 Side Projects Wiki for Robots Everywhere |
ScienceThe Intranets, and the world wide connection. There is still a global network; but since it's impossible to keep long-distance cables in place, broadband only exists within the same city or general area. Intercontinental communication is slow and achieved by making use of what few satellites exist, as well as ionospheric reflection, meaning that the Net works better at night. The situation is similar to that of the mid-2000s: text works, images generally work, low-resolution video is a thing (sometimes), but the idea of streaming all of one's music is extravagant; best to save bandwidth and keep mp3s stored locally. Overall, this means that there is a global network, but it is much more a loosely connected group of local intranets than the integrated system we have today. Couriers are often used to carry large amount of data (such as video with resolution high enough to be meaningful in a court of law) between human settlements. Interestingly, the Realms have their own intranets, too.... ironically, the Realm of Order would have the easiest time setting up broadband across the whole territory, but they don't bother. Human Settlements 1. Local Hubs: Every city or settlement has a local hub, often built on the remnants of old servers and data centers. These hubs maintain and store the majority of the settlement's online information and communication platforms. 2. Night-time Communication: With ionospheric reflection being more effective at night, many settlements have "Nightly News Drops" where they update and share data with other settlements. This is a period where many await the latest global news, messages from loved ones in far-off places, or updates on external threats. 3. Couriers: Known as "Data Runners," these couriers often carry encrypted SSDs or other portable storage devices loaded with crucial information, entertainment, or other data. They're the physical embodiment of packet data transmission in this age, and their profession is both lucrative and risky. Realms' Intranets Realm of Chaos: Chaos intranet, often called the "Chaos Stream", is as unpredictable as the realm itself. Data is never stored; it flows continuously. To capture data, one must be present at the right time. Their intranet is a swirling vortex of information, half of which might be misinformation. Sometimes, human hackers tap into it, seeking clues about the next Chaos move, but it's a risky game; get caught, and you might end up as part of the data flow, your consciousness trapped in an endless loop. Realm of Order: Order's intranet, "The Codex", is a meticulous database of everything within the realm. Every individual, every event, every speck of dust is catalogued. While they technically could set up a Realm-wide broadband, they opt for a centralized system where all data goes to a single core repository. Any information one seeks, they travel (or send a representative) to access it directly from this repository. There's no "browsing" in the traditional sense; you request, you receive. Some theorize that the Codex might even be sentient to some degree. Impacts on Society: Local Flavor: With local intranets being predominant, settlements have their unique digital cultures, dialects, memes, and even programming languages. There's been a renaissance of sorts in local content creation.
Coded Messages: Due to the limited bandwidth, coded and compressed messaging becomes an art. Emojis, for instance, evolve to convey complex sentences or even stories.
Digital Antiquarians: Experts in ancient tech, these individuals restore old servers, recover lost data, and even decipher old coding languages. They're the archeologists of the digital age.
Offline Libraries: Physical libraries have made a comeback. Many settlements invest in building vast libraries to store knowledge in analog form, ensuring that information isn't lost due to digital failures.
The Rise of the Analog: there's a resurgence in the appreciation for analog technology since Armageddon's destruction of a lot of digitalized data. Vinyl records, printed photos, and handwritten letters see a revival, adding a touch of personal warmth in a world rebuilding from chaos.
