Library = Question

[BillDowns]

Originally posted by Supplement Four:
New "Library" question...

How big do you think these library programs are?

If a character, during the game, decides to use the ship's library, would it be akin to someone looking up a topic on the world wide web today?

Definitely like an internet search. The programming itself would be relatively small, but the databases HUGE

Updating and Adding to databases takes a lot more coding than querying.

 

[BillDowns]

Originally posted by Supplement Four:
New "Library" question...

How big do you think these library programs are?

If a character, during the game, decides to use the ship's library, would it be akin to someone looking up a topic on the world wide web today?

Definitely like an internet search. The programming itself would be relatively small, but the databases HUGE

Updating and Adding to databases takes a lot more coding than querying.

 

[Spinward Scout]

Would you even have the program onboard ship? Or would you access it over the airwaves at each stop? With only information you know you are going to need being stored aboard ship? News Updates, Trade Information, Basic World Data, but not much else unless you would request it. Your HandComp could maintain a DataLink to your ship to request new info - with almost nothing being 'stored' on the HandComp. The HandComp then becomes a 'repeater' of sorts - basically a browser.

I would think disseminating this Information from world to world would be something the X-Boat system would handle.

I do like the idea that TAS members have access to more updated information, but how do you justify that on an Imperial basis? Wouldn't the Imps just come in and say that the Info has to go to Imperial Databases first?

 

[Spinward Scout]

Would you even have the program onboard ship? Or would you access it over the airwaves at each stop? With only information you know you are going to need being stored aboard ship? News Updates, Trade Information, Basic World Data, but not much else unless you would request it. Your HandComp could maintain a DataLink to your ship to request new info - with almost nothing being 'stored' on the HandComp. The HandComp then becomes a 'repeater' of sorts - basically a browser.

I would think disseminating this Information from world to world would be something the X-Boat system would handle.

I do like the idea that TAS members have access to more updated information, but how do you justify that on an Imperial basis? Wouldn't the Imps just come in and say that the Info has to go to Imperial Databases first?

 

[tinker123]

Originally posted by Supplement Four:
New "Library" question...

How big do you think these library programs are?

Agreed it's the data, not the software, that takes up the space. How hard would it be to download the whole internet (or even just wikipedia) and carry it around in your local server?
On the other hand, some engineer can correct me, but even at light speed a wi-fi connection from 100 diameters would surely feel slow, and the power requirement not be small. I would guess that web access from a safe jump point will feel like dial-up rather than broadband.

So I imagine everyone has a local copy of all the library data, and re-sync's it with the copy at the starport when they land. For some articles the visitor will receive updates, and for some they'll be bringing news with them.

 

[tinker123]

Originally posted by Supplement Four:
New "Library" question...

How big do you think these library programs are?

Agreed it's the data, not the software, that takes up the space. How hard would it be to download the whole internet (or even just wikipedia) and carry it around in your local server?
On the other hand, some engineer can correct me, but even at light speed a wi-fi connection from 100 diameters would surely feel slow, and the power requirement not be small. I would guess that web access from a safe jump point will feel like dial-up rather than broadband.

So I imagine everyone has a local copy of all the library data, and re-sync's it with the copy at the starport when they land. For some articles the visitor will receive updates, and for some they'll be bringing news with them.

 

[Supplement Four]

Originally posted by Tinker:

Originally posted by Supplement Four:
[qb] So I imagine everyone has a local copy of all the library data, and re-sync's it with the copy at the starport when they land.

It's probably part of the berthing cost. It's also probably one of the myriad items on a checklist that distinguishes the star port's class.

I would also guess that there are subscription services that are available at extra cost. Maybe the TAS has a special service only available to members, encrypted. That kind of thing.

 

[Supplement Four]

Originally posted by Tinker:

Originally posted by Supplement Four:
[qb] So I imagine everyone has a local copy of all the library data, and re-sync's it with the copy at the starport when they land.

It's probably part of the berthing cost. It's also probably one of the myriad items on a checklist that distinguishes the star port's class.

I would also guess that there are subscription services that are available at extra cost. Maybe the TAS has a special service only available to members, encrypted. That kind of thing.

 

[BillDowns]

IMTU, the different Impie bureaucracies each have their own databases - turf protection, man.

Along with that, the Mega-corps have their own, TAS has theirs, and so on, and so on...

To Synch up with the local planetary database (depends on TL and Gov), the starport charges a minimal charge, like 100Cr, but it isn't free.

YMMV. (love that expression - whose is it?)

 

[BillDowns]

IMTU, the different Impie bureaucracies each have their own databases - turf protection, man.

Along with that, the Mega-corps have their own, TAS has theirs, and so on, and so on...

To Synch up with the local planetary database (depends on TL and Gov), the starport charges a minimal charge, like 100Cr, but it isn't free.

YMMV. (love that expression - whose is it?)

 

[BillDowns]

Oh, almost forgot...Entertainment packages work in a similar way. You buy a package from a company, around $2,000Cr for 10 users, and get updates on a per charge basis. Fix levels, though, are free.

 

[BillDowns]

Oh, almost forgot...Entertainment packages work in a similar way. You buy a package from a company, around $2,000Cr for 10 users, and get updates on a per charge basis. Fix levels, though, are free.