(Continued from May 03, 2010)
“We will schedule the visit to the atelier for early next week,” Aunt Dorothy said pensively. “Then, at the board meeting a few days later, Alphonse will be even more informed and ready to impress the board members.”
Alphonse listened to aunt Dorothy’s comments with an impassive expression. Her high expectations obviously did not affect him adversely. I knew that he would perform admirably. On a number of previous occasions, I had seen him shine on center stage.
My young friend had removed the electric cords that had attached Sam to the battery recharger. Then, very slowly, he manually turned the robot around so that he was facing the doors and said: “It would be best if all of you stand behind Sam. The buttons on the remote may be very responsive. My fingers may have to adapt very quickly to applying the right amount of pressure. Otherwise, Sam might sense that his usual master is not at the controls,” he added jokingly.
“I am assuming that you have several different speeds,” I remarked.
“That is a correct assumption,” Alphonse replied. “There are three separate buttons—slow, medium and fast. In addition, I have five knobs to adjust direction.”
“Really?” Thea questioned. “Beside ‘straight ahead’ or ‘left’ or ‘right’ what else is there?”
“I also have ‘extreme left’ and ‘extreme right.’ And, there is a note in the manual that cautions against attempting the extreme course directions at fast speed. I like the terminology they are using; they talk about the little fellow ‘losing his footing,’ as would a dancer or a skater.”
Alphonse made Sam move out of his shed at low speed and, he thought, straight ahead. However, the robot gradually started turning toward the big shade tree. “Something is not functioning correctly,” my young friend grumbled. “I did press the ‘straight ahead’ knob.” Then, after a closer inspection of the remote, he asserted: “Ah, I just figured it out. The ‘right’ button was still down; it needed to be pressed to pop up. So, now I have to push ‘left’ if I don’t want Sam to hit the big tree.”
The ladies were visibly as pleased as I was with Alphonse’s running commentary. He wanted us to be an integral part of an experience that he enjoyed immensely.
By using the “left” button, Alphonse was able to correct Sam’s direction. Having done so, he pressed “straight ahead” and “fast.” The robot sped forward toward the big open space, where the Austin Mini was parked.
(To be continued)
Seconds after Thea finished her discourse in praise of her adopted brother, he walked in, sat down and exclaimed: “That gate is a marvel; it moves swiftly and noiselessly.” Alphonse then explained, with a chuckle: “As my long-time friend is well aware, I have an idiosyncrasy pertaining to malfunctioning doors, gates, windows, etc. My former landlords profited from that hang-up. In my rented apartments, I made all hanging and sliding objects smooth-functioning.”
“On the topic of smooth-functioning objects, I have a suggestion,” Aunt Dorothy asserted. “Seeing that, at the moment, the weather is beautiful and the forecast for this afternoon is not so good, now is the right time for Alphonse to familiarize himself with Sam. There are general directions about the use of the remote in the back of the manual. While you peruse those, I will get the master key for Sam’s shed. I have no idea where the guard keeps his copy.”
While he studied the instructions for the use of the remote, Alphonse was thinking aloud: “I must keep in mind that Sam’s cousins are much more advanced. Therefore, if I notice a response that appears to need improvement, there is a good likelihood that the adjustment has already been made. Nevertheless, I will make a note of any area where I would like to see betterment. Then, when we visit the workshop, I will check on the cousins’ advancement in those areas.”
I had a feeling that Alphonse would make the contraption move at top speed within a short period of time. It was a talent that my young friend had displayed on numerous occasions, well before he got his hands on the Sophia remote.
(To be continued)