And what about computers anyway!

A thread of 2 messages, 27 September 1991 to 28 September 1991, in the order they were sent.

#2932 And what about computers anyway!

Anthony Neal · 27 September 1991

	Yeah, it's me again.

		After my last note, I thought about the system and the lack
	of development of computer equipment and the role of computers in the
	Traveller society. I mean, today we're pretty well swamped by these
	little technological pets as it is, what about 5000 years down the
	road? What programs are available and how good are they? What does
	the average Imperial citizen do per day that involves direct inter-
	action with computers.

		And what of the computer hacker?!? Is he alive and well
		in the future, or has he/she (sorry --^) starving with
		only an 8088 at his disposal...

		I would really like to see a little more computer use in the
	Traveller system, since it seems to me that they are too flexible a
	thing to just die out. The rules seem to treat them in the fashion of
	"Yeah, they're there, just don't ask me about them...".

		And what of robots? MT mentions them in the Imperial Encyclo-
		pedia (?) but we don't have any examples or constuction rules
		to go by, except for the fabled "Robots" booklet, which I have
		had on order for over a year, but has never come in.

		Us Technorganisms have to have our computers and robots or else
	we get real cranky. I've tried improvising, even raiding a few things
	from GURPS and 2300. (By the way, GURPS Cyberpunk has the best system
	on computers I've seen so far. I tried adapting it but got a headache
	real quick.)

		So, a desperate plea goes to the masses of the TML... Where's
	my workstation?... Where's my C3PO, or R2-D2?

							Ciao,
							Anthony

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Anthony Neal                 |"Lets bring up the cargo manifest. 2300 laser
[email removed]              | pistols, 1600 laser rifles, 1 ATV, 67 suits of
Memorial University Of       | combat armor and... What the hell are
Newfoundland                 | 'tribbles'?"
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#2937 Re: And what about computers anyway

Bertil Jonell · 28 September 1991 · reply to #2932

> From: Anthony Neal [email removed]
> Subject: (2932) And what about computers anyway!
>
> 	Yeah, it's me again.
>
> 		After my last note, I thought about the system and the lack
> 	of development of computer equipment and the role of computers in the
> 	Traveller society. I mean, today we're pretty well swamped by these
> 	little technological pets as it is, what about 5000 years down the
> 	road? What programs are available and how good are they? What does
> 	the average Imperial citizen do per day that involves direct inter-
> 	action with computers.

  There are (presently) two different versions of how to use computers in the
future: The first is the classic cyberspace or matrix where you put the human
in the computer, the second is to put the computers in the environment.
  There is a good article in the September Scientific American (special
edition about networks and computers) on the second version. Xerox is as usual
doing interesting things at Palo Alto. I wonder how long until Apple steals it
and sues Xerox for it? :)

  In short the 'computers in the environment' idea is to computerize the
environment with computerized papers, notes and boards all networked togeather
with short range radio or ir links and all working transparantely.
  And since cyberpunk is more or less absent from Traveller, this might be a
way to explain it.

> 	The rules seem to treat them in the fashion of
> 	"Yeah, they're there, just don't ask me about them...".

  That is close to what 'computers in the environment' tries to do. There
would however be severe effects if someone who is trained to depend on
ubiquitous computers had to work without them. (That might be a rationalization
of the severe TL effects on skills...)

  But, read the Palo Alto article in Scientific American, I can infact recommend
that entire issue, even though I neither work for Xerox or Scientific American:)

> 							Anthony

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