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Terms
EPICAC is an “electronic computing machine” that basically functions as an electronic brain. It is extremely large and is stored in the Carlsbad Caverns, where its main job is to determine how many products consumers will buy in a given year. EPICAC also decides how many managing and engineering jobs are available at a given time.
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EPICAC Term Timeline in Player Piano
The timeline below shows where the term EPICAC appears in Player Piano. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1
...how many new refrigerator parts are needed—a number determined by a large “computing machine” called EPICAC.
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Chapter 11
...the Carlsbad Caverns, which is home to the country’s largest computer. The computer is called EPICAC: it is, Halyard explains, “an electronic computing machine,” which is to say that it’s basically...
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...in one of the caverns. The Shah doesn’t quite see the purpose or value of EPICAC until the President remarks that the computer is like the wisest person to ever live—in...
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...Shah asks the President if he can pose a question. He then walks over to EPICAC, gets on his knees, and sings something to it. He’s disappointed not to receive a...
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Chapter 17
...was designed according to the results of a national survey about what styles people like. EPICAC analyzed the results and determined exactly how the M-17 houses should be set up. One...
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Chapter 30
...each state will march into the streets and destroy the factories. This will include destroying EPICAC—a task given to Bud Calhoun, who has been busy designing a way to blow up...
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Chapter 34
...the other major cities in the country. Worse, the Ghost Shirts failed to blow up EPICAC. Far-off explosions are audible through the walls of the Ilium Works, as rogue Ghost Shirts...
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