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"Fuzzy logic tries to get machines to think like people do, with inexact fuzzy terms."
- Bart Kosko
 |
| Transmog | ||
| A small device easily installed in a robot to alter its skill set. |
Sheridan, the only human in a complement of robots, needs to assess what sort of mix of skills are needed to carry out his mission - trade with aliens!
| "We'll need some roboticists," said Sheridan. "Those boys must be smashed up fairly bad."
"Here they are. You better handle them, sir. You do it better than any one of us." Sheridan took the three transmogs and dropped them in the pocket of his jacket. "I'm sorry there are no more, sir," Hezekiah said. "That is all we have "
 (Transmog robot in 'Installment Plan' by Clifford Simak) [Sheridan] opened the almost invisible plate in the back of Ebenezer's skull and slid it quickly down, reached inside and found the spacehand transmog. With a quick twist, he jerked it out and dropped it in his pocket, then popped in the roboticist transmog, clicked it into place and drove it home. Then he shoved up the brain plate and heard it lock with a tiny click. |
| Technovelgy from Installment Plan,
by Clifford Simak. Published by Galaxy in 1959 Additional resources -
|
This is an interesting take on the idea that specialities are required; once you have humanoid robots, you can download or install the specialized knowledge and skills that they need.
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'Our study of your race has convinced us that you are not fitted to leave your planet in the present state of your civilization.'
'...the spreading beam of the deranging ray struck them, and Then one toppled and fell. Then another.'
'Within seconds the material was spread out over fifty yards, in a matter of hours it might occupy several cubic miles of space...'
'The men are dead, but their acquired wisdom lives on and I am the beneficiary.'
'Young people found the driverless car admirable for petting.'
'After twenty generations of shillyshallying...'
