Talk:Sam Conlon

Sam's ability

It's time to talk about Sam's ability! :) I am very open to this one. It could be accelerated probability (the lines he sees seem similar the lines Santiago sees), probability computation (not likely, but he does talk about knowing the probability of success of the escape), intuitive aptitude (not likely, but he does seem to innately understand complex systems and situations), or it could be a completely new ability (this seems the most likely to me). Thoughts? -- RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 18:18, 2 December 2015 (EST)

• The closest ability I can think of right now is enhanced synesthesia, but this sounds like it is a different ability (Sam doesn't visualize another sense but the connection/patterns between things)... As for Santiago's and Edward's ability, there is no aspect of enhanced speed or electricity and probability doesn't seem the underlying base of the ability to me right now. I'm thinking "correlation vision" for a descriptive ability name currently...--MiamiVolts (talk) 19:17, 2 December 2015 (EST)
  • Yeah, that could work. Honestly, anything is better than "Sam's ability". Any other suggestions out there? -- RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 23:39, 2 December 2015 (EST)
    • I assumed it was probability computation seeing as he required actual information in order to determine the most likely course of action; for example he had Konig retrieve him the maximum security plans in order for him to work out the codes and what not. --Truther H (talk) 02:01, 3 December 2015 (EST)
      • Whatever it is, he definitely needs information to see the lines. He doesn't "just know stuff". He takes info that others bring him or that he gathers himself, and then he literally sees lines and strings connecting them. It would be like looking at the string web or Quentin's board, and where an uninitiated non-Heroes fan would just see a bunch of random things, Sam would be able to tell the story of the whole series. I just don't know what ability that would be -- or if it's a new one, I don't know what it would be called. -- RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 15:44, 3 December 2015 (EST)
      • I'm not sure if this will help or not but there is a word called Apophenia which is the human tendency to perceive meaningful patterns within random data. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apophenia Shelby9291 (talk)|
        • Hmm, that's a good link and a cool word. But it's the "random" part of the definition that concerns me, since Sam's ability doesn't really have anything to do with random info. The connections to schizophrenia are kind of off-putting, too. But good thinking. -- RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 20:05, 3 December 2015 (EST)
• Thinking about it more, I'm now thinking my preferred descriptive name is "computer vision". I think Sam is able to identify strings or patterns from what he sees and analyzes those patterns regardless of their complexity in the same way a computer would.... I think probability computation could work as a name too, but this ability has a visual aspect to it (patterns and lines) that we don't know applies to Kaito's ability. Probability computation would be my preference for the name if it were allowed.

Regarding my previous suggestion of "correlation vision", correlation is not causation, which is a common misconception, and the "chess" example RyanGibsonStewart just documented was one of the reasons I've changed my mind to thinking that the core of the ability is likely now determining probable outcomes ('probability vision'). Probability seems to be the predominant use for the ability over correlation, so that's a major factor too. In chess, although there are patterns to the moves of the pieces correlation could help with, there are 6 different kinds of pieces per player, adding to the complexity such that I think correlation vision wouldn't help as much as is indicated unless there was a computer-like brain power to analyze the resulting moves. I think the name that is chosen should note that brain power/computation aspect of the ability, so I no longer support 'correlation vision' and instead would like to suggest 'probability vision' as an alternative I don't oppose.

On a different note, what reminds me of enhanced synesthesia is the visual effect of seeing patterns in the air and not just (or always just) connecting lines. There are lots of patterns in nature that Sam might be seeing combinations of. Fractals are one type of pattern sometimes thought of as representative of nature in and of themselves (ever heard of the Mandelbrot set?), so the term "fractal computer vision" is okay with me too and highlights the pattern recognition aspect of Sam's ability. The "computer" part is because noted before, Sam's ability doesn't just let him recognize patterns, it also lets him analyze them as a computer would. The only reason "fractal computer vision" is not my primary suggestion is cause it's three words and simpler is better.--MiamiVolts (talk) 03:17, 4 December 2015 (EST)