Comments on: FCBD ’09 wrap up http://www.atomic-robo.com/2009/05/03/fcbd-09-wrap-up/ Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:21:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Brian! http://www.atomic-robo.com/2009/05/03/fcbd-09-wrap-up/comment-page-1/#comment-7651 Brian! Sun, 07 Jun 2009 16:00:25 +0000 http://www.atomic-robo.com/?p=504#comment-7651 1. Staying still is relative in <i>space-time</i>. If you travel purely through time it's not altogether clear how that maps out real space-time. I imagine it would depend upon the method of time travel. 2. It's entirely possible that Robo was exaggerating for comedic effect. Lastly, I don't know that I'd call Robo a "genius". We're trying to avoid the "my computer brain is amazing" trope that's always associated with robot characters. He's very bright, but genius is probably pushing it. 1. Staying still is relative in space-time. If you travel purely through time it’s not altogether clear how that maps out real space-time. I imagine it would depend upon the method of time travel.

2. It’s entirely possible that Robo was exaggerating for comedic effect.

Lastly, I don’t know that I’d call Robo a “genius”. We’re trying to avoid the “my computer brain is amazing” trope that’s always associated with robot characters. He’s very bright, but genius is probably pushing it.

]]> By: Brian! http://www.atomic-robo.com/2009/05/03/fcbd-09-wrap-up/comment-page-1/#comment-11880 Brian! Sun, 07 Jun 2009 16:00:00 +0000 http://www.atomic-robo.com/?p=504#comment-11880 1. Staying still is relative in <i>space-time</i>. If you travel purely through time it's not altogether clear how that maps out real space-time. I imagine it would depend upon the method of time travel. 2. It's entirely possible that Robo was exaggerating for comedic effect. Lastly, I don't know that I'd call Robo a "genius". We're trying to avoid the "my computer brain is amazing" trope that's always associated with robot characters. He's very bright, but genius is probably pushing it. 1. Staying still is relative in space-time. If you travel purely through time it’s not altogether clear how that maps out real space-time. I imagine it would depend upon the method of time travel.

2. It’s entirely possible that Robo was exaggerating for comedic effect.

Lastly, I don’t know that I’d call Robo a “genius”. We’re trying to avoid the “my computer brain is amazing” trope that’s always associated with robot characters. He’s very bright, but genius is probably pushing it.

]]> By: mad2physicist http://www.atomic-robo.com/2009/05/03/fcbd-09-wrap-up/comment-page-1/#comment-7649 mad2physicist Sun, 07 Jun 2009 13:46:32 +0000 http://www.atomic-robo.com/?p=504#comment-7649 Hm, perhaps someone already commented on this, but... Robo is supposed to be a genius. Yet he tells Dr. Dinosaur that if he 'stays still' for just 1 second (via time travel) he'd be lucky to still be within the orbit of the non-planet at the end. Two problems: first, 'staying still' is relative, according to general relativity (heck, according to Gallileo!). In fact the earth travels on a geodesic for the most part, and I would bet the time travel would involve following one too, and the one which you were following when you started. Second, worst case scenario, he can't go faster than light, so he can at most end up one light-second away. Light takes eight minutes (give or take) to reach us from the sun, and it takes a little over a second for light to get to the moon from the earth's surface. So worst case scenario, a 1-second jump would place Dr. Dinosaur still well within the orbit of the moon. However, I loved the story, and also, I really appreciate the fact that Brian and Scott go to such lengths to get the science/history right. I just can't resist pointing out the 'genius scientist' Robo's little gaffe. (And for the record, yes, I realize that maybe time travel avoids the usual 'c' limit, and there's a completely different limit that Robo was referring to. However, from the dialogue, it sounded like he was talking about normal motion, since he kept talking about the movement of the earth, the solar system, etc. and implying that Dr. Dinosaur would 'stay still' until returning to our time) Hm, perhaps someone already commented on this, but…
Robo is supposed to be a genius. Yet he tells Dr. Dinosaur that if he ‘stays still’ for just 1 second (via time travel) he’d be lucky to still be within the orbit of the non-planet at the end.
Two problems: first, ‘staying still’ is relative, according to general relativity (heck, according to Gallileo!). In fact the earth travels on a geodesic for the most part, and I would bet the time travel would involve following one too, and the one which you were following when you started.
Second, worst case scenario, he can’t go faster than light, so he can at most end up one light-second away. Light takes eight minutes (give or take) to reach us from the sun, and it takes a little over a second for light to get to the moon from the earth’s surface. So worst case scenario, a 1-second jump would place Dr. Dinosaur still well within the orbit of the moon.

