3.4 - Computers and the AC

Carries Power to everything that needs it. Capable of sustaining and transferring an electrical current, the AC carries electricity to all points. All electronic devices from laptops, to vehicles, to the latest cyber-implants, constantly draw power from the AC. Most electronics are built without any form of battery, because they're perma-charged as long as they're in the AC.

Carries Signal to anything that uses it. Not too different from an electrical current, the AC carries and transfers signal. This means anything designed to communicate with other devices can see and connect to any other device that's in the same atmosphere. The only devices it can't connect to are ones that move into a different atmosphere (or out of any atmo entirely), or devices specifically built without any AC-IO ports (hard to find, and illegal).

Reads the Environment to detect physical objects. This function is an added element implemented some time in the past couple decades. It serves as a useful tool for anyone connected to the AC, allowing those using ARI, AVI, or VRI (see below) to see the locations of all devices and structures. It also allows ANet tracking algorithms to monitor citizen behavior, but that's another matter.

Common Traffic is the general codelines seen throughout the ANet, represented with purple (#681988) codelines. At a base level this means automated connections (such as between a person and a door, or a freight car and a track switch), so most codelines are already purple to begin with. What's more though, as a matter of security any codeline for which you don't have permissions is depicted as common traffic. The idea is that this makes it more difficult for rippers to know which codelines are which, because everything just looks like regular automated traffic. The only reasons a codeline will be depicted as any of the other color groups are because (1) you are the initiator or recipient of it, or (2) you have admin privileges with both the sender and recipient.

Secured Traffic is anything that's heavily secured. All code is encrypted and everything has basic firewalls, but not everything is protected with ICE or protected by advanced firewalls; anything that is protected is represented with gold (#F8EF00) codelines. Note that this color designation is higher priority than community or personal traffic designations, and so any gold codeline could very well be either of those.

Community Traffic is anything sent or received by an organization, represented with hot pink (#D00070) codelines. Community traffic obviously includes corporations (though most of that is also heavily secured and therefore gold), but it also applies to small businesses, churches, and even things like intra-server communities like a band's fanbase. Many larger gangs even have private servers, the traffic for which is technically community traffic.

Personal Traffic is anything between individuals, represented with blue (#0032A0) codelines. It is also a kind of default catch-all; any codeline that isn't automated, isn't secured, and isn't flagged as community traffic, gets flagged as personal.

Interaction Icons aren't codelines, rather they're little symbols that tell you where an interaction point is and what it's desginated as, represnted with cyan (#32C9EC) icons. These can vary widely depending on your Interface level (see more below). For example while in ARI you'll see nodes representing people, vehicles, weapons, vending machines, and anything else with an AC-IO port. While in VRI you'll see those, plus more low-level icons that represent actual computer functions such as access nodes, data nodes, control nodes, etc. Your ICS will automatically filter out most interaction icons for the same reason it filters out most codeline traffic; by default it'll only show you the ones you created, ones for which you have admin privileges, ones you've specifically marked to visually track, and ones within 10 meters.

ICE isn't something that most people see, represented with white (#FFFFFF) codelines. These are generally only visible from inside a NetStructure, and most people never go into places like that.

Raw Meat Interface (RMI) Not a technical definition, but you've turned off your ICS' input-output software. You can't see or hear anything your ICS might show you, and you can't make your ICS to do anything. You can't use any interfaces, open doors, buy or sell, see news or social media, listen to music, access products or services, anything. You basically can't use or access anything but hardtech.

  While in RMI, you have no INLaT. When people speak you see & hear the language they're actually speaking; when you read text, you see its original language. RMI gives you raw reality, so if you encounter a language you don't know, you can't understand it.

  Also, while in RMI you don't see or hear any ads. No holograms, billboards, or pop-ups, no ad jingles, announcements, corporate branding, or warnings.

Augmented Reality Interface (ARI) Your ICS is on and active; you can see and hear things that aren't really there, things your ICS tells your brain to see and hear. This is the most common Interface method, to the point where it's assumed. Most people and situations will assume you're in ARI.

  While in ARI or below, you have INLaT. When people speak, you hear a language you know (usually the one you were raised with). Your ICS even adjusts what you see, so that people's mouths seem to move appropriately to the words you hear them speaking. When you read anything, your INLaT autotranslates it into your primary language, and tells your brain that's what you're seeing.

  You also see ads. Every hologram, pop-up, brand jingle, and more, are all visible and audible because your ICS tells your brain they're there. Interfaces, door panels, market screens, social media, personal comms, and more, all appear around you wherever you choose. They look like semi-transparent holo-displays; ads and corpo interfaces take on corporate branding, but your own displays can look however you prefer.

  You are presented with Neura-Lite, which is a limited version of NeuraVis (see AVI below). You see semi-opaque plantlife and foliate growing everywhere, holographic waterfalls, and similar beautification. These are referred to as neuroholo; nonphysical things your ICS tells your brain are there.

