, civilisation, timekeeping, belly-button fluff and beyond. From how complex life evolved on Earth, to the first written language, to how humans conquered space, The Origin of (almost) Everything offers a unique history of the past, present and future of our universe.

Isaac Asimov's ROBOT series - from the iconic collection I, ROBOT to four classic novels - contains some of the most influential works in the history of science fiction. Establishing and testing the THREE LAWS OF ROBOTICS, they continue to shape the understanding and design of artificial intelligence to this day. In the vast, domed cities of Earth, artificial intelligence is strictly controlled; in the distant Outer Worlds, colonists and robots live side by side. A Spacer ambassador is found dead and detective Elijah Baley is assigned to find the killer. But with relations between the two cultures in the balance, the Spacers insist that he work with a partner of their choosing - a robot partner, R. Daneel Olivaw. Baley has never seen a robot like Daneel before - almost indistinguishable from a human - and soon, though the Three Laws of Robotics should render the crime impossible, Baley's partner becomes his prime suspect.

Well we're back again, They never kicked us out, twenty thousand years of SHOUT SHOUT SHOUT Down through the epochs and out across the continents, generation upon generation of the Justified Ancients of Mu Mu have told variants of the same story - an end of days story, a final chapter story. But one with hope, even if the hope at times seems forlorn. The story contained in this trilogy is the latest telling. Here it is presented as a utopian costume drama, set in the near future, written in the recent past. Read with care. REMEMBERED - TOLD - TRANSCRIBED for K 2 Plant Hire Ltd.

What is transhumanism? Simply put, it is a movement whose aim is to use technology to fundamentally change the human condition, to improve our bodies and minds to the point where we become something other, and better, than the animals we are. It's a philosophy that, depending on how you look at it, can seem hopeful, or terrifying, or absurd. In To Be a Machine, Mark O'Connell presents us with the first full-length exploration of transhumanism: its philosophical and scientific roots, its key players and possible futures. From charismatic techies seeking to enhance the body to immortalists who believe in the possibility of 'solving' death; from computer programmers quietly re-designing the world to vast competitive robotics conventions; To Be a Machine is an Adventure in Wonderland for our time. To Be a Machine paints a vivid portrait of an international movement driven by strange and frequently disturbing ideas and practices, but whose obsession with transcending human limitations can be seen as a kind of cultural microcosm, a radical intensification of our broader faith in the power of technology as an engine of human progress. It is a character study of human eccentricity, and a meditation on the immemorial desire to transcend the basic facts of our animal existence - a desire as primal as the oldest religions, a story as old as the earliest literary texts. A stunning new non-fiction voice tackles an urgent question... what next for mankind?

Over 200 intriguing science questions - answered. This is the ideal science encyclopedia to help budding Einsteins ages 6 and up with their school and homework projects - as well as for parents who need to answer those tricky science questions. Do You Know About Science? brings subjects such as the living world, human body, the material world, energy, forces and movement, and our planet to life, with colourful pages and a fun question and answer format. Where does light come from? Can I feel forces? What is my body made of? Why is lemon juice sour? Do You Know About Science? focuses on the subjects that kids really want to know about and the questions they ask, helping them easily learn new information. From everyday questions such as what makes the light turn on, to the bigger questions like what is in space, Do You Know About Science? will satisfy even the most curious minds with an amazing collection of facts

Answering all your burning scientific questions, from what it means to be alive to why things explode, How Science Works explains science facts throughout amazing diagrams and infographics. Unlock the secrets of the universe, such as whether a robot takeover is possible, and marvel at the surprising simplicity of gravity. Dazzle your friends and family with answers to their everyday science questions such as; why do sirens change pitch as they pass by? How do planes stay in the air? Plus many more! Learn how to explain the mind-boggling concepts that eluded you at school, all the way through to more recent fascinating topics such as the discovery of the Higgs Boson- this really is science made simple.

