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! :-)

Re: I did very poorly

[my_b7_fic]

A Logic Named Joe is really pretty amazingly accurate in the predictions for home computers hooked up to the net- giving information, showing videos, providing vid cam phone service...

[cdybedahl]

2. Dr Chandra.

3. Hari Seldon, I think.

6. Hex.

10. Mr Smith.

Re: I did very poorly

[vilakins]

I will have to get hold of it if it's online!

[vilakins]

Yes to all four!

Re: I did very poorly

[my_b7_fic]

Go here and choose the download format you like, and its yours.

http://www.webscription.net/p-253-a-logic-named-joe.aspx

[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!

Re: I did very poorly

[vilakins]

Thanks! And I've figured out who you are now. :-)

Re: I did very poorly

[my_b7_fic]

*grin* It wasn't an intentional mystery, or I wouldn't have reused an old LJ icon. :^)

[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).

[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!

[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.

[kernezelda]

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

[vilakins]

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

[vilakins]

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

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

[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. :-(

[vilakins]

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

[jhall1]

Very odd. I see the questions numbered as 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 2, 3, 4.

I'm using IE8, should that be relevant. And, as I said, the numbers were shown correctly on the LJ version.

[kernezelda]

Sure you can. :)

[kernezelda]

"Brian the Brain"

Nobody I talked to for years remembered this, but this summer I looked for and found it, and was completely vindicated (if only to myself)! :D

[vilakins]

[looks at it in IE8] Ah, I see it too now. It's where I've started and finished strike-outs. Bloody Microsoft. I'll fix it in a minute. Odd that it doesn't happen on Lj too.

[vilakins]

I've been told the numbering is in IE8 so I checked, and it's where I started and ended strike-outs. It only happens on DW; odd. I'll fix 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? :)