mind versus targeting computer
In the Star Wars Universe, physical magic works, and thus objects can be
moved. In this Universe, you cannot move objects directly using "the Force"
(ki) at all i.e. telekinesis. What you *can* do is learn to follow ki to
make your movements easier, faster and more accurate. More importantly, you
can feel which way someone else is going to move, and anticipate. This
feeling is in not just fights, mind :-) If you don't believe me, come and
watch some Aikido, or even better ask some of the Old-timers like Patric
what *my* co-ordination used to be like.
You can use ki in real sword work. Perhaps the Jedi Knight uses ki to drive
the beam of the light saber: that is something not possible in this world as
it is an example of physical magic creating the blade. Alternatively, the
blade is some invention of technology, using lasers or the like. If so, give
me one of those and I could use it (poorly). Give most people one, and they
too could use it (slightly more poorly). I could use ki with this blade no
better and no worse than with the wooden swords I am just starting to
practice with.
At the point where Luke shoots into the Death-Star he is obviously
"following his feelings" as we have been taught. Using a machine which can
follow ki would be pretty cool, but I doubt you can make one of these until
you can make a self-aware computer. I for one would not know how to develop
that computer.
The targeting computer in Star Wars would be nothing special in our world.
Someone who has studied a ki-based Martial Art would reckognise the "use the
force" etc lines as good advice in finding the right feelings for when to
fire. As has been commented before, a lot of the language comes straight out
of Martial Arts. Thus he would fire at *exactly* the right moment, unlike
the computer attempting to target, which would approximate and miss. It is
not down to reaction time: he would choose correctly, outside of time
limitations and just "do it". I know this from personal experience: as
someone with my level of poor reactions, the effect is obvious to me even at
my level of training. It become unnerving as I realise how fast I can be
when I get the feeling right.
Jenny Gould
---
jenny@
"Share and Enjoy"
-Marketing Division, Sirius Cybernetics Corporation
(The above opinions do not represent a policy statement for or on behalf of
One Chip Solutions)
moved. In this Universe, you cannot move objects directly using "the Force"
(ki) at all i.e. telekinesis. What you *can* do is learn to follow ki to
make your movements easier, faster and more accurate. More importantly, you
can feel which way someone else is going to move, and anticipate. This
feeling is in not just fights, mind :-) If you don't believe me, come and
watch some Aikido, or even better ask some of the Old-timers like Patric
what *my* co-ordination used to be like.
You can use ki in real sword work. Perhaps the Jedi Knight uses ki to drive
the beam of the light saber: that is something not possible in this world as
it is an example of physical magic creating the blade. Alternatively, the
blade is some invention of technology, using lasers or the like. If so, give
me one of those and I could use it (poorly). Give most people one, and they
too could use it (slightly more poorly). I could use ki with this blade no
better and no worse than with the wooden swords I am just starting to
practice with.
At the point where Luke shoots into the Death-Star he is obviously
"following his feelings" as we have been taught. Using a machine which can
follow ki would be pretty cool, but I doubt you can make one of these until
you can make a self-aware computer. I for one would not know how to develop
that computer.
The targeting computer in Star Wars would be nothing special in our world.
Someone who has studied a ki-based Martial Art would reckognise the "use the
force" etc lines as good advice in finding the right feelings for when to
fire. As has been commented before, a lot of the language comes straight out
of Martial Arts. Thus he would fire at *exactly* the right moment, unlike
the computer attempting to target, which would approximate and miss. It is
not down to reaction time: he would choose correctly, outside of time
limitations and just "do it". I know this from personal experience: as
someone with my level of poor reactions, the effect is obvious to me even at
my level of training. It become unnerving as I realise how fast I can be
when I get the feeling right.
Jenny Gould
---
jenny@
"Share and Enjoy"
-Marketing Division, Sirius Cybernetics Corporation
(The above opinions do not represent a policy statement for or on behalf of
One Chip Solutions)