The duo turned a corner and found their destination: the NAU Exhibition Hall. Specifically designed for an event such as this, the large room bespoke the presence of modern-day architectural engineering, with a Greco-Roman inspired flair. As per the day’s event, rows of empty tables were set up before them, each with signs bearing names indicating the person to use them. Lance found his name, Lance Shepherd, on one side, and Adam his, Adam Chase, directly across on the other side. Lance set the hard cased bag he was carrying on his table, then slid a medium sized trunk from underneath.
“Someone definitely planned ahead,” remarked Adam as he set his backpack and briefcase on his table.
“It was either bring this bulky thing in early or knock everyone out lugging it in this morning,” stated Lance with a grin. “The thought of the latter is slightly amusing though.”
Adam chuckled in agreement as he proceeded to remove some of the contents of his backpack. A tablet, a black leather travel case, a tool kit, and an overstuffed binder were laid in an orderly fashion on the table.
Setting his backpack on the floor next to the table, Adam got to work on the items that he had brought. After turning on the tablet, he set up the stand attached to the tablet’s case and hooked up the tablet’s charging cord to a power strip attached to the table. He then opened up the leather case and studied its contents. A small black velvet pouch was nestled against two slender glass canisters: one contained a crimson liquid and the second being a clear gel. He took out the pouch, loosened the drawstrings, and pulled out what looked like three slender metal rods. These stainless-steel rods, that looked no bigger than chopsticks, each contained a divot down the middle and magnetic hinges on both ends. He aligned one of the rods in the center of the table and attached the other two at a 170-degree angle on either side of the middle rod.
Satisfied with the desired set up, he turned his attention back to his tablet. The lock screen came up with the words: “Biometric Signature Required” in bold green digital lettering. He set his left hand on the screen and the tablet went to work identifying his signature. Pulsating green spots appeared on the screen where his fingertips rested, and a green line started scanning his hand. Once the scanning was complete, Adam removed his hand to see his virtual handprint painted on the screen with every dimple and ridge replicated perfectly.
“Glad to know that I’m still welcome,” he thought as the wording on the screen changed to “Welcome, Adam Chase”.
Making sure his Bluetooth connection was on, he turned back to the metal chopsticks and pressed a small, almost invisible, button on the opposite end of the left rod attached to the primary rod. Suddenly, brilliant blue lines of light beamed out of the divots of the angled rods. They then shot straight up, morphing into each other to create a grid. Once complete, a rift of ominous white formed in the middle of the azure field, covering the entire center of the holographic tri-screen with an exact copy of the screen from his tablet. Looking over what he had so far, he made a mental check to make sure all was running smoothly.
“Alright, tablet charging... Bluetooth connection is strong…. hologram active and without any delay... crisp visuals... so far, so good. Now for the fun part: Stage Two!”
Picking up his backpack once more, he carefully laid it on the table in front of the hologram, straps side down. He delicately slid out a larger velvet bag that just barely fit the volume of the backpack. Once this bag was out, he set the pack once more on the floor and opened his toolbox. A miniature cordless power drill and a pair of black latex surgical gloves were amongst the few items neatly arranged in the toolbox.
Putting on the gloves, he gingerly pulled out six specially cut pieces of lightweight plexiglass and set them gently on the table. He then grabbed his toolkit and turned his focus to the glass puzzle pieces before him.
“Now that the digital platform is all set, all I have left to do is create my crime scene!” he stated to himself.
Fifteen minutes later, Adam drilled in the last screw and stepped back to observe his heavily detailed set-up. An 18” clear box now stood intimidatingly next to the hologram and contained what appeared to be a diorama of a living room from a dollhouse.
However, this living room was certainly not your typical Barbie’s Dream House. Aside from the usual furniture you would find in a living room, it had simulated wood flooring, carpeting, and... a male doll with his throat slit. This gruesome scene was enhanced by the addition of fake blood that was 'flowing' profusely from its damaged throat unto the floor. It was a classic murder scene just waiting to be solved. He finished setting up his display by neatly stacking a pile of handouts on each side of the table.
“That should do it," he stated matter-of-factly to himself, as he put his hands on his hips to signal the end of all his hard work.
