Other Capabilities

A computer requires at least one
“terminal” if humans are to use it. The
computer may be integrated into this
terminal or located remotely. At TL7-
8, a terminal is, at minimum, a key-
board and monitor. At late TL8 and
beyond, voice recognition, virtual-
reality glasses and gloves, neural inter-
faces, etc. might replace such clumsy
hardware.
It is possible to connect a single ter-
minal to multiple computers, giving
the user access to them all. Without
special hardware, however, the user
can only work with one computer at a
time, and must take one second to
switch between computers.
If two computers are compatible
(GM’s decision), it is possible to link
them via cable or communicator. The
person trying to establish contact
must know the “address” of the other
computer (telephone number, num-
bered location on a network, etc.) and
any relevant passwords. Once in con-
tact, two computers with suitable soft-
ware can share data, and the less-pow-
erful computer can act as a terminal
for the more capable one.
Finally,
any
TL8+
computer
equipped with a microphone or cam-
era can act as a digital recorder, to the
limit of its data-storage capacity.