Welcome to the Cyberpunk Now. Robots patrol the streets, kill criminals, and make you burgers. Robocop anyone?
Cyberpunk Reality
Dallas Police Deploy Robot to End Standoff
A Common Bomb Disposal Unit
During a peaceful demonstration in downtown Dallas, Texas, police and protestors were subjected to a barrage of gunfire, resulting in injuries of police and civilians and claiming the lives of several officers. After the shooter was located and a negotiator failed to reach a peaceful resolution, police made the decision to jury-rig a bomb-disposal robot with a controlled explosive that was used to kill the alleged gunman. This is believed to be the first instance of an American law enforcement body using a robot to kill a suspect.
A Brave New World, Twenty Years On
Dolly Being Scanned
Dolly the sheep was cloned twenty years ago, forever challenging the world’s perception of what science was truly capable of.
Printing Breakthrough
Shirley Anderson With New Jaw
Cancer Patient Shirley Anderson had lost his jaw due to complications from cancer. But the Indiana University School of Dentistry were able to print him a new one, superior to alternative prosthesis.
Chinese Startups Accused of Click Fraud
Android Mascot Statue at Google Campus
An estimated 10 million Android users have been infected with HummingBad, malware that allows apps user-level access to mobile devices. The companies suspected of using HummingBad in their apps have averaged approximately $300,000 a month in from unique clicks not generated by users.
Internet Access a Human Right, UN Resolution Says
Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, High Commissioner for Human Rights
The United Nations Human Rights Council passed a resolution that condemns nations that restrict internet access. They went so far as to claim that any rights humans have offline must be made accessible online, particularly the right to free speech.
Does Apple Own Your Camera?
Apple CEO Tim Cook
In a patent recently granted to Apple, the consumer electronics company now has the capability and the right to disable cameras on iOS devices remotely and without user notification. The justification for this is to limit piracy in the form of recording live events. Apple has yet to comment on the reach of this capability or how they plan to implement it in future iOS devices.
NSA: Linux Journal for Extremists
The National Security Administration Headquarters
Like open source software? Owning your own operating system? Then the NSA thinks you might be worthy of being monitored. In the source of their investigation into TOR and general encryption, the NSA also targeted individuals who were frequent visitors to Linux Journal and labeled the site as one for “extremists.”
Cyborg Stingray
Researchers at Harvard University’s Wyss Institute have created new life in the form of a cyborg stingray. With muscles made from the hearts of rats and a flexible skeleton made of gold, designer Kevin Kit Parker sounds like a veritable Dr. Frankenstein. Yet his little machine doesn’t fail to mesmerize as it mimics the movement of aquatic life.
Uber Gets New Security
K5 Patrols Uber Lot
If you’re considering causing some trouble on Uber’s inspection lot in San Francisco, you may be confronted by an unconventional security guard. Robotics company Knightscope has sold one of its K5 units to Uber, and it’s recently been seen making the rounds on their property. These units are gaining in popularity, so expect to see them at other businesses soon.
Robo Burgers Coming to San Francisco
Momentum Machines
Roboticists from NASA and Tesla have turned their experience towards burgers. Momentum Machines, the team founded for this task, have released plans for a unit that will prepare food for this proposed restaurant autonomously. No word yet as to when their doors will open to patrons in San Francisco as of yet.
Cyberpunk Video Games
Spy DNA
In 2075, mankind is thriving and it takes agents from the Crolimax Laboratory to make it even better. Leading a team of super soldiers, players will move across Spy DNA’s sprawling metropolis in this tactical, old-school RPG. Spy DNA is scheduled for release sometime in July 2017.
Scorn
Ebb Software is stepping into the realm of first-person horror with Scorn. In this Giger inspired nightmare players will be expected to explore, analyze and comprehend their oppressive surroundings to make sense of the world they’ve been thrown into.
MacPlaymate Comes Back
Moxie, the Mac Playmate
A user on Reddit recently purchased an old Macintosh SE and came across a copy of an “interactive erotica” game called MacPlaymate. Thought to be lost forever, this 1986 game has quite a few modes of NSFW entertainment with playmate Moxie for users to explore, but perhaps most clever is the “Panic” button that allowed players to switch to an interactive spreadsheet should they sense someone walk into the room.
Cyberpunk Movies
Producer Defends Casting Johansson
Scarlet Johansson as “The Major”
In an interview with Buzzfeed, producer Steven Paul defended the casting of Scarlet Johansson as “The Major” in the Dreamworks adaptation of Ghost in the Shell. It’s in response to criticism over repeated miscasting in Hollywood. But Paul seems disinterested in fans’ protests, stating:
They’re going to be very, very happy with it when they see what we’ve actually done with it, and I don’t think anybody’s going to be disappointed.
Deckard’s Apartment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yokjsQV7DwI
An engineer from Creative Software, Quentin Lengelé has recreated Deckard’s apartment from Blade Runner. The project is still coming along but a great portion of it is available in 4k. He plans next to recreate the Tyrell building and other locations from the film. Those interested can stay updated by visiting his blog.
Stars of the Akira Adaptation Revealed?
Chris Evans and Joseph Gordon Levitt as Stars of Akira
Concept art by Ruairi Robinson shows Chris Evans and Joseph Gordon Levitt as the main characters of the adaptation. No word as of yet if they’re still attached to the project or in these roles. The full spread of art can be viewed here.
Alien: Back to Basics
Danny McBride and Ridley Scott
According to actor Danny McBride the next installment in the Alien franchise is taking a detour from the last film in terms of production. Gone are the excessive use of green screens and CGI; practical effects are what this movie’s built on.
Zero Days
Often considered the start of true cyber-warfare between nations, Zero Days documents the creation of Stuxnet at the hands of the United States and Israel in order to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program in one of history’s most secretive shadow wars. It can be viewed in theaters and on iTunes.
What do you think about the robotization of labor? Did we miss any cyberpunk news? Let us know on social media or in the comments below!
