robots Archives - Sacha Black https://sachablack.co.uk/tag/robots/ Books, Business and Bad Words Tue, 28 Nov 2017 13:06:27 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://sachablack.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/cropped-logo-solo-colour-copy-scaled-1-32x32.jpg robots Archives - Sacha Black https://sachablack.co.uk/tag/robots/ 32 32 Watch and Wonders – Books, Tech and the Future with @alliepottswrite https://sachablack.co.uk/2017/12/05/watch-and-wonders-books-tech-and-the-future-with-alliepottswrite/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=watch-and-wonders-books-tech-and-the-future-with-alliepottswrite https://sachablack.co.uk/2017/12/05/watch-and-wonders-books-tech-and-the-future-with-alliepottswrite/#comments Tue, 05 Dec 2017 08:00:59 +0000 http://sachablack.co.uk/?p=7107 Today I am thrilled to have an epic geek-out with my dear friend and slave driver accountability partner Allie Potts. If you don’t know Allie, she writes both cyberpunk style dystopian fantasy with a genetic engineering bent alongside cosy mysteries and (I hope in the not too distant future, non-fiction). Allie is also a talented […]

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]]> Today I am thrilled to have an epic geek-out with my dear friend and slave driver accountability partner Allie Potts. If you don’t know Allie, she writes both cyberpunk style dystopian fantasy with a genetic engineering bent alongside cosy mysteries and (I hope in the not too distant future, non-fiction).

Allie is also a talented designer of covers, logos and, well, pretty much anything you need.

Today sees the launch of her long awaited sequel in her Project Gene Assist series: The Watch and Wand.

In order to celebrate, I asked Allie to indulge me in a spot of geekery about all things tech and the future.

Without further ado…

Welcome Allie

Sacha: In your book The Watch and Wand, you base the series on the concept that we will be able to integrate technology physically into ourselves. Do you think this is really possible and if yes, how long before we do it?

Allie: Not only is it possible, it is already being done. Take for instance the advances in prosthetics. A man in 2015 became the first to be able to control a robotic arm connected directly to his skeleton using only his mind. Have a look at this.
Bionic eyes aren’t much further behind which take images from an embedded camera and then transmit that data to the brain by way of an implant attached to optic nerves. This is not science fiction and working devices are already being tested by organizations such as the FDA.

Additionally, Elon Musk of Telsa and SpaceX fame, as well as Regina Dugan of Facebook’s R&D group are actively racing to produce brain to computer interfaces.

Sacha: A.I. – Is it the salvation or damnation of man?

Allie: Personally, I believe that the robots have already taken over, as computers are already controlling stock markets, traffic lights, flight patterns, and even the order in which your customer support calls for help are received and humans are still here, so I am not particularly worried at the moment.
The movie “Her” starring Joaquin Phoenix and the voice of Scarlett Johansson as an adaptive operating system shows a [spoiler alert] potential future where virtual machines outgrow us, but rather than destroying the earth as they are not constrained to physical form, they simply move on to the next stage of their evolutionary process.

The problem is we humans are never satisfied with our robotic creations and being the egocentric short-sighted creatures we are, keep trying to make robotics more like ourselves complete with flaws, opinions, and limitations and that’s where the potential danger comes in.

My books, however, do not deal with an independent artificial intelligence, but instead with the concept of transhumanism in which people merge with technology.

Photo by Max LaRochelle on Unsplash

Sacha: If we do integrate ourselves into a kind of hybrid AI – how do you think it will happen? microchips? Genetic manipulation?

Allie: Both. I think it will start with chips and implants, but as the human body naturally, attacks foreign objects it deems threats, biology-based technologies will have the most lasting effect.

Sacha: You talk about nano electronics that are kind of free and in the air – do you believe in free renewable energy?

Allie: I do believe in free renewable energy based upon the work Nicola Telsa did as early in 1901. We might have it today if it weren’t for banker, J.P. Morgan. Check out THIS and THIS.
The invention still works, see here.

In the world of Project Gene Assist, there are nanoelectronics embedded in road surfaces and other building materials that are able to transform power generated by sun, heat, radio waves, or touch into electricity as well as perform certain functions like acting as sensors. I have other self-replicating nanobots which operate in the bloodstream and can manipulate cells.

Sacha: Earth – Flat or globe?

Allie: Globe all the way. I refuse to believe we are a snowglobe floating about in space while every other celestial object we see is round.

Sacha: Are you secretly a cult tech leader?

Allie: Are you interested in joining? Our Kool-Aid is great.

Sacha: Which device or gadget or piece of tech in your books do you love most and why?

Allie: This is a tough question! I love it all, but I am going to say the Wand from the Watch and Wand. I can’t say without giving away spoilers so I’ll leave it at that.

Sacha: BEAN FOR PRESIDENT (for those of you not in the know, Bean is the female lead in the Watch and Wand and I freaking love the character).

I second the nomination

I’ve read Allie’s book and it’s amazing. If this post has sparked your interest in Allie’s book, The Watch and Wand, you can find it here:

The great thing about Allie’s book is that you don’t need to read them in order, both books in her series are standalone.

You can find the first, The Fair and Foul, here:

THE WATCH AND WAND BLURB:
Fifteen years have passed. The future no longer seems as bright. Between a war declared on all but the most basic technology, worldwide economic collapse, and a plague-spurred global panic, governments have collapsed leaving law and order to be defined by those left behind. Stephen knows he should be grateful, but can’t help wishing his life was more than survival.

That was until he met a girl on the run from a group known as the Watch.

