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YES!

5 (9.4%)

Only if I could turn it off.

16 (30.2%)

Would it hurt?

3 (5.7%)

NO. The rise of the machines & all that.

4 (7.5%)

NO. I'm a Luddite (I'm posting this via snail mail)

4 (7.5%)

No. Just, no.

14 (26.4%)

IT'S A CARTOON!

0 (0%)

Waffles. Definitely Waffles.

0 (0%)

I'd prefer something Bluetooth instead.

2 (3.8%)

Is that a Nook, a Kindle or an iPad Hanners has?

5 (9.4%)

Total Members Voted: 51

[snubnose]

I am all for useful eletronic devices.

The problem is, most eletronic devices arent useful. And as a programmer, I am quite able to spot that design flaw.

[Milesb]

I think an Intercranial Communication Unit (as it has been so smoothly dubbed) would have some potential positive impacts though - mountaineers, sailors, Arctic expeditions etc - any situation where a person bereft of their equipment or vehicle would be in some danger would benefit from being able to communicate or be tracked down based upon a communications device that can't be easily lost or damaged. (without the person being pretty much dead anyway)

I think the question is: how does one interact with an Intercranial Communication Unit - do you learn to manipulate it similarly to those who learn to move simple biomechanical prosthetics, which takes many months if not years of training to use? Would it be voice activated?

[pwhodges]

Would it require external batteries, or is some biologically-linked power source postulated?

[Throg]

In terms of Station's social etiquette -- maybe Station, when on good behavior, does observe the basics. For Lt. Potter, he did "knock" with a voice call first, although "what the hell do you want" is not a very encouraging response, it is an implicit reply, rather than "fuck off Station." Lt. Potter also continued to get out of her uniform, so presumably she doesn't have that much of a hangup with appearing semi-undressed in front of an AI.

Hanners, on the other hand, has a lot more hangups, plus she's the boss's daughter and 18 years of history and all that, so Station would presumably be a lot more respectful.  

I love Jeph's take on the alternate advanced tech world -- although who knows, in about 60 years or so, we may very well be there, and QC will look eerily prescient.  

[Madmartigan]

hah.  It makes sense Hanners would have the granny night shift.  Too funny. 

Man, I'd take an intercranial com unit.  That sounds awesome. One step toward becoming a cyborg.  Though I shudder to think what would happen if Pintsize found out about the unit.  He'd install porn on it somehow.

[jwhouk]

I would think that the one thing that would terrify Station about Hannelore is - she knows where the programming nodes are.

(IOW - "So, you want to appear in front of people with a pink tutu and the voice of Courtney Love, like what happened after the Banana Split incident?" "NO! Not that! Anything but that!")

[LTK]

I think an Intercranial Communication Unit (as it has been so smoothly dubbed) would have some potential positive impacts though - mountaineers, sailors, Arctic expeditions etc - any situation where a person bereft of their equipment or vehicle would be in some danger would benefit from being able to communicate or be tracked down based upon a communications device that can't be easily lost or damaged. (without the person being pretty much dead anyway)

I think the question is: how does one interact with an Intercranial Communication Unit - do you learn to manipulate it similarly to those who learn to move simple biomechanical prosthetics, which takes many months if not years of training to use? Would it be voice activated?

Arctic expeditions? I think you'd find it hard to get a signal in that situation. Not a lot of broadcast towers around that area. Unless the devices are networked, in which case it's equally useless if you're isolated, but useful if you're buried under an avalance.

I imagine it's similar to learning complex skills like reading or echolocation, not like a prosthetic. You need to learn to extract information from sensory inputs that were previously absent. Learning that can take a while.

Would it require external batteries, or is some biologically-linked power source postulated?

Existing cranial implants use batteries, but you might be able to make them run on glucose in the future. Like Kim's.

[lepetitfromage]

Station asks for explicit permission before appearing in front of Hannelore, but not from Lt. Potter.