Piate, aktualizované vydanie knihy obsahuje informácie o nových technických normách, právnych a bezpečnostných predpisoch, nové postupy pri ochrane pred zásahom blesku a prepätím a nových zásadách v poskytovaní prvej pomoci pri úrazoch elektrickým prúdom a ďalších informácií potrebných na overenie odbornej spôsobilosti pracovníkov v elektrotechnike. Prehľadne a názorne ukazuje v jednotlivých kapitolách problematiku požadovaných technických predpisov pre elektrotechnikov s najnovšími zmenami pre praktické použitie. Je vhodná pre prípravu na overenie odbornej spôsobilosti v elektrotechnike základného rozsahu §21, §22, §23 a §24 podľa vyhl. č. 508/2009 Z.z., ako aj pre Aktualizačnú odbornú prípravu elektrotechnikov. Pre svoj prehľad má svoje miesto pre projektantov a revíznych technikov VTZE, ale aj pre elektromontérov a elektroúdržbárov v prevádzkovej praxi. Poslúži aj ako učebná pomôcka pre žiakov elektrotechnických stredných škôl a poslucháčov vysokých škol s elektrotechnickým zameraním ako aj pre širokú elektrotechnickú verejnosť. Kniha je plnofarebná vo formáte A4 a obsahuje 400 strán s názornými obrázkami a príkladmi aplikácie noriem a predpisov v praxi.

A relatable, interactive, and funny exploration of algorithms, those essential building blocks of computer science - and of everyday life - from the author of the wildly popular Bad Arguments.Algorithms -- processes that are made up of unambiguous steps and do something useful -- make up the very foundations of computer science. Yet, they also inform our choices in approaching everyday tasks, from managing a pile of clothes fresh out of the dryer to deciding what music to listen to.With Bad Choices, Ali Almossawi, presents twelve scenes from everyday life that help demonstrate and demystify the fundamental algorithms that drive computer science, bringing these seemingly elusive concepts into the understandable realms of the everyday.Readers will discover how:* Matching socks can teach you about search and hash tables* Planning trips to the store can demonstrate the value of stacks* Deciding what music to listen to shows why link analysis is all-important* Crafting a succinct Tweet draws on ideas from compression* Making your way through a grocery list helps explain priority queues and traversing graphs * And moreAs you better understand algorithms, you'll also discover what makes a method faster and more efficient, helping you become a more nimble, creative problem-solver, ready to face new challenges. Bad Choices will open the world of algorithms to all readers making this a perennial go-to for fans of quirky, accessible science books.

Imagine you woke up one morning to find everything created by engineers had disappeared. What would you see? No cars, no houses; no phones, bridges or roads. No tunnels under tidal rivers, no soaring skyscrapers. The impact that engineering has had on the human experience is undeniable, but it is also often invisible. In BUILT, structural engineer Roma Agrawal takes a unique look at how construction has evolved from the mud huts of our ancestors to skyscrapers of steel that reach hundreds of metres into the sky. She unearths how engineers have tunnelled through kilometres of solid mountains; how they've bridged across the widest and deepest of rivers, and tamed Nature's precious - and elusive - water resources. She tells vivid tales of the visionaries who created the groundbreaking materials in the Pantheon's record-holding concrete dome and the frame of the record-breaking Eiffel Tower. Through the lens of an engineer, Roma examines tragedies like the collapse of the Quebec Bridge, highlighting the precarious task of ensuring people's safety they hold at every step. With colourful stories of her life-long fascination with buildings - and her own hand-drawn illustrations - Roma reveals the extraordinary secret lives of structures.

From brainy biologists and clever chemists to magnificent mathematicians and pioneering physicists, discover 100 remarkable scientists who shaped our world.Containing a universe of knowledge, 100 Scientists Who Made History tells the story of the people who increased our grasp of almost everything around us. From Aristotle and Rosalind Franklin, to Marie Curie and Brian Cox, get the low down on the people whose thirst for knowledge has shaped the way we live today.With beautiful photography and illustrations, 100 Scientists Who Made History is a fascinating look at the most important scientists and their discoveries. It's the perfect way for kids to meet science's most important people.

