Palimpsest_Features
21st Jul 2003, 13:06
Cyborg.
.
Doctor John Bloch was running late. Unaccountably, he had not set his digital clock alarm, and was twenty-three minutes behind schedule. Getting ready for work with unaccustomed haste, he dictated a note to his write-pad.
“Do a Google on replacement clocks with an intelligent interface.”
He noted idly that the write-pad had translated the third word as “Gogol”. Glancing briefly at his watch, Bloch did a quick calculation. If the traffic wasn’t too heavy at Crown Island he’d make it with perhaps three minutes to spare; he’d never started a lecture late.
Bloch’s Lexus had the latest on-board navigation pad, and it immediately recommended a different route to his usual twenty-four minute drive as he started the engine. That was not a good sign. Taking a look at the traffic-flow data, Bloch decided against the new route.
Twenty-six minutes later, Bloch was stuck on Triumph Road behind a line of vehicles that receded like a daisy chain towards the gas containers that were standing half-empty by the junction. He could see the rotating ventilation ducts atop the science building, and as he glanced at the pedestrian entrance just to his left, he made a sudden decision.
Manoeuvring the Lexus carefully to the kerb, he parked on a single yellow line, and picked up his briefcase from the passenger seat. As he passed the traffic sign attached to the lamppost he noted the one-hour stopping regulation, and automatically checked the time.
At nine a.m. precisely, Dr John Bloch started his lecture.
“Today we are to consider the extended phenotype. This idea, developed by Richard Dawkins, looks at how the phenotypic effects of a gene might be considered to have an effect not just on the organism of which it is a part, but also on the environment in which that organism exists.”
Bloch continued to outline the basics of the theory, pointing to the examples of the beaver and caddis fly to illuminate the theory. His students made notes as he talked, occasionally looking up to study the visual aids he had built into the lecture.
As he completed the development of his material, he posted a question to the group: bearing in mind Darwin’s theory of natural selection, how would you epitomise the extended phenotype? Mike Gross, a student taking the module as the first-year science component of his English literature degree raised his hand.
“Our environment becomes us?”
“Very good, Mike,” Bloch responded after a moment’s thought. “Please ensure that you all complete the online assessment found at the usual address. Next week we will be considering the application of Dawkin’s work in respect of his theory of memes. Thank you.”
At nine fifty-nine a.m., Bloch moved his Lexus to the university parking space reserved for him in front of the science building. Walking to his office, he continued work on his research project that modelled religious demographic movements in the pre-industrial middle-east. Bloch was finding that the meme algorhythm he was using had serious flaws when stacked up against the historical data he had compiled.
Whilst an update to the sub-routine library was in progress, he performed an internet search for a new clock. He discovered several were available that matched the specification he required. Ordering one, he noted that a 24-hour delivery option was offered, and chose that.
Leaving work at four-thirty p.m., Bloch found the route home to be much clearer than he had expected, and arrived three minutes earlier than usual. He spent the evening reviewing his work schedule, and working online to continue making corrections to the computer model he had been developing.
At ten-thirty p.m. John Bloch finished work for the day. As he had become accustomed to doing, he set his alarm for seven-thirty a.m. the next morning.
.
Doctor John Bloch was running late. Unaccountably, he had not set his digital clock alarm, and was twenty-three minutes behind schedule. Getting ready for work with unaccustomed haste, he dictated a note to his write-pad.
“Do a Google on replacement clocks with an intelligent interface.”
He noted idly that the write-pad had translated the third word as “Gogol”. Glancing briefly at his watch, Bloch did a quick calculation. If the traffic wasn’t too heavy at Crown Island he’d make it with perhaps three minutes to spare; he’d never started a lecture late.
Bloch’s Lexus had the latest on-board navigation pad, and it immediately recommended a different route to his usual twenty-four minute drive as he started the engine. That was not a good sign. Taking a look at the traffic-flow data, Bloch decided against the new route.
Twenty-six minutes later, Bloch was stuck on Triumph Road behind a line of vehicles that receded like a daisy chain towards the gas containers that were standing half-empty by the junction. He could see the rotating ventilation ducts atop the science building, and as he glanced at the pedestrian entrance just to his left, he made a sudden decision.
Manoeuvring the Lexus carefully to the kerb, he parked on a single yellow line, and picked up his briefcase from the passenger seat. As he passed the traffic sign attached to the lamppost he noted the one-hour stopping regulation, and automatically checked the time.
At nine a.m. precisely, Dr John Bloch started his lecture.
“Today we are to consider the extended phenotype. This idea, developed by Richard Dawkins, looks at how the phenotypic effects of a gene might be considered to have an effect not just on the organism of which it is a part, but also on the environment in which that organism exists.”
Bloch continued to outline the basics of the theory, pointing to the examples of the beaver and caddis fly to illuminate the theory. His students made notes as he talked, occasionally looking up to study the visual aids he had built into the lecture.
As he completed the development of his material, he posted a question to the group: bearing in mind Darwin’s theory of natural selection, how would you epitomise the extended phenotype? Mike Gross, a student taking the module as the first-year science component of his English literature degree raised his hand.
“Our environment becomes us?”
“Very good, Mike,” Bloch responded after a moment’s thought. “Please ensure that you all complete the online assessment found at the usual address. Next week we will be considering the application of Dawkin’s work in respect of his theory of memes. Thank you.”
At nine fifty-nine a.m., Bloch moved his Lexus to the university parking space reserved for him in front of the science building. Walking to his office, he continued work on his research project that modelled religious demographic movements in the pre-industrial middle-east. Bloch was finding that the meme algorhythm he was using had serious flaws when stacked up against the historical data he had compiled.
Whilst an update to the sub-routine library was in progress, he performed an internet search for a new clock. He discovered several were available that matched the specification he required. Ordering one, he noted that a 24-hour delivery option was offered, and chose that.
Leaving work at four-thirty p.m., Bloch found the route home to be much clearer than he had expected, and arrived three minutes earlier than usual. He spent the evening reviewing his work schedule, and working online to continue making corrections to the computer model he had been developing.
At ten-thirty p.m. John Bloch finished work for the day. As he had become accustomed to doing, he set his alarm for seven-thirty a.m. the next morning.