| From: | jjvanp@*****.com (Jan Jaap van Poelgeest) |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Sony Patents the Matrix ?? |
| Date: | Fri, 8 Apr 2005 02:01:41 -0700 (PDT) |
>
> On 08/04/2005, at 12:19 PM, Wordman wrote:
> > The ultrasonic nature of this makes me ponder a
> "simsense gun".
>
> footage, but instead your
> getting the Security guards brain to loop over the
> same bit of Im
> seeing an empty room.
At last! A reason to wear funky-looking helmets (both
in and out of game). I suppose tin-foil's out, but
they'd be bulky and weird-looking if ultrasonic
simsense-inducing guns were around, wouldn't they?
On which note: what would it take to prevent an
ultrasound signal from messing with one's neurology?
I'm hoping (maybe even praying) that ultrasonic
simsense demands pretty close contact and precise
aiming mechanisms (i.e.: a worn simsense rig) to
target the right bits of brain in order to achieve the
rather subtle type of effects that simsense involves.
The described technology doesn't sound like it would
work very well on a moving, non-co-operative target.
This besides the fact that being tricked in this
manner will be a noticable experience, even if the
input is what one is expecting. Consider how aural
input and visuals might not be matching up if the
visual cortex alone is being targeted. Also consider
how a whiff of cold sweat carried along on the night
air might shake a security guard out of the induced
tranquil reverie. In short: any such a "magic
wand"/simsense gun would not have astounding chances
of success if it didn't override sufficient senses and
conscious thoughts.
An actual ultrasound *gun* could emit rapid pulses
across the whole spectrum of nerve-stimulating
patterns and just cause instant seizures (not much to
be done against that?). If one assumes that ultrasound
nerve stimulation only works with well-directed &
low-energy emissions, then this idea can safely be
ignored, though this might mean that bats are not what
they appear to be... :).
A very strong and well-aimed ultrasound signal might
still be a promising way of altering the brain's
function (be it for seizures or simsense experiences)
from a distance. I don't imagine the effects to be
subtle, however (i.e.: more like an overpowering
sensation that suddenly hits the recipient). It would
also require a lot of computing power (or a smartlink
rig) in order to get the aiming at the head right...
not to mention that the actual gun would have to be
built using "Experimental Elvish Technology," or
something like it. Speaking as a GM, the preceding
sounds like a rationale for a gimmick/"sekrit waffen"
you'd give a badguy to cause havoc with, perhaps
eventually letting the PCs have it as a (severely)
limited toy if they play nice (compensating for the
havoc *they'd* want to cause with it would just be too
much hard work). Simsense itself has of course always
been around in SR and how it functions is not all that
important unless you want it to be, or make it so in
order to have a vaguely coherent explanation for doing
something new&different in-game.
cheers,
Jan Jaap
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