| Author | Message | ||
| Vesica (Vesica)
New member Username: Vesica Post Number: 539 Registered: 8-2001 |
This is labeled “Classic” not because it’s a published or well-known puzzle, but because it has been run here before, by me, about a million years ago. Most of you here now haven’t seen it and even those who have might not remember it. And NO, before anyone get’s clever – it’s so old, it’s not in the archives. Also, the puzzle statement has been tweaked to parallel my other puzzle of the same title. Don't it always seem to go That you don't know what you've got Till it's gone They paved paradise And put up a parking lot ~Big Yellow Taxi, Joni Mitchell If it had never been lost, they would have never realized what they had. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 13129 Registered: 4-2010 |
Should we be asking questions on this one? | ||
| Vesica (Vesica)
New member Username: Vesica Post Number: 550 Registered: 8-2001 |
Yes please. The second one with identical title and text can hopefully be deleted. Stupid computer hiccup. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 13136 Registered: 4-2010 |
OK then... It - an object? Both "they"s the same? H? A? M? | ||
| Vesica (Vesica)
New member Username: Vesica Post Number: 557 Registered: 8-2001 |
It - an object? Yes Both "they"s the same? Yes H? A? M? Adult humans of Irr. genders | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 13142 Registered: 4-2010 |
Did they lose the object? Was the object valuable? What they had - an object? Something intangible? Such as a feeling? A friendship? Each other? | ||
| Vesica (Vesica)
New member Username: Vesica Post Number: 564 Registered: 8-2001 |
Did they lose the object? Yope Was the object valuable? Yes What they had - an object? Yes, the "it" object in fact. Something intangible? Not really Such as a feeling? A friendship? Each other? No to these | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 13149 Registered: 4-2010 |
Did they think they lost the object? But had it all along? | ||
| Shez (Shez)
New member Username: Shez Post Number: 490 Registered: 2-2011 |
was it lost as in misplaced? or did they lose possesion of it? or access to it? did they lose it in the sense that it ceased to exist? is the object man-made? animal? vegetable? mineral? is it bigger than a finger? a hand? a toaster? a car? are there many such objects in the world? or is this one unique? are they a specific group of people? are they related? do they work together? study together? friends? | ||
| Vesica (Vesica)
New member Username: Vesica Post Number: 582 Registered: 8-2001 |
Balin Did they think they lost the object? Yes, they may have But had it all along? Nope Shez was it lost as in misplaced? Most like this or did they lose possesion of it? Briefly or access to it? Nope did they lose it in the sense that it ceased to exist? No is the object man-made? Man-made animal? vegetable? mineral? Of these, mineral is closest. Is it bigger than a finger? a hand? a toaster? a car? Bigger than a toaster, smaller than a car are there many such objects in the world? Many objects of this kind... or is this one unique? ...but this one was quite unique. are they a specific group of people? Yes, but this could be misleading. are they related? No do they work together? YES study together? Yes, in a way friends? They could be | ||
| Shez (Shez)
New member Username: Shez Post Number: 497 Registered: 2-2011 |
did these people make the object? is it a machine of some kind? | ||
| Twilightseeker (Twilightseeker)
New member Username: Twilightseeker Post Number: 172 Registered: 2-2009 |
Were "they" scientists? Profession relevant? | ||
| Vesica (Vesica)
New member Username: Vesica Post Number: 600 Registered: 8-2001 |
Shez did these people make the object? YES is it a machine of some kind? Yes Twilightseeker Were "they" scientists? Yes Profession relevant? Yes, see above | ||
| Twilightseeker (Twilightseeker)
New member Username: Twilightseeker Post Number: 178 Registered: 2-2009 |
Is the machine...a computer? electronic device? steam-powered device? mechanical? Is time period relevant? This century? Last? Before that? Are these famous scientists? Unknown? | ||
| Vesica (Vesica)
New member Username: Vesica Post Number: 603 Registered: 8-2001 |
Is the machine...a computer? Yope electronic device? Yes steam-powered device? I wish, a steampunk puzzle would be cool. mechanical? This too. Is time period relevant? Not terribly This century? Last? Before that? Since 2000 Are these famous scientists? Not really Unknown? But I wouldn't say "unknown". I mean, clearly *I* know... | ||
| Twilightseeker (Twilightseeker)
New member Username: Twilightseeker Post Number: 179 Registered: 2-2009 |
IS the device used for... scientific experiments (e.g. centrifuge, NMR, etc)? entertainment (e.g. stereo, mp3 player, jukebox)? practical work (e.g. printer, scanner)? communication (e.g. telephone)? transportation? Was this machine invented since 2000? Before? | ||
| Vesica (Vesica)
New member Username: Vesica Post Number: 608 Registered: 8-2001 |
IS the device used for... scientific experiments (e.g. centrifuge, NMR, etc) Yes, but be careful. entertainment (e.g. stereo, mp3 player, jukebox)? No practical work (e.g. printer, scanner)? No communication (e.g. telephone)? No transportation? No Was this machine invented since 2000? Before? This specific one? Since 2000. Of these type - well before 2000. HINT: There isn't any well known specific thing to be guessed here, but rather a type of thing. For example, guessing "a vehicle" rather than a car or a 4-door sedan or even a 2008 Volkswagen Jetta. Make sense? | ||
| Twilightseeker (Twilightseeker)
