The fourth friend, Becky the Backward Chainer, started from their hotel in LA and...
Well, no. She started at home with a telephone directory. A directory seems intelligent but is actually a giant look-up table. It gave her the hotel phone number. Ring ring.
Heidi the Hotel Receptionist: Hello?
Becky: Hi, we have a reservation for tomorrow evening. I’m back-chaining here, what’s the last thing we’ll do before arriving?
Heidi: It’s traditional to walk in through the doors to reception. You could park on the street, or we have a parking lot that’s a dollar a night. That sounds cheap but it’s not because we’re in the past. Would you like to reserve a spot?
Becky: Yes please, we’re in the past so our car’s easy to break into. What’s the best way to drive to the parking lot, and what’s the best way to get from the parking lot to reception?
Heidi: We have signs from the parking lot to reception. Which way are you driving in from?
Becky: Ah, I don’t know, Alice is taking care of that, and she’s stepped out to get more string.
Heidi: Oh, sure, can’t plan a car trip without string. In the future we’ll have pet nanotech spiders that can make string for us, road trips will never be the same. Anyway, you’ll probably be coming in via Highway 101, or maybe via the I-5, so give us a buzz when you know.
Becky: Sorry, I’m actually calling from an analogy, so we’re planning everything in parallel.
Heidi: No worries, I get stuck in thought experiments all the time. Yesterday my friend opened a box and got a million dollars, no joke. Look, get something to take notes and I’ll give you directions from the three main ways you could be coming in.
Becky: Ack! Hang on while I...
Gerald the General Helper: Here’s a pen, Becky.
Trevor the Clever: Get off the phone! I need to call a gas station!
Susan the Subproblem Solver: Alice, I found some string and.… Hey, where’s Alice?
The fourth friend, Becky the Backward Chainer, started from their hotel in LA and...
Well, no. She started at home with a telephone directory. A directory seems intelligent but is actually a giant look-up table. It gave her the hotel phone number. Ring ring.
Heidi the Hotel Receptionist: Hello?
Becky: Hi, we have a reservation for tomorrow evening. I’m back-chaining here, what’s the last thing we’ll do before arriving?
Heidi: It’s traditional to walk in through the doors to reception. You could park on the street, or we have a parking lot that’s a dollar a night. That sounds cheap but it’s not because we’re in the past. Would you like to reserve a spot?
Becky: Yes please, we’re in the past so our car’s easy to break into. What’s the best way to drive to the parking lot, and what’s the best way to get from the parking lot to reception?
Heidi: We have signs from the parking lot to reception. Which way are you driving in from?
Becky: Ah, I don’t know, Alice is taking care of that, and she’s stepped out to get more string.
Heidi: Oh, sure, can’t plan a car trip without string. In the future we’ll have pet nanotech spiders that can make string for us, road trips will never be the same. Anyway, you’ll probably be coming in via Highway 101, or maybe via the I-5, so give us a buzz when you know.
Becky: Sorry, I’m actually calling from an analogy, so we’re planning everything in parallel.
Heidi: No worries, I get stuck in thought experiments all the time. Yesterday my friend opened a box and got a million dollars, no joke. Look, get something to take notes and I’ll give you directions from the three main ways you could be coming in.
Becky: Ack! Hang on while I...
Gerald the General Helper: Here’s a pen, Becky.
Trevor the Clever: Get off the phone! I need to call a gas station!
Susan the Subproblem Solver: Alice, I found some string and.… Hey, where’s Alice?