However, I loved the story, and also, I really appreciate the fact that Brian and Scott go to such lengths to get the science/history right. I just can’t resist pointing out the ‘genius scientist’ Robo’s little gaffe. (And for the record, yes, I realize that maybe time travel avoids the usual ‘c’ limit, and there’s a completely different limit that Robo was referring to. However, from the dialogue, it sounded like he was talking about normal motion, since he kept talking about the movement of the earth, the solar system, etc. and implying that Dr. Dinosaur would ‘stay still’ until returning to our time)

]]> By: mad2physicist http://www.atomic-robo.com/2009/05/03/fcbd-09-wrap-up/comment-page-1/#comment-11879 mad2physicist Sun, 07 Jun 2009 13:46:00 +0000 http://www.atomic-robo.com/?p=504#comment-11879 Hm, perhaps someone already commented on this, but... Robo is supposed to be a genius. Yet he tells Dr. Dinosaur that if he 'stays still' for just 1 second (via time travel) he'd be lucky to still be within the orbit of the non-planet at the end. Two problems: first, 'staying still' is relative, according to general relativity (heck, according to Gallileo!). In fact the earth travels on a geodesic for the most part, and I would bet the time travel would involve following one too, and the one which you were following when you started. Second, worst case scenario, he can't go faster than light, so he can at most end up one light-second away. Light takes eight minutes (give or take) to reach us from the sun, and it takes a little over a second for light to get to the moon from the earth's surface. So worst case scenario, a 1-second jump would place Dr. Dinosaur still well within the orbit of the moon. However, I loved the story, and also, I really appreciate the fact that Brian and Scott go to such lengths to get the science/history right. I just can't resist pointing out the 'genius scientist' Robo's little gaffe. (And for the record, yes, I realize that maybe time travel avoids the usual 'c' limit, and there's a completely different limit that Robo was referring to. However, from the dialogue, it sounded like he was talking about normal motion, since he kept talking about the movement of the earth, the solar system, etc. and implying that Dr. Dinosaur would 'stay still' until returning to our time) Hm, perhaps someone already commented on this, but…
Robo is supposed to be a genius. Yet he tells Dr. Dinosaur that if he ‘stays still’ for just 1 second (via time travel) he’d be lucky to still be within the orbit of the non-planet at the end.
Two problems: first, ‘staying still’ is relative, according to general relativity (heck, according to Gallileo!). In fact the earth travels on a geodesic for the most part, and I would bet the time travel would involve following one too, and the one which you were following when you started.
Second, worst case scenario, he can’t go faster than light, so he can at most end up one light-second away. Light takes eight minutes (give or take) to reach us from the sun, and it takes a little over a second for light to get to the moon from the earth’s surface. So worst case scenario, a 1-second jump would place Dr. Dinosaur still well within the orbit of the moon.

However, I loved the story, and also, I really appreciate the fact that Brian and Scott go to such lengths to get the science/history right. I just can’t resist pointing out the ‘genius scientist’ Robo’s little gaffe. (And for the record, yes, I realize that maybe time travel avoids the usual ‘c’ limit, and there’s a completely different limit that Robo was referring to. However, from the dialogue, it sounded like he was talking about normal motion, since he kept talking about the movement of the earth, the solar system, etc. and implying that Dr. Dinosaur would ‘stay still’ until returning to our time)

]]> By: bclevinger http://www.atomic-robo.com/2009/05/03/fcbd-09-wrap-up/comment-page-1/#comment-7262 bclevinger Thu, 21 May 2009 01:33:38 +0000 http://www.atomic-robo.com/?p=504#comment-7262 It'll be collected in the Vol 4 trade paperback. One of the issues in Vol 4 begins immediately after the last page of this year's FCBD. It'll be collected in the Vol 4 trade paperback. One of the issues in Vol 4 begins immediately after the last page of this year's FCBD.

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