Having completed his setup, Adam turned to see the project that Lance had kept secret from him. He was partly surprised to see several flatscreen monitors, each with built in webcams, a robotic rover with gripper arms, a telephone, a laptop, and an espresso machine, all of which were plugged in at a central box the size of an older toaster oven. On the monitors cycled several displays with information and data charts. Lance was leaning on the table, playing with what looked like a handheld game console.
“That was fast,” noted Adam. “Finished so quickly you decided to play a game?”
Lance continued what he was doing for a moment, then paused and looked up from the handheld device. “No, this is actually the control for the system.” He handed it over for Adam to examine. He looked over the dual screens, the acronym LA.S.S.I. over the top screen of the console.
“L.A.S.S.I.? What does it stand for?”
“Life Assistant Simulated Software Interface,” answered Lance. “Say ‘hello’ to Adam, L.A.S.S.I.”
“Greetings, Adam Chase,” spoke a computerized female voice from the console. “How are you today?”
Briefly shocked, Adam asked. “It talks?”
“Yes, Adam: my programming has been given algorithms regarding topics of conversation ranging from general to specific,” replied L.A.S.S.I.
“In layman’s terms, she knows about a lot of stuff,” commented Lance to clarify.
“This is really cool! I’m guessing it's some sort of automation system?” asked Adam.
“Something like that,” said Lance. “You know the apps that are digital assistants for your phone? Think of that, but on the kind of scale that it could operate anything its network is connected to. It is also capable of learning anything that isn’t already in its database.”
Adam glanced over eagerly at the espresso machine on the table. Catching the direction of his gaze and knowing his friend’s addiction to the caffeinated beverage it produced, Lance chuckled.
“That one was actually more for you than just for demonstration,” he said. “Ask and ye shall receive...” he added with a gesture towards L.A.S.S.I.’s console.
“That simple, huh?” grinned Adam.
“L.A.S.S.I., would you make a cappuccino please?”
“Certainly, Adam,” replied L.A.S.S.I. “One moment, please.”
A coffee grinder attached to the top of the brewer whirred briefly, grinding the roasted beans inside. Moments later the grinding ceased, and the faint sound of water being pumped from the reservoir could be heard. Soon the savory aroma of espresso drifted from the carafe as the process came to a finish. The miniature rover on the table suddenly came to life, moving a bit closer to the coffee maker, then locking its wheels into place. Adam leaned back, again surprised by his friend’s inventions.
“Would you like any sugar in your cappuccino?” queried L.A.S.S.I.
“Three sugars please,” replied Adam.
The rover worked its arms to grab a black and yellow printed mug next to the console, then poured the hot espresso into the cup while the sound of blasting steam sounded inside the machine. The rover then followed up the espresso with steamed milk and sugar from dispensers on the maker. The rover spun the cup around, extending the handle towards Adam, gripped around the bottom of the cup, and extended it towards him.
“Enjoy,” said L.A.S.S.I.
“I’m sure that I will!” Adam stated as he received the cup, after which the rover moved back to its original place on the table. Adam first examined the cup which read: “THE BREW IS STRONG WITH THIS ONE” in a sci-fi movie title font.
“Nice,” he laughed before he smelled the hot beverage, then sipped it.
“Perfect. Thanks, L.A.S.S.I.,” he said contently as he handed the console back to Lance.
Lance received it, pressed a few buttons, slid his finger across the bottom screen, and then closed the folding handheld. He removed a small cartridge which was the size of a standard memory card from the back of the console and showed it to his friend.
“That’s her ‘brain’,” he stated.
Adam took the card, turning it over several times to examine it.
“I must say that I am thoroughly impressed,” announced Adam. “Then again: with you, when am I not? But I can see why you kept this project a secret.”
He returned the cartridge to its owner, who inserted it in its slot and opened the console again. A double ring sounded with a slight echo as it powered on.
“You even kept the original console sounds,” Adam said with a chuckle.
“Just for kicks,” replied Lance with a shrug. "I can be a little nostalgic sometimes."
Just before Lance could ask Adam about his own project, a familiar female voice called both their names. The two turned to see the source -- their friend, Noel Benoit. Close behind tailed another from their circle of close friends, Noel’s boyfriend, Scott Melville.
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