Macktrucker
Simone and Suzie
A while ago, I started work on a new story about an interstellar mining company, and their usage of a cyborg character named S.I.M.O.N.E, and her friend S.U.sie. I didn't think it worth continuing to be honest, the characters will be used elsewhere, but it seemed a shame to waste all that story, so here's a little chunk of it, along with a picture of Simone and Susie playing in the (fake) snow.
S.I.M.O.N.E
The problem, of course, with following on from a successful product, is the law of diminishing returns. Then there comes the added problem of acknowledging requests for upgrades and improvements. These can often sidetrack a successful product. The unit known as “One” has been a complete success for Simulated Incorporated, It was therefore unfortunate that, at the request of Carnivale Interstellar Mining Corporation, upgrades in the shape of an “Emotive Memory ™ chip” came to be fitted into the core processing unit of Simulated One, or Simone as she had become known.
The Carnivale management had been impressed by both stage one and stage two testing, but stage 3 was less than successful. Stage 3 tests were conducted on Veridium 3, a Lucite ore planet leased by Carnivale. Stage 3 would test how Simone interacted with Carnivale line staff, to see whether Simulated’s much talked about “Interaction” package worked. Unfortunately, it didn’t work too well. Simone attempted to use her “Interaction” package, the expected hostility from the line staff and the miners should have shifted Simone’s CPU to the “Gently” software. Instead however, Simone’s CPU shifted to the “orders and instructions”package. Simulated Incorporated were then called in.
Simone was fitted with the “Emotive Memory™ chip”. Straight away there were problems. Her internal power supply, a remnant from the old “Julia” series borg unit, began to run at a high temperature, resulting in a series of emergency shutdowns. Subsequent to this, but not caused by it, the “Emotive Memory ™ chip” began to conflict with some of the lines of code in the “analysis and documentation” package. Simone once again went into emergency shutdown, and Simulated Inc were called in once again. The conflicting package was isolated and, once again, Simone was powered up. This time, not only did Simone’s CPU detect problems with the isolated A & D package, it detected problems with the software used in the isolation process itself. Simone attempted to de-isolate the package to halt the software conflict, in doing so, she caused a power supply failure, several packages were shorted out and Simone’s CPU was destroyed.
And now here we are with a new unit. Simulated Unit Second. Susie is what they call her. This time, the conflicting software packages have been removed completely, Susie’s power supply has an improved cooling system, and the “Emotive Memory ™ chip” has received modifications, designed to scale back it’s scope slightly. On test, Susie is, at first unusual. The huge pump on the front of her chest is a compromise. In making the cooling system more efficient, some internals have been moved around on the exoskeleton, with the result that the secondary auxiliary cooling pump got moved to the outside of the body. It certainly acts as an intrusion. First of all, it’s certainly noticeable. Secondly, it ticks. Rather loudly. And constantly. If you interact with Susie about anything, it beguns to tick faster. Louder too, as the main cooling systems come online as the CPU works harder to operate the “Emotive Memory ™ chip”. There in lies another problem. The harder and faster the thing ticks and pumps, the less emotive and more machinelike Susie’s responses are. More machine-like even than Simone’s ever were.
Apart form the huge pump on the front, the two are similar visually. The only difference being the paler skin pigmentation of Susie, due to the cooling systems. Aside from the annoying pump, Susie is a pleasure to work alongside, her responses more considered and emotional than Simone’s. But the CPU is clearly still limited, when Susie is taxed too much and the pump begins to operate at a higher frequency, Susie’s skin blanches out and her responses become machine responses.
The other problem is more specific. Several parts of different packages have been removed from Susie, as either superfluous, or conflicting. It’s difficult to know exactly what has been removed, until you ask Susie to do something and she says she doesn’t know how.
So to conclude, Susie is a compromise unit. Simulated Inc have acknowledged this, and have announced their “Simulated Three”, or “Thora” to be released next year. Thora, so they say, is a revolution in Simulated life. Consisting of an entirely new CPU and “Emotive Memory ™ chip”, the brand new cooling system and power supply will mean the outside pump will not be repeated. However, many observers have noted disappointingly that the exoskeleton still seems to be based on a revised Julia version, with the patented floating ball technology. This could present a problem for Thora, as “World Robot PLC” have announced that, late next year, they will release a similar unit, but using the superior SN-SNAL chassis construction. This would be the first time World Robot have released a human like unit using the SN-SNAL system, and it is expected to be a world beater. Simulated Inc had better make sure the third unit answers the problems of it’s predecessors, or “Thora” might find herself outdated before she is even born.