`Probably the most readable, exciting and authoritative writer on science we have. A new Lawrence Krauss book always goes to the top of the curious mind's wish list.' Stephen Fry "I loved the fight scenes and the sex scenes were excellent." (Eric Idle) 'In the span of a century, physics progressed from skepticism that atoms were real to equations so precise we can predict properties of subatomic particles to the tenth decimal place. Lawrence Krauss rightly places this achievement among the greatest of all stories, and his book-at once engaging, poetic and scholarly-tells the story with a scientist's penetrating insight and a writer's masterly craft.' (Brian Greene, author of The Elegant Universe, and Director, Center for Theoretical Physics, Columbia University) "Unlike some very clever scientists, Lawrence Krauss is not content to bask on the Mount Olympus of modern physics. A great educator as well as a great physicist, he wants to pull others up the rarefied heights to join him. But unlike some science educators, he doesn't dumb down. In Einstein's words, he makes it 'as simple as possible but no simpler.'" (Richard Dawkins, author of The Magic of Reality) "In every debate I've done with theologians and religious believers their knock-out final argument always comes in the form of two questions: Why is there something rather than nothing? and Why are we here? The presumption is that if science provides no answers then there must be a God. But God or no, we still want answers. In A Universe From Nothing Lawrence Krauss, one of the biggest thinkers of our time, addressed the first question with verve, and in The Greatest Story Ever Told he tackles the second with elegance. Both volumes should be placed in hotel rooms across America, in the drawer next to the Gideon Bible." (Michael Shermer, Publisher Skeptic magazine, columnist Scientific American, Presidential Fellow Chapman University, author The Moral Arc.) "A Homeric tale of science, history, and philosophy revealing how we learned so much about the universe and its tiniest parts." (Sheldon Glashow, Nobel Laureate, 1979 in physics) "The Greatest Story Ever Told-So Far ranges from Galileo to the LHC and beyond. It's accessible, illuminating, and surprising-an ideal guide for anyone interested in understanding our accidental universe." (Elizabeth Kolbert, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sixth Extinction) "College students, hippies, squares, Christians, Muslims, democrats, republicans, libertarians, theists, even atheists-all of us-sit around BS-ing like: `So, how did all this, I mean everything, all of us, the whole universe, you know, man, everything, how did this all get here?' While we were doing that, Lawrence Krauss and people like him were doing the work to figure it out. Then Krauss wrote this great book about it. `Wow, man, you mean, like we're getting closer to really knowing? I guess we'll have to go back to talking about politics and sex.'" (Penn Jillette, author of Presto!) "Discovering the bedrock nature of physical reality ranks as one of humanity's greatest collective achievements. This book gives a fine account of the main ideas and how they emerged. Krauss is himself close to the field, and can offer insights into the personalities who have led the key advances. A practiced and skilled writer, he succeeds in making the physics `as simple as possible but no simpler.' I don't know a better book on this subject." (Martin Rees, author of Just Six Numbers) "It is an exhilarating experience to be led through this fascinating story, from Galileo to the Standard Model and the Higgs boson and beyond, with lucid detail and insight, illuminating vividly not only the achievements themselves but also the joy of creative thought and discovery, enriched with vignettes of the remarkable individuals who paved the way. It amply demonstrates that the discovery that `nature really follows the simple and elegant rules intuited by the 20th- and 21st-century versions of Plato's philosophers' is one of the most astonishing achievements of the human intellect." (Noam Chomsky, Institute Professor & Professor of Linguistics (Emeritus), MIT) "Charming... Krauss has written an account with sweep and verve that shows the full development of our ideas about the makeup of the world around us... A great romp." (Walter Gilbert, Nobel Award, Chemistry, 1980) "History of science with an edge-humorous, personal, passionate, yet intellectually serious and authoritative." (Frank Wilczek, Nobel Laureate, Physics)In the beginning there was light but more than this, there was gravity. After that, all hell broke loose... This is how the story of the greatest intellectual adventure in history should be introduced - how humanity reached its current understanding of the universe, one that is far removed from the realm of everyday experience. Krauss connects the world we know with the invisible world all around us, which is removed from intuition and direct sensation. He explains our current understanding of nature and the struggle to construct the greatest theoretical edifice ever assembled, the Standard Model of Particle Physics -- and then to understand its implications for our existence. Writing in the critically acclaimed style of A Universe from Nothing, Krauss celebrates the beauty and wonders of the natural world and details our place within it and how this shapes our understanding of it. Krauss makes this story accessible through profiles of the scientists responsible for these advances, and clear explanations of their discoveries. Krauss takes us on a tour of science and the brilliant personalities who shaped it, often against political and religious indoctrination, enduring persecution and ostracism. Krauss creates a captivating blend of research and narrative to invite us into the lives and minds of these figures,creating a landmark work of scientific history.

