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
"I kind of take it for granted that our great-grandchildren will regard us as a sort of precursor species. That they won't think of us as human and if we could see them, we probably wouldn't think of them as human either."
- William Gibson
 |
| Sven | ||
| Sven is an artificially intelligent computer detective. |
Harry Harrison, and artificial intelligence pioneer Marvin Minsky, wrote a story about a computer scientist who is shot in the head. He continues with his work, inventing Sven, an artificially intelligent computer that is developed to solve the murder of an associate. Sven takes in large amounts of disparate data looking for patterns that will help solve the crime. In the following quote, Sven uncovers a vital piece of evidence from seemingly unrelated data.
| "There is a correlation that I do not see mentioned anywhere in the investigation. I think it highly relevant and suggest that it be looked into" [said Sven]." "What is it?" "In the course of compiling the recent material I filed all the building, planning and permission forms, licenses, records and materials for all construction at the plant. Do you not think it relevant that that work on the research laboratory at DigiTech began in December 2022?" "No, I don't." "Would you find it relevant that the concrete floor for that laboratory was poured in February 9th of last year?" "...Yes, That floor was poured the day after the robbery!" |
| Technovelgy from The Turing Option,
by Harry Harrison. Published by Unknown in 1992 Additional resources -
|
Compare to R. Daneel Olivaw, robot policeman from Caves of Steel (1953) by Isaac Asimov, the undercover detective robot from The Velvet Glove (1956) by Harry Harrison, the precogs from The Minority Report (1956) by Philip K. Dick and the Pry-Vie robotic detective from Clans of the Alphane Moon (1964) by Philip K. Dick.
Comment/Join this discussion ( 2 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |
Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from The Turing Option
More Ideas
and Technology by Harry Harrison
Tech news articles related to The Turing Option
Tech news articles related to works by Harry Harrison
Sven-related
news articles:
- Crime-Fighting Computer - The Game's Afoot 24x7
| Google's Nano Banana Pro Presents Handwritten Math Solutions |
| Woman Marries Computer, Vonnegut's Dream Comes True |
| ChatGPT Now Participates in Group Chats |
| 'AI Assistants' Are Actually Less Reliable For News |
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> |
|
|
|
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
'Power could be compressed thus into an inch-square cube of what looked like blue-white ice'
'It's so light that you can set it up in five minutes by yourself...'
'Heavy penalties... were to be applied to any one found driving manually-controlled machines.'
'Buy a Little Dingbat... electropen, wrist watch, pocketphone, pocket radio, billfold ... all in one.'
'... an elastic, tinted material that had all the feel and appearance of human flesh and epidermis.'
'It is remarkable that the long leverages of their machines are in most cases actuated by a sort of sham musculature...'
