Considered one of the best early examples of science fiction, E. M. Forster&rsquo;s short story, &ldquo;The Machine Stops,&rdquo; first published in 1909, is notable for predicting several modern technologies decades before they became practical, including the Internet and instant messaging.<br /><br />&quot;The Machine Stops&quot; describes a world in which almost all humans have lost the ability to live on the surface of the Earth. Each individual lives in isolation in a &#39;cell&#39;, with all bodily and spiritual needs met by the omnipotent, global Machine. Most humans welcome this development, as they are sceptical and fearful of first-hand experience. People forget that humans created the Machine, and treat it as a mystical entity whose needs supersede their own. Those who do not accept the deity of the Machine are viewed as &#39;unmechanical&#39; and are threatened with &quot;Homelessness&quot;...