On Mon, 21 Jan 2002 18:09:50 +1300 seven@gaudaprime.com writes:
David There have been several lines in 20th cent. software systems, but now there are few: the minority systems of Apple and Unix; the majority system. It can be the same for B7 hardware.
This makes sense only if the System, like computer users, had something to gain from using the few systems instead of the many. Example: it makes sense for everyone to start using wordperfect as opposed to the other writing systems once everyone starts expecting you to know word, all the documents you want to read are word compatible, etc. Left to develop on its own, odds are no two groups of computer users would independently invent it or even invent highly similar and somewhat compatible programs. So, the question remains, in what ways did the System interact with the Federation (or, at least, its technology)?
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At 22:23 21/01/02 -0700, you wrote:
Left to develop on its own, odds are no two groups of computer users would independently invent it or even invent highly similar and somewhat compatible programs. So, the question remains, in what ways did the System interact with the Federation (or, at least, its technology)?
With the System and the Federation, the question is compatible (or rather comparable) *hardware*, not software. Hardware solutions are more limited than software, and historically, parallel development of technology is all kinds is very common. There are only so many elements around. For example, it's very likely that, whoever develops them, early computers are going to involve silicon, because it's perfect for the job.
Orac's method of operation is left a little hazy and is somewhat inconsistent--I think I have a list somewhere of what it can/cannot do during the course of the programme--but it seems to be based on being able to read the contents of tarial cell based systems *at any distance*.
So, assuming a convergent development of tarial cell-like technology, there never needs to have been contact between the System and the Federation for Orac to know about System computers. Orac can have discovered the System's computers, and analysed their software, at any time since it was built by Ensor. Cracking alien programming might be tricky, but Orac has access to all the tarial cell based computer power in the galaxy to help it. Then it can override the Liberator's systems when she appears. The fact that Orac never bothers to mention it is hardly out of character--as far as we know, no one ever asks him what he knows about Zen or the System, or how he knows it.
BTW, for arguing a technological connection between the System and the Federation, the teleporter tech is another parallel. Blake recognises "Aquitar, or something like it" as a component of the teleport system. (Of course, I'd argue that all this tells us is that 'Aquitar' is the silicon of teleportation.)
Given the length of time Dorian spent working on it without success, teleportation is obviously a tricky problem, and the Federation never manage to produce functional teleport. Since they managed to get tarial cells working decades ago, but not teleport, I'd say that the connection between the Federation and the System could be more along the lines of badly damaged spaceship wreckage, from which the tarial cells and teleport systems were salvaged, rather than a more comprehensive exchange of tech. Clearly, the Federation didn't have an intact teleportation system to simply copy.
An alternative source of the tech could be as simple as one lost/stolen teleport bracelet. That could contain a tarial cell, and Aquitar, and seed both technologies in the Federation. The Federation would never have to know anything more about its creators than that they probably have some kind of appendage you could attach a bracelet to.
Ellynne
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Ellynne G.