Tech Level advancements...

Hello there:

	 In the midst of sorting my thoughts out about the Computer Thingy, I have
come to a question that I have been skirting around for a while. In the case of
future Tech Level advancements on technology, how should I deal with the
miniaturization issue? For certain, we have seen advances in our lifetimes of
epic proportions in computer hardware and even common domestic equipment. I
Just received a Discman CD player for Christmas, that has even more features
than my previous CD player (Which was the size of your typical stereo
component) and is the size of two and a half CD cases stacked on top of one
another... Quite a reduction in size, and we haven't even advanced a Tech
Level!! ;->

	 So I have been thinking if maybe we should have a formula for this. One of
the more sensible formulae that I have come up with over christmas has been
this ...

                           Introduction Tech Level Attribute Value
Modified Attribute Value = ---------------------------------------------------
                               (Current Tech Level - Introduction Tech Level)
							 10

     This seems to work in one instance I can cite - the infamous TL 11 Hand
computer. It says that it has a volume of 0.2 litres. Cool. Now, taking into
account the modifications expressed in the Starship Computer Tables in the
Referee's Manual, we have a value of 200 kl at TL 5 (or 200,000 litres) and
a weight of 50 t at TL 5 (or 50,000 kg). Now, applying the formula, we come
up with:

              200,000 l      200,000 l
	  0.2 l = ---------   = -----------
				(11 - 5)          6
              10                10

               50,000 kg     50,000 kg
	 0.05 kg = ----------  = ----------
                 (11 - 5)          6
               10                10


     Now, there is a whoops there. The mass is supposed to be 0.5 kg, not 0.05.
However, this could be due to the resident battery pack, which is by far the
most heavy piece of the device. As for the pricing of the computer, I don't
have a contingency as of yet. Now, The rule seems pretty reasonable to me for
physical aspects of equipment, but I'd like to know what you all think of it.

	 This would yield advances in the size of Robot Brain components also. The
idea that Linear CPU's, for instance, do not change in size from one tech level
to another is simply ludicrous! The Linear CPU and Storage Module would have
the following stats at TL 11:

Type           Vol (litres)  Wt. (kg)  Price (Cr)  TL
- -----------------------------------------------------
Linear CPU       0.0002       0.0001    0.5        11
Storage          0.0005       0.0001    0.25       11


	 This, in keeping with the idea that the robot rules should meld with the
computer rules, makes it possible to construct a Hand Held Tl 11 Mod/1 computer
with the proper number of CPU modules and Storage modules. In fact, this brings
the question forward of what are the module requirements for each of the
models of computers. I haven't bothered with the idea of how much memory should
reside in a Storage module as of yet. The various real world/Traveller Computer
correspondences are necessary, and I will have to do some research on the
various "most advanced computers" of the times. Don't ask me about the Control
Points thing... 8-(

     I eventually want to be able to extend these rules to the handling of
hardware add-ons. I kinda like the idea of actual computer construction rules.
I'm working in that direction.

	 Anyone want to comment?

     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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