 May 15, 2012 - 4:23am | Found this article on current technologies which are dying. Thought this should be interesting to see where things are going and how the changes in technology would affect the Frontier. http://news.yahoo.com/15-current-technologies-child-born-today-never-142409696.html Sounds like a great job but where did you say we had to go? |
 May 15, 2012 - 12:22pm | Reading something like that impresses me, yet again, with the need to retool the computer and robotics tech for the game so that its a little bit in advance of where we are now, OR at least not to badly out of date. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
May 16, 2012 - 5:23am | Here's a thought: How could we apply the different cultures of the Frontier to the technology? Take movie theaters for example. Their death has been predicted since the VCR was invented. Still people love to go to a movie and still pay for it. Now let's say that when the four races met they each had their own take on movie theaters: Human---did away with theaters and prefer private holo shows Vrusk---never had theaters for entertainment but only had educational and instructional movies although live plays are popular Yazirian---have theaters everywhere as their clan/family tradition means they love to get together for large group activities Dralasite---theaters are circular and after the show everyone stays around to discuss and debate the meaning of the movie Sounds like a great job but where did you say we had to go? |
 May 16, 2012 - 8:51am | Dedicated Cameras and Camcorders Smartphone cameras are already killing the consumer point-and-shoot and the family camcorder. Unlike cameras, which most of us carry only when we think we might need to take pictures, smartphones are always with us. They offer all kinds of apps and filters for adjusting pictures on the fly and they allow us to share our photos and videos online as soon as we take them. DSLRs and micro four-thirds cameras will remain with us, but within a few years, the average consumer won't own a dedicated camera at all.
I have yet to see a phone that can take better quality pictures/video than a camera. |
 May 16, 2012 - 9:27am | I have yet to see a phone that can take better quality pictures/video than a camera. True but for the most part, people don't seem to care.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 |
May 16, 2012 - 11:11am | The question was "Where do you think this is going?" The article was an interesting read. However, what is the impact on what we're doing in game? Should we not try to retool the tech from the AD book to be less wonky and out of date? Would not all the progits of the body comps in Zebs work as downloadable apps? or at least most would unless some hardware was required. I think we should do a Jules Vern and extrapolate where the tech is going and write some stats and equipment descriptions for computer tech that is a little beyond where we're at now and put it in the zine. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
May 16, 2012 - 2:57pm | As a baseline since the game predates the internet at least the major impact it has can we define planets as to how much support they can give. To clarify a little when using wristcomps is the planet high tech enough where you are always in a wi-fi hot spot or does the planet have non covered areas and if only a small population how much coverage do you get. Also for exploration how much range do you get from your ship in orbit. Sounds like a great job but where did you say we had to go? |
May 16, 2012 - 4:52pm | I generally assume that if characters can use their cronocom to call pretty much anyone on a planet and or in orbit then they have net access. Planets with high populations, hi tech or industrial economies and long colonization histories probably have enough infra structure in place to not worry about connectivity. Other situations may not and or the referee needs them to not. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 May 16, 2012 - 5:22pm | Check out the Eclipse Phase RPG for lattest SF ideas and gear. AND its a d% game system http://eclipsephase.com/ «Language is a virus from outer space» William S. Burroughs |
May 16, 2012 - 9:01pm | Check out the Eclipse Phase RPG for lattest SF ideas and gear. AND its a d% game system http://eclipsephase.com/ I just downloaded the quick start and sample adventure for free. Looks like Ultraviolet meets the Buck Rogers RPG with a sprinkling of Shadow Run. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
May 16, 2012 - 9:42pm | I have yet to see a phone that can take better quality pictures/video than a camera. True but for the most part, people don't seem to care.Quantity over quality. It's why we're suffering from the influx of cheap Chinese made crap ;) I for one miss having the choice. |
 May 16, 2012 - 11:08pm | Save this article and read it again in ten years. Most of the things will still be going on. They will be improved because the needs they service will still be there. So, when asking where a tech or gadget will be in ten or x years ask about the need and think about how the people will satisfy it. -iggy |
May 17, 2012 - 5:33am | I agree with Iggy that things don't change very fast unless there is a big push for it. Take self driving cars for instance. Remember I, Robot and Will Smith's car? The technology to do this (not on that scale or speed but could be improved) has been around for years. Problem is you need to put sensors and receiver/transmitters every 100 feet or so and equip the cars with the computer hardware and software. Any idea how much this would cost? Sounds like a great job but where did you say we had to go? |
May 17, 2012 - 5:46pm | If I remember correctly the Port Loren scenarios in AD basic had the skimmers like rattraveller described. They are autonomous and you hail one and go where you wish. Instant by the minute rental. -iggy |
May 17, 2012 - 10:16pm | The technology exists to at least get this started but does anyone see this getting built soon? I think BP is safe.
