What does a character see in AR/on the screen of a device when you perfom this action?
Without taking an action or a test you see icons of wireless devices around you
By just glancing at the icon you will immediately know the function of the device
(but if you want to find out more details you will need to spend an action to actually observe the icon)
If you spend an action / take a test you can use Matrix Perception (a computer + intuition test) for 3 things;
- You use it to spot a specific icon you are looking for / is already aware of
- You use it to analyze an icon that you already spotted (game of "20 questions")
- You use it to search the matrix for information (also known as "matrix search")
Is this some sort of a list showing selected icons like drones/files/comms/decks etc.? Or is this mere understanding of types and number of icons in the vicinity?
Each wireless device in the entire world have its own matrix icon and if you turn down your filters you can see all of them at once (but it would probably blur your vision to the point you can't see anything at all). Icons are also bright and easy to spot. If you are (somehow) aware of that there is a surveillance camera overlooking Stuffer Shack at Pariser Platz in Berlin you can try to spot its device icon. Even if you are in Seattle. You also just need a single hit on a Matrix Perception test to filter it out among the sea of other device icons (the matrix is very helpful in finding things for you). If the camera is running silent then it will oppose your test. If not and you are instead within 100 meters of it (or within the same host as it is slaved to) then spotting is automatic.
Most people are not interested in every single icon out there so they group them together. All wireless devices someone carry on their body is for example often merged into a single PAN icon. But you can also choose to not filter out more dangerous devices, such as wireless enabled weapons.
If you have no idea what you are looking for, except perhaps that you are interested in spotting icons that are running silent, then you can for example filter out all icons that are not running silent. That way becoming aware of every silent running icons in your vicinity become as apparent as a running crowd or a neon sign (you only need 1 single hit on an unopposed matrix perception test to become aware of all of them at once). Once aware you can take a matrix perception tests to spot their icons (one by one, or two at a time if you run the Fork cyberprogram).
will I see an icon of a device if I'm holding it in my hand right infront of me?
Yes. Spotting icons of devices in your vicinity is typically automatic. No test required.
Unless it is running silent. Then you need to take an opposed test to spot its specific icon.
Classically this question is going to evolve into: Should a character see an icon right where an object (drone/comm/deck/rcc etc.) physically is, if you are making the Matrix Perception in 100m radius?
To spot the icon of a specific device you are already aware of you take a matrix perception test.
- If the icon is device is running silent then it get to oppose your test.
- If not and within 100 meters then spotting is automatic.
Physically looking at a device is for sure one way to get aware of the specific device (but there are other methods as well).
So long as you DO have image link...
No need for an image link if you a have DNI.
SR5 p. 222 Direct Neural Interface
...but DNI is also useful for AR in that you don’t need any additional gear like earbuds or an image link to see or hear augmented reality objects....then you'll have to scroll through a list of icons on your commlink's touch screen.
Nah, you just hold your commlink in front of you, using the camera of your commlink and the screen of your commlink to display the augmented reality overlay on your surroundings. Similar to how people experienced AR games (such as Pokemon Go) with their smart phones back in 2021....
But, from a rules mechanic point of view, all of those devices' icons (presuming they're not running silent, anyway) have been spotted and can be drawn up from whatever "storage" menu you're employing to the forefront of your attention/vision, should you want to begin hacking them.
Spotting the icon of a specific device is automatic (unless it is far away or trying to hide).
This is not the same as automatically and constantly spotting every single icon in your vicinity.......
Standing in front of a building you can automatically spot the 3rd window on the 4th floor without taking a test.
This is not the same as automatically and constantly spotting every single window of every single building around you......