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TELEPRESENCE IN POPULAR CULTURE
A study of portrayals of presence
Dreamships
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ABOUT THE WORK
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MEDIUM:
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Novel |
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YEAR:
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1993 |
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WRITER(S):
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Melissa Scott |
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OWN COPY?
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No |
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ABOUT THE STORY
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SUMMARY:
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"[Melissa] Scott ( Mighty Good Road ) puts a slightly different spin on the SF staples (and present-day impossibilities) of faster-than-light (FTL) travel and artificial intelligence (AI); the former is part of the novel's well-thought-out future atmosphere, and the latter is the focus of the plot. The "Drive" that sends the novel's protagonists into an alternate space (thus allowing for FTL travel) translates that space into a virtual reality landscape of the pilot's choice. Scott's future world is on the brink of achieving AI, and Scott deals with the political and social ramifications of this. Reverdy Jian, a freelance pilot, and her partners, Imre Vaughn and "Red," are hired to fly to a planet called Refuge to find their employer's brother. Manfred, the computer that aids their flight, appears to be AI, and their return from Refuge brings about a tremendous controversy--if Manfred is sentient, the question arises: Do AIs have the same rights as humans? The plot itself is fairly thin, and could not fill out a 350-page hardcover on its own. Scott's solution is to pad it with the aforementioned atmosphere, which is forgivable because it is so well done. This postulated future is convincing, just different enough from our own to pique the reader's curiosity." (from http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0812513029/ref=ase_lambdascifiA/103-7160086-0427033)
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ERA/YEAR:
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Distant future |
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CHARACTERISTICS
OF WORLD:
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People live on a planet in a differernt galaxy. The surface is uninhabitable, so people reside underground in a multi-level city. Space travel is common. |
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ABOUT THE
PRESENCE-EVOKING TECHNOLOGY
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NAME:
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Manfred |
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DESCRIPTION:
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In spaceships, the pilot controls the ship through a drive technology which has a personality. The technology appears as a virtual entity and placse the pilot in a virtual world through which she can "feel" the ship and direct it. This particular drive technology is named Manfred and has a distinct personality. It is so smart and sensitive that everyone beleives it to have broken the artificial intelligence barrier, and is practically human. The book debates whether this technology can be considered human, and if it deserves the same rights as humans. It does not manifest itself as a human like entity, but rather as a sort of floating face. Later it is a program saved on a disc and attached to a power source. However, the consciouness of Manfred is quite perceptive and realistic. The one flaw it has is a lack of regard for human life. |
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NATURE OF TASK OR ACTIVITY:
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Piloting a space ship. |
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PERFORMANCE OF THE TECHNOLOGY:
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It functions extremely well. It was programmed to seem very human, and it succeeds. |
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ABOUT THE CREATORS OF
THE TECHNOLOGY
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DESCRIPTION:
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The creator is a white male in his 20's or 30's. He is insane and eventually commits suicide. |
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MAJOR GOAL(S):
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To prove that artificial intelligence can exist and thus technology deserves the same rights as humans. |
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ABOUT THE PEOPLE
WHO EXPERIENCE PRESENCE
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DESCRIPTION:
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Only well trained pilots can/may drive a space ship, using the virtual drive. Each pilot has a "suit" of connecting technology implanted under their skin, allowing them to be constantly online. Through this "suit", pilots connect to the drive and the ship. The main character in the novel is a female pilot of Asian decent. However, once off the ship and mobile, Manfrd can interact with anyone. |
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ABOUT THE PRESENCE EXPERIENCE
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TYPE(S) OF PRESENCE:
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Both spatial and social presence |
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DESCRIPTION:
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On the ship, when piloting through space, the pilot enters a virtual world through which she guides herself (as the ship). Each pilot's virtual world is individually designed. Later, Manfred interacts with everyone as a separate entity. |
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USER AWARENESS:
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Yes, they are aware. |
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VALENCE:
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Very pleasent to pilot the ship. Unpleasent when Manfred attempts to prove he is artificially intelligent and causes social unrest. |
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SPECIFIC RESPONSES:
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While piloting a ship, the user feels as if she is the ship, and enjoys the power and ease of guiding it. |
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ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES
OF PRESENCE
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LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES:
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It turns out that Manfred has been cleverly programmed and is not artificially intelligent. The consequences are good after destroying Manfred. |
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AND FINALLY...
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OTHER INFORMATION:
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CODER NAME:
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Amanda |
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CODER E-MAIL:
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Scheiner |
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CODER AFFILIATION:
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Temple University |
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DATE CODED:
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7/21/2006 |
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