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Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

Message no. 1
From: Damion Milliken <adm82@***.EDU.AU>
Subject: Fibre Optic Cables
Date: Fri, 3 Mar 1995 16:15:01 +1100
Adam Getchell writes:

[Good big long detailed physics geek description of the process of producing
otical fibre cables]

Thanks Adam, I knew some knowledgeable person out there would come through.

Would you mind explaining to us how data is transmitted through an optical
fibre? I think this too would end up pointing out that having mages look
down the cable is impossible.

--
Damion Milliken University of Wollongong E-mail: adm82@***.edu.au

(GEEK CODE 2.1) GE -d+@ H s++:-- !g p0 !au a18 w+ v(?) C++ US++>+++ P+ L !3
E? N K- W M@ !V po@ Y+ t+ 5 !j R+(++) G(+)('''') !tv(--@)
b++ D B? e+ u@ h* f+ !r n----(--)@ !y+
Message no. 2
From: Robert Watkins <bob@**.NTU.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: Fibre Optic Cables
Date: Fri, 3 Mar 1995 16:14:58 +0930
Damion Milliken wrote:
>
> Would you mind explaining to us how data is transmitted through an optical
> fibre? I think this too would end up pointing out that having mages look
> down the cable is impossible.
>

This one is easy... light shines down the fiber.
In most data comms situations, this is a simple LED or laser on the end
that flicks on and off.
In the spy camera trick, there's a lens on one end that collects the light
and sends it down, and another lens on the other end. Usually with
electriconic gear to enhance the image.
I'd just like to point out that the fiber is too thin (aren't they about
a millimeter in thickness?) to carry much light. That's why, in "Patriot
Games", the picture that is shown is in b&w.

As for looking directly down the fiber... it's way too thin to see anything
without a lens attachment, and even with that attachment, the picture
quality would be awful.

--
Robert Watkins bob@**.ntu.edu.au
Real Programmers never work 9 to 5. If any real programmers
are around at 9 am, it's because they were up all night.
Finger me for my geek code
Message no. 3
From: Damion Milliken <adm82@***.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: Fibre Optic Cables
Date: Fri, 3 Mar 1995 22:30:02 +1100
Robert Watkins writes:

> As for looking directly down the fiber... it's way too thin to see anything
> without a lens attachment, and even with that attachment, the picture
> quality would be awful.

But you could actually transmit a proper "pure" visual image down a cable?
By pure I mean the original image, not an electronically enhanced one. I
thought fibre optic cables could only transmit data which had to be
interpreted by some computer system at the other end. Such as an electronic
image, not an optical image. If you can actually transmit pure images, then
it could, by the current rules, be used for spell casting.

--
Damion Milliken University of Wollongong E-mail: adm82@***.edu.au

(GEEK CODE 2.1) GE -d+@ H s++:-- !g p0 !au a18 w+ v(?) C++ US++>+++ P+ L !3
E? N K- W M@ !V po@ Y+ t+ 5 !j R+(++) G(+)('''') !tv(--@)
b++ D B? e+ u@ h* f+ !r n----(--)@ !y+
Message no. 4
From: Ludi <ludi@******.COM>
Subject: Re: Fibre Optic Cables
Date: Fri, 3 Mar 1995 07:17:43 -0800
Well just as a side note, as to being able to see down a fiber
optic, trying to see down one would be just about imposible. Thats why we
currently use a bundle of fibers to do this very thing. Depending on the
configuration there are sometimes no electronic components at all. The
image is clear and bright. The resolution is dependent on the number of
fibers, which become pixels.

These fiber optic bundles exist today. They should be available
in the Shadowrun universe. Its not very high tech, and if fibers are
still used, then making one of these would be trivial.

As for working for a spellcasters line of sight, it should work
just fine. The same photons that leave or are reflected by the imaged
object, are the ones that hit your retna. No electronic components nessacary.

Well this has been my first post to the list, I hope I have been
some help in answering the fiber optic question. If I have missed some
sort of format requirements or done something in error in the posting
please let me know via personal Email, thanks.


Stacy Van Peursem
Ludicrous Games
ludi@******.com
Message no. 5
From: Adam Getchell <acgetche@****.UCDAVIS.EDU>
Subject: Re: Fibre Optic Cables
Date: Fri, 3 Mar 1995 15:22:54 -0800
On Fri, 3 Mar 1995, Damion Milliken wrote:

> But you could actually transmit a proper "pure" visual image down a cable?
> By pure I mean the original image, not an electronically enhanced one. I

Yes and no.
A single fiber-optic cable can be used as a pinhole camera.
Because it transmits its image directly down the pipe, it is possible to
get the image from the "lens" (fiber aperture) at the other side. My
favorite trick, in fact, involves using a mass of dispersed optic cables
to form a synthetic lens. Rather than having just one lens, you have
thousands.
But -- in order to interpret the images on the other side, you
have to do some electronic amplification. Not only is the image fairly
dim from each pinhole, but all the separate images have to be processed
together to form a coherent whole. A fly's brain accomplishes this task,
so a fly can see with its multi-faceted eyes. A human brain cannot, so
signal processing must do it for us.

> Damion Milliken University of Wollongong E-mail: adm82@***.edu.au

========================================================================
Adam Getchell "Invincibility is in oneself,
acgetche@****.engr.ucdavis.edu vulnerability in the opponent."
http://instruction.ucdavis.edu/html/Adam/getchell.html
Message no. 6
From: Damion Milliken <adm82@***.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: Fibre Optic Cables
Date: Sat, 4 Mar 1995 12:01:42 +1100
Ludi writes:

[A reasonable sounding explanation of how fibre optic bundles could be used
for magicians to cast spells through walls.]

Adam Getchell writes:

[A reasonable sounding explanation of the exact same principle, but coming
up with the solution that fibre optic bundles can't be use for magicians to
cast spells through walls.]

So which way does it go guys? :-)

--
Damion Milliken University of Wollongong E-mail: adm82@***.edu.au

(GEEK CODE 2.1) GE -d+@ H s++:-- !g p0 !au a18 w+ v(?) C++ US++>+++ P+ L !3
E? N K- W M@ !V po@ Y+ t+ 5 !j R+(++) G(+)('''') !tv(--@)
b++ D B? e+ u@ h* f+ !r n----(--)@ !y+

Further Reading

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