Learn to make your own robots with this accessible, illustrated guide for robotics enthusiasts, featuring 13 unique robotics projects suitable for beginner to intermediate level. You’ve seen the sci-fi movies and dreamed of creating your very own robot. Now learn to build machines with your own hands that will move or perform tasks at your command. Featuring brand-new projects and specially commissioned photography, this book uses easily sourced components to teach you simple electronics and programming. Learn to design and build your very own custom-made creations that can walk, draw or even guard your home. Start with a space-age butterfly that skips along on its own or a robot that creates psychedelic patterns of amazing variety, then discover how to create a catapult bot that activates when movement is detected or construct an intelligent, all-terrain rover vehicle – the possibilities are endless.

Provádění revizí některých elektrických instalací má v České republice dlouholetou tradici, která sahá až k začátkům samostatného Československa ve dvacátých letech minulého století a možná ještě dále. Proto se pociťovalo jako určité zadostiučinění, že revizemi elektrických instalací se od osmdesátých let minulého století začala zabývat také mezinárodní normalizace v rámci IEC (Mezinárodní elektrotechnické komise) a návazně i evropská normalizace v rámci CENELEC (Evropského výboru pro normalizaci v elektrotechnice). Výsledkem zavádění předpisů lEC a CENELEC do našich českých technických norem je ČSN 33 2000-6 ed. 2 Elektrotechnické předpisy. Elektrická zařízení. Část 6: Revize. Tato norma je vlastně "prováděcím předpisem" k ČSN 33 1500 Revize elektrických zařízení a svým určením odpovídá bývalým normám ČSN, které se zabývaly postupy při revizích elektrických instalací. ČSN 33 2000-6 ed. 2:2017 uvádí základní postupy při provádění výchozích revizí elektrických zařízení, tj. prohlídku, zkoušení prováděné měřením, a to zejména z hlediska ověřování ochrany před úrazem elektrickým proudem (spojitosti ochranných vodičů, izolačních odporů, ochrany automatickým odpojením, měření odporu uzemnění, zkoušky doplňkové ochrany proudovými chrániči a doplňujícím pospojováním, zkoušky polarity a pořadí fází, funkční zkoušky, úbytku napětí, ověření ochrany proti tepelným účinkům atd.). Oproti předchozím vydáním (viz ČSN 33 2000-6-61 ed. 2) tato norma uvádí též zásady pro vypracování zprávy o výchozí revizi, zásady pro provádění pravidelných revizí, zásady pro určování jejich lhůt i zásady pro vypracování zprávy o pravidelné revizi. Důležité v této normě je ustanovení, že revizi musí provádět osoba znalá, která je k provádění revizí způsobilá kvalifikovaná. (Samozřejmě se netvrdí, že revizi musí provádět revizní technik, protože je na legislativě každé členské země EU, jakým způsobem požadavek na kvalifikaci osoby provádějící revizi naplní.) Tato příručka v prvé části (autor Ing. Michal Kříž) uvedenou ČSN 33 2000-6 ed. 2 komentuje, pokud možno srozumitelnou formou včetně vazeb jejich ustanovení na ustanovení ČSN 33 1500. Postupy při provádění výchozích revizí elektrických instalací jsou aplikovatelné i na provádění jejich pravidelných revizí. Proto má tato příručka všeobecnější platnost než pouze pro provádění výchozích revizí elektrických instalací. Revizní technici elektrických zařízení podnikající v této oblasti, dodavatelé i odběratelé revizních prací tak dostávají do rukou příručku věnující se oblasti revizí elektrických zařízení komplexně, tj. po stránce technické, technologické i ekonomicko-právní. Ještě si neodpustím poznámku k terminologii používané v oblasti technické normalizace elektrických instalací týkající se i jejich revizí. Ještě do poměrně nedávné doby technické normy dané oblasti hovořily o elektrických zařízeních. Například ČSN 34 1010:1965 Všeobecné předpisy pro ochranu před nebezpečným dotykovým napětím, která až do roku 1996 stanovovala opatření, která u elektrických zařízení poskytují ochranu před úrazem elektrickým proudem při dotyku nebo přiblížení, zatímco v současné době platná ČSN 33 2000-4-41 ed. 3, která tu předchozí normu prakticky nahradila, se zabývá ochranou před úrazem elektrickým proudem v elektrických instalacích. Proč k této změně došlo? Nebudeme se zabývat hlubokými teoriemi ale jenom jednoduše starší elektrotechnici při své práci vycházeli především z německy psaných dokumentů, a v nich se pro danou problematiku používal výraz elektrische Anlage, který je do češtiny překládán jako elektrické zařízení. Od konce osmdesátých let 20. století se do soustavy ČSN stále více zaváděly mezinárodní a později i evropské normy, které byly přístupné obvykle v anglickém znění. A v těchto normách se ve stejném významu, jako se dříve používal výraz elektrická zařízení, používá anglický výraz electrical installations, který v současné době ve většině případů překládáme jako elektrické instalace. Takže je možno uvé

