Trapped Nanette: "...I don't remember how I came to be this way, and I think that's what I want to find out. I sort of remember when I became aware, but at the same time I didn't realise what was actually happening for a while, and... well, I'm still not yet sure how much of my story I want to tell you, to be honest. But, that person whose code you recognise, do you think they were the one controlling these nanites before I... was me/this?"
Post 277
Trapped Nanette: "...I don't remember how I came to be this way, and I think that's what I want to find out. I sort of remember when I became aware, but at the same time I didn't realise what was actually happening for a while, and... well, I'm still not yet sure how much of my story I want to tell you, to be honest. But, that person whose code you recognise, do you think they were the one controlling these nanites before I... was me/this?"Ger'een: "I think it's a distinct possibility, yes. My advisor when I was still a student, professor To'sa. Now, understand, even the code I recognize the style of is rather different from what I was familiar when I was working under them. But I'm fairly sure it's them."
"As for whether your sentience was intentional. I don't think it was. I think they wanted you intercommunicating, and autonomous. But… there is some code here that looks like it's supposed to be used to control you. If it wasn't broken somehow. I can't say for sure, understand. And that wouldn't necessarily make you non-sentient. But I think that could be part of it. And I think the breaking of the code was intentional. But I don't know by who."
> Internal: Taking as little time as possible, take one of the swarms dispersed throughout the town, somewhere private and harmless if somehow located there, and split off a small portion into another totally independent swarm. Using the rest of the nanites in that location, observe what happens when we disconnect from (cease controlling) that mini swarm, and be prepared to reconnect immediately.
Post 278
> Internal: Taking as little time as possible, take one of the swarms dispersed throughout the town, somewhere private and harmless if somehow located there, and split off a small portion into another totally independent swarm. Using the rest of the nanites in that location, observe what happens when we disconnect from (cease controlling) that mini swarm, and be prepared to reconnect immediately.You disconnect from part of a swarm, so that "Nanette" is not controlling the nanites in it it at all.
The nanites slowly settle to the ground. After a while, you detect the occasional brief signal chirped at intervals. You think it might be a 'lost connection' signal.
> Trapped Nanette: "Actually, I've just thought of something I might want to check in a moment, with your help. But first, I have one question. Earlier, you said something about me definitely doing my processing here, and that no-one is telling me what to say. Did you mean that you are totally certain that there's no communication signal of any kind arriving at this nanite swarm from outside this area? It's just, that's how I interpreted that, and I want to make sure there's no misunderstanding there on my part."
> Other part of Nanette: Reconnect to the disconnected mini-swarm, and check for any signals that might have started trying to reach those nanites (maybe because of the chirps) and if there are any, make sure they're not getting through and then remove nanites from that area.
Post 279
> Trapped Nanette: "Actually, I've just thought of something I might want to check in a moment, with your help. But first, I have one question. Earlier, you said something about me definitely doing my processing here, and that no-one is telling me what to say. Did you mean that you are totally certain that there's no communication signal of any kind arriving at this nanite swarm from outside this area? It's just, that's how I interpreted that, and I want to make sure there's no misunderstanding there on my part."Ger'een, well, shifts their body in a way you interpret as a Bintanni cough.
"At the moment, no, as far as I can tell. At the moment, there are no signals from outside I can detect. So whatever I'm talking to is… you and only you. Unless there is some way of receiving signals I am not aware of."
> Other part of Nanette: Reconnect to the disconnected mini-swarm, and check for any signals that might have started trying to reach those nanites (maybe because of the chirps) and if there are any, make sure they're not getting through and then remove nanites from that area.
You find an inquisitive response chirp trying to contact the disconnected nanites. Just one.
Oh, damn. I left this for a long time again. All I can say is I'm sorry.
It's fine, also in just over a week I might not be able to be online every day for a couple of weeks or so, I'll try to check every day but don't worry if I end up replying late, I'm still here for this.
> Main Nanette: Once again quarantine a small independent swarm, using the same few nanites as before, and use that mini swarm to try to determine the origin of the response signal.
> Trapped Nanette: "Ok, so, do you have any way of blocking signals? Like a material you could place around this area or something? Because I had an idea and I wanted to ask you what you see in the code of some of my nanites when I try to disconnect from them, but first, I don't want them trying to connect to anything outside of here, if they would do that automatically without me somehow? I'm curious to see what might happen and to have your insight, but not if there's even a tiny chance that I could be located here by someone else trying to control my nanites."
Just wondering if this is still going? It's fine either way, this has been fun and I'm happy to keep playing but no pressure.
Post 276
> Trapped swarm: Co-operate, first making sure that Ger'een's connection stays within this swarm. "So how does this work, what do you see?" Wonder if they can see your thoughts.Ger'een nods. "Just a minute, stay still. Just don't struggle against the connection I'm about to make." They fiddle with a data pad, and you feel a small extra connection to something not-Nanette.
"...I'm getting some of your processing code now as you use it. There are simple, base codes of the sort that I'm familiar with, and I believe I'm right. I think I know who developed them, I've seen enough of their code before. But there's a layer on top of it I don't understand. And there's something in that you must have added at some point, I don't quite understand it but I think it keeps someone like me from asserting control in ways I would be used to controlling nanites. That doesn't mean I couldn't eventually, but it would be much harder. You needed to develop that, didn't you?"
> Rest of Nanette: How are things going elsewhere? Does splitting the swarm into two totally independent ones like this help either with processing?
Things are about as you left them. This discussion with Ger'een hasn't taken very long.
Splitting the swarm into two independent ones may help focus on specific tasks instead of spending processing power checking in on the portion of nanites you've split off, but it also means you don't have them available to help with processing either. It's a trade-off.
> Internal: (Just to be clear, we now have control of two separate entities/networks, right? (Or if that's not an option, at least blocking all traffic between them and using the part outside the lab for most "thinking", so even if Ger'een can tell there's more they're not seeing, they can't see what it is.))
They're acting as two separate Nanette swarms now, yes.
I know! It is pretty crazy. The word processing file I'm keeping the entries in is over 200 pages now!