Cybernetic Concepts

In 2045, over 60% of people have at least one cybernetic enhancement in their body. Ranging from bionic limbs to toxic filters in their liver, the cybernetic boom of the 2030's introduced an unprecedented period of human advancement, soon followed by its eventual economic drawbacks in the 2040's. Here is a list of various cybernetic concepts.

### USWS Implant

* Type: Patch Slot Card
* Purpose: Creates conditions in the brain to recreate sleeping patterns similar to Unihemispheric Slow-Wave Sleep, a type of sleeping pattern exhibited in certain animals such as cats. One part of the brain is 'Asleep', while the other is still active. In addition to longer awake hours before a full REM sleep is needed, this also allows for literally 'sleeping with an eye open', keeping the subject alert during sleep. Chronic fatigue is a side effect during continual use of the implant, in addition of the inability to lie.
* Legality: Civilian specialised versions available.

### A-Delta Inhibitor

* Type: Subdermal
* Purpose: Acting on the Gate control theory proposed by Ronald Melzack in 1965, this subdermal implant inhibits the A-Delta nerve fibres by stimulating the A-Beta fibres, which closes a nerve 'gate' in the spinal cord, thereby suppressing sharp, immediate pain. Because the A-Beta fibres are larger, they create more signal than the pain fibres. Effectively suppresses many forms of pain and decreases their magnitude to prevent the user from going into shock. However, this comes at the cost of constantly feeling the implant 'touching' whenever it is active. Burns are also ineffective for A-Delta inhibition, as consistently 'touching' the burn only amplifies the pain beyond A-Beta stimulation. It also cannot suppress 'Aching' pain from C fibres, which means that while it will suppress the initial pain of a slap, the ensuing pain after the fact is not suppressed. This implant is only limited to anything below the base of the neck, so headaches are still a nuisance.
* Legality: Special paperwork and background checks required for civilian use.

### C-Inhibitor

* Type: Subdermal
* Purpose: Suppresses the C-nerve clusters which inhibits chronic pain, itching, and otherwise long lasting pain. Severe drawbacks include being unable to feel warmth and being unable to feel sexual pleasure. Frequently used with chronic pain victims, Phantom Limb syndrome, and BDSM clubs. Use in conjunction with an A-Delta inhibitor is not recommended.
* Legality: Civilian use uninhibited.

### Subdermal Heater

* Type: Subdermal
* Purpose: There are two types of Subdermal heaters;
	+ Type A directly heats the body's skin in acclimate conditions.
	+ Type B stimulates C-Nerve fibres which creates the sensation of warmth.

Both introduce heating in the body, whether true or artificial. Common side effects include profuse sweating, paresthesia, and intense itchiness.

* Legality: Civilian use uninhibited

### Stunner

* Type: Exodermal
* Purpose: Solely for police and military use, contains four bioelectric capacitors at the base of the knuckles which releases charge when the user executes the command to do so (Special training required).
* Legality: For military and police use only. Is illegal for any use in various jurisdictions.

### Skin Armour

* Type: Patch Slot Card
* Purpose: Hardens and thickens skin which reduces damage and abrasions, through directly applying the protein collagen to the body. Side effects are akin to Scleroderma, which can cause severe internal damage if abusing this implant. Mostly discontinued.
* Legality: Used commonly by construction and manual labour workers.

### Subdermal Armour

* Type: Subdermal
* Purpose: Creates a layer of flexible armor under different layers of skin which can reduce the velocity of projectiles before passing through them, mitigating internal damage partially or entirely. It is primarily intended to be paired with external body armour to mitigate the kinetic damage received from a stopped round. Breaks easily, but is reconstructed over time. Armour effectiveness is akin to a IIA armour plate, capable of mitigating the damage done by a 9mm FMJ round travelling at 1125 feet per second. Cartridges above that calibre show mitigated protection. Side effects include feeling a "Biting freeze" when the armour reconstructs itself.
* Legality: For military and police personnel only, especially considering the UN Charter Body Armor Ban. Private security forces and AFUN sections are often equipped with these.

### Mood Stabilisation

* Type: Patch Slot Card
* Purpose: Triggers the release of different hormones to balance the user's mood. While this bionic is often given under supervision, effects of affecting hormones can, obviously, go very badly. Side effects often include mood swings, which are often amplified if the bionic is not calibrated correctly, hypergraphia, the intense need to write, and usually suicide.
* Legality: Given to civilians as a prescription.

### Organic HUD

* Type: Patch Slot Card
* Purpose: Simulates a HUD within organic eyes, usually for those not willing or unable to afford bionic eye surgery. Many different types are available from many different brands, but none actually enhance an organic eye's capabilities. Side effects often include headaches and/or eyestrain, if first installed or badly made.
* Legality: Commercially available

### Empathy Card

* Type: Patch Slot Card
* Purpose: Installs a library of various rhetorical techniques which helps with persuading others, and protocols which changes the way words are spoken to further aid persuasion. Often used by salesmen to help make sales, the legality of this bionic has raised legal concerns of subterfuge and coercion, as well as trade laws surrounding false advertisement. Bionic politicians are barred from ever using this bionic. Side effects include stuttering, an errant twitch in the eye the side where the patch panel is installed, and involuntary twiddling thumbs when not talking.
* Legality: Specially available, illegal in The Netherlands.

