Travelling with the times...

[Lord Iron Wolf]

Cybertech/Cyborgs and other things make me think of charges like "Carrying a Concealed Weapon", being caught with a set of lockpicks on you or a syringe and hypodermic needles on you. It would be a good reason to lock you up and send in a head shrinker in to see you for evaluation and a one way ticket to the local mental ward.

Any starport would have the facilities to detect these things and neutralize them while holding the carrier.

Just My Thoughts,
Lord Iron Wolf

 

[Lord Iron Wolf]

Cybertech/Cyborgs and other things make me think of charges like "Carrying a Concealed Weapon", being caught with a set of lockpicks on you or a syringe and hypodermic needles on you. It would be a good reason to lock you up and send in a head shrinker in to see you for evaluation and a one way ticket to the local mental ward.

Any starport would have the facilities to detect these things and neutralize them while holding the carrier.

Just My Thoughts,
Lord Iron Wolf

 

[ACK!!]

Originally posted by Lord Iron Wolf:
Cybertech/Cyborgs and other things make me think of charges like "Carrying a Concealed Weapon", being caught with a set of lockpicks on you or a syringe and hypodermic needles on you.

Just My Thoughts,
Lord Iron Wolf

Yes, that is exactly what I told my PC!!

It would be like trying to carry a concealed weapon through Airport security today.

I went so far as to say medical tech has progressed to the point that cybernetics for limb replacement is seen as old school and unnatural. On some high law/high tech worlds the person could easily find themselves prosecuted and the limb or whatever would be replaced with a nautral one.

How do you describe cyberspace or computer operation/hacking in your traveller universe?

 

[ACK!!]

Originally posted by Lord Iron Wolf:
Cybertech/Cyborgs and other things make me think of charges like "Carrying a Concealed Weapon", being caught with a set of lockpicks on you or a syringe and hypodermic needles on you.

Just My Thoughts,
Lord Iron Wolf

Yes, that is exactly what I told my PC!!

It would be like trying to carry a concealed weapon through Airport security today.

I went so far as to say medical tech has progressed to the point that cybernetics for limb replacement is seen as old school and unnatural. On some high law/high tech worlds the person could easily find themselves prosecuted and the limb or whatever would be replaced with a nautral one.

How do you describe cyberspace or computer operation/hacking in your traveller universe?

 

[Bill Coffin]

Originally posted by TRAV:
Sophia your post about the AK47 was good. My understanding is that currently the three military rifle designs most commonly used in the world today in order are:
1 AK type actions
2 M16/AR15 type actions
3 M-1 Carbine

This is just a bit of trivia but the AK and the M-1 carbine have existed since the 1940s to me that is major technological longevity...

This isn't really that farr off topic. A point abou firearms that I like to keep in mind was black poweder weaponry remained virtually the same for about three hundred years; it had hit a plateau that worked as well as anybody could make it for a while. That it happened proves that the same kind of stasis can happen again with plenty of other forms of tech. Just because we currently live in an era of wild technological expansion doesn't mean it will always remain so; things could peter out in another 50 years and stay that wa for the next thousand, for all we know.

Back to the question of the thread, I update compuer tech a bit -- I'm not really keen on tapes and whatnot, but if I do mention them, I simply pretend that they have WAY more capacity than the original game lets on. Yeah, you might have a computer running on a tape, but the tape is made from -- oh, I dunno, spun titanium or something and it can hold about 500 googolbytes or thereabouts. As much as CT is a "hard" SF game, I have no problem just fudging the details, and neither do my players, so we all just roll with it and things work out just fine.

Overall, we appreciate the lower-tech approach of the setting, and we have no real desire to muck with it. That's why stuff like nanotech, biotech, lightsabers and that stuff never ereally comes up. For us, the draw of the game is its low-grade feel -- shotguns in space, ships with cranky, huge, mechanical engines, etc. If we wanted a Star Trek or Star Wars feel, we'd play those games. but we dig a more Outland, Firefly, Aliens feel, and for us the tech level of CT as written does a really good job of facilitating that.

 

[Bill Coffin]

Originally posted by TRAV:
Sophia your post about the AK47 was good. My understanding is that currently the three military rifle designs most commonly used in the world today in order are:
1 AK type actions
2 M16/AR15 type actions
3 M-1 Carbine

This is just a bit of trivia but the AK and the M-1 carbine have existed since the 1940s to me that is major technological longevity...