New member Username: Twilightseeker Post Number: 185 Registered: 2-2009 |
Is it used for medical purposes? Does the average person have one in their house? Use one? Are there a lot of these types of things? Are they well-known by most people? Would it be found in a lab? In a house? Outside? In a hospital? | ||
| Vesica (Vesica)
New member Username: Vesica Post Number: 628 Registered: 8-2001 |
Is it used for medical purposes? No Does the average person have one in their house? Not this specific one, but of this type - perhaps Use one? see above Are there a lot of these types of things? Yes, quite a few Are they well-known by most people? The type -yes. Would it be found in a lab? The type, yes In a house? The type, perhaps yes Outside? The type, this would be less common In a hospital? The type, here too! | ||
| Vesica (Vesica)
New member Username: Vesica Post Number: 629 Registered: 8-2001 |
AHEM: Is it used for medical purposes? No, not this specific one. The type can be... Sorry...I'm getting confused with this "type of thing" versus "the actual specific thing referenced in the puzzle". | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 13248 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is it made of glass? Metal? Wood? Plastic? Stone? Rubber? Plaster? Paper? | ||
| Vesica (Vesica)
New member Username: Vesica Post Number: 635 Registered: 8-2001 |
Is it made of glass? Metal? Wood? Plastic? Stone? Rubber? Plaster? Paper? Honestly, I don't know the exact physical components and it's not really relevant. Metal and plastic are likely involved. Not sure about the rest... | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 13257 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is it used for measuring something? | ||
| Twilightseeker (Twilightseeker)
New member Username: Twilightseeker Post Number: 190 Registered: 2-2009 |
Thermometer? | ||
| Vesica (Vesica)
New member Username: Vesica Post Number: 646 Registered: 8-2001 |
Is it used for measuring something? The type - it could be. This one - No Thermometer? No Now that I think about it, I can remember this getting bogged down right about here last time I ran this puzzle too. In the interest of keeping this fun as opposed to frustrating... HINT: Would it have helped if my puzzle title referenced Asimov? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 13266 Registered: 4-2010 |
Robots? | ||
| Vesica (Vesica)
New member Username: Vesica Post Number: 648 Registered: 8-2001 |
Robots? Oh Saints be praised! YES!! It is a robot. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 13268 Registered: 4-2010 |
Does the robot have artificial consciousness? | ||
| Vesica (Vesica)
New member Username: Vesica Post Number: 651 Registered: 8-2001 |
Does the robot have artificial consciousness? After some quick wiki-searching, I see there are too many different ideas and compenents packed into this term. Please be more specific so I can answer. | ||
| Shez (Shez)
New member Username: Shez Post Number: 543 Registered: 2-2011 |
was it stolen? did it walk away? was it accidentally moved to a different place? is its particular function relevant? | ||
| Vesica (Vesica)
New member Username: Vesica Post Number: 677 Registered: 8-2001 |
Was it stolen? No Did it walk away? YES! Was it accidentally moved to a different place? Nope Is its particular function relevant? Yes-ish. It is very relevant what it was designed to do/designed for. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 13284 Registered: 4-2010 |
Was it designed to think/talk on its own? Did it run away? | ||
| Vesica (Vesica)
New member Username: Vesica Post Number: 697 Registered: 8-2001 |
Was it designed to think/talk on its own? Think, yes. Talk, no. Did it run away? YES! I think if we get some specifics about what it was designed to do and what the running away made them realize - we're there! | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 13292 Registered: 4-2010 |
I think I might have heard this story once, but can't remember the details. Did it escape from a hospital? A laboratory? A testing facility? | ||
| Vesica (Vesica)
New member Username: Vesica Post Number: 701 Registered: 8-2001 |
I think I might have heard this story once, but can't remember the details. You may have. Speaking of, did you really join in 2010? Because I could have sworn you were around back in '07 when I was last super active. Maybe just a similar user name. Did it escape from a hospital? No A laboratory? YES A testing facility? No | ||
| Shez (Shez)
New member Username: Shez Post Number: 559 Registered: 2-2011 |
was it designed to run away? like, maybe it was designed to trigger mines and then get away as quickly as possible? was it designed to play hide and seek? | ||
| Shez (Shez)
New member Username: Shez Post Number: 560 Registered: 2-2011 |
ps. is it relevant where it ran to? | ||
| Vesica (Vesica)
New member Username: Vesica Post Number: 706 Registered: 8-2001 |
was it designed to run away? No like, maybe it was designed to trigger mines and then get away as quickly as possible? No, but that would be very clever! was it designed to play hide and seek? No ps. is it relevant where it ran to? Not terribly...and it was the car park/parking lot. HINT: You may want to revist the Q Balin asked which I couldn't answer without more specifics. It might help you tie up the loose ends. | ||
| Shez (Shez)
New member Username: Shez Post Number: 565 Registered: 2-2011 |
was it designed to recognise danger? was it designed to go away from certain things? to move towards certain things? did its level of consciousness enable it to make decisions? | ||
| Vesica (Vesica)
New member Username: Vesica Post Number: 716 Registered: 8-2001 |