  Lastly, you can read the Public Data of anything you see (see CodeBlock 3.31). You must have physical line of sight to the subject, and can turn this on or off. You cannot access external files or software with ARI.

Augmented Virtual Interface (AVI) Your ICS replaces the world around you with a virtual representation. This Enhanced Reality Application (ERA) can look like anything at all. Buildings, objects, and people, take on the appearance dictated by your ERA. When you enter AVI, gain 1 Dissonance.

  Every ICS is installed with NeuroCorp AVI Community ERA, called NeuraVis. NeuraVis shows everything around you in idealized ways: streets are clean, there is sunlight shining from a giant golden star nearby, and SB65 is a verdant living space, where every building is covered with lush plantlife. Everyone around you is peaceful, happy, and speaks in a calm manner. You hear NeuroCorp branded music, played in a gentle, soothing tone.

  Other ERA software exists. Anything written by standard corporate contract is prohibitively expensive, but any ERA not written by corporate contract is illegal.

  You see ads everywhere. Every flat surface has an ad on it, every interface has a pop-up, brand jingle, and more. Interfaces, door panels, market screens, social media, personal comms, and more, all appear around you wherever you choose. They always retain an apperance that matches the ERA you're using.

  AVI lets you read the Public Data of anything you see (see CodeBlock 3.31). You must have physical line of sight, and can turn this on or off. This also allows you to access external files and software, with which you can rip software (see CodeBlock 3.32).

Virtual Reality Interface (VRI) Your ICS turns off all visual, audio, and physical stimuli and replaces them with an entirely virtual reality. It depicts SB65 in the same way as AVI. You are represented by an avatar of yourself; this holo looks like you by default, but you can install soft to look like anything or anyone. When you enter VRI, gain 1 Dissonance.

  While using VRI, you can travel anywhere. Your body doesn't move, but your conscious mind does. You can move in an instant to and from any location in the same atmosphere. By default your avatar is set to Display, which means other people see and hear you if they're using ARI, AVI, or VRI. You can also set your avatar to Private, which means no one can see or hear you without programs designed for that purpose.

  VRI is also capable of Full VR. This is usually locked, but you can unlock it with corporate or ripsoft programs. In Full VR you don't see an ERA display, you see the raw ANet. Purple lines of code flash in every direction, looking a lot like circuitry that extends into empty blackness. Everything with an AC-IO port is displayed, as are their system icons.

  While in VRI you see ads everywhere, just like most other interface types. You can access door panels, market screens, and anything else that is based in software, but you can't interact with anything physically. You can't pick up objects, hit things, use weapons, or the like. You also can't be interacted with physically.

  Though you retain no physical sensation from your body while in VRI, it still exists in its normal state. It still needs food and water, and is still just as fragile as any other meat sack (cyberaugmentation notwithstanding).

  VRI lets you read the Public Data of anything you see (see CodeBlock 3.31). You must have physical line of sight, and can turn this on or off. This also allows you to access external files and software, with which you can rip software (see CodeBlock 3.32).

  Lastly, while in Full VR, you can dive into software. This gives you full access to their systems if you're able to rip your way through their NetStructure (see CodeBlock 3.32).

Public data is unrestricted. If you access anyone's public profile in any way, you'll see this first.

Market and secure data are restricted. Accessing either is either while in deep VR by breaching the target's personal NetStructure, or by utilizing a program that specifically reads a target's market or secure data.

Dark data is hidden. Accessing it is usually only possible by breaching a target's personal NetStructure. Some programs exist that can read a target's dark data, but they are highly restricted.

Access Nodes are where you enter the NetStructure. There is usually only one Access node in a small NetStructure, but a larger NetStructure may have more than one; an Access node is where you begin your time in the scene, and if there's more than one you can choose which you prefer, unless the Narrator specifies one for story reasons.

Security Nodes contain nothing helpful, and exist only to impede your progress. Upon entering a Security node, you must immediately make a Techie + Software + Security STK Check against the DN listed in the node. If you succeed, nothing happens. If you fail, several things happen: (1) the NetStructure is alerted to your presence, (2) all aggressive ICE programs on the NetStructure are immediately activated, and (3) you are pushed back to the node you were at before you failed your STK Check.

Data Nodes contain information, classed by the name of the specific node you entered. For example, a Secure Data Node contains all Secure Data held on the NetStructure. While in a Data Node you can view or copy anything found there; viewing anything costs 1 real action, copying anything costs 1 cyber action. You can also attempt to modify or delete any of the data found here, but doing so costs 1 cyber action and you must make an STK Check against the NetStructure's Firewall; if you fail, you become lightly injured and you are pushed back to the node you were at before you entered that Data Node.

Feed Nodes contain information based on the tactile, visual, aural, olfactoral, and gustatoral input (if any) of whatever contains the NetStructure you're infiltrating. For example, if you hacked into a vending machine with a security cam, you can see what it sees; if you hacked into a person's brain you can feel, taste, hear, smell, and see everything they do. If whatever you've hacked into doesn't have a particular sensory capability, there's nothing for you to see in that category.