This isn't really that farr off topic. A point abou firearms that I like to keep in mind was black poweder weaponry remained virtually the same for about three hundred years; it had hit a plateau that worked as well as anybody could make it for a while. That it happened proves that the same kind of stasis can happen again with plenty of other forms of tech. Just because we currently live in an era of wild technological expansion doesn't mean it will always remain so; things could peter out in another 50 years and stay that wa for the next thousand, for all we know.

Back to the question of the thread, I update compuer tech a bit -- I'm not really keen on tapes and whatnot, but if I do mention them, I simply pretend that they have WAY more capacity than the original game lets on. Yeah, you might have a computer running on a tape, but the tape is made from -- oh, I dunno, spun titanium or something and it can hold about 500 googolbytes or thereabouts. As much as CT is a "hard" SF game, I have no problem just fudging the details, and neither do my players, so we all just roll with it and things work out just fine.

Overall, we appreciate the lower-tech approach of the setting, and we have no real desire to muck with it. That's why stuff like nanotech, biotech, lightsabers and that stuff never ereally comes up. For us, the draw of the game is its low-grade feel -- shotguns in space, ships with cranky, huge, mechanical engines, etc. If we wanted a Star Trek or Star Wars feel, we'd play those games. but we dig a more Outland, Firefly, Aliens feel, and for us the tech level of CT as written does a really good job of facilitating that.

 

[ACK!!]

Originally posted by Bill Coffin:
Back to the question of the thread, I update compuer tech a bit -- I'm not really keen on tapes and whatnot, but if I do mention them, I simply pretend that they have WAY more capacity than the original game lets on. Yeah, you might have a computer running on a tape, but the tape is made from -- oh, I dunno, spun titanium or something and it can hold about 500 googolbytes or thereabouts. As much as CT is a "hard" SF game, I have no problem just fudging the details, and neither do my players, so we all just roll with it and things work out just fine.

Overall, we appreciate the lower-tech approach of the setting, and we have no real desire to muck with it. That's why stuff like nanotech, biotech, lightsabers and that stuff never ereally comes up. For us, the draw of the game is its low-grade feel -- shotguns in space, ships with cranky, huge, mechanical engines, etc. If we wanted a Star Trek or Star Wars feel, we'd play those games. but we dig a more Outland, Firefly, Aliens feel, and for us the tech level of CT as written does a really good job of facilitating that.

Biotech I have worked in from time to time. Re-growing of limbs that have destroyed in accidents or combat etc.. Light sabers I tried once but they were a mess and never fit in well at all.

The mere concept of intrusive nanotech is frightening and hard to perceive in a gaming sense and is feared in terms of its military use to the point of being highly prohibited in the game.

Since Traveller is so open-ended bridging in some cyberpunk style concepts of computers and cyberspace has not been a huge problem.

Frankly, not a lot of people I met have played traveller, so they don't have the books or a lot of pre-conceptions. I use the same model numbers but play with different concepts and descriptions. I also use as I mentioned above the concepts of system-wide networks and such to the point that a valid computer skill becomes very helpful in the game. Not completely essential, but very helpful.

The important thing for me is to be descriptive.

The much maligned (in some circles) story-telling focused RPG trend brought one great thing to the tradition of role-playing. I have less and less players that are focused on being rule whores. They just want to role-play it out.

 

[ACK!!]

Originally posted by Bill Coffin:
Back to the question of the thread, I update compuer tech a bit -- I'm not really keen on tapes and whatnot, but if I do mention them, I simply pretend that they have WAY more capacity than the original game lets on. Yeah, you might have a computer running on a tape, but the tape is made from -- oh, I dunno, spun titanium or something and it can hold about 500 googolbytes or thereabouts. As much as CT is a "hard" SF game, I have no problem just fudging the details, and neither do my players, so we all just roll with it and things work out just fine.

Overall, we appreciate the lower-tech approach of the setting, and we have no real desire to muck with it. That's why stuff like nanotech, biotech, lightsabers and that stuff never ereally comes up. For us, the draw of the game is its low-grade feel -- shotguns in space, ships with cranky, huge, mechanical engines, etc. If we wanted a Star Trek or Star Wars feel, we'd play those games. but we dig a more Outland, Firefly, Aliens feel, and for us the tech level of CT as written does a really good job of facilitating that.

