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

"In 1970 I found little difficulty staying 30 years ahead of the man in the street, and now I find it difficult to stay 18 months ahead of the man on the street."
- Vernor Vinge

Personality Simulator  
  A device which, when fed enough data about a person, simulated their personality allowing the user to predict behavior in stated circumstances.  

A remarkable idea, one which you see to some extent in some of the Sim products. However, these were simulations for a purpose. Have you ever thought of scheming your way to the top cubicle in your office? These programs are for you.

He entered a larger space full of projection-room gloom with shadowed figures seated facing a holographic focus on his left. McKie identified Jedrik by her profile, slipped into a seat beside her.

McKie recognized the subtle slippage of computer simulation. That was not a flesh-and-blood Broey in the focus.

"Why simulation?"

"He's beginning to do things I didn't anticipate."

Jedrik was reworking the simulation model of Broey which she carried in her head. McKie saw that every seat in the room had an arm keyed to the simulations. The figures at the focus were being adjusted to the combined memories [of those present].

Technovelgy from The Dosadi Experiment, by Frank Herbert.
Published by Berkley Putnam in 1977
Additional resources -

These devices were in common use throughout the civilized universe - or Consentiency, as Herbert puts it in this novel. Employing sound, graphics and basic rules, these simulations were used to help visualize the effect of plans before they were put into action.

In this excerpt, Ceylang (a Wreave), uses the simulator to try to guess Jorj X. McKie's next move.

For almost an hour after the morning meal, Arich observed Ceylang as she worked with the McKie simulation...

Ceylang tried ... a prisoner simulation where five Gowachin tried to confuse McKie by presenting a scenario in which Broey massed his forces at the corridor.

Simulator-McKie asked the prisoners why they lied.

Aritch operated the controls at the observer station. "This might help. This is a record of McKie in recent action on Dosadi."

The simulator presented a view down a covered passage through a building. Artificial light... McKie, two blocky guards in tow, approached the viewers...

Compare to the Electronic Analogue of Living Brain from The Tunnel Under The World (1955) by Frederik Pohl and the construct from Neuromancer (1984) by William Gibson.

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

Personality Simulator-related news articles:
  - World of Warcraft School of Business
  - Military To Create Human, Social And Cultural Simulations
  - Training Videogames Bought By Defense Intelligence Agency
  - Meetings To Be Recorded And Scored For Body Language
  - UrbanSim Counterinsurgency Training App

Articles related to Computer
ElectionSim: China's 'Ender's Game' Battle Sim, Or Lem's 'Kingdom In A Box'?
Muxcard Redditor's DIY Credit Card-Sized Computer
Cortex 1 - Today A Warehouse, Tomorrow A Calculator Planet
Is Agentic AI The Wrong Kind Of Smartness?

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>

Google
  Web TechNovelgy.com   

 

 

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

Science Fiction in the News

Prairie Madness - And Space Sickness
'Space-sickness is one of the most unpleasant sensations that a human being can experience. Not all are subject to it...'

Can Stratospheric Aerosol Injection Control The Weather?
'...I saw a nice black heavy-looking cloud sailing by just now, and I can get the electrical machine out in five minutes to draw it down.'

SETI Suggests Prospecting The Solar System Without Landing
'From a distance it could resolve the cosmic rays reflected from various substances.'

Wolfram Alpha Mathematica Predicted by Science Fiction in 1948!
'The answer to the dumb student's prayer.'

Cislunar Space And The Space Lanes of Golden Age Science Fiction
'He had travelled the space-lanes of the solar system for the greater part of his life...'

NASA Moonbase Update
'The dinner was excellent. It was completely vegetarian — grown in specially prepared gardens in this Moon base...'

Neuralink Will Allow Humans To Communicate With ... Animals?
'Telepaths had their sensitiveness enlarged to an immense range by the pin-sets, which were telepathic amplifiers adapted to the mammal mind.'

Special Lights For Driverless Cars!
'That light is actually the Anamorphic Equalizer...'

'Old People Began to Cross The Continent In Their Own Cars'
'It was a relief to enter one of the comfortable autos, whisper a direction down the tube, and just know that you would be taken to your destination in the quickest, safest, and cheapest manner.'

Harrison Bergeron, Illustrated And Practiced
'But he didn't get very far with it before another noise in his ear radio scattered his thoughts. George winced...'

More SF in the News

More Beyond Technovelgy

Home | Glossary | Science Fiction Timeline | Category | New | Contact Us | FAQ | Advertise |
Technovelgy.com - where science meets fiction™

Copyright© Technovelgy LLC; all rights reserved.