Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Latest By
Category:
Armor
Artificial
Intelligence
Biology
Clothing
Communication
Computers
Culture
Data Storage
Displays
Engineering
Entertainment
Food
Input Devices
Lifestyle
Living Space
Manufacturing
Material
Media
Medical
Miscellaneous
Robotics
Security
Space Tech
Spacecraft
Surveillance
Transportation
Travel
Vehicle
Virtual
Person
Warfare
Weapon
Work
"I'm strictly an ivory-tower person. I can explain things but I can't do things."
- Isaac Asimov
 |
| Daily Schedule (DS) | ||
| The DS was an artificially intelligent day planner, a schedule keeper with voice recognition features; it also talked back when necessary. |
There is an exchange that runs over several pages in the novel, giving an interesting glimpse of what this technology holds in store for the rest of us in years to come. Interestingly, Herbert uses a machine to cause his character to introspect.
| The Daily Schedule began playing to McKie as he emerged from the bath. The DS suited its tone to his movements and the combined analysis of his psychophysical condition. "Good morning, ser," it fluted. McKie, who could interpret the analysis of his mood from the DS tone, put down a flash of resentment. Of course he felt angry and concerned. "Good morning, you dumb inanimate object," he growled... He'd been meaning to for some time to reprogram the damned thing. No matter how carefully you set them, they always got out of phase. He didn't bother to bridle his mood, merely spoke the words in full emotional spate: "Now you hear me, machine: don't you ever again choose that buddy-buddy conversational tone when I'm in this mood!" "Your admonition recorded and new program instituted, ser." The DS adopted a brisk, matter of fact tone as it continued... |
| Technovelgy from The Dosadi Experiment,
by Frank Herbert. Published by Berkley Putnam in 1977 Additional resources -
|
Personally, I'm not sure that I want to have a day planner built into my house - especially if I have to argue with it!
The device did more than just play back appointments:
As though it knew his thoughts, the DS said:
"I'm still a machine. You are inefficient, but as you have correctly stated you have ways at arriving at accuracy which machines do not understand. We can only... guess, and we are not really programmed to guess unless specifically ordered to do so on a given occasion. Trust yourself."
"But you'd rather I were not killed?"
"That is my program."
"Do you have any more helpful suggestions?"
"You would be advised to waste as little time as possible here. There was a tone of urgency in BIldoon's voice."
McKie stared at the nearest voder...
"Are you sure he sounded urgent?"
"He spoke rapidly and with obvious tensions."
"Truthful?"
"The tone-spikes lead to that conclusion."
Its voder is described as "fluting" its responses; it is interesting to compare this kind of voice (like a woodwind instrument, as opposed to a digital reproduction) to a similar device in Neuromancer (see the Talking Head), by William Gibson.
In McKie's thoughts, the DS [Daily Schedule] was suddenly transformed into a valued confidante.
Comment/Join this discussion ( 0 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |
Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from The Dosadi Experiment
More Ideas
and Technology by Frank Herbert
Tech news articles related to The Dosadi Experiment
Tech news articles related to works by Frank Herbert
Daily Schedule (DS)-related
news articles:
- Mr. T Pities The Fool Who Won't Turn Left
- Mood Recognition Technology: Pivo 2 Driver Experience Enhanced
- Robo-Rucksack: Six-Year-Old Designs Talking 'Smart Backpack'
- Voice Interactive Alarm Clock By Moshi
- Timeful Appointment App Learns, Optimizes Your Routines
- x.ai And The Quest For A Digital Personal Assistant
- Evorus Your Crowd-Powered Conversational Assistant
| Collective Superintelligence Is At Hand! |
| AI Operates An Excavator |
| Grok And The City Fathers From 'Cities In Flight' By James Blish |
| Will An AI Found A New Religion? |
Want to Contribute an
Item?
It's easy:
Get the name of the item, a
quote, the book's name and the author's name, and Add
it here.
| <Previous | Next> |
|
|
|
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Science Fiction Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
|
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
'...a hemispherical force field enclosing his head.'
'Then he became aware of a gentle pressure pushing him away from the ship.'
'And now they wre busily transforming all their companions, and so on, and so on...'
'Why, a clockwork dancer, or, better still, one that would go by electricity and never run down...'
'Maybe the individual intelligence of each Cubic pools into a group intelligence...'
'Looks like she has bought the Avatar Construction Set and put together her own...'
'Across the ground something small and metallic came, flashing in the dull sunlight of midday.'