Was it designed to recognise danger? No Was it designed to go away from certain things? to move towards certain things? This is OTRT. Did its level of consciousness enable it to make decisions? Yes, but more pertinent is something it was programmed to do, which you are hinting at in your questions above. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 13301 Registered: 4-2010 |
I did join in 2010, a month or so after I discovered the forum. In fact, my one-year anniversary is only a few days away. It was programmed...to be self-conscious? To make its own decisions? | ||
| Vesica (Vesica)
New member Username: Vesica Post Number: 727 Registered: 8-2001 |
It was programmed...to be self-conscious? As in aware it was a robot? No. And now I have Wall-E in my head asking "Does this paint make my treads look fat?". To make its own decisions? It could do this, with an aim in mind. | ||
| Shez (Shez)
New member Username: Shez Post Number: 574 Registered: 2-2011 |
to go towards light? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 13311 Registered: 4-2010 |
Never saw WALL-E. How was it? | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 3587 Registered: 9-2010 |
I liked Wall-E! =) | ||
| Twilightseeker (Twilightseeker)
New member Username: Twilightseeker Post Number: 224 Registered: 2-2009 |
So it was programmed to go toward a certain thing, which is why it "ran away"? Was there something in the parking lot that it "thought" was supposed to go toward? Such as cars, concrete, etc? Or a more general thing like a different temperature/lighting/air pressure? | ||
| Vesica (Vesica)
New member Username: Vesica Post Number: 742 Registered: 8-2001 |
to go towards light? No So it was programmed to go toward a certain thing, which is why it "ran away"? No, this is OTWT. Was there something in the parking lot that it "thought" was supposed to go toward? Not at all Such as cars, concrete, etc? Or a more general thing like a different temperature/lighting/air pressure? No to both. | ||
| Shez (Shez)
New member Username: Shez Post Number: 588 Registered: 2-2011 |
was it looking for something? | ||
| Vesica (Vesica)
New member Username: Vesica Post Number: 744 Registered: 8-2001 |
was it looking for something? No | ||
| Vesica (Vesica)
New member Username: Vesica Post Number: 820 Registered: 8-2001 |
This one seems to be languishing a little. Perhaps it’s time for a RECAP: “They” are scientists who created/designed “it” – a robot. The robot was “lost” in that it “walked away”/”ran away” from the lab where they worked and, for a time, they did not know where it was. It was eventually found in a car park/parking lot. This detail is not relevant, but it is accurate – as this puzzle is based on a true story. It is important what the robot was programmed to do/designed for. It Yopeishly involves artificial consciousness, but not the robot being aware it was a robot. We have determined that it WAS programmed to make decisions (and this is important as part of it’s ‘purpose’). It was not programmed to go towards anything or looking for anything. Additionally, it is of no importance that it ended up in the car park – the men’s loo or the cafeteria would have also been equally likely places for it to have been found. So, we just need to figure out a little more about what the scientists were doing with the robot/what it was designed for…which should lead why the robot “running away” revealed “what they had” to the scientists. | ||
| Galfisk (Galfisk)
New member Username: Galfisk Post Number: 3882 Registered: 9-2009 |
I read about this one some time ago, but I can't recall any details. Did the robot: see something relevant? Hear? Sense in some other way? Did it make an unexpected decision? Was it programmed to learn? Was "what they had" part of the robot? Or something other than the robot? Such as a security problem? Did they think the robot could not escape? Did the robot trick them? | ||
| Vesica (Vesica)
New member Username: Vesica Post Number: 837 Registered: 8-2001 |
Did the robot: see something relevant? Hear? Sense in some other way? No to the above Did it make an unexpected decision? Yes, in that they didn't specifically expect it. NO, in that it was doing what it was programmed to do. Was it programmed to learn? YES! Was "what they had" part of the robot? No Or something other than the robot? Also, no Such as a security problem? Nope Did they think the robot could not escape? It didn't occur to them that it could. Did the robot trick them? Nope. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 13417 Registered: 4-2010 |
Did it learn how to escape? | ||
| Vesica (Vesica)
New member Username: Vesica Post Number: 844 Registered: 8-2001 |
Did it learn how to escape? Yep! And good enough for a.... ***** SPOILER ***** Back in the olden days of 2002, scientists in the UK were working with what they called "living robots", programmed to think for themselves and learn from/adapt to new situations. Clearly they'd done a REALLY good job, as one of their robots, "Gaak" made a bid for freedom. The robots had been battling each other in an arena, learning to adapt to the techniques and attacks of each other. Gaak had been separated for repairs when the scientist working with him was called away. In the 15 minutes he was gone, Gaak made it out of the corral he'd been left in, down an access slope and out the front doors, into the car park, where he was nearly run over by a visitor. Best part of this story? The quote by the visitor, who was coming to see the new robots. "You can imagine how surprised I was when I nearly ran over one on my way in. I knew the robots interacted with each other but didn't expect to be personally greeted by one." Full article can be found HERE. |
