IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2015 - 57

kind, this copulating of one number
with another to produce as third
could be used to control movements of all kinds. The first number
was the algorithm itself, also known
as the program code or software,
which determined stepwise and logically how the second number, the
data, was to be processed to produce the third number, the result.
The number-processing machine
was thus a data-processor that
could automatically process data to
generate effects.
"The first number, the algorithm,
is a number translating a stepwise
procedure that represented a logical understanding of how a certain process was to be controlled.
A human programmer first has to
analyze the problem at hand, such
as how to control a set of traffic
lights depending on traffic flow, and
translate a solution to this problem of efficient switching for maximizing smooth traffic flow into a
single, long number representing
how to go about switching the traffic lights depending on the trafficflow data fed in. Brilliant! In this
way, human logical problem-solving
can be outsourced to a numbercomputing machine to automatically affect a solution. The numbers
are most conveniently represented
in base two, that is, in binary code
consisting exclusively of zeroes
and ones which were the either/or
steps of the algorithmic calculus.
The numbers are thus appropriately
called bit-strings, and a machine
algorithmically processing data in
fact amounts to one active, "male"
bit-string copulating stepwise with
another, passive, "female" bit-string
to generate (or "procreate") a third,
the "offspring." Most effective!
"Now I come to the part of the
story where you, dear electrons,
are dragged into and enslaved by
the cyberworld. The bit-strings need
to be materialized, and this is curdecember 2015

rently achieved by silicon chips in
which electrons are compelled to
jump this way (zero) or that (one)
depending on the commands of the
bit-string algorithm processing the
data bit-string. Electrons are thus
employed as the little stones or calculi of an abacus or counting board
used already in ancient times to
keep track of a counting process
such as book-keeping where you
little dears become accountants'
assistants, keeping them a-counting
efficiently. These universal bit-string
copulators serve to cybernetically
control all sorts of processes,
including bureaucratic ones, thus
improving the social-welfare State's
efficacy in delivering welfare and
monitoring the populace in detail,
which in turn cuts costs. Savings
through cybernetics deployed in
the economy are also enormous
and the race to improve productivity through cybernetic automation
is never-ending and ever-accelerating. Bit-string copulators have
become ubiquitous, indeed virtually uncountable, billion- and trillion-wise. An entire, new, artificial
cybernetic world has sprung up, the
cyberworld of Turingia, that seeps
into every nook and cranny of life
with the promise of efficacy in all
its senses: efficiency, effectiveness,
convenience. Turingia is an engineered colony of concatenated
bit-string copulators occupying the
microworld composed of electrons,
who are the conscripted work-horses, along with all the other so-called
fundamental particles of nature."
Bonny and Honey neighed knowingly at this point of Gamma's delivery,
for they knew well of another form
of electronic slavery for the sake of
human convenience.
"The microworld," Gamma continued, "has been invaded and
colonized for the sake of a grand
automated set-up." He went on in
this vein providing the electronic
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IEEE Technology and Society Magazine

audience, including Honey and
Bonny, with solid basic knowledge
of both Matta and its micro-colony
of Turingia. Honey and Bonny had
a lively exchange after Gamma's
lecture about what they'd learned.
They were also curious about the
fates of Phi and Psi whom they'd
lost in the thunder storm. Could
it be that they'd ended up in
Turingia? It was merely a peculiar vision, an odd hunch the two
e-mares had, totally lacking evidence. Having eavesdropped on
Psi and Phi chattering on their way
through the Wodanaz Forest, Bonny
and Honey had gained some sympathy for this adventurous young
couple. Until now, our two journeyers were ignorant of their whereabouts, had been only vaguely
aware of the cyberworld and had
no notion of what a bit-string copulator was. They were about to learn
through hard knocks.

Forced Labour in the BitString Copulators of Turingia
Through a stroke of indeterminate
fate - or rather, more scientifically, as one possible eigenstate
outcome of an operator (the lightning-bolt) operating on their conjugated dynamic states atop their
e-steeds - Psi and Phi indeed had
been reduced to electron-slaves
of Turingia, compelled to perform
labour in the algorithmic, cybernetic copulators. They sat there on
their steps, wondering what had
happened to them when above, a
huge magnetic head passed over
them, like a shipyard crane's trolley. Depending on the magnetic
field currently induced in the magnet overhead, the electrons underneath either had to jump up the
step, jump down it, or remain
where they were. In this way, as
bitified electrons, Phi and Psi were
continually being commanded to
either jump or stay put, for they,

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