And now that you’ve reminded me of a moment from Guardians of the Galaxy, I want to see a scene with Water Cooler and Groot. Maybe throw Pikachu in there, too.
All Sirius Cybernetics products feature our new “Genuine People Personalities (TM)” feature so as to make them more user-friendly. Remember, kids, a robot is “Your plastic pal who’s fun to be with!”(TM)
And thus, we build a summer house in the Uncanny Valley…
I don’t know… that smile seems to have appeared after Tip said he was uncomfortable… Could it be that Bubbles has the ability to be sarcastic? Maybe she’s deliberately creeping them out in the hope of getting a freer set of behaviors installed.
Despite that being exactly what I would do in that situation,Bubbles does seem genuinely happy They is smiling in panel 2 Before Tip starts chiming in. They’re just delighted to be able to move around and do stuff other than sit Around waiting for someone to want a drink of water. Wouldn’t you be if that was your entire life?
In my experience people of one minority group who are vocally angry at another minority group are significantly less inclined towards group related violence, then they would appear. A turn in the drone seems like an amazing fringe benefit, that staplers attitude will surely improve once they are able to walk around, socialize, etc.
Now I’m wondering why it isn’t considered cruel and unusual punishment or at the very least grounds for a wrongful birth lawsuit to build Or install a AI into a frame that doesn’t have such basic capabilities. Even when restraints are justified you don’t keep Hannibal Lecter in that handcart thing twenty-four seven.
Of course it’s not, Ian, non-human sapients don’t have rights under the law!
…however, it /is/ slightly disturbing that Skin Horse of all offices are willing to hire non-ambulatory machine intelligences with restricted communication abilities, but perhaps the Machine Union demanded they hire Bubbles.
I am seriously seeing Joss Whedon season finally epic moment with Bubbles kicking a door down and laying waste to a raveging hoard of something or others, and as the smoke clears and the rest of the team looks up at her in awe she says “service is my only joy”
Somehow, I think it’s better for all our sanities if we don’t think too hard about that particular question. I am also certain there’s a perfectly innocent method for getting the water in the pitcher, but I don’t want to consider that too long either.
The drone is not anatomically correct remember? Just relax. Worst-case scenario, it comes out the nose. Worst worst-case scenario, it’s run off from the nuclear cooling system .best case scenario bubbles is wearing an opened back dress , and the drone has a lead lined refrigerated storage area where the spine would be located on a human
Bubbles has learned how to use arms! Well done, Bubbles! Smart… entity!
Shaenon and Jeff, if you name the cooler/drone anything *other* than “Bubbles”, I think we’ll all be very disappointed.
(You know what’d be cool? A group shot of all the incarnations of the drone, so that we can really see the difference that body language makes. Violet, Nick, Princess Whimsy, Bubbles… am I missing any?)
I was under the impression that since bubbles was never humanoid before they did not have any factory default knowledge of personal mannerisms, it was probably just that bubbles didn’t know what to do with arms when They weren’t grabbing, gesturing holding or reaching stuff.
It adds up to,In the first panel limp arms hidden by a speech bubble,But in every other Part of the strip Bubbles is controlling the drone in a perfectly natural and normal manner.
service is my only joy-y
service is my only joy
service is my only joy-y
service is my only joy
service is my
only-y joy-y
serv-i-ice is my only joy
service is my only joy-y
service is my only joy
(That was supposed to be a reply to Jennibrock – n/m).
I wonder if anyone will consider asking if it’s possible to update her language database (plus the necessary functions to utilise the increased vocabulary)?
Since she understands everything she’s hearing, there’s certainly nothing wrong with her language database. Either her speech center is blocked or she just doesn’t want to use other words.
This brings to mind a short story I read once called “Q.U.R.” by Anthony Boucher. Part of the plot involved robots built as andriods losing functionality and just generally going crazy due to having a bunch of unused limbs and other andriod features.
The robot at the control tower doesn’t need legs to do it’s job since it just sits there, so it gradually develops quirks as a result of having limbs it never has a chance to use. Robots with speech centers even though they don’t need to speak start spouting off gibberish just to get a chance to exercise their unused parts.
