“Here it comes,” Shipley murmured by Corrigan’s side. “That was the sugarcoating.”
To the debt “But he could be right.”
On Corrigan’s other side, Tom Hatcher and Ivy Dupale exchanged what-do-you-think looks. Just at that moment, neither of them seemed to be especially thinking anything. Beyond them Barry Neinst remained semi-oblivious in a world of his own, probably involving parallel arrays and pipeline architectures.
Pinder continued, “Over the last few weeks, Ken Endelmyer has had us going through some hard numbers, reviewing the progress and future prospects for Pinocchio. As you all know, the tentative plan has been to proceed to Pinocchio Two, or `Son of Pinocchio,’ as it has come to be known informally: extension of DNC into the pons, plus the addition of speech and acoustics.” Shipley nudged Corrigan softly with his elbow. The word “tentative” had never been used previously. For the past year at least, Pinocchio Two had been firm.
Pinder glanced around briefly. “The problem with it, however, is the long lead time that we’re talking about: two to three years by the best estimates, which puts us into 2009-2010. And vision would come even later, assuming further extension to the thalamus.” He looked at Corrigan and raised a hand, lightening the moment by making as if he expected Corrigan to protest. “Okay, Joe, I know you worked a miracle in getting Pinocchio One up a year ahead of schedule. But that’s not an experience the corporation can bet on happening every time.”
His voice reverted to its more serious note. “So the company has decided to add a second string to our bow that will reduce the risk of being left with nothing on the international scene three years from now. What we’re going to do, instead of relying on Pinocchio Two totally, is initiate a program to run in parallel that will add vision and acoustics now, as a hybrid system. That will give us experience of operating with vision sooner rather than later. Also, we’re guaranteed something to show, farther down the line.” He looked around to invite comments.
“How do you mean, hybrid?” Hatcher asked. There was only one plausible way. “With DNC tactile into the medulla, and using the regular sensory apparatus for vision and voice?”
Pinder nodded. “Just that. Combine the Pinocchio One interface with the VIV system that SDC has produced. It’s perfect for the job. Frank Tyron here is the project manager of the team that developed it. The Space Defense Command has a lot of interest in the outcome too, which means that the ground is all prepared for some good cooperation. They’re eager to get started. So, I’m sure, are all of us. We’ve even got a project designation: EVIE. Extended Virtual Interactive Environment.”
There was some shifting and shuffling on the CLC side of the table. The SDC people waited calmly, giving the impression that they had known more about all this to begin with.
“Where will this alternative line be located?” Corrigan asked finally. “Here? In California? A bit at each? What?”
“We’ve talked about that,” Pinder replied. “It would fragment things too much to have it spread out. VIV development is complete, so there isn’t much reason to have any of this in California. So it looks like it’ll be right here, in Pittsburgh. Frank has agreed to relocate here for the duration, and will head up a liaison group from SDC to supervise VIV integration.”
“It will stay under CLC’s control, then?” Corrigan said.
“Oh, no question.” Pinder nodded reassuringly.
Shipley, however, was less sanguine. “What about the plans for expanding neurophysiology?” he asked. “How will they be affected? Are we still going to hire Evelyn Vance from Harvard?”
“Of course,” Pinder answered. “Nothing’s changed. As I said, Pinocchio Two will carry on in parallel. The difference now is that it can be run without the pressure to produce results to order—the way research ought to be.”
Shipley detected something devious nevertheless. “So where will she fit in?” he asked. The intention had been that Evelyn would join DINS initially, with the possibility of later moving to a yet-to-be-established autonomous neurophysiology section. That was the group that Corrigan had hinted she might end up heading.