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Sensor Network Technology in Vinge’s a Deepness in the Sky

blog.regehr.org

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Re: Sensor Network Technology in Vinge’s a Deepness in the Sky

#11

Post by pavel_lishin »

beamatronic wrote: post #4

As the article refers to, the technology demo 20 years ago got as far as deploying the sensors from a radio-controlled airplane, and then driving a tank nearby, and receiving and processing the sensor data received. I can only imagine how far this technology has developed in the meantime. I'm vaguely disappointed I can't go down to Costco and buy a 100-pack of localizers to sprinkle around my own property.

> I'm vaguely disappointed I can't go down to Costco and buy a 100-pack of localizers to sprinkle around my own property.

I choose to be very glad that my neighbors can't wait for an opportune gust of wind to spread a 100-pack of localizers to my property.

Re: Sensor Network Technology in Vinge’s a Deepness in the Sky

#12

Post by TheMagicHorsey »

Ubiquitous sensors would be a great thing for owners of large parcels of property ... such as farmers and ranchers.

But maybe not such a good thing for civil liberties.

I love how Vinge explores these issues in his books. He's really underrated. When The Expanse was announced, I was excited ... but a bit disappointed that that series made it to the screen as the first hard sci-fi book across the line, before Vinge's work.

Re: Sensor Network Technology in Vinge’s a Deepness in the Sky

#13

Post by walrus01 »

TheMagicHorsey wrote: post #12

Ubiquitous sensors would be a great thing for owners of large parcels of property ... such as farmers and ranchers. But maybe not such a good thing for civil liberties. I love how Vinge explores these issues in his books. He's really underrated. When The Expanse was announced, I was excited ... but a bit disappointed that that series made it to the screen as the first hard sci-fi book across the line, before Vinge's…

It probably would be possible to turn A Deepness In the Sky into a TV series, but it would need about the same high budget and first season run time as the Foundation series (10 hours?) to really go into sufficient depth on the 3 different cultures involved, and the order of events in that one book alone.

Re: Sensor Network Technology in Vinge’s a Deepness in the Sky

#15

Post by sbisson »

Vernor is a proponent of ubiquitous sensors as an alternative or as an adjunct to AI; the example he likes to use is what he calls the "localizer", a simple sensor that can detect its position relative to other nearby sensors of the saem type.

So instead of complex vision systems to find, say, a part in a bin in a warehouse, a locator attached to the item would inform the network that it was "Two items down and three across in bin #243. Oh, and I am upside down", allowing a robot to quickly retrieve the item. It's an interesting approach to what Robert Forward called "artificial stupidity".

Re: Sensor Network Technology in Vinge’s a Deepness in the Sky

#16

Post by zwkrt »

Funny I should see this here, having just reread the book two days ago. Apart from the Sci Fi elements, of which Vinge is rightfully lauded, I love how much depth there is in the book w/ regard to individuals’ scheming and how layered the conversation is. At one point two factions of humans are listening to a live-translation of an alien radio show debate between rivaling aliens. The scene simultaneously moves forward the plot for each of the human factions, each of the alien factions, and the translators themselves, all of whom extract important info unnoticed by the others. Later it’s revealed the situation was /even more complicated/ than anyone thought as misinterpretations occurred across the board.

Does anyone else have recommendations for sci fi or otherwise with such complex intrigue?

Re: Sensor Network Technology in Vinge’s a Deepness in the Sky

#17

Post by SCHiM »

sbisson wrote: post #15

Vernor is a proponent of ubiquitous sensors as an alternative or as an adjunct to AI; the example he likes to use is what he calls the "localizer", a simple sensor that can detect its position relative to other nearby sensors of the saem type. So instead of complex vision systems to find, say, a part in a bin in a warehouse, a locator attached to the item would inform the network that it was "Two items down and three…

I've got this idea that, given some R&D and technological advancements, an advanced military could drop 'dust sensors' over a future battlefield, or entire country.

Each particle of dust is a tiny computer with simple sensors, near field laser beam directed stealth communication node, FOF identification sensor, and maybe more. Soldiers could plug into this network (all properly encrypted, yadayada) en see and listen to the enemy. Dust covered vehicles could be tracked as long as they stay in a well-dusted area.

The idea is not that the enemy cannot see that you've 'dusted' their country/battlefield, but that you've dropped so much of this self-organizing sensor dust that they cannot block it all.

I'm assuming that the dust could be radiation hardened against EMP or other area of effect 'cleanup' measures, and that they are powerful enough to run proper cryptographic code, to ensure proper functioning of FOF and the communications.

Re: Sensor Network Technology in Vinge’s a Deepness in the Sky

#18

Post by Sharlin »

walrus01 wrote: post #13
TheMagicHorsey wrote: post #12

Ubiquitous sensors would be a great thing for owners of large parcels of property ... such as farmers and ranchers. But maybe not such a good thing for civil liberties. I love how Vinge explores these issues in his books. He's really underrated. When The Expanse was announced, I was excited ... but a bit disappointed that that series made it to the screen as the first hard sci-fi book across the line, before Vinge's…

It probably would be possible to turn A Deepness In the Sky into a TV series, but it would need about the same high budget and first season run time as the Foundation series (10 hours?) to really go into sufficient depth on the 3 different cultures involved, and the order of events in that one book alone.

It would be an interesting challenge to depict the Spiders in a manner faithful to the book, given the plot twist at the end that rirelguvat gur uhznaf (naq gur ernqre) unq yrnearq nobhg gurz unq orra guebhtu na haeryvnoyr aneengbe – gur uhzna genafyngbef jub unq "ybpnyvmrq" (uru!) rirelguvat jevggra sebz gur Fcvqref' crefcrpgvir.

Re: Sensor Network Technology in Vinge’s a Deepness in the Sky

#19

Post by dpq »

zwkrt wrote: post #16

Funny I should see this here, having just reread the book two days ago. Apart from the Sci Fi elements, of which Vinge is rightfully lauded, I love how much depth there is in the book w/ regard to individuals’ scheming and how layered the conversation is. At one point two factions of humans are listening to a live-translation of an alien radio show debate between rivaling aliens. The scene simultaneously moves forwar…

The next best thing is the Three Body Problem. But in many aspects I find Vinge's works unrivaled.

Re: Sensor Network Technology in Vinge’s a Deepness in the Sky

#20

Post by detritus »

SCHiM wrote: post #17
sbisson wrote: post #15

Vernor is a proponent of ubiquitous sensors as an alternative or as an adjunct to AI; the example he likes to use is what he calls the "localizer", a simple sensor that can detect its position relative to other nearby sensors of the saem type. So instead of complex vision systems to find, say, a part in a bin in a warehouse, a locator attached to the item would inform the network that it was "Two items down and three…

I've got this idea that, given some R&D and technological advancements, an advanced military could drop 'dust sensors' over a future battlefield, or entire country. Each particle of dust is a tiny computer with simple sensors, near field laser beam directed stealth communication node, FOF identification sensor, and maybe more. Soldiers could plug into this network (all properly encrypted, yadayada) en see and listen…

I've long suspected that this route would be a much more likely path for an interested alien civilisation otherwise disinclined to make contact with us to take.

I also suspect that at least some insects have been utilised for similar intent. The trouble is in figuring out which ones... .

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