As I remember, Asimov's Gaia (in the Foundation novels) is such a mind.
I/we/Google remember that Vinge wrote considerably about such minds in "Marooned in Realtime", but if he coined a name for it, I/we/Google don't recall. The theme is also addressed somewhat, albeit in a different way, by the Tines in Vinge's "A Fire Upon the Deep".
I/we/Google suggest "mindplex".
-- Eliezer S. Yudkowsky http://singinst.org/ Research Fellow, Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence
-------
To unsubscribe, change your address, or temporarily deactivate your subscription, please go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/[EMAIL PROTECTED]