Biotech I have worked in from time to time. Re-growing of limbs that have destroyed in accidents or combat etc.. Light sabers I tried once but they were a mess and never fit in well at all.

The mere concept of intrusive nanotech is frightening and hard to perceive in a gaming sense and is feared in terms of its military use to the point of being highly prohibited in the game.

Since Traveller is so open-ended bridging in some cyberpunk style concepts of computers and cyberspace has not been a huge problem.

Frankly, not a lot of people I met have played traveller, so they don't have the books or a lot of pre-conceptions. I use the same model numbers but play with different concepts and descriptions. I also use as I mentioned above the concepts of system-wide networks and such to the point that a valid computer skill becomes very helpful in the game. Not completely essential, but very helpful.

The important thing for me is to be descriptive.

The much maligned (in some circles) story-telling focused RPG trend brought one great thing to the tradition of role-playing. I have less and less players that are focused on being rule whores. They just want to role-play it out.

 

[aramis]

Cybertechnologies, IMTU, boil down into three categories:

Environmental adaptations: some colonies will use cybernetics to allow them to breath various oygenated fluids, survive extremes of radiation, or other such invasive but non-offensive equipment. Seriously disliked by most populations. Pure prosethetic limbs fall here. Restricted in imperial service.

Dataware: Things like sub-q clocks, implanted comdots, Neural Interface Jacks, memory implants, skillchips. Stuff that is easily concealed, and really only apparent when used, and is oly for providing data capability rather than physical enhancement. Generally frowned upon when used, but many subcultures approve of one or more of them. Approved for imperial services. Certain worlds (sambqys) even go so far as to make dataware part of coming of age rituals.

Physical enhancement: Overpowered cyberlimbs, "Racing Hearts", hyper kidneys, weapon implants, tool-arms, bone-lacing, implant radar, etc.. All highly frowned upon except for small subgroups of extremists.

Nanotech: IMTU< any nanotech that self replicates is a violation of the rules of war. yes, ANY will triggger imperial intervention. Likewise, any nanotech which doesn't require a specific environment is a LL1 prohibition.

In short, IMTU, if your character was in any imperial service, dataware is book cost, and can be assumed installed safely.

Enviro-ware requires either an excellent background, or in play obtaining.

 

[aramis]

Cybertechnologies, IMTU, boil down into three categories:

Environmental adaptations: some colonies will use cybernetics to allow them to breath various oygenated fluids, survive extremes of radiation, or other such invasive but non-offensive equipment. Seriously disliked by most populations. Pure prosethetic limbs fall here. Restricted in imperial service.

Dataware: Things like sub-q clocks, implanted comdots, Neural Interface Jacks, memory implants, skillchips. Stuff that is easily concealed, and really only apparent when used, and is oly for providing data capability rather than physical enhancement. Generally frowned upon when used, but many subcultures approve of one or more of them. Approved for imperial services. Certain worlds (sambqys) even go so far as to make dataware part of coming of age rituals.

Physical enhancement: Overpowered cyberlimbs, "Racing Hearts", hyper kidneys, weapon implants, tool-arms, bone-lacing, implant radar, etc.. All highly frowned upon except for small subgroups of extremists.

Nanotech: IMTU< any nanotech that self replicates is a violation of the rules of war. yes, ANY will triggger imperial intervention. Likewise, any nanotech which doesn't require a specific environment is a LL1 prohibition.

In short, IMTU, if your character was in any imperial service, dataware is book cost, and can be assumed installed safely.

Enviro-ware requires either an excellent background, or in play obtaining.

 

[ACK!!]

Originally posted by Aramis:
Cybertechnologies, IMTU, boil down into three categories:

Dataware: Things like sub-q clocks, implanted comdots, Neural Interface Jacks, memory implants, skillchips. Stuff that is easily concealed, and really only apparent when used, and is oly for providing data capability rather than physical enhancement. Generally frowned upon when used, but many subcultures approve of one or more of them. Approved for imperial services. Certain worlds (sambqys) even go so far as to make dataware part of coming of age rituals.

I was thinking of putting forth IMTU that dataware was unneeded because of comm dot-like nueral links (TL-12 maybe?) that the character would put on each side of the temple of their head. If they wanted to go wired, the links would take over sensory perception to the brain and it would be as good as hard dataware jack.

