Shadowrun

Shadowrun General => Gear => Topic started by: PieRunner on <10-08-11/1345:00>

Title: Really Simple Commlink Questions
Post by: PieRunner on <10-08-11/1345:00>: I am confused about how commlinks are controlled. The standard commlink says it has a holo projector/'touch screen", a keyboard, and voice controls. So to use one you look a little like the fellows in minority report, hands out manipulating digital objects?
Then, if the commlink is implanted, is it controlled entirely neurally? Does that give users of implanted commlinks an speed edge?

I'm a newbie to Shadowrun and I am grateful in advance for any help.
Title: Re: Really Simple Commlink Questions
Post by: Medicineman on <10-08-11/1400:45>: So to use one you look a little like the fellows in minority report, hands out manipulating digital objects?
thats right,but You need AR Gloves for that. And its a little bit old fashioned.
You can also use a Comlink mentally either with an electrodenet ('trodes) or a Datajack via Cable or Wifi

Then, if the commlink is implanted, is it controlled entirely neurally? Does that give users of implanted commlinks an speed edge?
thats correct and no it doesn't (even though it should)

HokaHey
Medicineman
Title: Re: Really Simple Commlink Questions
Post by: CanRay on <10-08-11/1401:58>: The basic model comes with the holoprojector/touchscreen like a smartphone (Or maybe something that straps to your wrist for the higher end models). So you're tapping on the thing constantly, like a tablet PC.

You can also get AR Gloves (Which are thin gloves, or even just rings you wear) which works like Minority Report or Tony Stark's garage in both Iron Man movies. Hands out, manipulating things in Holo where everyone can see, or if you have an Image Link of some type (Either through glasses/contact lenses or cybernetics) where you're the only one that can see it.

Microphones of various types (Like current bluetooth headsets) are available and might even come standard so you don't have to hold your CommLink to your mouth, but optional sub-vocal microphones let you have coversations without speaking out loud (Handy when you don't want people to overhear what you're saying, or read your lips.).

With 'Trodes, a Datajack, or Implanted, you have a DNI (Direct Neural Interface) connection and your thoughts control the device itself, no need to move or talk. The speed advantage is probably negligible, but the utility of it is quite excellent. Also, if someone's trying to steal your CommLink when it's installed in your skull, you've got bigger issues to worry about than the paydata inside of it. ;) Also, with all of those items, you can access VR mode (Provided you bought the optional Sim Module), whereas you're only able to do Augmented Reality without those.

Hope that helps.

EDIT: Ninja'd partly.
Title: Re: Really Simple Commlink Questions
Post by: Medicineman on <10-08-11/1410:15>: (Or maybe something that straps to your wrist for the higher end models).
According to Lifestyle 2073 /Attitude Wristphones are .....sooooo 2060 and Out

with a Ninjadance
Medicineman
Title: Re: Really Simple Commlink Questions
Post by: CanRay on <10-08-11/1416:51>: Quote from: Medicineman on <10-08-11/1410:15>
(Or maybe something that straps to your wrist for the higher end models).
According to Lifestyle 2073 /Attitude Wristphones are .....sooooo 2060 and Out

with a Ninjadance
Medicineman
Not wristphones. WristSMARTPHONES. ;D And only the holodisplay and keyboard is on the wrist, the rest of the unit is... Whereever the hell you keep your CommLink. Still no good picture references of them, are there?
Title: Re: Really Simple Commlink Questions
Post by: Unwirklich on <10-08-11/1557:02>: Wouldn't be surprised if we actually run around with commlink-like devices in, say, 10-15 years, including AR display. Wonder whether the development of the DNI can keep up ...
Title: Re: Really Simple Commlink Questions
Post by: kirk on <10-08-11/1604:52>: Display is the hard part for the AR part as per SR. For the rest, well, it's basically here already.
Title: Re: Really Simple Commlink Questions
Post by: CanRay on <10-08-11/2050:11>: For now. I'm eyeballing 2029 almost as much as I am next year. :P
Title: Re: Really Simple Commlink Questions
Post by: Zilfer on <10-10-11/1327:29>: ^ you superstitious man!

Regardless, got a question for you with commlinks.

