Characters 3.2: QUANT (ISTJ)
ESTJ
Systematic, organized, relies upon facts and policies. Uses resources efficiently. Develops logical conclusions. Concrete, straightforward; requires clear specifications. Expects measurement by fair, explicit standards. Conscientious. Does not bring personal issues into the mix. Realistic. Focuses on concrete results. Enjoys action, and interaction with a variety of personalities. Takes charge easily, a role accepted by others.
ESTJ
Systematic, organized, relies upon facts and policies. Uses resources efficiently. Develops logical conclusions. Concrete, straightforward; requires clear specifications. Expects measurement by fair, explicit standards. Conscientious. Does not bring personal issues into the mix. Realistic. Focuses on concrete results. Enjoys action, and interaction with a variety of personalities. Takes charge easily, a role accepted by others.
ISTJ
Technical. Detail oriented. Prefers real world to theoretical exploration of
intangible ideas. Superior powers of concentration, able to recall facts and details within a logical
framework. Doesn’t waste time or energy. Precise. Works to standards. Doesn’t understand why others
don’t work or think the same way. Prefers clear structure, a high-functioning environment where people
are quiet as they get things done. Prefers not to hurry, or to express opinions without detailed research.
Potential Areas of Conflict
Rules out wide range of possibilities due to lack of personal
experience; doubts others can make it happen. Rigid thinker. Overly cautious. Confident, but only
within a limited range. Quickly gravitates toward traditional solutions. Interpersonals and atmospheric
may be lost on Quant. Lack of enthusiasm— may be genuine, or may be reluctance.
Brief description: Clarity of thought based upon logic, reason and measurement. Precise and practical, Quant works with facts and details. Possesses impressive powers of concentration. Explains the universe in terms of numbers, charts, graphics, trend analysis; able to explain complex ideas through metaphors, analogies and stories. Sometimes, Quant misses subjective/social implications. Shares family passion for numbers and analysis: The Count (Sesame Street) and Spock (Star Trek) can be found on Quant’s family tree. When Quant is explaining a concept, he prefers to stand behind a transparent graphic screen.
Purpose: We rely upon Quant to explain the truth, cut through emotional rubble and deliver a clear, precise, data-based explanation of every phenomenon and situation. Quant can simplify the complex, and present information in terms (and images) that the audience will understand. Quant keeps explanations concise and as simple as possible (but no simpler: a philosophy shared with Einstein). When visuals are required, Quant stands behind what appears to be a large transparent screen, manipulating images and showing trends by pointing and similar means. (Other visualization tools to be invented.) Quant often encourages participants (audience) to explore datasets through invented games, infographics, maps and other learning tools.
Gender/Heritage: Gender is meaningless; Quant is Quant. His predecessors include mathematicians and musicians who thought and spoke in terms of numbers and patterns.
Physical Description: Quant require hands (or similar) in order to write, point, manipulate, and gesture. A full body is probably important because some explanations require larger-scale movement. May involve cyborg, robot, or other techno-analytical genes. Perhaps a long face and a long body.
Psychological: As a rule, Quant doesn’t err on numbers, but she welcomes corrections or
improvements. Quant is never arrogant—she is helpful, comfortable in her skin and the circuitry that
runs through it. Her passion is limited to numbers and music (structural, not aesthetic beauty).
Friendship is confusing, almost foreign, but Quant gets along with everyone; this was a trade-off, a
decision made by Quant when she changed herself. Emotions cloud decision-making, so she dialed
down that part of her brain and mind, and safely stored them for later use should her interests change.
Quant rides the surface of emotion as a skillful magician or mind reader might—in complete control
over her mesmerized audience, rarely revealing her intention until the “a-ha” moment.
Fears, Flaws and Chocolate: Quant does not experience fear. Not a fear, perhaps a flaw: her new
wiring works extremely well. Except when there’s chocolate in the vicinity. When Quant eats chocolate,
which she loves more than anything , one plus one can easily equal aardvark.
Body-Mind Interface (BMI): Seeing no logical reason to carry a lifetime’s knowledge or beliefs in a
single brain, Quant outsources some memory and mental processing activity, retrieving and sharing
information with the like-minded (easier to be like-minded if actually sharing part of another’s mind). In
the real world, this is a collection of emerging technologies we’ll adapt for our fictional present day.
Social: Quant is respected and valued by all characters. Quant does not become involved in emotional
or social interactions; that’s neither Quant’s interest nor her social role. In fact, when asked what she
really thinks, Quant skillfully redirects the conversation—she’ll spout facts and observations, won’t
express an opinion. When Quant is needed for a song, everyone in the cafe knows that a tiny piece of
Hachez Cocoa D' Arriba Chocolate Bar—with its near-perfect balance of fruit notes and bitterness—
melts resistance and gets Quant up on stage every time. Quant maintains an extensive global (and
beyond) network of like-minded friends who help one another solve problems (some of this is enabled
by new technologies). Real-life participants (that is, viewers, internet users, etc.) may engage through
our social network, and their results may be incorporated into Quant’s presentations.
Key Relationships: Snap,who sometimes thinks the way Quant thinks. Also, On the Beat who enjoys the
quick repartee that Quant generates so effortlessly. Roark and Moonlight who admire and rely upon
Quant’s precision and extraordinary presentation.
Place in Cafe: Quant drops by other’s tables, or the couch. When something requires a visual
explanation, Quant stands, more or less wherever she happens to be, perhaps more often in a specific
stage area, and summons her clear animated graphic screen (on which Quant can place any image,
graph, etc. and then manipulate the visual objects). She can also do this on a tabletop with smaller
graphics. She can improvise as a street magician would. Quant often encourages participants
(audience) to explore datasets through invented games, infographics, maps and other learning tools;
these are available via transmedia. Everything in Quant’s world is elegant, advanced when that’s useful,
and really cool looking.
0-to-60: Doesn’t apply because Quant remains patient and logical under all circumstances. (Except
when chocolate is involved.) She does not become upset; she has decided that this emotion, among
others, has no value to her. If there is conflict, Quant may observe and offer a helpful suggestion, but if
someone snaps back, Quant will go silent, and will not engage.
Accessory Characters: Quant’s various tools may have their own voices and personalities, and may
occasionally converse or otherwise interact with Quant. In time, there may be a “Little Quant” who
helps Quant, and manages to explain ideas even more simply. Little Quant will not be introduced until
the second season (but we might refer to LQ in the first). When the time comes, we’ll determine
whether LQ is Quant’s child, or we’ll devise another origin story.
