From flying cars to hoverboards, and AI to lasers, we delve into 10 technologies from a list of iconic films and find out just how close we are to making each a reality

Although it may be hard to tell from the explosion in chip speeds in the past year, an end to Moores Law is in sight. Manufacturing chips economically at 0.1 microns and below is going to be a challen

We take a look back at the tech products that were so overdone by marketing hype, that by the time they were released, most failed to meet expectations.

The other alternative camp of AI research that sprang up in the 1980s decided that the whole idea of high level abstract intelligence and complex models of the world was a bad idea - or at least too a

In 1973, Ed Feigenbaum, who ran the prestigious AI laboratory at Stanford University, invited Cohen to spend some time there. That year, in Stanford, Aaron was born. The name, he explains, was chosen

Earlier walking robots had a more serious side: to discover more about the human brain. Shakey, for example, emerged from the Stanford Research Institute (now SRIs artificial intelligence centre) in 1

If it breeds, mutates and consumes resources, then it's a threat. Tim Dean thinks your Aibo may be more sinister than it looks.

Apparently, AI doctors have been around for almost two years. And this year, we can expect chat shows hosted by robots, Barbies that demand an allowance and the first synthetic life form.

The most successful franchise in gaming history has finally re-invented itself after stacks of great and not so great expansion packs that spawned a fanatically loyal gaming community.

Chess games are always a bit tricky to review. Surely not too much can have changed since the last release? Still, like many sports titles, developers are always looking for added extras to tempt us to put aside a perfectly good version and splash out on an upgrade.

Davey Winder explores the moves that brought artificial intelligence out of the labs and into the black and white world of popular science.

Turn-based space strategy is back, and better than ever before.

Impressive and free antivirus and antispyware package

Impressive and free antivirus and antispyware package

One of the most interesting features of any board in this Labs is the 'AI' in the P4C800 Deluxe. The board will automatically inform you if you've plugged the wrong sort of peripheral into an audio jack, as well as informing of network cable problems.

What could have been the perfect RTS game is marred by poor performance.

Some items just don't fit any other category, but their looks, features or quirkness scream 'Christmas Gift Idea'. From everyone's favourite AI dinosaur, Pleo, to the groundbreaking Tivo PVR, we think we've got a little something for everyone.

To step back to a more personal level, consider the trend in artificial pets discussed earlier. Doubtless these plastic and chrome beasties are going to get more and more interesting from an AI perspe

Perhaps the most prominent of recent developments have been the emergence of the computerized pet as a viable concept. The trend started only a few years ago with those obnoxious little tamagotchi toy

As a civilization our track record for dealing with the cultural and ethical issues raised by emerging technologies is pretty poor. No-one predicted a gradual decline in literacy as a result of the in