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Intelligence Augmentation (IA)
Technology > Application > Augmentics
Sophonts > Modosophonts > Homo Superior
Culture and Society > Cultural Factors > Knowledge and Information
Sophonts > Modosophonts > Homo Superior
Culture and Society > Cultural Factors > Knowledge and Information
 Image from Steve Bowers |
Artificial means of increasing or altering the intelligence of a sophont; most notably via direct neural interface with exoself programs or the physical reengineering of neural substrate. Typical uses of IA are to improve memory, pattern recognition, and mental control (allowing deliberately induced altered states of consciousness, such as enhanced concentration or lucidity). In addition to general improvements, the field of augmentics has given rise to thousands of minor modifications that grant specific (sometimes esoteric) alterations to a sophont's toposophic landscape. Those wishing to seriously augment themselves for intelligence are advised to consult a professional and use a mindstate-monitor to check for augment conflicts.
The availability and legality of IA varies throughout the galaxy. In many places access to IA is considered a key sophont right; a few polities go so far as to make it mandatory lest other rights be forfeit. In more relaxed societies, IA adoption follows a normal distribution as many sophonts abstain from anything more than minor IA in favour of letting vot servants to the "heavy thinking".
In the major empires, it is rare to find an individual who has not received some form of IA; whether it be a general boost or the acquisition of a specific skill to help with a hobby or vocation (e.g. >3D visualisation). Indeed, given the long-lived nature of most sophonts it is common for individuals to culture unique, often eclectic, collections of intelligence augments. The most advanced IA technology is sought after by those wishing to ascend; such augments offer the greatest advancements at the cost of radical toposophic change.
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- Sentience Algorithms - Text by John B and Pran Mukherjee
The flow of steps which, when followed, allow an organized system to develop and maintain a degree of sentience. The underpinning of ai design. Required massive (at the time) neural nets or even more massive emulations thereof on hardware, state vector machines, and other information age new technology, being massively parallel (capable of running many many tasks simultaneously, or at least appearing to be able to do so to an outside observer.)
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Development Notes
Text by M. Alan Kazlev
Updated by Ryan_B
Initially published on 10 November 2001.
Updated by Ryan_B
Initially published on 10 November 2001.
Additional Information
(see also the account of Cantaloupe Terrain).
