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" I think that computers today allow us one last opportunity to provide something like a level playingfield in America."
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![]() First direct use of the phrase 'robot dog' as far as I know in science fiction.
Another complete and more detailed use of this idea appeared in Gramp and his Dog, by Frank Quattrocchi, published by Astounding Science Fiction in 1952:
The eyes were especially realistic. Although they were actually tiny image receptors for the computer-brain they were nevertheless ornamental.
The ears were likewise excellently constructed.
Somewhere under the large hairy ear flaps there were a pair of tiny microphones which probably were tuned to a real dog’s sonic sensitivity — or even beyond.
The company’s label was still in place on a chain around the robot’s neck. Mark IV — Stranton remembered reading an advertisement regarding this model. It carried the most extensive — and expensive — computing device for its size in existence. He found himself wondering if the computer was actually contained in the robot’s head. Probably it was not. Not all of it anyway.
He allowed his hand to run experimentally over the concealed panel of studs under the fur of the robot’s belly. He pressed one of the studs.
Instantly the animal came alive. It rolled over quickly and retracted its legs. Almost at once it was on its feet. The head swung from side to side only briefly before coming to rest with the eyes glaring at him.
Stranton felt the hair rise on the back of his neck. The dog rocked backward into a crouch, its hind legs cocked. It began a low growl, producing it deep in the mechanical throat.
His cousin had said something about a Watchdog pattern — They had simply cut the power switch — he had turned it on again!
Compare to the electric cat from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (1968) by Philip K. Dick. Comment/Join this discussion ( 0 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This | Additional
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