  It's important to note that there are usually two different kinds of Feed Nodes. A Sensory Feed Node is a live current feed of the NetStructure's current sensory input; you can observe and record but you can't pause, rewind, or fast-forward. A Memory Feed Node is also a live feed, but it's built on the recording of what comes from the nearest Sensory Feed Node; you can pause, rewind, and fast-forward all you want. There are limits to a Memory Feed Node, in that you can't go forward past the current point in time, and if you go too far back most of the memory begins to degrade. Anything older than about an hour either gets stored on a Data Node or a Function Node; if it doesn't, it's gone forever.

  While in a Feed Node you can view and copy what you're seeing without difficulty. You can also attempt to modify or delete any of the feeds, but doing so costs 1 cyber action and you must make an STK Check against the NetStructure's Firewall; if you fail, you become lightly injured and you are pushed back to the node you were at before you entered that Feed Node. Modifying any sensory data in a Feed Node might also require some level of programming and artistry, depending on what you're trying to do, at the Narrator's discretion. Convincing someone they saw someone they didn't means you need to make that thing believable, plus you've got to create the illusion across multiple senses.

Control Nodes organize, maintain, and operate the basic functions of the entire NetStructure they're fitted within. They're hard to reach, buried at the farthest back end of their NetStructure under deep security. They also house the NetStructure's ICE programs, either unleashing them whenever an intruder is detected, or using them as a last line of defense when an intruder reaches a Control Node.

  There are two different kinds of Control Nodes. An ICS Core Function Node monitors the software of the ICS that is the NetStructure itself, think of it like the Admin functions of the entire operating system. From an ICS Function Node you can view or copy any of the NetStructure's existing ICE programs by spending 1 cyber action. You can also attempt to modify or delete any of the NetStructure's ICE programs; doing so is 1 cyber action and you must make an STK Check against the NetStructure's Firewall; if you fail, you become lightly injured and you are pushed back to the node you were at before you entered that Control Node.

  A Control Function Node monitors the hardware, wetware, and software of the machine or person in which the NetStructure is installed. This means heart rate, active thought patterns, nerve functions, throttle control, soup can dispensor, or the like; if it's a physical or physiological function of the machine or person you've hacked into, this Node has access to those functions. You can view anything here without any effort. If you want to modify any of the functions, such as burning out a vehicle's engine or stopping someone's heart, you must make an STK Check against the NetStructur's Firewall; if you fail, you become lightly injured and you are pushed back to the node you were at before you entered that Function Node.

Power is usually not available in a SeedNet. Most people who build a SeedNet are lucky if they can get their hands on a power generator capable of even sustaining life support and lighting in their little contained atmosphere. Since they're air-gapped from the ANet, that means there's no way for the SeedNet's AC to carry power to any devices. Thus, while in a SeedNet, any cybernetics, computers, or other powered hardware are on battery power; if they don't have a battery installed (which is extremely common), they lose power entirely. On occasion a SeedNet's creators will have the financial and logistical ability to provide larger and more capable power generators, but that's pretty uncommon.

Tracking generally doesn't happen in a SeedNet. There's no corporate tracking algorithms at all, which means none of your actions will incur criminal debt. It also means that Tracking programs will not function in a SeedNet (for example, NeurOpacity or X-Ray programs). Sometimes, a SeedNet's creators will generate their own tracking algorithms, but those are almost unheard of. The point of a SeedNet is, generally, to escape tracking.

Connection to anything outside a SeedNet while you're in it (or to anything inside a SeedNet while you're outside it) is impossible. That means cloudsites, social media, databases, RSDs, and anything else you'd normally access on a daily basis simply can't be accessed.

Active programs have an effect that only functions when they are activated. While deactivated, the program uses no NRAM. When activated, the program's function takes effect, and for the duration it uses NRAM as listed in its details.

Tracking programs don't necessarily track things, but they make use of (and therefore require) the tracking algorithms present in the ANet. This means that they can't function without those algorithms, and it also means their activity can always be tracked by anything capable of reading those algorithms.

This program effectively gives you control over your own opacity in relation to others. You can set your opacity anywhere from 0% to 100%; anyone who's viewing the world through ARI or AVI will see you as appropriately visible or transparent, since their own ICS will tell their brains they can see through you. It doesn't show your internal organs or anything, it just shows what's behind you. People using RMI can still see you normally with their eyeballs, and people using VRI can still see your AC-IO port.

This program doesn't actually let you see through things, but it does read the AC tracking algorithms in an area you designate: a room, vehicle, person, briefcase, anything you choose. It reads what the algorithms see and then tells your brain that you're seeing through whatever surface is blocking your vision. Usually it makes that surface look like a semi-opaque pane of pixelized glass (a really interesting effect if you're looking through fabric), and on the other side you can see a blue-tinted representation of what the algorithms see on the other side. Fun part is, any good NetNinja knows how wrong the tracking algos can be.