Vernor Vinge, Innovative Science Fiction Novelist, Dies at 79
He conceived an early version of cyberspace and predicted the “technological singularity,” a tipping point at which machines would become smarter than humans.
By Richard Sandomir
Richard Sandomir is an obituaries writer who previously wrote about sports media and sports business for 25 years. He is the author of several books, including “The Pride of the Yankees: Lou Gehrig, Gary Cooper and the Making of a Classic,” coming in June 2017.
He conceived an early version of cyberspace and predicted the “technological singularity,” a tipping point at which machines would become smarter than humans.
By Richard Sandomir
He was held prisoner in nine concentration camps. Decades later, he fought a battle against American Nazis that became a major free-speech case.
By Richard Sandomir
At 15, he escaped to England. At 20, he enlisted in the British Army and identified a German minister — whose roles included deporting Dutch Jews to labor camps — as he tried to flee.
By Richard Sandomir
Getting his start in the Midwest, he was best known for leading the New York broadcast “The 10 O’Clock News.”
By Richard Sandomir
With CinemaScore, he broke new ground by building a business based on the opinions of moviegoers rather than critics.
By Richard Sandomir
He fine-tuned the mechanics of punters and kickers, including Adam Vinatieri, the N.F.L.’s career scoring leader, even as he lived with cerebral palsy.
By Richard Sandomir
An award-winning agency art director, he brought a striking visual touch to campaigns for the Volkswagen Beetle, Sara Lee and Sony in the 1960s as well as to the antiwar and antinuclear movements.
By Richard Sandomir
Her foundation rescued thousands of girls and young women from bonded slavery and secured meals and schooling for impoverished children.
By Richard Sandomir
In 1983, he commanded a Challenger shuttle flight. After the 1986 disaster, he was charged with leading NASA’s return to space.
By Richard Sandomir
As chief executive, he pushed a company known for Agent Orange, napalm and chlorine to undo its confrontational reputation and promote environmental sustainability.
By Richard Sandomir