I think it might have to do with time of day as well- it appears as though everyone is getting ready for bed and Station is aware of the change from day clothes to sleep clothes- he probably wanted to be sure that he didn't embarrass her by appearing while she was undressed. It didn't seem to me that Lt. Potter was in her room late at night because we've seen quite a bit happen since then but this is the first time sleeping has been mentioned. Busy day for them! 


Re: Intracranial communication- I still have irrational thoughts from time to time about people being able to read my mind. Especially during mean/violent/offensive/naughty/sexy thoughts. If intracranial comm. became the norm I'd end up being one of those wackos wearing a tinfoil helmet and hiding in their bathtub. 

[pwhodges]

you might be able to make them run on glucose in the future. Like Kim's.

I think her power requirements are higher!

[duskirises]

I would imagine that the intercranial communication would work similarly to either email or actually phoning someone, you would either get a message from someone that you could open whenever you please or you could choose whether or not to answer the com when someone calls. In the case of a message you could check it and edit it if you wished. You would probably have to turn it off in class and such, perhaps teachers (only the particularly stogy ones) would have some sort of device that would be able to see who has their com on and who doesn't, especially during tests.

If this wasn't the case and someone could send you stuff at any time then I definitely would not want one, to much constant conversation would be tiring, also I'd be terrified of the chance of someone hearing my thoughts. And the ability to sway someone's opinion this way would be so much easier. Not to mention the prospect of hacking, guh.

[Throg]

When it comes to peer pressure, bullying, old-fashioned salesmanship, con games -- our brains and psyches are already susceptible to a bit of hacking in one form or another.

[Is it cold in here?]

Station appeared to be terrified at the possibility that Hanners was still angry with him (I use the male gender because that's how he chooses to present himself).

That seems to be the standard way to refer to AIs.

What if Hannelore is his only real friend?

It makes sense Hanners would have the granny night shift.  Too funny. 

It does make sense, but it's an interesting bit of characterization that she wears something more old-fashioned to bed in her old home than she does planetside.

Arctic expeditions? I think you'd find it hard to get a signal in that situation. Not a lot of broadcast towers around that area. Unless the devices are networked, in which case it's equally useless if you're isolated, but useful if you're buried under an avalance.

If there's a constellation of comsats in polar orbit, you could get coverage.

[Method of Madness]

So there's no misconstruing - that's Hanner's iPad and/or eReader she's holding. Relatively primitive technology.

That's rather thick for an e-reader.  I think it's considerably more primitive than you realize, I'm pretty sure that's an actual book.

[Thrudd]

So there's no misconstruing - that's Hanner's iPad and/or eReader she's holding. Relatively primitive technology.

That's rather thick for an e-reader.  I think it's considerably more primitive than you realize, I'm pretty sure that's an actual book.

I wonder if its Times New Roman, Helvetica or maybe Courier?   

(click to show/hide)

A cookie for the geek who can name the scifi short story or writer thereof, that this pseudo quote comes from.

[Kugai]

It may be that Hanners is just comfortable with that type of E-Reader.

I think that she's most probably established some very definite rules with the way Station interacts with her.  Also, you have to remember she's the bosses daughter.





Ohhhhh, Borg Implants.

Hey, does that make Hanners Seven's secret daughter?    

[Magdalena]

I'm just kind of curious if Station always holo projected himself at what appears to be approximately same age as Hanners - example when she was 8, did Station project as an 8 year old?

[jwhouk]

Simple Question #2 - Intercranial Communication Unit?

YES!    - 5 (12.2%)
Only if I could turn it off.    - 10 (24.4%)
Would it hurt?    - 2 (4.9%)
NO. The rise of the machines & all that.    - 1 (2.4%)
NO. I'm a Luddite (I'm posting this via snail mail)    - 4 (9.8%)
No. Just, no.    - 13 (31.7%)
IT'S A CARTOON!    - 0 (0%)
Waffles. Definitely Waffles.    - 0 (0%)
I'd prefer something Bluetooth instead.    - 2 (4.9%)
Is that a Nook, a Kindle or an iPad Hanners has?    - 4 (9.8%)

Total Voters: 41