Watch Scientific American Frontiers Show 701, "Inventing the Future," and test your knowledge by downloading and answering these questions.

VIRTUALLY REAL

• 1. What game does Alan Alda play in the smart room?

• a. Myst
• b. SimCity
• c. Doom
• d. Qin

• 2. How are virtual animals like Silas different from robots, in terms of the computer world?

BODY TALK

• 3. In the future, the character called Gandolf will be able to recognize the content of:

• a. emotions
• b. gestures
• c. faces
• d. books

• 4. How does a smart camera system know how to find the right shots?

SMART CAR

• 5. List one thing a smart car might do if it senses the driver is getting sleepy.
• 6. The part of the brain that Roz Picard says "functions like the fire alarm in your house" is called the:

• a. amygdala
• b. cortex
• c. hippocampus
• d. neocortex

PRIVATE EYES

• 7. MIT students are experimenting with computers built into all of the following except:

• a. eyeglasses
• b. clothing
• c. shoes
• d. watches

• 8. What happens when you walk on a shoe computer?

BRAIN MUSIC

• 9. What is the sensor chair designed to measure?
• 10. The rhythm tree, digital baton and sensor chair are examples of:

• a. notation systems
• b. new bands
• c. hyperinstruments
• d. musical scores

ANSWERS:

• 1. c
• 2. Animals juggle multiple goals, while robots focus on one thing at a time
• 3. b
• 4. Follows descriptions of actions in the script
• 5. Turn on air-conditioner, sound warning, spray peppermint
• 6. a
• 7. d
• 8. As you walk, you generate power; power builds up with each step
• 9. Body's electric current or electric field
• 10. c