From:	Penta cpenta@*****.com
Subject:	On Cybereyes
Date:	Mon, 13 Sep 1999 21:14:40 -0700

Ereskanti@***.com wrote:

> In a message dated 9/12/1999 11:12:32 AM US Eastern Standard Time,
> cpenta@*****.com writes:
>
> > On a lark, I brought up (and described as best I could) Shadowrun's
> > cybereyes. After I finished, he asked (Nothing here's verbatim Been
> > over a month, and I just thought of it.): 'Now, besides essence, are
> > there any penalties to those? Such as, say, psychosis?' OK....one thing
> > he brought up that struck me: As great as stuff like cybereyes
> > sounds....*Anybody* who gets something like that, especially if they
> > were born blind, would likely go incurably and permenantly insane. No,
> > more than likely...certainly. The difference is too VAST. Past a certain
> > age (like, 1 year old), you become wired to handle a certain situation,
> > like blindness. Psychologically, emotionally, and in a lot of cases,
> > physically. You would suddenly recieve a STREAM of new information, that
> > your mind and your body would be UNABLE, as adaptable as the human being
> > is, to adapt to. You'd get the info, but it'd be mishmash you couldn't
> > interpret or corroborate with anything else you're getting. Permenantly.
> > CONSTANTLY. 24/7. You'd go nuts. Anybody have any opinions, perhaps, on
> > IF that little hurdle got beaten? And if so...how? (FASAtypes and such
> > want to comment, maybe? Is this explained or covered in M&M?)
>
> I have to admit John, bringing the topic up to an Optometrist is an
> interesting approach to things for "Office Chatter". However, there is
> something to consider with regards to Cybereyes (and Shadowrun in general).
> The psychological impact aside (THAT is a topic not handled all that well IMO
> either), there is still the expansions/changes in medical science in
> Shadowrun. The technology simple *does* allow for such interfaces to come
> into being. Please understand, the research into these advancements is
> happening right now (and, to my understanding, they've had loads of luck with
> artificial hearing, but the vision thing is still a distance off).

*bitterly* Yeah, but when will all that crap cost less than a bloody CAR? Health
insurance won't cover any of it....Like I say above...a hint when/if you RP
people (ESPECIALLY in SR, but moreso in a "modern world" thing) who're blind or
visually impaired, and at least teenagers who live in otherwise normal
surroundings... It's HELL. Kids like that will likely be VERY distrustful of
ANYBODY. (Sorry to say, but you can only take being lied to by beareaucrats,
parents, and virtually everyone else before you start getting VERY depressed,
pessimistic, and *paranoid*. It won't change with SR...in fact, it'll probably
only get worse.) They probably have been blind/visually impaired their whole
LIFE. I have been. No matter how much others try to help (as RARE as its been),
it's very hard NOT to be depressed. You tend to constantly wonder: Why can't I be
like all the OTHER kids? What did I do to deserve this? It rips you apart.

> I know
> that M&M will explain a bit more the "interface" concept of
cybertechnology
> (long details, too long to go into here even if I could).

Oooh. I hope, I hope.

> And, btw, in most cases the information is NOT new, it is merely being
> received in a new manner (the eye "hardware" itself). And, if you think a
> bit more about, one way that Shadowrun Game Mechanics do take *some* of the
> drawbacks into effect is with the consideration of "Essence Loss". Every
> expanded/range of sensation equates to more essence loss somewhere (there is
> still a limit to the artificial eye itself even when you think about it).
>
> In all honesty, I think I'd like to have that kind of conversation about the
> "Impact of Cybereyes" with an Optimologist or similar medical professional.
> I think a lot of insight could come of that.

We'd gone from: Jersey politics (he regularly talks to Jim McGreevey and other
politicans on both sides on issues concerning the disabled), to the weird driving
standards at DMV (everyone agrees: They were drunk when they made em.:)), to
cybereyes, cyberware in general, and the prospect for ANY of this happening
before 2011. (Slim to unlikely) They've come VERY close with artificial retinas,
and that COULD work on people who've lost sight for only a short time, but for
people BORN blind, or who lost their sight early in life? You'd go utterly NUTS.
On that realm, something off-topic: As a little psychological exercise, go
through a day with your eyes closed, or with a DARK blindfold on, so you couldn't
see ANYTHING. I'm partially sighted, but, against all my wishes and for some
ungodly reason, my parents like me spending time with blind kids. Seeing as I'd
like what integration I can get into the normal world to be quick and rapid, I
generally dislike it somewhat, but...it provides an interesting viewpoint.
Y'know...you never know how much you GET from your eyes...I'm not saying walking
around or driving (I hope I can, I hope I can...) or whatever, I'm talking
general human interaction. Something to poke on when someone goes off about being
beautiful and having a PERFECT charisma....Make sure, in that case, to add
penalties if they're interacting with the blind or visually impaired...Trust me.
When I *personally* interact with someone, even one of the opposite sex (though,
OK. I'm 15, I'm human, and I'm male. I do notice looks. Somewhat.), I tend not to
notice looks. More often, I notice their general MANNER. I make myself blind when
I interact with most people, and ignore how they look. Try it...You'd be AMAZED
how often people you used to think were bloody PERFECT, were actually utter
jackasses..And,.how bloody easy it is to trust people you wouldn't otherwise.
Which, frankly, can get you hurt on a HUGE level, a LOT.

Damn. I'm GOOD at going off-topic. Almost like Bull.:>

John