From:	Dark Elf <VESPOSIT@****.SUNYSB.EDU>
Subject:	Multi-decking
Date:	Tue, 13 Oct 92 17:22:37 EDT

There have been some reservations expressed about the feasability
of decking with multiple personae. I will attempt to address as many of
these as I can remember right now.

A comment was made that multi-decking is impossible because the
decker must for example think of his arm bending and straightening out
at the same time (I think Mr. Hayden addressed this one, but I want to put
in my .02Y anyway). This would be true if a multi-decker were not using
an encephalon to multitask his cognitive needs. This would also be true
if the decker were running more than one persona on one deck (which may
work, if you're willing to let one persona lie dormant while you7 work with
the other, but I doubt it). The Encephalon allows you to effectively think
of two (or more) things at once. (Thank the maker for that class in UNIX
multitasking last sem.) It is not truly simultaneous though (hence the
reaction penalties I discussed earlier). This is accomplished by switching
between each "job" at a *very* fast speed. The jobs, tasks, programs,
whatever, are held suspended with all relavent data stored temporarily
(I would assume partitally in the deck and partially in the matrix), while
another task runs for a few nanoseconds. The currently running job is
suspended, and another waiting job is activated when one of the following
conditions occur: a) The current task has been active for a specified
period of time.

b) The current task has to wait for incoming or outgoing
data. (data transfer is *much* slower than switching
tasks)

c) The current task terminates (ie either completes its
job, jacks out, or is destroyed by IC)

Even in computers of the late 20th century, a very large number
of programs could run simultaneously with relatively minor
degradations in speed. This was acceptable since the CPU of a given
computer was used constantly with only small gaps during process
switching. With cyberdecks in a real time matrix, this means a
penalty to reaction.

>>>[Basically, to quote Mr Hayden: Multitasking is done by switching attention
from one task to another very rapidly. How rapidly? So rapidly that the
multi-decker won't notice most of the time, unitl an overactive IC tries to
shut him down. Then the multi-decker will appear to be just a little
slower on the draw than normal. That's OK, if he's smart one of his
other personae will be nearby to give him a hand if speed degradation is
a problem]<<< ---Dark Elf <LTG:ADDRESS DOES NOT EXIST, TRACE
INITIATED>

Although it hasn't really been said openly, there is probably some
feeling that multi-decking can upset game balance. I don't think that
anyone will worry about balance once they compute the essence and Y cost
for all the equipment (If you want to be 3 people, you need 3 decks!).

ADDENDUM: After a little thought, I would like to add/clarify a few
things. In my model, the memory buffer can be accomplished several ways.
1) put it all in headware (can get expensive in ess)
2) have an extra datajack that is attached to something with sufficient
memory.(ie plug in your three decks and a pocket computer with 100mp
memory)
3) Use a combination of both.
(I personally think it is fair to allow external memory devices help out by
providing extra buffering space.)

Also, If you happen to have enough memory left over after allocating buffer
space, a multi-decker can store programs or data there, as long as there
is always enough space for the buffer (if you want to store more, you better
pull your third self out to make room). Any data/programs stored in excess
memory can be shared by all personae, but it will have to be loaded as if it
were in deck storage first. (this means that extra headware/online external
memory acts as a shared disk drive for all decks.

any comments or flames are welcome

>>>>>[ I accumulated these multi-decking texts from stolen encephalon
design
and usage manuals, plus from the notes of some friends (who prefer to
remain nameless) who have been experimenting in the field. The one
thing that these compiled specs don't say is that multi-decking has
some apparent psychological side effects. Most of these guys have
developed strange behavior patterns after prolonged and repeated
usage of multi-deck setups. It doesn't seem permanent though, it's
at it's worst right after a muti-run and slowly goes away after a few
days. They seem to have trouble coping with only being in one place
at a time again. I may only have minored in Psych, but I'd say that
after long enough exposure, or repeated runs with little recovery
time in between could very well drive them totally schizo. Some
people go net-nuts after the simsense exposure of one cyberspace
persona, It's scary to think what exposure to three or four such
signals could do to someone, especially if they're not entirely
stable to begin with! I'll keep you posted, but I'm sticking to one
deck until I figure out just how bad it really is ]<<<<<
--Dark Elf <LTG:ADDRESS UNKNOWN, TRACE INITIATED>

>>>LTG: TRACE ID(001) REPORTS FAILURE
>>>LTG: TRACE ID(010) TERMINATED BY UNKNOWN PROCESS
>>>LTG: SYSTEM ON INTERNAL ALERT

>>>>>>[ Ooops, looks like it's time to go before the ICe gets too cold
]<<<<<
--Dark Elf <LTG: TRACE IN INFINITE LOOP, UNABLE TO
LOCATE>

>>>>>>[ Damm deckers!!! I'll have to tell Johnson to up security around
here,
I've had enough of this cat and mouse drek! ]<<<<<<<
--M.ANDERS<UCAS/NE/NY/MAN/01374-992:Akaru International>