Assuming they don't get restricted & taxed out of business with no replacements on deck. We can only hOpe that doesn't happen... |
May 18, 2012 - 4:02am | Check out the Eclipse Phase RPG for lattest SF ideas and gear. AND its a d% game system http://eclipsephase.com/ I just downloaded the quick start and sample adventure for free. Looks like Ultraviolet meets the Buck Rogers RPG with a sprinkling of Shadow Run. Buck Rodgers? I've played a few times its more like Ultraviolet/Call of Chtuluh/Shadow Run. «Language is a virus from outer space» William S. Burroughs |
May 18, 2012 - 4:58am | The settng reminded me of what I know of the BR setting. Largely solar system based. But you're right it has a Ultraviolet feel to it- no doubt influenced by that movie. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
May 19, 2012 - 4:30am | The settng reminded me of what I know of the BR setting. Largely solar system based. But you're right it has a Ultraviolet feel to it- no doubt influenced by that movie. I put the link to this game because it contains a very good equipment section. It ties in with the OP. A ressourceful person could probably find it in pdf somewhere in the darker side of the internet... Just saying  «Language is a virus from outer space» William S. Burroughs |
May 19, 2012 - 6:14am | I have long since gone over to the dark side of the internet, what a great place! Though if I really like the resource after checking it out I wont be happy till I own a hard copy. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
May 19, 2012 - 2:33pm | I have long since gone over to the dark side of the internet, what a great place! Though if I really like the resource after checking it out I wont be happy till I own a hard copy. « Mindful you be, the dark $ide comes with a price! ». «Language is a virus from outer space» William S. Burroughs |
 May 20, 2012 - 10:46pm | I think Jedion has ties with The Malthar. |
May 22, 2012 - 5:23am | I think Jedion has ties with The Malthar.
Jedion and the Malthar both agree, when it comes to out of print material you just cant get your hands on, take a walk on the darkside of the internet (and down load like crazy). Unlike the Malthar, Jedion does believe that indiscriminate downloading, especially of material in print, only hurts everyone- producers and consumers. While I'm not opposed to downloading a copy to check something out I am a big fan of having hard copy in my hands for general use. I also like downloading electronic copies of stuff i already own too. You shpuld see my ICE MERP collection both in hard copy and electronic! BTW: at the price people are selling eclipse phase on ebay you might as well buy it from the company. Which shows where their heads are at: "I got to get my money back!" Give me a deal and i'll take your used items off your hands but if im paying full price i'll just get new. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
May 23, 2012 - 5:13pm | Unlike the Malthar, Jedion does believe that indiscriminate downloading, especially of material in print, only hurts everyone- producers and consumers. While I'm not opposed to downloading a copy to check something out I am a big fan of having hard copy in my hands for general use. That's my position also. I buy from my FLAG first, second from the editor, rarely on ebay. As for the dark side I also end up buying hard copies 95% of the time... That's why I don't go there all to often. «Language is a virus from outer space» William S. Burroughs |
May 23, 2012 - 7:08am | Unfortunately I keep going to look for the few PDFs of middle earth modules that I'm missing. But i that is usually depressing as I know I'll never really play that game and much and or finish the hard copy collection. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