I was also going to purpose that because of this there are two ways of commonly interfacing computers. One through a small 3-D holovid interface that they can interface with by moving things around with their finger like a pointing device (ala Minority Report). The other way would be wired in using a avatar like I described above. Most of the time you want to be aware of your real surroundings.

This will be important since (if we get it going) all of my people are serious computer geeks.

The way I describe computers becomes very important to the flavor of the game in a sense.

 

[ACK!!]

Originally posted by Aramis:
Cybertechnologies, IMTU, boil down into three categories:

Dataware: Things like sub-q clocks, implanted comdots, Neural Interface Jacks, memory implants, skillchips. Stuff that is easily concealed, and really only apparent when used, and is oly for providing data capability rather than physical enhancement. Generally frowned upon when used, but many subcultures approve of one or more of them. Approved for imperial services. Certain worlds (sambqys) even go so far as to make dataware part of coming of age rituals.

I was thinking of putting forth IMTU that dataware was unneeded because of comm dot-like nueral links (TL-12 maybe?) that the character would put on each side of the temple of their head. If they wanted to go wired, the links would take over sensory perception to the brain and it would be as good as hard dataware jack.

I was also going to purpose that because of this there are two ways of commonly interfacing computers. One through a small 3-D holovid interface that they can interface with by moving things around with their finger like a pointing device (ala Minority Report). The other way would be wired in using a avatar like I described above. Most of the time you want to be aware of your real surroundings.

This will be important since (if we get it going) all of my people are serious computer geeks.

The way I describe computers becomes very important to the flavor of the game in a sense.

 

[ACK!!]

Consolidated tech notes from discussions so far:

Classic Traveller Tech notes -- Travelling with the times IMTU

Cybernetics/Bionics:

Cybernetics are highly looked down upon and the person could easily be refused entry on multiple planets due to any mechanical mods on their body. It is considered like carrying a concealed weapon. Basically, the person would be treated like being caught with a set of lockpicks on you or a syringe and hypodermic needles on you. It would be a good reason to lock you up and send in a head shrinker in to see you for evaluation and a one way ticket to the local mental ward. Any starport would have the facilities to detect these things and neutralize them while holding the carrier.

Medical tech has progressed to the point that cybernetics for limb replacement is seen as old school and unnatural. In extreme cases, on some high law/high tech worlds, the person could easily find themselves prosecuted and the limb or whatever would be replaced with a nautral one.

Computers/cyberspace/the Wired:

On the cyberspace front since there is no FTL communication all nets are system-wide updated for information by x-boat transmission. These are 3-D virtual spaces. There are two methods of travelling the wired 3-D net.

Dataware (cybernetic jacks) are unneeded because of comm dot-like nueral links (TL-12) that the person would put on each side of the temple of their head. If they wanted to go wired in the local system 'net as a 3-D avatar, the links would take over sensory perception to the brain and it would be as good as a hard dataware jack.

Because of this, there are two ways of commonly interfacing computers. One through a small 3-D holovid interface that they can use by moving things around the objects with their finger like a pointing device (ala Minority Report). The other way would be going in Wired in using a avatar like I described above. Most of the time you want to be aware of your real surroundings.

Computers come in many varietes IMTU (In My Traveller Universe). The most common are listed below.

Hand computers have small holovid screens and comm dots for going wired are available at an additional cost.

Homecomps are common computers that are used for home server use. They are hooked up to every function of the house and can be voice controlled. They have auditory interfaces and prompts as well as typical holovid and wired interfaces. Hand computers are commonly hooked into the homecomp for an access terminal point.

Cyberdecks are odd because they have a special interface of their own. In addition to holovid and Wired interfaces they also have a tactile interface, because as many old-school hackers can tell you, hackers can type faster than they think. These are bulkier than the common hand computers because of this about as large as a computer keyboard.

Shipboard computers are large internal/redundant server arrays that are radiation proofed on uninterruptable power. Think computers in server racks on a data farm. Like a home computer they can be interfaced through a voice system. They can also be interfaced through a hand computer or
cyberdeck.

Nanotech:

Nanotech that self replicates is a violation of the rules of war. Yes, ANY will triggger imperial intervention. Likewise, any nanotech which doesn't require a specific environment is a major prohibition. Because of the nanotech plagues in earlier times they are strictly prohibited now even in most commercial use for fear of their destructive possibilities.

