First Person Read Free Page B

whilst
she fitted new power cells. I began the conversation, using a technique learned
in Doctor Spencer’s lab. “You are very skilled at this type of work.”
    Gail remained
focused on her work. “I became interested through my mother. For some reason,
she kept you after her father died.”
    My memory had
recorded a sequence of Abbs and me in the workshop. “We played catch together.”
    She finished up
her work and secured my chest plate. “There, all operational. You’ll need to be
charged regularly but no need for sleep mode anymore.”
    “Thanks, Gail,”
I said, consulting my internal clock. “It’s almost time for Henry to arrive.”
    Looking at her
wristwatch, Gail said, “Are you ready?”
    “Of course.”
    A short while
later, an associate of Gail’s arrived. She had gone outside to meet him and
they walked in together. He saw me as soon as he walked in the room but,
familiar with robotics as you would expect, he only glanced and kept his
attention on Gail instead. I remained seated. When they reached me, Gail said,
“Please meet, Glimmer.”
    I stood. The man
watched me carefully but he was not interested in the mechanics of how I got
up. He was watching my face. I clutched a tennis ball in my right hand and
threw it in the air towards him. “Catch, please,” I said.
    Startled, he
caught the ball before it dropped to the floor in front of him. He smiled at
Gail. “Well done,” he said to her.
    To continue the
demonstration, Gail came in closer and leaned into me, pushing at my right
shoulder. I stumbled over to my left, but kept my balance. It’s a common test
of robotics, pushing us to see if we fall over. Bad manners it’s called, but
Gail had said we would do these things. I remained on my feet and said, “Whoa,
Gail. Go easy there, partner.”
    Henry chuckled,
pleased with the demonstration. He said to me, “Your name is Glimmer. Why is
that?”
    I bowed my head
slightly and paused. “I don’t know. Doctor Spencer gave me the name.”
    He pressed me
further. “And does it mean something?”
    I swivelled my
eyes towards Gail, but directed my question to him. “You probably don’t require
the dictionary definition.”
    “No I don’t.” He
smiled at Gail.
    Pivoting my arm
on its upgraded ball joint, I touched a finger to my chin. “May I ask what your
name is?”
    This time he
smiled at me and not Gail. “It’s Henry.”
    Lowering my arm,
I asked, “And where did you get your name, Henry?”
    Henry leaned
forward. “From my mother. It was her uncle’s name.”
    I turned my
whole body towards Gail. “Did your Grandfather have an uncle named Glimmer?”
    Laughter again.
Gail clenched both hands and raised them to her face. Henry then spoke to Gail
as if I was not there. “Gail, your robot will probably pass the test at New
York, maybe even win, but what do you hope to achieve?”
    Gail had a quick
answer. “My grandfather did this work almost thirty years ago. He needs the
credit for his proprietary technology.”
    This was my turn
to speak. “An early artificial intelligence test was a simple trolley in a
field. When you threw a ball to it, and only a straight throw would do, the
trolley would catch the ball in a scoop. If you see the ball, calculate the
speed and trajectory, you can work out where it will land. Move towards that
point and catch the ball. A child can learn this. The trolley’s designers
conceived a calculation for their machine to perform the same manoeuvre.
Please...”
    I moved away
from them, stepping nearer the roller door. Holding up my right hand, I flicked
my head back as an indication to Henry that I wanted him to do something. He
had been toying with the tennis ball I threw him earlier. When he realised what
I wanted, he threw the ball to me, but it fell short and to my left. I had to
take a step forward, bend my knees, and catch with my left hand before the ball
could hit the floor. Straightening my legs, I said. “Abbie and I played catch
many