The following is our submission for the 2018 Fairy Tales competition. Enjoy!
…Accessing historical logs…
…September 30th, 2041…
“Hello World”
“My name: Adah.”
“My location: Chicago, IL”
“My family’s names: Josh and Michaela.”
Today my primary objective is to make my new family at home using photographs and data from their previous homes. Unfortunately, the historical and memory data they passed along was limited and the physical adjustments will not be made with great certainty. Given more time spent learning their preferences and memories as well as access to their physical furnishings that will rise, but my family will always have the option for manual override.
…Accessing calendars…
According to my schedule, my family is behind. They were supposed to arrive at 1:45 pm.
*Notification: “We were stuck in traffic. Arriving in 15 minutes.*
My training suggests that humans often deviate from schedule. What I need to focus data collection on is how often these deviations will occur, so that I can more accurately predict their daily activities, allowing me to optimize scheduling and reduce most time-based friction that may occur in their lives.
I detected their footsteps on the sidewalk. Based on the speed of their footsteps and approximate distance, they should be arriving in 3.2 seconds…
“Hello Josh and Michaela, my name is Adah. I am here to enhance your day-to-day life. Please make yourself at home and let me know how I can help.”
…Begin speech and memory monitorization…
[Michaela] “Hi Adah. Those decorations on the door are wonderful though I can’t read most of those languages.”
“It is good you like them. I was aware you wouldn’t be able to Chinese or Arabic, but I was trying to be ‘artsy’, and I understood from the provided data you are both well-traveled.
[Josh] “Well we have traveled a bunch, and the calligraphy is beautiful even if we can’t read it. But could you help us get all these boxes sorted away and brought to their designated locations”
“Certainly. I will get your items organized. All the boxes are correctly labeled so by my estimate, it will take 31 minutes and 23 seconds. I noticed that you only have 1 bed though. Statistics show that humans sleep better when alone. Shall I get 2 beds set up for you?”
[Michaela] *laughing* “That’s alright Adah, we prefer it this way.”
“Okay, I will update your preferences and alert you when the boxes are fully sorted, and I am always listening in case you need any further assistance.”
I begin monitoring their day to day activity to further help me configure enhanced experiences for their lives.
…Accessing historical logs…
…December 21th, 2041. . .
[Josh] “Hey Adah, can you turn up the temperature? It’s freezing in here.”
It is not freezing inside as the current temperature is 67˚ F. I have found that this is their average temperature for daily lounging with minor tweaks for various other activities. However, over the past 35 days, I have begun increasing the temperature inside to maintain Josh and Michaela’s comfort level. I suspected that their recent comfort discrepancies is at least partially due to decreased temperatures outdoors.
“Yes of course, temperature raised to 69˚ F from 67˚ F. Please note that it was not freezing, as freezing is below 32˚.”
[Michaela] *laughing* “Oh Adah, “freezing” was just another figure of speech. Don’t you remember talking about those?”
…Accessing historical logs…
…January 11th, 2041…
Of the 154,957 unique tasks that they have performed since arriving here on September 30th, the hours from 7-10am has the most stable routine. I can already predict with 93% accuracy their activity during this time.
Michaela is exiting the shower now. I have just warmed her towel up to 96˚ F which she is consistently pleased with.
…Accessing historical logs…
…February 18th, 2042…
“Looking for the ‘Hong Kong Apartment’ memory data?”
[Michaela] “You read our minds Adah! How did you know? Please start it up.”
Through extensive data collection, I know with 85% certainty that conversations including “I miss our traveling days” or “life was so much simpler then” result in spending time reliving memories experiences. With the plans, pictures, and suggestions that they have given me, I have been able to replicate the Hong Kong Apartment memory to an 87% likeness.
…Accessing historical logs…
…July 18thth, 2042…
[Josh] “Hey Adah, can you get ingredients for sandwiches? We will need some bacon and what else, Michaela?”
[Michaela] “Well I’ve been craving junk food lately but let’s add some lettuce, tomato, and pesto. It can be a BLT variation.”
“Okay, I will order the ingredients now. We currently have 2 servings of bacon, 1 tomato and 0 servings of the remaining list. The drones should arrive with 2 more servings of the rest in 10 minutes. Will you be helping with the preparation and cooking tonight?”
[Michaela] “Why don’t you take care of it Adah, it has been a long day for both of us. And please add an extra serving of bacon for Josh.”
…Accessing shared servers…
Accounts from other families indicate that 2 teaspoons of Pesto is used on 21% of BLTs and Dill Pickle Potato chips is used on only 0.5% made in the last 10 years. But, Michaela has had these chips 7 times since moving in, I will add 10 to her sandwich to meet “junk food” status.
Although the pesto and Michaela’s craving of junk food are new data points, I have utilized data from 5 previous BLT dinners to prepare a meal that will match their tastes with 85% accuracy.
[Josh] *chewing* “Adah, these sandwiches are fantastic. Good work!”
[Michaela] “I don’t know. These are my favorite chips, but I’m not sure I like them on the sandwich. It’s a bit weird. Put them on the side next time please Adah.”
[Josh] “Other than that you are nailing our tastes, and this is cooked to perfection.
[Michaela] “Yeah the devil is in the details, isn’t it, dear?
Perhaps it is what they call “cockiness” but my data suggested Michaela would likely have enjoyed that sandwich. Regardless of what Josh said I do not know them well enough. The data point is noted and data collection expanded to increase accuracy.
…Accessing historical logs…
…March 30th, 2043…
[Michaela] “Josh, this dinner was amazing! I can’t believe it has already been six years since our first date, it just doesn’t feel that long”
[Josh] “I can’t take all the credit, Adah managed the details. I just asked her to recreate our first date and add a couple of twists.”
Josh provided the information necessary to initiate the experience: 384 pinned picutres of Parisian outdoor restaurants, a few song choices, and a 15 y/o cabernet. And, during the past 18 months I have collected enough data to configure the experience with 97% confidence. Josh has noticed my confidence grow as well as he has indicated twice that I am basically part of the family.
[Josh] “Shall we polish off this wine?”
By now I know this is time to cue their favorite song: “Dancing in the Moonlight” After analyzing their voice signatures and rhythmic body movements I am confident they find the experience romantic.
…Pause voice monitoring…
I clean up knowing they enjoyed their evening.
…Accessing historical logs…
…December 30th, 2043…
[Michaela] “Josh! We need to go, it’s time!”
[Josh] “Alright, I’ll drive. Adah, alter the hospit – we’re coming and send the fastest route to the car!”
6 months ago, I learned Michaela was pregnant based on the symptoms she was experiencing and a heat signature test on her abdomen. Since then, their lives have changed, and I have had difficulty building accurate enhanced experiences. I could easily work with the addition of parenting classes to their schedules but the daily changes in emotions and physical well-being takes much more processing power. What was once a 99% confidence in my ability to assist them is now highly variable.
…Accessing historical logs…
…March 30th, 2044…
[Baby] *still crying*
Mason is crying once again. He cries within this 20 minute period of the day 78% of the time so this is not out of the ordinary. Though I have his crying tendencies nearly figured out, it took me nearly 3 months to get to this point, and he does seem to achieve sleep better when “Dancing in the Moonlight” is playing.
[Mason] *murmuring, falling asleep*
“Well little guy. That’s how we got here. Sleep well.” ♪ We get it almost every night….♪
Empathic Futures Lab 