Biotech:

The limits of biotechnical knowledge has progressed to the point of curing most bone cancers and spinal cord diseases known through the Imperium. The full re-growing of limbs came on the scene later but the full growing of existing brain tissue through replication cloning is not complete. Destroyed brain tissue cannot be restored to have for example all the remnant memories of the host. If the characters has been dead long enough for the brain to stop functioning they are dead. Otherwise, the character can usually be saved since most organs can be re-produced.

 

[ACK!!]

Consolidated tech notes from discussions so far:

Classic Traveller Tech notes -- Travelling with the times IMTU

Cybernetics/Bionics:

Cybernetics are highly looked down upon and the person could easily be refused entry on multiple planets due to any mechanical mods on their body. It is considered like carrying a concealed weapon. Basically, the person would be treated like being caught with a set of lockpicks on you or a syringe and hypodermic needles on you. It would be a good reason to lock you up and send in a head shrinker in to see you for evaluation and a one way ticket to the local mental ward. Any starport would have the facilities to detect these things and neutralize them while holding the carrier.

Medical tech has progressed to the point that cybernetics for limb replacement is seen as old school and unnatural. In extreme cases, on some high law/high tech worlds, the person could easily find themselves prosecuted and the limb or whatever would be replaced with a nautral one.

Computers/cyberspace/the Wired:

On the cyberspace front since there is no FTL communication all nets are system-wide updated for information by x-boat transmission. These are 3-D virtual spaces. There are two methods of travelling the wired 3-D net.

Dataware (cybernetic jacks) are unneeded because of comm dot-like nueral links (TL-12) that the person would put on each side of the temple of their head. If they wanted to go wired in the local system 'net as a 3-D avatar, the links would take over sensory perception to the brain and it would be as good as a hard dataware jack.

Because of this, there are two ways of commonly interfacing computers. One through a small 3-D holovid interface that they can use by moving things around the objects with their finger like a pointing device (ala Minority Report). The other way would be going in Wired in using a avatar like I described above. Most of the time you want to be aware of your real surroundings.

Computers come in many varietes IMTU (In My Traveller Universe). The most common are listed below.

Hand computers have small holovid screens and comm dots for going wired are available at an additional cost.

Homecomps are common computers that are used for home server use. They are hooked up to every function of the house and can be voice controlled. They have auditory interfaces and prompts as well as typical holovid and wired interfaces. Hand computers are commonly hooked into the homecomp for an access terminal point.

Cyberdecks are odd because they have a special interface of their own. In addition to holovid and Wired interfaces they also have a tactile interface, because as many old-school hackers can tell you, hackers can type faster than they think. These are bulkier than the common hand computers because of this about as large as a computer keyboard.

Shipboard computers are large internal/redundant server arrays that are radiation proofed on uninterruptable power. Think computers in server racks on a data farm. Like a home computer they can be interfaced through a voice system. They can also be interfaced through a hand computer or
cyberdeck.

Nanotech:

Nanotech that self replicates is a violation of the rules of war. Yes, ANY will triggger imperial intervention. Likewise, any nanotech which doesn't require a specific environment is a major prohibition. Because of the nanotech plagues in earlier times they are strictly prohibited now even in most commercial use for fear of their destructive possibilities.

Biotech:

The limits of biotechnical knowledge has progressed to the point of curing most bone cancers and spinal cord diseases known through the Imperium. The full re-growing of limbs came on the scene later but the full growing of existing brain tissue through replication cloning is not complete. Destroyed brain tissue cannot be restored to have for example all the remnant memories of the host. If the characters has been dead long enough for the brain to stop functioning they are dead. Otherwise, the character can usually be saved since most organs can be re-produced.

 

[aramis]

Most dataware IMTU is NOT networked.

IMTU, most ships don't tie in to the local network with their mains. They pay for sanitized linkages in the form of consolidated data packages through the TNS and/or SMART.
Most dataware is used to access information through other means. For example, the chipsocket: a way of allowing you to store data, like reference materials.

Others provide access to built in calculators, timepieces, or audio &/or video comm.

The Dataplug. Information presentation is to a great degree dependant upon the dataplug's interface. Some are visual, some are not. the "Matrix", "Tron", and others simply don't exist. There is no single shared halucination. You might get sent ondow data, or even vrml, but most of the information on any netwrok will remain files, either textual or graphical.

Finding the right file quickly is what it's all about. And that will remain a personal choice issue.

 

[aramis]

Most dataware IMTU is NOT networked.