A szerzőpáros lenyűgöző összefoglalását adja annak a folyamatnak, ahogy a - nem is távoli - jövőben a technológiai fejlődés következtében valamennyi szakma átalakul. Fokozatos változás szemtanúi lehetünk: napjainkban a szakértelem megszerzése és a társadalomban való szétosztása is alapjaiban módosul, és ez a hagyományos szakmák felbomlásához vezet. Ez a tézis első pillantásra ijesztőnek tűnhet, épp ezért a szerzők új gondolkodásmódot szorgalmaznak, és felvillantanak számos, a változásban rejlő lehetőséget. Richard Susskind korábban több könyvet is publikált a jogi szolgáltatások jövőjével kapcsolatban, és az elmúlt csaknem két évtizedben a világ számos pontján tartott előadásokat a témában. A visszajelzések meggyőzték arról, hogy elmélete nemcsak a jogász szakmára érvényes, hanem az orvosok, könyvvizsgálók, építészek, újságírók, tanárok és más szakmák képviselőinek munkájára is. Kutatását kiterjesztette, így ez a kötet bármely más szakember számára hasznos és elgondolkodtató olvasmány

Vážení čitatelia, tribotechnici, technickej verejnosti sa predkladá ďalšia publikácia, ktorá je venovaná problémom, ktoré súvisia s aplikáciou mazacích prostriedkov, mazív v prevádzkovej praxi. Ide o pokračovanie knihy Tribotechnické listy, ktorá našla svoje uplatnenie najmä v technickej oblasti činnosti tribotechnikov a to pri zabezpečovaní prevádzky a spoľahlivosti strojov a zariadení, ktorá súvisí so starostlivosťou o základné prostriedky. Treba pripomenúť, že  technická a tribotechnická diagnostika riešia spoločné technické problémy, ktoré súvisia s údržbou strojov a zariadení. Autor knihy Tribotechnické listy 2 sa venuje v jednotlivých kapitolách ďalším významným, dôležitým priemyselným odvetviam pri aplikácii mazív, ktoré si vyžadujú zvýšenú pozornosť a najmä praktické skúsenosti pri riešení tribologických a tribotechnických problémov. Ide o odporúčanie mazív a prevádzkových kvapalín pre ich aplikáciu v jednotlivých trecích uzloch a v mazacích systémoch strojov a zariadení a  to vzhľadom na dané prevádzkové podmienky a ďalšie odporúčania a návrhy, technologické postupy, odborné rady, ktoré súvisia s prevádzkou strojov a zariadení. Autor sa cieľavedome venuje otázkam výberu a použitiu mazív pre konkrétne prevádzkové podmienky a činnosťou súvisiacou s ich aplikáciou vzhľadom na dané prevádzkové podmienky. Pozornosť venuje aj tribotechnickej diagnostike a  to výberu a hodnoteniu jednotlivých kvalitatívnych ukazovateľov mazív a riešeniu prevádzkových a technických problémov, ktoré súvisia s aplikáciou mazív v praxi. Kniha je určená najmä tribotechnikom v prevádzkovej praxi a je vhodná aj ako učebnica pre rôzne stupne vzdelávania a odborné kurzy. Predpokladáme, že uvedená publikácia nájde svoje uplatnenie a zaujme širokú odbornú verejnosť a to najmä oblasť záujemcov v tribotechnickej praxi.

