Quiz: Computers in SF

[vilakins]

First up, have a look at what a 5Mb flash drive looked like in 1956. :-) Greg calculated it could store the equivalent of 63,000 punched cards.

And now, for anyone casting about for a challenge during their time off, a quiz about fictional computers which I nicked from a local SF magazine. I will publish the answers in a day or two. No cheating and looking answers up! I will confess that I only knew five.

Quiz: Computers in SF

1. In one of the earliest fictional descriptions of a device analogous to a personal computer, in a 1946 short story by Murray Leinster, it was called a 'Logic'. What was its name?
   
2. Who programmed the Hal-9000?
   
3. Who designed a computer-like device called the Prime Radiant to store the psychohistorical equations determining the future development of humanity?
   
4. What was the name of the Liberator’s computer in Blake’s 7?
   
5. Which original series Star Trek episode featured an experimental computer designated M5?
   
6. What is the name of the magically powered and self-building computer housed at the Unseen University?
   
7. In which TV series was a biotech computer named TIM a major character?
   
8. What was the name of the ship computer of the Axiom in WALL-E?
   
9. ANGEL 1 and ANGEL 2, the Ancillary Guardians of Environment and Life, are the control computers of the starship Challenger in which radio series?
   
10. What is the name of the extraterrestrial computer installed in the attic of Sarah Jane Smith's home in The Sarah Jane Adventures?

Comments

I did very poorly

[my_b7_fic]

1) HAH, I only recently reread the story about the Logic... think think... JOE! A Logic Named Joe! (The story is included in one of the Baen free download books.)

4) Zen
5) Arggh.... I remember that Ep was dumb, but don't recall the title. They gave Enterprise the job of testing it via a message where they called Kirk a useless dunsel which I thought was pretty crappy... the creator gave the computer his engrams so it was as nutty as he was.

8) Drat I just watched WALL-E...don't remember the ship computer's name... bossy thing...

(And am too lazy to switch journals. This is the one I'm moving my LJ B7 fic archive to. Not quite halfway there.)

Re: I did very poorly

[vilakins]

Yes to Joe and of course Zen, mystery person! :-)

[cdybedahl]

2. Dr Chandra.

3. Hari Seldon, I think.

6. Hex.

10. Mr Smith.

[vilakins]

Yes to all four!

[kerravonsen]

Okay, people have already answered most of the ones that I know, but I do know one more:

7. The Tomorrow People (original series)

[vilakins]

I knew you'd know that one!

[jhall1]

Something has gone wrong with the numbering of the questions, even though it is correct in the LJ version (which I saw first, so that's where my main comment is).

[vilakins]

It looks fine to me, and both have the same code except for the strike-outs.

[gwendraith]

5. The Ultimate Computer
10. Mr Smith

I'm pretty useless!

I used to be a punch card and paper tape punch operator. I can read binary!

[vilakins]

Yes to both! I'm hopeless with episode names.

That's impressive! There are 10 kinds of people... ;-)

[kernezelda]

The second #2 is Star Trek's "The Ultimate Computer" whose voice was provided by Scotty's actor, James Doohan. M-5's creator, Dr. Daystrom, was one of the few prominent African-American characters in the series.

[vilakins]

Absolutely right! The answers provide more information than what's asked for, but can I add yours to them when I post them?

And I don't see why you're seeing the numbers wrongly because they're fine to me: 1 to 10 as they're meant to be. :-(

[kernezelda]

Here's one for you: What was the name of the computer gone rogue in a Space:1999 eponymous episode?

[vilakins]

I don't know; I've never seen it.

Ooh, I know some of these!

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

1. Joe
2. Dr. Chandra, if I recall correctly.\
3. That's probably Hari Seldon.
4. Zen, of course!
5. "The Ultimate Computer"
6. Hex
10. Mr. Smith

I either don't know or have forgotten the others. But 7/10 isn't bad, right? :)

Re: Ooh, I know some of these!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Yes to all seven! Much better than me. I got one you didn't though. :-)

[jthijsen.livejournal.com]

Was number 7 "The tomorrow people"?

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Yes! :-)

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

9 Earthsearch,I think. I enjoyed listening to that series but my mind won't hold on to titles any more.

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

That's the one I knew straight off as well. :~) It was written by James Follett.

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

If I had perfect recall, I should be able to answer all of those except numbers 7-9 and possibly 1. As it is, without looking at other people's answers the only ones that I can bring to mind are 3, 4 and 10. (I imagine that you will defriend anyone who doesn't get 4. :)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

You're one of the few who's heard that radio series; I see there are two more. I didn't think anyone would get it; I've never heard of it.

Of course not! Not all of my friends have seen B7. :-)

[sallymn.livejournal.com]

It's a little embarrassing how few of them I know...

[spacefall.livejournal.com]

I still think of 5Mb as quite a lot....but that is ... quite a lot!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

We recently got a 9Mb flash drive and I used to think 2 was good.

[jaxomsride.livejournal.com]

#8 Honour goes to my husband for remembering it was Auto (Or Otto?) that was the ship's computer on the Axiom.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Sorry, but no. :-)

Here's a clue: they named it ironically because it was voiced by Sigourney Weaver, star of Alien.

[muscadinegirl.livejournal.com]

My mother told me about a computer she saw when she was in college (mid 1950s): it filled an entire large room from floor to ceiling and didn't do as much as her pocket calculator.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Even SF usually got it wrong and had computers filling rooms in spaceships. That's the huge advance we've made, not into space as people thought. I am sometimes astonished at how rapid the advance still is.