So can you use AR if you only have a commlink? Or do you need an optical device like sunglasses or goggles to see AR?
Title: Re: Really Simple Commlink Questions
Post by: CanRay on <10-10-11/1329:49>: No, CommLinks do have a Holoprojector. The problem is, everyone else can see what you're doing. It's very obvious. Also, you look Ghetto. It's great for parents watching and helping kids do homework, however. Or corporate Managers watching the drones at work.

But you need an Image Link to see AR just for your lonesome. This is probably considered the "Polite" thing to do in non-work/home environments.
Title: Re: Really Simple Commlink Questions
Post by: Zilfer on <10-10-11/1331:48>: Quote from: CanRay on <10-10-11/1329:49>
No, CommLinks do have a Holoprojector. The problem is, everyone else can see what you're doing. It's very obvious. Also, you look Ghetto. It's great for parents watching and helping kids do homework, however. Or corporate Managers watching the drones at work.

But you need an Image Link to see AR just for your lonesome. This is probably considered the "Polite" thing to do in non-work/home environments.

Gotcha man with insane Karma.
Title: Re: Really Simple Commlink Questions
Post by: CanRay on <10-10-11/1334:08>: Please, I go to the Karma bank and the tellers laugh at me. Honestly, I must have been a Nun Murderer or Tax Collector or something equally wicked in a past life...
Title: Re: Really Simple Commlink Questions
Post by: Zilfer on <10-10-11/1338:24>: Quote from: CanRay on <10-10-11/1334:08>
Please, I go to the Karma bank and the tellers laugh at me. Honestly, I must have been a Nun Murderer or Tax Collector or something equally wicked in a past life...

Hence the Insane.

:D

(On another note I guess you can blame me for your Karma since my friends call me the "Karma God". I hear a guy named Earl also curses me from time to time.)
Title: Re: Really Simple Commlink Questions
Post by: Fizzygoo on <10-10-11/1753:59>: Here's that commlinks primer I wrote up a while back and FastJack formatted into a sweet pdf (ps, it's hosted on my site as there's a 404 error using the original link in the original thread). http://www.fizzygoo.com/Sr/Fiction/commlinks_101.pdf (http://www.fizzygoo.com/Sr/Fiction/commlinks_101.pdf)
Title: Re: Really Simple Commlink Questions
Post by: FastJack on <10-10-11/1859:46>: Quote from: Fizzygoo on <10-10-11/1753:59>
Here's that commlinks primer I wrote up a while back and FastJack formatted into a sweet pdf (ps, it's hosted on my site as there's a 404 error using the original link in the original thread). http://www.fizzygoo.com/Sr/Fiction/commlinks_101.pdf (http://www.fizzygoo.com/Sr/Fiction/commlinks_101.pdf)
Ahh... I was wondering if you got it. I had some funky things go on my hosting site and had to update the link: Updated link (http://www.mattdroz.com/PDF/Commlinks 101.pdf)
Title: Re: Really Simple Commlink Questions
Post by: CanRay on <10-10-11/1913:44>: Damn... Link Rot has destroyed so much of my work I've done over the years...

"Guard'em Gnomes" was one of the strangest ideas that got the largest bit of attention...
Title: Re: Really Simple Commlink Questions
Post by: Fizzygoo on <10-10-11/2013:55>: Quote from: FastJack on <10-10-11/1859:46>
Ahh... I was wondering if you got it. I had some funky things go on my hosting site and had to update the link: Updated link (http://www.mattdroz.com/PDF/Commlinks 101.pdf)

Funny story about how I found out your link was 404, FastJack. I had written something (non-shadowrun related) and got some minor publicity for it on Google+ and after about a week of searching the full link for that text in Google+ (in order to read other people's comments on it) I thought, "What if I just search Fizzygoo and see what happens" so I did and the only other thing that came up was a conversation, in German. Right away I noticed it also mentions "FastJack" so, copy-paste into Google Translate and this is what it said;

