- #1
Czcibor
- 288
- 132
The setting strongly require rather unimpressive processors and not high enough demand to create multiple processors. On the other hand there would be clearly a big need for computation power. The solution that I can think of is going simple. In case of devices requiring little computation power using single processor and using the same processors in hundreds for parallel computing for devices requiring huge computation power (AIs).
Which in story consequences do you see? Both problems and workarounds.
General:
-High suicide rate among coders forced to write programs for parallel computing? ;)
AIs:
-I for sure understand the problem of critical path, but not sure about direct consequences, visible for an user. The real life consequence that I see is poor reaction time of AI in case of accidents and sudden attack in combat.
-If there is insane number of processors, it may be possible to disperse them within the robot a bit. In combat it would mean that robot would not be vulnerable to any equivalent of "head shot" with relation to CPU. (sure, engine, fuel tank, etc. would still present a vulnerability)
Partial workarounds:
-I would expect an AI, to start a process calculating the best way of destroying a potential target, just to have the whole process aborted to prevent a friendly fire. I mean that system would have to waste computation power just to analyse potential scenarios to be able react on time.
-overlocking a few processors dealing with the critical path, maybe even change them from time to time to prevent overheating
Cloud computing:
-having so huge computation power but in tiny chunks there would be a temptation to run hundreds of tiny applications in the same time
-computer games could easily have nice graphics and quite developed multi agent system
Any interesting limitations that you see? Or maybe interesting consequences?
Which in story consequences do you see? Both problems and workarounds.
General:
-High suicide rate among coders forced to write programs for parallel computing? ;)
AIs:
-I for sure understand the problem of critical path, but not sure about direct consequences, visible for an user. The real life consequence that I see is poor reaction time of AI in case of accidents and sudden attack in combat.
-If there is insane number of processors, it may be possible to disperse them within the robot a bit. In combat it would mean that robot would not be vulnerable to any equivalent of "head shot" with relation to CPU. (sure, engine, fuel tank, etc. would still present a vulnerability)
Partial workarounds:
-I would expect an AI, to start a process calculating the best way of destroying a potential target, just to have the whole process aborted to prevent a friendly fire. I mean that system would have to waste computation power just to analyse potential scenarios to be able react on time.
-overlocking a few processors dealing with the critical path, maybe even change them from time to time to prevent overheating
Cloud computing:
-having so huge computation power but in tiny chunks there would be a temptation to run hundreds of tiny applications in the same time
-computer games could easily have nice graphics and quite developed multi agent system
Any interesting limitations that you see? Or maybe interesting consequences?