 April 25, 2010 - 6:26am | I'm a bit of a nut for any sciency show or documentary on PBS and a while back they did one on the whole problem of living in space and its consequences for the human body which is good since I like to entertain the fantasy of living in space anyhow I guess the problem of muscle atrophy bothered me because I was laying in bed trying to stay asleep and my subconscious intruded and gave me an answer for the muscle atrophy in the SF setting the answer is 1/2 workout machine 1/2 exoskeleton and 1/2 video/holo game its bolted to the floor (0 g) and the character climbs into the rig which is much like an exoskeleton for his race. The frame actually provide resistence instead of assisting with muscle movements. the user is actually in the frame and a dozen or so cm off the deck so that they can go through a full range of motion as if they are on a planet. then the machine can have a flat screen or an immersive holo display to give the user a fully interactive environment. It would be possible to play games, participate in virtual reatity calistetics with the rest of your militia unit though spread out over a planet, station and several ships, even train for a new skill in the rig, all while in 0 g I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 April 25, 2010 - 9:17am | I like it. It is pretty straight forward. I't s a a SF 0 gee wii. |
 April 25, 2010 - 10:08am | As far as I know the 0g atrophy is one of the biggest problems in for space exploration. Astronauts work out a lot in the space station and shuttle and it is still a losing battle. At least I got to scare an alien rabbit thingy...... |
April 25, 2010 - 1:13pm | I would imagine that muscle atrophy would just be the most obvious problem with 0g. I am sure that many of the bodies biological systems could be adversely affected over time. On the other hand, I doubt there would be many morning soar throat issues due to nasal drainage. This actually brings up a thought... I don't know much about entomology, but I believe that insects have an open vascular system. There blood just pretty much washes around in there. Or, I could be mistaken. Anyway, if I am right about it, it would have a seriously detrimental affect on them. Does SF cannon deal with Vrusks and their circulatory system? |
April 25, 2010 - 4:09pm | They are not strictly like bugs. They have a skeleton. According to the original description. They would need lungs and a cardiovascular to be the size that they are. At least I got to scare an alien rabbit thingy...... |
April 25, 2010 - 6:32pm | I was aware that despite how much astronaunts workout it is a losing battle and without a doubt your average present day astronaunt is probably more disciplined than your average Boobus Americanus so if you made it possible for the rest of us to go into space what will happen? I think having a system that could be a game and could be immersive that average less disciplined people would keep at it. But it could be some much more too. we also have to assume that medical science will turn a new page with this problem by the time we have the SF atomic and ion engines. to that end I thought I'd post this thread and see if I missed anything before writing this up as a new piece of equipment for the zine not that Woot is all that concerned since robots dont experience muscle atrophy. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 April 26, 2010 - 6:30am | Possible Solutions for a Sci-Fi game (probably used together): Workout rigs (as above) Artificial (or nanite based) Osteocytes and Osteoclasts (bone producing cells) - intelligent nanites would produce bone directly where needed at a microscopic level. Dedicated "spacers" would undergo bone replacement therapies, replacing normal bone matter with synthetic 'plasticized ceramic (not too unlike our own modern bone/joint replacement therapies). Electro-acupuncture (Matrix style) to stimulate muscle growth directly, with weekly trips to Medical Department for muscle maintenance. There would probably be monthly more intensive trips to medical where various more obscure, small, or deep muscle groups get addressed. Resistance clothing - clothing designed to be stiff to stimulate muscles. Smart versions of the clothing would stiffen more at specific regions as needed to keep muscle tone. A simple button or command could turn it off when needed. (perhaps a -10 penalty to DEX/RS while using). Medical department would monitor individuals remotely for use of the clothing, with ability to tweak settings and even impose diciplinary action for those who do not follow the correct regimen. For Star Frontiers games, I would think this would be an area where medical personel have broad authorities to influence other individuals. A nice role-play perk for characters who might typically be always be secondary to others with command duties such as Pilots or Military leadership roles. <insert witty comment here> |
 April 26, 2010 - 1:04pm | It also may only be an issue in certain areas in SF. Remember that if you have an Ion or Atomic powered ship, you spend almost all your time under acceleration so there is no worry. Same goes for life on-board stations since they are spinning to produce gravity. However, it would still be an issue for long trips in chem drive ships or on more outpost/asteroid type installations/operations here some form of centrifugal artificial gravity isn't available. Ad Astra Per Ardua! My blog - Expanding Frontier Webmaster - The Star Frontiers Network & this site Founding Editor - The Frontier Explorer Magazine Managing Editor - The Star Frontiersman Magazine |
April 26, 2010 - 1:24pm | It also may only be an issue in certain areas in SF. Remember that if you have an Ion or Atomic powered ship, you spend almost all your time under acceleration so there is no worry. Same goes for life on-board stations since they are spinning to produce gravity. However, it would still be an issue for long trips in chem drive ships or on more outpost/asteroid type installations/operations here some form of centrifugal artificial gravity isn't available. I was thinking this but you beat me to the post the average PC will run around on a planet or acceleration ship most of the time so its of little concern to a player, I just envisioned the device above because I had added a station to my game that was just an asteroid hollowed out- no simulated grav. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
April 26, 2010 - 7:34pm | Good points all around. I especially like the electro-acupuncture ala matrix. Every star ship, base and station would have one (at least) in their medical bays. The more basic models for smaller craft that do not have the room or the need (not many long trips). Even if you discount the need due to constant acceleration/deceleration, a ship should have one for emergencies in case of some disaster that sets them adrift. |
 April 29, 2010 - 2:30pm | Personally, I think it would be more prudent that the space suits have electrode muscle micro-pulsers, forcing your muscles to work out mildly and constantly in a way equivelant to daily activity in a 1G environment. There are still lots of people in low-G or freefall environments, as not every space station spins, and asteroid/moon miners are common. View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
April 29, 2010 - 5:03pm | A little off thread, but not by much…I was just thinking of my poor friend who’s wife suffers from seasonal depression. But what about all those folks in the space lanes and all those other places where they aren’t getting enough good old fashioned sunshine? Not just for sanity’s sake, but for all its health benefits. Do we need to add ‘fake-a-bakes’ to our ships? |
 April 29, 2010 - 6:58pm | Incorporate the fake-a-bake into the ship lighting. -iggy |
April 30, 2010 - 5:08am | Incorporate the fake-a-bake into the ship lighting. agreed. UV lighting (invisible to human eye, and presumably the other races to one extent or another, could be medical computer controlled to manage these conditions where neurotransmitter chemicals production needs a boost. For a character suffering a significant lack, perhaps might need 'tanning bed' type therapies.Likewise, medical department would regulate day/night lighting schemes shipwide to promote proper biorhythmic cycles. <insert witty comment here> |
