Sam designed this parallel
hybrid computer to run Project Quantum Leap.
Ziggy was given an ego, which was
a real breakthrough in computer development. Originally, the computer
was called a "he", but after Sam leaped home to 1999, it was shown Ziggy
had a female voice. Shortly thereafter the pronoun "she" was used
almost exclusively.
Ziggy was given an ego, which was
a real breakthrough in computer development. Unfortunately, Sam chose
to give the computer the ego of Barbra Streisand, which caused a number
of problems. During Sam's first Leap, Ziggy refused to accept responsibility
for not being able to bring Sam back, and cut power to most of the Project,
leaving only essential items available. Ziggy's ego won't allow
for a change of mind, either.
The computer is also prone to mood
swings and sometimes won't predict what will happen for fear of being wrong.
One time Ziggy crashed and did screwball things like putting an extra zero
on everyone's paycheck. Then the computer began to spit out
data in foreign languages. Al blamed the problems on foreighn microchips.
Ziggy's main control panel is located
in a room that leads to the Imaging and Acceleartor Chambers. While
in the room, anyone can speak directly to the computer.
While Al is in the Imaging Chamber,
he communicates with Ziggy, Gooshie and other via a handlink. The
handlink has undergone a few design changes, most likely to make them hardier.
Al tends to abuse them quite a bit, and one handlink died a spectacular
death while Al was attempting to retrieve information.
Using the handlink, Ziggy can project
images that Sam and others who can see Sam and Al can view. The computer
projected the trajectory for pool shots for Sam, and Al used the link to
show Teresa Bruckner pictures of dinosaurs. While masquerading as
the Ghost of Christmas Future, Al used the link to project images of Blake
Tower and news videos of the millionaire's eventual downfall.
Ziggy can get a mental signal from
people close to Sam, but has a difficult time with people who have a few
synapses missing in the brain.
Al modified Ziggy's sensors to be
sort of a metal detector so he could attempt to find a bullet lodged in
the wall of a church in 1971, but he required Tearsa Lorrea to be there
in order for the computer to center in on her brain waves. This gave
Ziggy a clearer sensory base to pull from.
Ziggy nearly lost it when Sam leaped
into Jimmy LaMotta for the second time. She went into maximum overlaod
and ketp insisting that history was changing and that things had changed
for the Lamotta family, even though Sam wasn't doing anything. Dr.
Beeks tried to reason with her, but received a shock that sent her halfway
across the room.
Sam programmed Ziggy's memory banks
for music, loading in all of Elvis Presley's hits and even a rap song.
Ziggy digested the entire works of Shakespeare in a matter of seconds,
explaining that with a one-million-gigabyte capactiy, she was perfectly
able of rubbing her belly, patting her head, and doing a trillion floating
point operations at once.
Using Al's handlink, she was able
to create a force field using the electric fenses at Mallard Correctional
Facility for Women in order to keep Thames from getting a lock on Alia.