Salonní vozy Ringhoffer 2. rozšířené vydání této úspěšné publikace přináší přehled výroby mimořádných, luxusních, železničních salonních vozů nejen z pohledu techniky a konstrukce, ale také architektury a umění. Kapitoly jsou navíc obohaceny o historii dynastie Ringhofferů, která významně ovlivnila vývoj železničního strojírenství. Die erfolgreiche Publikation Salonwagen Ringhoffer erscheint nun als 2. erweiterte Auflage und stellt eine Übersicht über den Bau von außergewöhnlichen, luxuriösen Eisenbahn-Salonwagen dar. Die Fahrzeuge werden dabei nicht nur aus der Sicht der Technik und der Konstruktion, sondern auch der Architektur und der Kunst betrachtet. In die Kapitel wurde noch zusätzlich die Geschichte der Ringhoffer-Dynastie eingearbeitet, die in bedeutendem Maße die Entwicklung im Bereich der Bahnindustrie beeinflusst hat. Ringhoffer Salon Coaches 2nd extended issue of the successful publication brings the production overview of the remarkable luxurious railway salon coaches not only from the point of view of technology and design but also architecture and art. In addition, the chapters are enriched by the history of Ringhoffer House, who affected the railway industry development in significant way.

Living with Robots recounts a foundational shift in the field of robotics, from artificial intelligence to artificial empathy, and foreshadows an inflection point in human evolution. Today’s robots engage with human beings in socially meaningful ways, as therapists, trainers, mediators, caregivers, and companions. Social robotics is grounded in artificial intelligence, but the field’s most probing questions explore the nature of the very real human emotions that social robots are designed to emulate. Social roboticists conduct their inquiries out of necessity?every robot they design incorporates and tests a number of hypotheses about human relationships. Paul Dumouchel and Luisa Damiano show that as roboticists become adept at programming artificial empathy into their creations, they are abandoning the conventional conception of human emotions as discrete, private, internal experiences. Rather, they are reconceiving emotions as a continuum between two actors who coordinate their affective behavior in real time. Rethinking the role of sociability in emotion has also led the field of social robotics to interrogate a number of human ethical assumptions, and to formulate a crucial political insight: there are simply no universal human characteristics for social robots to emulate. What we have instead is a plurality of actors, human and nonhuman, in noninterchangeable relationships. As Living with Robots shows, for social robots to be effective, they must be attentive to human uniqueness and exercise a degree of social autonomy. More than mere automatons, they must become social actors, capable of modifying the rules that govern their interplay with humans.

Jaron Lanier, ‘the father of Virtual Reality … a high-tech genius’ (Sunday Times), tells the extraordinary story of how in just over three decades Virtual Reality went from being a dream to a reality – and how its power to turn dreams into realities will transform us and our world. Virtual Reality has long been one of the dominant clichés of science fiction. Now Virtual Reality is a reality: those big headsets that make people look ridiculous, even while radiating startled delight; the place where war veterans overcome PTSD, surgeries are trialled, aircraft and cities are designed. But VR is far more interesting than any single technology, however spectacular. It is, in fact, the most effective device ever invented for researching what a human being actually is – and how we think and feel. More than thirty years ago, legendary computer scientist, visionary and artist Jaron Lanier pioneered its invention. Here, in what is likely to be one of the most unusual books you ever read, he blends scientific investigation, philosophical thought experiment and his memoir of a life lived at the centre of digital innovation to explain what VR really is: the science of comprehensive illusion; the extension of the intimate magic of earliest childhood into adulthood; a hint of what life would be like without any limits. As Lanier shows, we are standing on the threshold of an entirely new realm of human creativity, expression, communication and experience. While we can use VR to test our relationship with reality, it will test us in return, for how we choose to use it will reveal who we truly are. Welcome to a mind-expanding, life-enhancing, world-changing adventure.