Hey guys,
Got a question for ya. Been on my back burner for a while.
Pseudo-biological robots. How good are they at passing for the real thing?
According to What little we know, TL 15 is minimal for attempting to pass for
human. To me, that sounds kinda high and lesser levels of deception might be
possible. For instance: If someone wanted a pseudo-biological border guard,
how hard would it be for them to pass for a human in that occupation?
I think that it would be relatively easy to build a robot that could pass a
cursory inspection. The main difficulties would be getting the robot's body
language correct. You might build a motorized manequin, but all the
articulations would be difficult. Getting the skin to move properly as it is
the muscle simulators move underneath it. Particularly important (at least in
human models) would be getting the facial muscles right. It won't pass for
human if it smiles like a gargoyle!
Ok, now DGP says that the TL 15 pseudo-bio Aybee from their adventures can pass
as a human with exceptional success. I haven't read all their adventures, but
seems that they managed to fool 98% of those they came in contact with.
Ok, what about a TL 14 attempt at a pseudo-bio? There is an Aslan Pseudo-Bio
in 101 robots. They indicate that it does have problems interacting in all
situations, but clearly it CAN pass in some situations.
Go lower. What about a TL 12 or 13 pseudo-bio? I would guess that pass in
fewer and fewer cases, but I would guess that it could still manage to pass
as an East German Border Guard or a Yankee State Trooper. :-)
I know a few professors who could very well *BE* TL 11 pseudo-bios! (YAWN!)
A quick breakdown of Pseudo-Bios in their ability to fool people:
(I tried to come up w/ examples you folks might have seen before)
TL 17+ Virtually indistinguishable (Think of the replicants from Blade
Runner)
TL 16 Extremely good in normal circumstances. (Think new Star Trek: Lore)
TL 15 Quite good in normal circumstances. Can fool most people virtually
all the time. (Think of the pseudo-bios in Alien(s)).
TL 14 Ok. Can fool most people, best only under certain circumstances.
Limited in their ability by their area of experience. You don't wanna
talk to a robot programmed as a pilot on the topic of music or art
appreciation. (Think of the androids in the old Star Trek: I Mudd)
("I am not programmed to respond in that area...")
TL 13 Can fool people only in the proper circumstances. Otherwise almost
immediately distinguishable as a robot. (Think Data from the new
Star Trek) If you get them off the subject of their own expertise,
they are hopeless. The movement is kinda stiff. Facial expression
Not quite up to snuff.
TL 12 Can fool people only if the robot shows no emotion. Has all the acting
ability of Arnold Shwartzeneger. Has virtually no knowlege outside of
their application programs. Facial expression: must maintain a
poker face. Movement more stiff. (Terminator, Gunslinger from
Westworld)
TL 11 Can fool people only if it stands still. Walk is awkward - looks
funny. (Think Lurch from the Addams Family)
TL 10 No better than a contoured robot.
How 'bout the effects of the TL can vary dependant upon who is interacting
with the robot. Thus a human dealing with an Aslan pseudo-bio would have more
difficulty figuring it out than the same human with a human pseudo-bio. Say
a robot would be effectively one or two tech levels higher in it's ability to
fool sophonts. Thus you could have a Aslan pseudo-bio at tech 14 deceive
humans as well as a TL 15 human configured bot. (Or maybe a TL 12 Hiver bot!)
(Who knows? Maybe the Hiver you've been dealing with is a robot. Then again,
Maybe *ALL* The Hivers are robots... Who'd notice the difference? Who'd
care?)
Anybody got any ideas on this? I'm real curious.
Scott Kellogg
It was announced yesterday that British comedian and actor, Benny Hill passed
away over the weekend. The news was greeted with sighs of relief from scantily
clad women everywhere.
(Fade out running for cover in fast motion chased by...)