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ATC2 - A Galaxy Full of Stars: 

Technology Advances
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Many advancements have been made in the world of technology since 2064. The
style and technique of Sleythin tecnhology has helped to jump start research in
new and exciting directions. Here is a point by point list of new developments
and new technologies.


Mindlink: The technology with the biggest overall effect has been Mindlink - a
way to interpret brainwaves and signals into a usuable electronic signal. It is 
implemented in two ways; one, via an electrode headband, and two, via a jack
implanted into the user's skull. Both methods allow for easy control of heavy
machinery, most namely exosuits. However, it is often used for things such as
robotic arms and other machinery that is difficult to operate by hand. the
headjack version also allows for data to flow into the brain as well, enabling
the user to access system configurations, alarms, and status reports.

TriSense Mindlink (TSM): Users with headjacks can utilize the first in actual
VR, TriSense. Covering sight, sound, and touch, TSM is fairly rudimentary right
now, but researchers are working hard to finalize the protocol and get working
TSM servers up and running for things like NewsNet and the already
highly-advertised NetSims. Despite NetSims not being available yet, people are
already subscribing for the service for several years, especially feeds like
"The Relaxation Channel". But aside from entertainment value, TSM allows for a
lot better responses from exosuits, and for fun things like programming nano-
constructors. There are also rumors of Red Mexico having already built a virtual
world tied to their Net structure.

Exosuits: In response to the Mindlink technology, which allows for near-instant
handling of exosuits, they have gotten lighter, faster, and less armored. They
have also gotten significantly cheaper. It is not uncommon to see exosuits fly
across the plains of Mars at speeds of close to 80 MPH, involved in a game of
some sort or another. In fact, most exosuits are so stripped down, they require
extra gear for activities in vaccuum.

Heavy Exosuits (HEXes): Due to the lightening of exosuits, their combat
capability has decreased, as well as their usefulness in things like
construction or demolition, or even terraforming. As a result, HEXes were
developed. Standing about three times human height on average, HEXes work on a
manual control system, not Mindlink, and thus require training and quite a bit
of skill to control. However, as payoff, they allow for a much greater range of
capabilities, in terms of refitting them for different tasks. They also allow
for a much greater range of strength boosting.

D-Shift and Body Bowls: While the Sleythin have provided full information on
their dimensional technology, it is proving cost-ineffective to use it for
freight or passenger transfer, not to mention the danger. The cost of building
the station, as well as the power involved, is tremendous, and not even ATC can
spare the capital to set up a network of d-shift stations. However, they ARE
researching to see if they can get the accuracy on the Body Bowls higher, and
the power usage for all dimensional tech down.

Nanotechnology: Nanotech is being used widely on Venus and Mars, especially for
terraforming and construction. Nano-constructed buildings aren't quite feasible
yet, but they are well on the way, and nanites are prefect for jobs like laying
electrical cable through dirt, etc. More than just tiny slave labor, though,
nanites are being used in medicine, in surveillance, and in the underworld, for
assassination and the like. Earth eschews nanotech unless it has to, though, and
even on Mars, the stuff that takes time to make is more valuable.

Cybertechnology: Cybertech is the new rage! Especially in places like Twilight
City or Red Cape Town, cybertech has become a status symbol. Embedded computers
are definitely the top seller among the business elite, while limbs are more
popular among the downtrodden. Cybertech is definitely more acceptable, even in
polite company, than genetech (more on that later). And it is incredibly
versatile, with modular components being built for spacers and the like who
require a wide variety of tools.

Gene Technology: The modification of one's own genes, a very painful and fairly
expensive process, is slowly gaining popularity in Twilight City. The process is
almost entirely for superficial atttributes - skin, eyes, hair, teeth, etc. The
ability to augment things like muscles is not yet available. For Twenty-
Fours, it holds the appeal of being able to "correct" some of the physical
mutations, or even just to alter them into a set image. For normals,  it offers
a chance to either masquerade as a Twenty-Four, or to at least be as cool as
one. The process is ONLY available in Twilight City, and the social stigma
against it is immense. Of course, if no one has seen you before, they will
likely assume you are a Twenty-Four instead of a genetech user.

Average Life: Everyone uses technology, all the time (with the exception of
separatist groups). It's an inescapable bit of life, and most children grow up
so mired in it that it's commonplace. But the sheer amount of work put off onto
machines and nanites and the like assures that any sort of technological mishap
would leave inhabitants almost completely helpless. No NewsNet? No comm lines?
The unspeakable shock would probably kill several hundred Martians alone.

But technology is the opiate of the masses as well, and people in charge take
every precaution to assure that the flow of electrons isn't going to stop
easily. 

It's just life in the Twenty-First Century.