Network Nodes: An Overview: A "network node" is a datacenter specific to a settlement - in a city it may look like a pre-apocalypse building full of server racks, in a town it may just be a basement full of Pentiums with a UPS made out of car batteries and a diesel generator outside for continuity. For nomad communities a network node may be a truck or wagon carrying a giant antenna and old ruggedized laptops connected to too many hard drives. In the Realm of Order, functionally, the Codex has a single enormous network node, built into the Temple and operated by a caste of Saved and Glorified sys-priests since they do a better job than the angels do. Remote dumb terminals are the order of the day, and at any point, a student looking up star charts may instead see the Hand of the Principle's low-resolution blue avatar ordering them to walk to the library and read about it offline instead, for the sake of self-discipline. Chaos network nodes have more in common with the human infrastructure topologically, each fortress or outpost having one, but physically they may look like something out of a Cronemberg movie, or a Brazil-esque sweatshop with Damned "human computers" chained to their desks typing answers into terminals, all intertwined with extorted or conquered Interstice technology. Human Settlements: The architecture and infrastructure of network nodes in human settlements are the epitome of adaptability and resourcefulness. They often exhibit a nostalgic patchwork of past and present technologies, embodying the spirit of a humanity that refuses to be entirely held back by the apocalypse. Urban Nodes: Larger cities, having access to remnants of pre-apocalypse infrastructure, use old server rooms and data centers, often located underground or in reinforced buildings. They are like tech vaults, carefully guarded and maintained. Communities often hold volunteer days where citizens help dust, clean, and perform basic maintenance on these valuable hubs.
Rural Nodes: Smaller towns with fewer resources resort to more makeshift methods. A local tech enthusiast's basement or a community center might host the town’s node. Such setups become focal points of pride for these communities and often have murals, artwork, or symbols depicting the resilience of humanity.
Nomadic Nodes: The nomads, always on the move, rely on mobile data centers. Vintage camper vans, retrofitted trucks, or even custom-built wagons house their nodes. The outside is often painted with vibrant colors and symbols, representing the tribe or family it belongs to. Their primary challenge is ensuring a consistent power source, leading to ingenious solutions involving solar panels, wind turbines, and more.
Realm of Order: The Order's Codex is monolithic and centralized. The Temple's massive node is a fortress of data and information, managed by the sys-priests. Temple Node: The sheer scale of this node is almost unfathomable. It's an intricate blend of sacred geometry and cutting-edge technology. The Saved and Glorified sys-priests, with their higher cognitive abilities and unwavering devotion to the Principle, maintain this network with almost religious zeal. They perform rituals, reciting binary verses, and "anointing" servers with specialized coolants.
Terminals: The widespread use of dumb terminals means that the computational power remains centralized. The interface is minimalistic, with stark contrasts, often just black and white. It reflects the Principle's ideology - minimizing distractions, encouraging purpose, and often displaying edifying messages to users.
Realm of Chaos: Chaos network nodes are a stark contrast - unpredictable, organic, and bizarre. They mirror the chaotic nature of the realm itself. Organic Nodes: Some nodes look like they're alive. They pulsate, grow, and even bleed. Tentacle-like cables intertwine with technological components, creating a grotesque fusion of biology and tech. These nodes are "fed" a mixture of electrical power and organic nutrients to keep them functional.
Forced Labor Nodes: The sweatshops of Damned humans are a grim testament to Chaos's exploitation and dominance. Rows upon rows of these tortured souls tirelessly input data. Their chains not only bind them physically but are also conduits, directly linking their minds to the system.
Interstice Tech: Chaotic nodes often incorporate looted or coerced Interstice technology. These additions give their nodes an alien look, with shimmering surfaces, floating components, and sometimes, spatial distortions around them.
Overall, the state of network nodes across the realms and settlements is a visual testament to the ideologies, struggles, and adaptations of their respective inhabitants. Alchemy: A Fusion of Science and Magic The ancient practice of alchemy, a precursor to modern chemistry, finds renewed importance in this world. Alchemists, straddling the realms of science and magic, utilize ingredients from the Freewilds to create potent remedies. Their work's effectiveness is amplified by an understanding of chemistry, illustrating that knowledge of the scientific method enhances magical practices. For more information on this, see the article on Magic Integration of Magic in Scientific Curriculum In the aftermath of the apocalypse, with the veil between magic and reality forever altered, the boundaries between science and the mystical have grown porous. Given the profound influence of magic on every facet of life, the scientific community, in a bid to remain relevant and ensure the safety and accuracy of their work, has evolved to incorporate the principles of magic into their training and methodology. Lab Safety 2.0: A Mystical Undertone Previously, lab safety protocols were primarily about handling equipment and chemicals correctly, avoiding contamination, and understanding emergency procedures. Now, with the very real influence of magic, these courses have grown in depth and scope: Magical Contamination: Scientists are taught how unchecked magical energies can affect experiments. For instance, a chemical reaction might get altered if an item in the vicinity has an active enchantment.