Now, caught between rival factions with their own hidden agendas, Stephen has no choice but to go on a mission to reclaim a piece of missing technology.

He is told the device is the key to a better future, but in the new order, one person’s salvation can be another’s total destruction.

MORE ABOUT ALLIE POTTS:

Allie Potts is the author of The Fair & Foul, Project Gene Assist Book One and is celebrating the launch of the second book in the series, The Watch & Wand. Set in a not too distant future, the series takes place at a time when science meets magic and biology merges with technology, and tackles what it means to be human.

Additionally, she is the author of An Uncertain Faith, a Rocky Row Novel, a cozy mystery/women’s literature story written for those who find themselves caught between a rock and a hard place.

When not finding ways to squeeze in 72 hours into a 24 day or chasing after children determined to turn her hair gray before its time, Allie enjoys stories of all kinds. Her favorites, whether they are novels, film, or simply shared aloud with friends, are usually accompanied with a glass of wine or cup of coffee in hand.

A self-professed science geek and book nerd, Allie writes everyday style stories, flash fiction, tips and tricks, and the occasional not-a-review review at www.alliepottswrites.com.

Book links include:

Social Media Links

Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Google+

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]]> https://sachablack.co.uk/2017/12/05/watch-and-wonders-books-tech-and-the-future-with-alliepottswrite/feed/ 15 Demon emailer makes for an angry Sacha https://sachablack.co.uk/2012/06/20/demon-emailer-makes-for-an-angry-sacha/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=demon-emailer-makes-for-an-angry-sacha https://sachablack.co.uk/2012/06/20/demon-emailer-makes-for-an-angry-sacha/#respond Wed, 20 Jun 2012 12:25:42 +0000 http://sachablack.wordpress.com/?p=261 Today, I am boshing out my angry lesbian. We have established that I hate vague rambling discussions and or instructions, and these nearly made it onto my list of pet hates. However, I still only have three official pet hates, (official because I have an endless ever growing list of things that annoy me, but […]

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]]> Today, I am boshing out my angry lesbian.

We have established that I hate vague rambling discussions and or instructions, and these nearly made it onto my list of pet hates.

However, I still only have three official pet hates, (official because I have an endless ever growing list of things that annoy me, but three that will instantly piss me off)

I hate being patronized. It makes me arrogant and angry and ultimately turns me into the antichrist!

Don’t patronize me because

a) I am probably more intelligence than you

and

b) I can definitely do whatever it is that were doing better than you

So this new person has taken over the HR for the scheme that I am on. Supposedly they are “babysitting” it. Sorry the last time I checked I didn’t actually wear diapers anymore.

Anyway.

A little while ago we were asked to organise an event. Asked for ideas and then the reins were past over to us to get on with the event.

New girl starts, a little over a week after we were told to get on with it.

Newbie sends some really patronizing email giving us an arbitrary deadline for the next working day to ‘submit’ our presentations to her to ‘review’ them.

#rage instantly.

Firstly we were never given a deadline in the first place, secondly dont ask for something the next working day when its already the afternoon and I am rammed up to my eyeballs in work; and thirdly, the event was still a WHOLE month away. Your not in the private sector now love. Welcome to the public sector!

I responded with a polite email back suggesting that the deadline be pushed forward because the event was a long way away and that the deadline was a little close.

This earnt the newbie the nick name “Demon Emailer”

The ridiculous email continues

“I am sure that you all have been formulating your ideas for what you are going to talk about since the time you volunteered to do these sessions. ”

The response I SHOULD have sent:

No you patronizing bitch, I have not been formulating ideas, I offered to do this a week ago. I have been up to my eyeballs in real work besides I am conducting a 15 minute ice breaker I do not need to spend hours doing it, now fuck off and chill out.

I didn’t. I was polite.

Demon Emailer continues:

If your workload is such that you don’t think those timelines are workable, we have another couple of graduates who are interested in helping out

At this point I genuinely turned purple in the face at the audacity of the demon emailer. How dare you suggest that I am incapable of delivering a 15 minute session in a months time. No I do not need help, its FIFTEEN MINUTES of material. I could piss longer than that, this is not hard.

Anyway, after my hulk climbed back inside, and my face returned to its olivey colour, I decided to march up to the demon emailers office and ‘ave a word’

Demon emailer can’t be thinking they can get away with this for the rest of their time here!

Polite conversation was had. Through gritted teeth I hasen to add.

Its at this point that I am convinced I am working with a full on robot. I have never seen anyone fidget less in my life. The wind could have picked up and their hair wouldn’t have even budged plus their posture was waaay too straight to be normal.

We move on a couple of weeks.

Demon emailer decided that they wanted a rehersal of the event.

Much to irritation. Again, this is 15 minutes. Not hard.

Reluctantly I drag myself to this meeting.

Demon Emailer then says:

“Now then Sacha, let’s role play your piece shall we, lets practice all together (insert painfully perky smile) and then we can all make sure we are perfect. I have trained people across the world  and  run events for small groups to huge conferences, and I know that to look natural and unpracticed you need to practice practice practice”

#RAGE

Firstly, no I will not role play my section, I am not four, and we are not in drama class now love.

Secondly, your telling me your life story like I give a fuck.

Thirdly, you sat perfectly still for so long theres a fly nesting in your perfect hair (ok not true, but I wish it had been)

Fourthly, wipe that perky smile off your face before I do

Evidently I didn’t actually say any of these things, but I really wanted to.

*sigh*

I did refuse to participate though. I mean really, role playing my 15minute section. Delusional.

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