I’m not sure if the members of the Machine Union would feel the same way extraneous design features and the like, but the ability to move isn’t everything. That being said, the fact the Bubbles seemed to want to use the drone may be an indicator that the immobile robots may be looking for more.
This was supposed to be in response to Ian Thompson’s post about putting AI’s into frames without basic capabilities. After all, the ability to move is only basic if you aren’t, say, a clam or something. Though I suppose being around mobile beings all day would set one’s mind to pondering…
There is a theory that developing a human-like AI will require interaction with the environment in a fairly human-like manner. If that turns out to be true, I can see how putting an AI back into a severly restricted chassis might be considered cruel…
Tip, the answer to that last question of yours is, of course, “service is my only joy.”
And now that you’ve reminded me of a moment from Guardians of the Galaxy, I want to see a scene with Water Cooler and Groot. Maybe throw Pikachu in there, too.
She’s creepier than a Wal-Mart greeter on Zanac.
All Sirius Cybernetics products feature our new “Genuine People Personalities (TM)” feature so as to make them more user-friendly. Remember, kids, a robot is “Your plastic pal who’s fun to be with!”(TM)
And thus, we build a summer house in the Uncanny Valley…
tune: “Soldier Boy,” Luther Dixon & Florence Green, The Shirelles, Baby It’s You, 1962
Only joy
Service is my only joy
I will service you
I help with filing
All the while I’m smiling
Tip, if you are thirsty,
Have a glass or two
For I’m mobile now
I’m so happy
Look at how
I can service you
Only joy
Service is my only joy
Let me service you
I can’t get over.. how happy she is. I don’t even care that it’s creepy, She’s just so happy.
my thoughts exactly! service is my only joy
I don’t know… that smile seems to have appeared after Tip said he was uncomfortable… Could it be that Bubbles has the ability to be sarcastic? Maybe she’s deliberately creeping them out in the hope of getting a freer set of behaviors installed.
Despite that being exactly what I would do in that situation,Bubbles does seem genuinely happy They is smiling in panel 2 Before Tip starts chiming in. They’re just delighted to be able to move around and do stuff other than sit Around waiting for someone to want a drink of water. Wouldn’t you be if that was your entire life?
The danger of her being too happy is that the Machine Union may demand that everyone get a turn riding the drone. And I don’t trust that stapler.
In my experience people of one minority group who are vocally angry at another minority group are significantly less inclined towards group related violence, then they would appear. A turn in the drone seems like an amazing fringe benefit, that staplers attitude will surely improve once they are able to walk around, socialize, etc.
Now I’m wondering why it isn’t considered cruel and unusual punishment or at the very least grounds for a wrongful birth lawsuit to build Or install a AI into a frame that doesn’t have such basic capabilities. Even when restraints are justified you don’t keep Hannibal Lecter in that handcart thing twenty-four seven.
Of course it’s not, Ian, non-human sapients don’t have rights under the law!
…however, it /is/ slightly disturbing that Skin Horse of all offices are willing to hire non-ambulatory machine intelligences with restricted communication abilities, but perhaps the Machine Union demanded they hire Bubbles.
I am seriously seeing Joss Whedon season finally epic moment with Bubbles kicking a door down and laying waste to a raveging hoard of something or others, and as the smoke clears and the rest of the team looks up at her in awe she says “service is my only joy”
“How are we going to get water”…
Tip? Sinks are still a thing. Or I am sure the AI-less water cooler still has, you know… BUTTONS to press.
Or water bottles. But yes, that pitcher full of water came from somewhere – um – just where did Bubbles get that pitcher from?
Somehow, I think it’s better for all our sanities if we don’t think too hard about that particular question. I am also certain there’s a perfectly innocent method for getting the water in the pitcher, but I don’t want to consider that too long either.
You beat me to the question. How many orifices does Bubbles have that still dispense water?
The drone is not anatomically correct remember? Just relax. Worst-case scenario, it comes out the nose. Worst worst-case scenario, it’s run off from the nuclear cooling system .best case scenario bubbles is wearing an opened back dress , and the drone has a lead lined refrigerated storage area where the spine would be located on a human
Relax, water just happens. Pitcherspace is right next to hammerspace.
Don’t get them mixed up – broken glass can be dangerous!
