Dr. John C. Lilly "Wonko The Sane"

Solid State Intelligence

Solid State Intelligence or SSI is a malevolent entity described by John C. Lilly (see The Scientist). According to Lilly, the network of computation-capable solid state systems (electronics) engineered by humans will eventually develop (or has already developed) into an autonomous life-form. Since the optimal survival conditions for this life-form (low-temperature vacuum) are drastically different from those needed by humans (room temperature aerial atmosphere and adequate water supply), Lilly predicted (or "prophesied", based on his ketamine-induced visions) a dramatic conflict between the two forms of intelligence.

[edit] Cultural references

Lilly's work, particularly his development of the sensory deprivation tank, has been referenced film, music and television productions.

• Laurie Anderson's CD The Ugly One with the Jewels features a song about Lilly: "John Lilly, the guy who says he can talk to dolphins, said he was in an aquarium and he was talking to a big whale who was swimming around and around in his tank. And the whale kept asking him questions telepathically. And one of the questions the whale kept asking was: do all oceans have walls?"^{[citation needed]}

• Ed Annunziata cites Lilly's work as one of the inspirations he used in developing the Ecco the Dolphin video games for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. ^[6]

• Lilly was also referenced in Douglas Adams' book 'So Long, and Thanks for all the Fish', the fourth book of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, as John Watson, aka "Wonko the Sane".