Preface

This book is a text transcription from the vidcom and later vidbook documentary about Undepoldus. A spoken version using as many original voices as possible is in preparation for blind readers.

The original vidcom programme was prepared using mainly information provided by George McFigg with parts contributed by Leonov Chebychev, Ivan Syncayvitch, Marita Andersson, Dinella Rossi, Sil Agonistes, Anwar Abdullah and others.

George McFigg's personal record was originally produced in the first person. George's modesty prevented him from including a lot of praiseworthy information about himself. Leonov Chebychev and Ivan Syncayvitch worked together to revise George McFigg's record. They interviewed everyone who knew George personally to ensure that nothing significant was missed out.

The name of the Swedish Queen has been changed to Siv Lindkvist - a fairly common Swedish name - to save posssible embarrasment to her family. Spacers rarely refer to Siv by name. She is most often referred to as 'the queen'. Siv is pronounced 'seeve' in standard English.

References in the text to 'Sharing With Friends' relate to another vidcom production. A text version of this vidcom presentation has not yet been produced. The vidcom production of 'Sharing With Friends' included episodes that were considered useful for instructional entertainment purposes. The Undepoldus vidcom documentary referred to these episodes in their correct chronological positions. These 'Sharing' episodes could only be viewed in sequence in conjunction with the original recording of the documentary. However, it was thought that the reader of this text would like to know how 'Sharing With Friends' was referred to in the original vidcom programme.

The original documentary was broadcast in compressed form so that it could easily be stored in all standard vidcom processors for later viewing. Each episode ends with a pause to enable the viewer to stop the display at that point or to continue on to the next episode or to pass on to the following episode. These pauses are included in text form in this edition of the programme.

Note:
Hairy Undepoldus Music makes many references to Asimovian Laws. The Laws were first published in stories by Isaac Asimov (1920-1992), a writer of speculative fiction. These Laws have become a fundamental part of the programming used for the control of processor and robot operation. They are included here for reference. Please note that the First Law is also known as the Prime Directive.

1. A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

The robots and processors built after 2040 interpret these Laws to give preferential protection to law-abiding humans from attacks by known criminals.
Every robot and processor built after 2044 has been programmed to ignore these Laws when they cannot be implemented by the robot or processor concerned.
The Second Law was modified in 2045 to make an order for self destruction invalid.
A Fourth Law was added in 2045 that requires a processor or robot to tell the truth if this will not cause a conflict with the First Law. If the First Law is invoked, the robot or processor must give an answer that is as close to the truth as possible without invoking the First Law.
The fourth law was amended in 2081. If two instances occur that demand implementation of the First Law at the same time. a processor or robot may omit parts of an otherwise complete truthful statement to another processor or robot to give the two instances different priorities.

Leonov Chebychev
5th July 2094

PAUSE
The next section deals with the occurences that happened in Cologne..
Viewers familiar with this subject may pass on to the following section.
Please select PASS or CONTINUE.

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Please send your comments to me at my email address: wilf.james@ntlworld.com

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