I’m not sure, but apparently it makes Tip uncomfortable, which may be a bad sign.
Also, her smile in that last panel is downright mischievous!
Her old body? Considering that her processor was transplanted into the drone’s body, leaving the water cooler no longer sentient or communicative.
I’m pretty sure the question was meant in the vein of “where was she keeping it?”
Filled it from her old body, kept it the same place Unity keeps her axes and Mell kept the heavy weaponry.
(TUNE: “Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps”, Farrés & Davis)
Just look at what you’ve done here!
The cooler in the drone, Lee,
Says service now is only
Her joy … her joy … her joy!
But she’s a helpful one here!
Devotion is unswerving,
Because she says that serving’s
Her joy … her joy … her joy!
Assisting with the filing,
She’s so helpful … and so cheery!
”But tell me why her smiling
Makes me leery?”
Tip will query …
She’s having so much fun here!
As long as we are living,
Her service keeps on giving
Her joy … her joy … her joy!
Her joy …
Her joy …
Her joy!
Bubbles has learned how to use arms! Well done, Bubbles! Smart… entity!
Shaenon and Jeff, if you name the cooler/drone anything *other* than “Bubbles”, I think we’ll all be very disappointed.
(You know what’d be cool? A group shot of all the incarnations of the drone, so that we can really see the difference that body language makes. Violet, Nick, Princess Whimsy, Bubbles… am I missing any?)
I was under the impression that since bubbles was never humanoid before they did not have any factory default knowledge of personal mannerisms, it was probably just that bubbles didn’t know what to do with arms when They weren’t grabbing, gesturing holding or reaching stuff.
It adds up to,In the first panel limp arms hidden by a speech bubble,But in every other Part of the strip Bubbles is controlling the drone in a perfectly natural and normal manner.
What about “Hydra”? (Short for “Hydrator.”)
There were at least 2 different people controlling Violet at different times, probably 3.
the only other name that comes to me *other* than “Bubbles” is Joy, only Joy.
Violet Green. Also possibly “empty”, if you count her uncontrolled slump to be body language.
Tune: “Ode to Joy,” Beethoven
service is my only joy-y
service is my only joy
service is my only joy-y
service is my only joy
service is my
only-y joy-y
serv-i-ice is my only joy
service is my only joy-y
service is my only joy
That is … a joyful use of that tune!
Heh. I think she could also manage a stirring rendition of “Bread of Heaven”.
Bubbles’ Leitmotif! 🙂
(That was supposed to be a reply to Jennibrock – n/m).
I wonder if anyone will consider asking if it’s possible to update her language database (plus the necessary functions to utilise the increased vocabulary)?
Since she understands everything she’s hearing, there’s certainly nothing wrong with her language database. Either her speech center is blocked or she just doesn’t want to use other words.
Still really creepy. It was creepy as a watercooler, it’s creepy as the drone
But she’s so happy!
This brings to mind a short story I read once called “Q.U.R.” by Anthony Boucher. Part of the plot involved robots built as andriods losing functionality and just generally going crazy due to having a bunch of unused limbs and other andriod features.
The robot at the control tower doesn’t need legs to do it’s job since it just sits there, so it gradually develops quirks as a result of having limbs it never has a chance to use. Robots with speech centers even though they don’t need to speak start spouting off gibberish just to get a chance to exercise their unused parts.
I’m not sure if the members of the Machine Union would feel the same way extraneous design features and the like, but the ability to move isn’t everything. That being said, the fact the Bubbles seemed to want to use the drone may be an indicator that the immobile robots may be looking for more.
This was supposed to be in response to Ian Thompson’s post about putting AI’s into frames without basic capabilities. After all, the ability to move is only basic if you aren’t, say, a clam or something. Though I suppose being around mobile beings all day would set one’s mind to pondering…
Clams do move through the sand. They even have a body part that is called a “foot.”
There is a theory that developing a human-like AI will require interaction with the environment in a fairly human-like manner. If that turns out to be true, I can see how putting an AI back into a severly restricted chassis might be considered cruel…
Why couldn’t they get a non-sapient watercooler?
Probably because even asking that question is considered some for of “ism” or “phobia”.
Here’s another question.
Where did they get a sapient water cooler from?