Time-phone

irondemon · Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2004 7:46 am Post subject: Time-phone

Ima N. Possible develops a single telephone capable of "calling" any telephone, anywhere, anytime. She incorporates herself as O.T.C. (Omnitemporal Cellular), and begins to manufacture the product. Upon learning of the device the FCC becomes most interested, and via its power, confiscates and destroys all phones but one. The FCC delivers the phone into the possession of the military, where it is safeguarded and studied. The military discovers that the Ima has rigged the phone to fail after 1 minute of call-time (she is a former employee of Verizon Wireless). The powers that be decide to call the White House of 2054. What information should they try to elicit, and how could they do so successfully in 1 minute? Assume that the call goes directly to the president, and that he answers.

Edited by: irondemon at: 12/17/04 7:48 am

irondemon · Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2004 8:52 am Post subject: Re: Time-phone

I have my answer, but I'll wait and see if anybody else responds.

RickU · Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2004 9:33 am Post subject: Re: Time-phone

I think the conversation should be lead in this direction.

President: Hello?
FCC: Hello. Who is this please?
President: This is the president of the United States of America.
FCC: That, we know...but what is your name?
President: Are you serious? I'm Violet Bush.
FCC: That's all we need to know. Thank you very much for your time.

In Vino Veritas

RickU · Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2004 9:34 am Post subject: Re: Time-phone

Oh, and if this is a "trick" question because of "And destroys all the phones but one"...It's silly because there's no reason to presume that in 50 years time or so a new communications network would not have been established.

In Vino Veritas

irondemon · Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2004 11:04 am Post subject: Re: Time-phone

Not a trick question. I knew I'd miss something, so also assume that the FCC captures and controls all data necessary to replicatoin of the item, wherever it is maintained (even in a brain), such that replication is impossible w/o the FCC's consent.

Chris OConnor · Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2004 11:56 am Post subject: Re: Time-phone

I have no clue where this one is going.

Chris

irondemon · Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2004 3:39 pm Post subject: Absolutely nowhere

I was taking a break from the work at hand.

Chris OConnor · Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2004 4:40 pm Post subject: Re: Absolutely nowhere

So what is the answer to this riddle?

Chris

irondemon · Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2004 7:13 pm Post subject: It's not a riddle

There is no answer. I suppose the point is to determine what information would be most valuable, and then figure out out to elicit that information over the phone w/in 1 minute.

If I were a government official in that context, I'd want to know the president's name, so that I might be able to influence him/her (to whatever end) prior to his/her election. I guess the question is one of both valuation (what info would you want) and method (how to get it). Sorry to dissappoint -there's really nothing more to it. Like I said earlier, I was just taking a break from work.


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