TuffGhost
July 9th, 2006, 16:10
On Automata
au·tom·a·ton - 1. A self-operating machine or mechanism, especially a robot.
Automatons in the world of Iron Miracles are large, usually clockwork, machines that are capable or performing tasks that they are ordered to do. They generally take the form of humans or animal but occasionally appear unlike any living thing or even as mythical beasts. They are normally constructed from metal and sometimes wood, and tend to have clumsy, unnatural movements
They are normally issued tasks through the use of punch cards; velum cards with holes punched through them which are interpreted by the automaton through the use of binary. However, this restricts the range of tasks that can be issued and thus limits the usefulness of the automaton. The tasks are simple and require no thought process whatsoever.
Automatons are generally used to perform mindless tasks or simply as a form of entertainment. The technology is far from perfection but is making definite progress.
Many different engineers are constantly making new discoveries and additions to the art or automaton construction and design. Due to the multitude of minds working on the subject there are always exceptions. For instance, steam powered automatons, attempted integration with living things, attempted integration with magic, and issuing orders using a chain with a one or zero defined on each link are only some of the examples
One such break through was made by the late Prof. Triston Fischer. This former Professor of Engineering Technologies discovered a method of using magnets and incredibly diminutive components to create an astonishingly powerful, conveniently compact mechanism that could give automatons the ability to process simple information and learn from past experiences. Aptly named the Cognition Engine, this spherical device could eliminate the need for punch cards forever, however he was brutally murdered before he was able to perfect it.
The only remnants of the break through were secretly given to Dorian Williams, now Prof. Elie Preston. They consist of a stack of notes and a metallic spider (the clockwork mechanid) containing the only Cognition Engine in existence.
au·tom·a·ton - 1. A self-operating machine or mechanism, especially a robot.
Automatons in the world of Iron Miracles are large, usually clockwork, machines that are capable or performing tasks that they are ordered to do. They generally take the form of humans or animal but occasionally appear unlike any living thing or even as mythical beasts. They are normally constructed from metal and sometimes wood, and tend to have clumsy, unnatural movements
They are normally issued tasks through the use of punch cards; velum cards with holes punched through them which are interpreted by the automaton through the use of binary. However, this restricts the range of tasks that can be issued and thus limits the usefulness of the automaton. The tasks are simple and require no thought process whatsoever.
Automatons are generally used to perform mindless tasks or simply as a form of entertainment. The technology is far from perfection but is making definite progress.
Many different engineers are constantly making new discoveries and additions to the art or automaton construction and design. Due to the multitude of minds working on the subject there are always exceptions. For instance, steam powered automatons, attempted integration with living things, attempted integration with magic, and issuing orders using a chain with a one or zero defined on each link are only some of the examples
One such break through was made by the late Prof. Triston Fischer. This former Professor of Engineering Technologies discovered a method of using magnets and incredibly diminutive components to create an astonishingly powerful, conveniently compact mechanism that could give automatons the ability to process simple information and learn from past experiences. Aptly named the Cognition Engine, this spherical device could eliminate the need for punch cards forever, however he was brutally murdered before he was able to perfect it.
The only remnants of the break through were secretly given to Dorian Williams, now Prof. Elie Preston. They consist of a stack of notes and a metallic spider (the clockwork mechanid) containing the only Cognition Engine in existence.