Quote
FastJack almost from the official Shadowrun forum has already some time ago from the beautifully written text of the user Flavor Fizzygoo tinkered a handout for players, which explains briefly and succinctly the practical functioning of AR. Since the text on the original site link no longer exists, I post it here:
Google doesn't translate perfectly, but yeah. So it's also being hosted on a German site (and in reading/translating some of the comments there...they're looking for translators :) ).
Title: Re: Really Simple Commlink Questions
Post by: FastJack on <10-10-11/2057:43>: Quote from: Fizzygoo on <10-10-11/2013:55>
Quote from: FastJack on <10-10-11/1859:46>
Ahh... I was wondering if you got it. I had some funky things go on my hosting site and had to update the link: Updated link (http://www.mattdroz.com/PDF/Commlinks 101.pdf)

Funny story about how I found out your link was 404, FastJack. I had written something (non-shadowrun related) and got some minor publicity for it on Google+ and after about a week of searching the full link for that text in Google+ (in order to read other people's comments on it) I thought, "What if I just search Fizzygoo and see what happens" so I did and the only other thing that came up was a conversation, in German. Right away I noticed it also mentions "FastJack" so, copy-paste into Google Translate and this is what it said;

Quote
FastJack almost from the official Shadowrun forum has already some time ago from the beautifully written text of the user Flavor Fizzygoo tinkered a handout for players, which explains briefly and succinctly the practical functioning of AR. Since the text on the original site link no longer exists, I post it here:
Google doesn't translate perfectly, but yeah. So it's also being hosted on a German site (and in reading/translating some of the comments there...they're looking for translators :) ).
Nice!
Title: Re: Really Simple Commlink Questions
Post by: Zilfer on <10-11-11/1244:33>: Quote from: FastJack on <10-10-11/2057:43>
Quote from: Fizzygoo on <10-10-11/2013:55>
Quote from: FastJack on <10-10-11/1859:46>
Ahh... I was wondering if you got it. I had some funky things go on my hosting site and had to update the link: Updated link (http://www.mattdroz.com/PDF/Commlinks 101.pdf)

Funny story about how I found out your link was 404, FastJack. I had written something (non-shadowrun related) and got some minor publicity for it on Google+ and after about a week of searching the full link for that text in Google+ (in order to read other people's comments on it) I thought, "What if I just search Fizzygoo and see what happens" so I did and the only other thing that came up was a conversation, in German. Right away I noticed it also mentions "FastJack" so, copy-paste into Google Translate and this is what it said;

Quote
FastJack almost from the official Shadowrun forum has already some time ago from the beautifully written text of the user Flavor Fizzygoo tinkered a handout for players, which explains briefly and succinctly the practical functioning of AR. Since the text on the original site link no longer exists, I post it here:
Google doesn't translate perfectly, but yeah. So it's also being hosted on a German site (and in reading/translating some of the comments there...they're looking for translators :) ).
Nice!

I like that description link. Did you write it Fastjack? o.O'
Title: Re: Really Simple Commlink Questions
Post by: FastJack on <10-11-11/1248:07>: Fizzygoo did, I just formatted it.
Title: Re: Really Simple Commlink Questions
Post by: Zilfer on <10-11-11/1304:44>: Quote from: FastJack on <10-11-11/1248:07>
Fizzygoo did, I just formatted it.

I see I see. Well I liked it, helped me picture it quite a bit. I may print it out for my players if i can find this topic when i get home.
Title: Re: Really Simple Commlink Questions
Post by: PieRunner on <10-17-11/1325:45>: Thank you everyone for the great information. Fastjack, that is a great write-up, I will certainly be showing that to my players.
Title: Re: Really Simple Commlink Questions
Post by: FastJack on <10-17-11/1429:55>: Quote from: PieRunner on <10-17-11/1325:45>
Thank you everyone for the great information. Fastjack, that is a great write-up, I will certainly be showing that to my players.
Just be sure to give Fizzygoo all the props on an amazing piece!
Title: Re: Really Simple Commlink Questions
Post by: PieRunner on <10-18-11/1316:27>: Quote from: FastJack on <10-17-11/1429:55>
Quote from: PieRunner on <10-17-11/1325:45>
Thank you everyone for the great information. Fastjack, that is a great write-up, I will certainly be showing that to my players.
Just be sure to give Fizzygoo all the props on an amazing piece!

Thank you Fizzygoo!
Title: Re: Really Simple Commlink Questions
Post by: Valashar on <10-18-11/1853:59>: Yes, thank you Fizzygoo and FastJack the Formater. My PCs will have this sitting on their character pads next session. :)