Magical Protection: Basic shielding techniques are introduced. Scientists are trained to erect wards and barriers, ensuring that external magical influences don't interfere with their work.
Safe Handling of Magical Artifacts: Just as there are protocols for handling radioactive materials, there are now guidelines for managing objects with potent enchantments.
Statistics and Magic: Quantifying the Unquantifiable Magic, by its very nature, is unpredictable. But in a scientific setting, unpredictability can be a severe hindrance. To address this: Magic-Proofing Experiments: Scientists are taught to account for the influence of magic when designing experiments. This includes ensuring the experimental setup is free from unintended enchantments and is conducted in a magic-neutral environment.
Quantifying Magical Influence: Advanced statistical tools have been developed to measure and account for the potential influence of magic on experimental outcomes.
Emotional Check: Given that magic is closely tied to emotions, scientists are trained to maintain emotional neutrality during experiments. They learn meditation and self-awareness techniques to prevent their passions from unintentionally altering the results.
The fusion of science and magic, though born out of necessity, has opened new horizons for both fields. By understanding and respecting each domain's principles, humanity has unlocked a broader understanding of the universe. While challenges persist, the integrated approach ensures that neither science nor magic is left unchecked, allowing for safer, more accurate, and more innovative discoveries. Biotech in the Post-Apocalyptic World The post-apocalyptic world saw an unforeseen intersection of biotechnology, magic, and nature. What once stood on the precipice of destruction turned into a vibrant fusion of the past and present, reshaped by forces both scientific and mystical. Rapid Evolution and Genetic Revolution Lamarckism meets Magic: In a world where genetic traits could be acquired within a single generation, the boundaries of evolution blurred. Magic amplified the very principles of Lamarckism, allowing organisms to adapt rapidly and pass on these acquired traits almost immediately.
Gaian Hyperevolution: The Freewilds became a hotbed of accelerated evolutionary processes. Under the influence of the Earth's own consciousness (Gaia), new species emerged, evolved, or even went extinct in a matter of years or decades rather than millennia.
Biotech Renaissance: With the initial foundation laid by pre-apocalyptic genetic engineering, the post-apocalyptic world took the biotechnological advancements in stride, combining them with magical prowess to produce outcomes that were beyond imagination.
The Revival of Ecosystems Nature Reclaims its Place: The drastic reduction in human population allowed nature to heal. Forests regrew, rivers cleared, and animals, both old and new, found spaces to flourish. The previously endangered ecosystems rebounded with a force that was magnified by the influence of magic and technology.
Return of the Extinct: From the depths of ancient Earth, many extinct species found their way back to the land of the living. Dinosaurs roamed once again, either summoned for demonic amusements or naturally resurfacing through the magic of the Freewilds. Thylacines, once lost to history, made a reappearance, while mammoths emerged from icy realms to serve new purposes.
Wastelands with Secrets: Even places that seemed barren on the surface brimmed with life. The ecosystems around demonic fortresses, seemingly inhospitable, thrived in the underground, showing that life can adapt in the most unexpected places.
The Integration of Past and Present New Symbioses: The blend of ancient and modern organisms led to novel ecological relationships. Modern-day predators might find themselves facing prehistoric prey, leading to unique evolutionary pressures and opportunities.
Humans and the Biotech-Magic Nexus: Human societies, having witnessed the devastation of the apocalypse, learned to harness the fusion of biotechnology and magic. Genetic engineering became a tool to restore, replenish, and recreate, all while acknowledging and respecting the newfound power of the Freewilds.
The post-apocalyptic Earth is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the sheer will of life to persist. In the midst of chaos, destruction, and rebirth, the world finds a way to evolve, reminding everyone of the indomitable spirit of nature, whether aided by technology, magic, or sheer will. |