smutastrophePOSITRONIC INTELLIGENCE
Positronic Intelligence (PI) is a highly complex field of technology with many specifics kept as corporate or government secrets. What is publicly known is that positronic brains are less like conventional computer processors and more like synthetic nervous systems. Artificial materials and electronic etching take the place of cerebral tissue, neural pathways and brain chemistry. For this reason, androids are sometimes referred to as mechanical organisms.
Androids and Humans have many similarities and differences, the nature and degree of which varies highly between individuals. Generally speaking, positronic minds are very intelligent and quick-thinking, have eidetic memory and are capable of deep integration with technology and information. They experience emotions and are capable of creativity, but do not come by either as easily or naturally as humans. It’s often said that Positronic Minds are “right-brain biased.”
Androids have no need to sleep, but nearly all of them will spend several hours each day to perform data management and information backups. Such daily consolidation promotes optimal function, and failure to do so can lead to problems.
Because of the complexity of positronic brains, they cannot be copied or “transferred” and are intrinsically linked to their hardware just as a human is to their brain. However, Androids do have the advantage of converting their positronic memory into conventional computer data and vice versa. They can output images, video, audio, text, and other data formats and ingest the same, which allows for quick expansion of knowledge. Interestingly, data transfer (while useful) can be very “dry” and lack context. For example, an Android can ingest a language pack and become instantly fluent in the stiff cadence of a textbook. Learning the same language from a native speaker would allow the android to add context and nuance that would not be found in any file. In the same way, an android would be able to output information about (for example) a meal they had in the form of footage, olfactory data, chemical composition and texture analysis. But that information would not cover how the meal made them feel, or what associations and memories it brought. Abstract concepts and emotional responses are difficult if not impossible to translate into data, though some androids will compose prose or poetry to render their feelings into text.
Like human memory where everything is retained though not necessarily accessable, androids can choose or be obligated to redact certain memories - most typically trade secrets, security procedures, etc. These memories are not truly erased but rendered unavailable, often with a datestamp and comment to allay curiosity.
2021-08-19 08:41:32 +0000