Simone and Suzie
A while ago, I started work on a new story about an interstellar mining company, and their usage of a cyborg character named S.I.M.O.N.E, and her friend S.U.sie. I didn't think it worth continuing to be honest, the characters will be used elsewhere, but it seemed a shame to waste all that story, so here's a little chunk of it, along with a picture of Simone and Susie playing in the (fake) snow.
S.I.M.O.N.E
The problem, of course, with following on from a successful product, is the law of diminishing returns. Then there comes the added problem of acknowledging requests for upgrades and improvements. These can often sidetrack a successful product. The unit known as “One” has been a complete success for Simulated Incorporated, It was therefore unfortunate that, at the request of Carnivale Interstellar Mining Corporation, upgrades in the shape of an “Emotive Memory ™ chip” came to be fitted into the core processing unit of Simulated One, or Simone as she had become known.
The Carnivale management had been impressed by both stage one and stage two testing, but stage 3 was less than successful. Stage 3 tests were conducted on Veridium 3, a Lucite ore planet leased by Carnivale. Stage 3 would test how Simone interacted with Carnivale line staff, to see whether Simulated’s much talked about “Interaction” package worked. Unfortunately, it didn’t work too well. Simone attempted to use her “Interaction” package, the expected hostility from the line staff and the miners should have shifted Simone’s CPU to the “Gently” software. Instead however, Simone’s CPU shifted to the “orders and instructions”package. Simulated Incorporated were then called in.
Simone was fitted with the “Emotive Memory™ chip”. Straight away there were problems. Her internal power supply, a remnant from the old “Julia” series borg unit, began to run at a high temperature, resulting in a series of emergency shutdowns. Subsequent to this, but not caused by it, the “Emotive Memory ™ chip” began to conflict with some of the lines of code in the “analysis and documentation” package. Simone once again went into emergency shutdown, and Simulated Inc were called in once again. The conflicting package was isolated and, once again, Simone was powered up. This time, not only did Simone’s CPU detect problems with the isolated A & D package, it detected problems with the software used in the isolation process itself. Simone attempted to de-isolate the package to halt the software conflict, in doing so, she caused a power supply failure, several packages were shorted out and Simone’s CPU was destroyed.
And now here we are with a new unit. Simulated Unit Second. Susie is what they call her. This time, the conflicting software packages have been removed completely, Susie’s power supply has an improved cooling system, and the “Emotive Memory ™ chip” has received modifications, designed to scale back it’s scope slightly. On test, Susie is, at first unusual. The huge pump on the front of her chest is a compromise. In making the cooling system more efficient, some internals have been moved around on the exoskeleton, with the result that the secondary auxiliary cooling pump got moved to the outside of the body. It certainly acts as an intrusion. First of all, it’s certainly noticeable. Secondly, it ticks. Rather loudly. And constantly. If you interact with Susie about anything, it beguns to tick faster. Louder too, as the main cooling systems come online as the CPU works harder to operate the “Emotive Memory ™ chip”. There in lies another problem. The harder and faster the thing ticks and pumps, the less emotive and more machinelike Susie’s responses are. More machine-like even than Simone’s ever were.
Apart form the huge pump on the front, the two are similar visually. The only difference being the paler skin pigmentation of Susie, due to the cooling systems. Aside from the annoying pump, Susie is a pleasure to work alongside, her responses more considered and emotional than Simone’s. But the CPU is clearly still limited, when Susie is taxed too much and the pump begins to operate at a higher frequency, Susie’s skin blanches out and her responses become machine responses.
The other problem is more specific. Several parts of different packages have been removed from Susie, as either superfluous, or conflicting. It’s difficult to know exactly what has been removed, until you ask Susie to do something and she says she doesn’t know how.
So to conclude, Susie is a compromise unit. Simulated Inc have acknowledged this, and have announced their “Simulated Three”, or “Thora” to be released next year. Thora, so they say, is a revolution in Simulated life. Consisting of an entirely new CPU and “Emotive Memory ™ chip”, the brand new cooling system and power supply will mean the outside pump will not be repeated. However, many observers have noted disappointingly that the exoskeleton still seems to be based on a revised Julia version, with the patented floating ball technology. This could present a problem for Thora, as “World Robot PLC” have announced that, late next year, they will release a similar unit, but using the superior SN-SNAL chassis construction. This would be the first time World Robot have released a human like unit using the SN-SNAL system, and it is expected to be a world beater. Simulated Inc had better make sure the third unit answers the problems of it’s predecessors, or “Thora” might find herself outdated before she is even born.