IMTU, most ships don't tie in to the local network with their mains. They pay for sanitized linkages in the form of consolidated data packages through the TNS and/or SMART.
Most dataware is used to access information through other means. For example, the chipsocket: a way of allowing you to store data, like reference materials.

Others provide access to built in calculators, timepieces, or audio &/or video comm.

The Dataplug. Information presentation is to a great degree dependant upon the dataplug's interface. Some are visual, some are not. the "Matrix", "Tron", and others simply don't exist. There is no single shared halucination. You might get sent ondow data, or even vrml, but most of the information on any netwrok will remain files, either textual or graphical.

Finding the right file quickly is what it's all about. And that will remain a personal choice issue.

 

[ACK!!]

Originally posted by Aramis:
Most dataware IMTU is NOT networked.

IMTU, most ships don't tie in to the local network with their mains. They pay for sanitized linkages in the form of consolidated data packages through the TNS and/or SMART.
Most dataware is used to access information through other means. For example, the chipsocket: a way of allowing you to store data, like reference materials.

Others provide access to built in calculators, timepieces, or audio &/or video comm.

The Dataplug. Information presentation is to a great degree dependant upon the dataplug's interface. Some are visual, some are not. the "Matrix", "Tron", and others simply don't exist. There is no single shared halucination.

Good idea and differentiation.

Ships would probably NOT hook into the local 'net and that is the good point. However, 3-D avatar driven access to TNS or SMART info might become the best way to find that single file of whatever nature. It is hard to tell really.

Hand comps and homecomps would be the systems commonly used to navigate the local system 'net. I can see that. The single shared halucination is one limited to the system or planet depending on the distance in-system of planets with shared access.

Not all functions for a computer have to be data related. On a world with a tainted atmosphere, with a number of lightly populated centers of population, the idea of a shared 3-D dream state might be very helpful in terms of communication and retaining a functional social network.

I understand your frame of reference for dismissing the cybernet concepts, but I like keeping a touch of it around the edges because some very interesting ideas came out of the cyberpunk genre tales from William Gibson and especially some humorous ones from Neal Stephenson.

 

[ACK!!]

Originally posted by Aramis:
Most dataware IMTU is NOT networked.

IMTU, most ships don't tie in to the local network with their mains. They pay for sanitized linkages in the form of consolidated data packages through the TNS and/or SMART.
Most dataware is used to access information through other means. For example, the chipsocket: a way of allowing you to store data, like reference materials.

Others provide access to built in calculators, timepieces, or audio &/or video comm.

The Dataplug. Information presentation is to a great degree dependant upon the dataplug's interface. Some are visual, some are not. the "Matrix", "Tron", and others simply don't exist. There is no single shared halucination.

Good idea and differentiation.

Ships would probably NOT hook into the local 'net and that is the good point. However, 3-D avatar driven access to TNS or SMART info might become the best way to find that single file of whatever nature. It is hard to tell really.

Hand comps and homecomps would be the systems commonly used to navigate the local system 'net. I can see that. The single shared halucination is one limited to the system or planet depending on the distance in-system of planets with shared access.

Not all functions for a computer have to be data related. On a world with a tainted atmosphere, with a number of lightly populated centers of population, the idea of a shared 3-D dream state might be very helpful in terms of communication and retaining a functional social network.

I understand your frame of reference for dismissing the cybernet concepts, but I like keeping a touch of it around the edges because some very interesting ideas came out of the cyberpunk genre tales from William Gibson and especially some humorous ones from Neal Stephenson.

 

[aramis]

Gibson wrote great stuff. But it isn't stuff I want in my traveller universe.

Sure, some groups will use "Virtual Spaces", but most will use less data-intese methods of presentation. If they go for a monolithic net at all.

And, when it comes to three-d virtual spaces, there is a real problem: the more encompasing the virtual space, the harder it becomes to find data, especially since most data out there is linguistic or tabular. (Monolithic nets with cheap sotrage means textual and tabular data can proliferate...)

 

[aramis]

Gibson wrote great stuff. But it isn't stuff I want in my traveller universe.

Sure, some groups will use "Virtual Spaces", but most will use less data-intese methods of presentation. If they go for a monolithic net at all.

And, when it comes to three-d virtual spaces, there is a real problem: the more encompasing the virtual space, the harder it becomes to find data, especially since most data out there is linguistic or tabular. (Monolithic nets with cheap sotrage means textual and tabular data can proliferate...)