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The NET is accessed either from a Terminal or an actual server that forms part of
the backbone of the NET. Since servers are expensive, controlled, and typically
well secured and / or hidden, most NET access occurs from Terminals. Most are quite
old, and Terminal technology hasn't really changed since the 2010's. They are effectively
the equivalent of phones, ATM's, and high-bandwidth network ports rolled in to one.
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There are public Terminals located in kiosks, businesses, and often seemingly randomly
placed alcoves in business parks and commercial areas. Most middle-class homes and
up have one, and often branch multiple ports or a wireless hub off a single line
drop to allow NET based entertainments to be enjoyed in many rooms of a house. People
living in condos, townhouses, and apartments usually have to settle for a stripped
down version that shares bandwidth among several units. The rich usually have satellite
enabled versions for security and locality reasons, but while the presentation of
the Terminals physical footprint might be upscaled, the functionality is the same.
The NET is a great leveler of social status.
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INTERFACE AND PORT
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The technology of a Terminal is reasonably simple; they consist of a simple firmware
Computer with minimal (but useful) functionality hardwired into them, and one or
more Ports that allow a physical connection to the NET for other Computers.
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FEATURES
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The following list represents the basic features of the NET that are usable from
just about any public Terminal without the need for a Computer, Computer Programming
usage, a Brainjack or VR Visor, or any real skill at all:
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- BASIC FEATURES
- Access Hosted personal EMail
- Access other Hosted Accounts
- Upload / Download data to / from Hosted Accounts
- Access public databanks and private databanks they have credentials for
- Play Hosted Immersive / Interactive Games
- Participate in Hosted Virtual Chats
- ADVANCED FEATURES
- Place / Accept Trivid calls
- Cable Trivid Features
- Bank Teller Features
- Media Download Features
- File Input / Output
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NOTE: Hosted means that some other Computer elsewhere is running the software
necessary to enable and / or store the data needed for a particular feature. The
Terminals themselves lack the capability to store data or run software other than
what they are hardwired with. Thus to access EMail, one must first have an agreement
with a third-party EMail provider and an account on one of their EMail servers.
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INTERFACE
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On the upside Terminals are a massively enabling tool for businesses and people
seeking entertainment or communication. Without the need for any level of real computing
skill or knowledge on the part of the user, Terminals provide a useful service and
are sufficient to meet the computing needs of the general public. On the downside
its such a safe and controlled interface that it is almost impossible to get a Terminal
to do anything illegal or out of the ordinary as they are simply physically incapable
of it.
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PORT ONLY
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Many Terminals completely lack the firmware interface and are just a Port; they
merely provide a means to connect to the NET. A person with a VR visor or Brainjack
can walk up to any unsecured Port and just plug in, accessing most of the same basic
features . This would allow them to access the Basic Features of the NET listed
above.
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More typically though, a user would connect a Personal Computer or Workstation to
the Port and use the Software and functionality of that Computer. If the connected
Computer has the necessary physical and software components needed, they can also
access the Advanced Features listed above.
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Port-only Terminals are favored by many businesses for office use, but are also
used in places where a connection to the NET is sometimes needed but a full blown
Terminal would either take up too much space or be an eyesore.
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NETSENSE
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Fortunately for the NET technology, early in the burgeoning corporatization of the
NET, a spin off of Luxent called NetSense Laboratories was incorporated in 1993
to handle the design, sales, installation, and maintenance of public and private
NET Terminals intended to bring access to the NET to the masses.
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Selling to municipalities, other corporations, domestic developers, shoping centers...basically
anyone that wanted to install one or more public Terminals, NetSense had installed
over 1,500,000 public NET Terminals worldwide from 1994 to 1998, in a variety of
configurations ranging from "Teller" style walkups to "Kiosk"
style sit-downs, and custom models as well. Well written maintenance contracts ensured
that NetSense was not only solvent, but financially durable to such a degree that
even though the parent company Luxent folded during the tech collapse in 1999, NetSense
was largely unaffected.
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NetSense continues to design, manufacture, and sell Terminals into the modern day,
with currently active installations in the six figure range. Due to NetSense's market
strength and longevity their Terminals are the defacto standard means to interface
with the NET for the masses.
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CONNECTIVITY
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A Terminal has a trusted connection to the NET enabling it to nearly instantly communicate
to any other Terminal or any Computer connected to a Terminal worldwide. This is
defined as a Mind Link. In this case the NET is considered to be a single entity.
Additionally, the Mind Link is defined as being able to affect both Machine and
Human Minds, representing the ability of the NET to communicate neurally-parseable
data to human users connected to a Terminal.
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Note, the point cost of Terminals is shown only for reference; characters that can
use the NET pay for a less expensive but similar ability, as described in subsequent
sections.
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Trusted NET Connection: Mind Link, Machine and Human Minds, Any Terminal
On The NET, Global (40 Active Points); OIF Immobile (Terminal, -1 1/2); Real Cost:
16 Points
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USER TO TERMINAL
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To connect to a Terminal requires the Computer Link perk at the 5 point level.
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COMPUTERS
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From the perspective of the NET, a "user" can be either a person or a client Computer.
In the case of Computers this is purchased as a Perk for the Computer itself.
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PEOPLE
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To connect to the NET (and thus participate in a VR experience of some kind) people
(ie, characters) generally use either VR Goggles or a Brainjack. Of the two, a Brainjack
offers a higher fidelity experience, although some people are unnerved by the experience
and prefer the lower-tech and more "natural" experience afforded by VR Goggles.
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Brainjacks and VR Goggles are described under
NET Mechanics.
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There is also a third option available in the form of larger VR "rigs" which take
many different forms but most typically are either a contraption similar to a dentist's
chair or a full body suit and suspension apparatus. Such rigs are remnants of pre-Brainjack
technology that provided a more immersive experience than VR Goggles alone could
accomplish. Brainjacks effectively rendered such technology obsolete years ago,
but there is still a market for them among people that either do not yet have or
do not want a Brainjack and their usage persists. The main usage of them in a commercial
venue is for Biofeedback Training.
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