The future of robots: From science fiction to present day predictions

Back in 1999, I was asked to write a short article for Sm@rt Reseller magazine about the future of computing, because (allegedly) science fiction authors are in the business of contemplating the future. Science fiction authors often consider what might happen "If this goes on--" where technology writers are best at "Here's what we've got." Some of the trends toward convergence seemed obvious to me at the time, so I put down a few thoughts…which turned out to be far more prescient than I expected. But, see, here's the thing: Science fiction authors don't predict the future. It's just that once in a while, something that someone imagines does end up as a fact, and this is why some people think science fiction is a literature of prediction.