THE REALITY OF SCIENCE FICTION

Today’s technology is often yesterday’s science fiction. As we gradually get comfortable with the smart devices in our lives and come to terms with our need for always-on connectivity to the internet-powered hive mind that is the social network, there are still many other facets of technology that are being researched on and developed—from creating synthetic bacteria and nanotechnology to understanding the vastness of space and time. One day, we tell ourselves these technologies would become a norm for the next generation, but what if we’re already living in it?

For this issue of HWM, we tore ourselves away from staring at the little screens in our hands and the continued fascination with how small we can make a dot go to explore a world powered by science fiction…or perhaps I should call it science fact. In this world, robots are real and they’re already agile and autonomous, cars can drive themselves better than you, exoskeleton suits that enhance one’s strength are already being deployed, plus there are actually people who willingly strap themselves onto a rocket with wheels outside of a Wiley E. Coyote cartoon. I’m personally hoping space travel will happen in my lifetime and better yet, given a chance to experience it. It could the review I was destined to write about.

But for now, we’ve still got a magazine to produce. Although we’ve let our inner geeks run loose, this month’s HWM is still chock full of gadget insights and reviews you’ve come to know us for. Next month: tech horror show!

Zachary Chan

EDITOR