### Voice Modulator

* Type: Subdermal
* Purpose: One of the top selling bionics on the market, the modulator is attached to the vocal cords and aids in increasing vocal range as well as allowing those with damaged vocal cords to speak. Some cheaper varieties creates a rather robotic-sounding voice when spoken through, where as more premium versions creates a wide range of natural sounding voices that can be changed at will. Side effects often include the feeling of being choked, yet no airway obstruction is observed when installed properly.
* Legality: Commercially available

### Cartilaginous Regrowth Simulator

* Type: Subdermal and Patch Card pair
* Purpose: Stimulates muscular growth when muscle tissue is damaged, either through common exercise or trauma, through a series of low and high frequency vibrations in combination with a set amount of protein application, essentially being a "Strength Enhancement" as a training aid. Once installed, it is essential that the user does their training as programmed in the patch card, otherwise severe side effects such as hypertrophy in the heart (Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy) can occur.
* Legality: Legal in most jurisdictions, some US states require a doctor's note.

### Scalp Replacement

* Type: Subdermal, patch card optional.
* Purpose: Often used for cancer patients or chronically bald people, this creates several cultures of bacteria which, when dead, creates long strands which feels like natural hair. Many different versions also allow for changing the colour of the cultures through an internal process which dyes the strands as they die. The process can be accelerated at the user's will, essentially growing hair five inches a minute, but too much growth in a short span of time can exhaust the cultures, essentially killing them off and making the subdermal implant useless.
* Legality: Commercially available, except for Cuba in accordance to state law

### Manual Iris Controller

* Type: Subdermal and Patch Card pair
* Purpose: Inserted under the iris, controls the iris sphincter and dilator muscles, responsible for reacting to certain light conditions. Allows for manual adjustments at user's will on controlling light intake in the eyes, allowing for enhanced vision at night or reducing eye strain in bright conditions. Side effects often involve natural focusing changing the light intake requiring adjustments again, and earlier onset Presbyopia, or earlier aging of the eye.

### Sound Isolation Implant

* Type: Patch Card/Implant
* Purpose: Allows the user to subconsciously listen in to a specific sound and drown out any unwanted noise, i.e. for hearing a conversation or listening to music in a loud environment. Allows for concentration, but may lead to distortion, dizziness, and difficulty in hearing sounds.
* Legality: Commercially available, specialized hearing implants also prescribed.

### Language Chip

* Type: Patch Card
* Purpose: Comes installed with, or allows the download of, Rosettastone files (or .RST) which grants the user immediate knowledge of a specific language. May lead to language confusion or an identity crisis.
* Legality: Most popular languages are available, but certain languages, especially Indigenous languages like Lushootseed, are restricted to AFUN use only.

### Mnemonic Archiver

* Type: Patch Card
* Purpose: Allows the manual archival of memories into the card. These memories are only readable by the origin brain and cannot yet be read by a machine. These memories can either be easier to access by the user, or have the patch card removed to completely forget the memory. Constant reminiscing is a side effect, which can negatively impact current experiences and relationships.
* Legality: Legal with limits on storage size in most European countries.

### Electric Absorption Matrix

* Type: Subdermal Implant
* Purpose: An experimental method of charging and recharging bionics and cybernetics. Converts heat energy, cyclic movement, and UV light into electricity. Initially marketed as an alternative to the Bioelectric Capacitor, it was later discovered that the EAM has adverse health effects on overexposure to energy sources, and undervoltage in environments where the matrix cannot charge. Therefore, the EAM is considered "bionic enthusaist" equipment.
* Legality: Illegal in various US States, various AFUN Sections bar its use

### Lucidity Simulator

* Type: Patch Card
* Purpose: Allows the user to effortlessly enter a ludid dreaming state during REM sleep, where they are aware of dreaming and can control the dream around them. This cybernetic can allow the user to become more confident and happy, but may also induce psychosis as the user becomes unable to see the difference between dream and reality. Addiction to lucid dreaming is also a concern, along with elevated risk of sleep paralysis.
* Legality: Prescribed by psychologists, but is otherwise unrestricted

### Synaptic Accelerator

* Type: Patch Card
* Purpose: Accelerates synaptic connections, enhancing reaction times and reflexes. Also induces a state of "flow". Used by atheletes and AFUN. Extended use and/or abuse may lead to cognitive burnout.
* Legality: Restricted for sale in various jurisdictions

### Neuro-Regenative Nanite

* Type: One-Time Use Patch Card
* Purpose: Not intended to be used constantly, Neuro-Regenative Nanites, or NRN, swarm the brain and regenerate damaged neural pathways in patients suffering from brain injuries or neurological disorders. An extremely experimental medicine who has helped many, but a few cases of uncontrolled nanite replication has led to nasty, irreversable side effects.
* Legality: Heavily regulated and only prescribed by neurologists

### Augmented Reality Overlay (ARO)

* Type: Patch Card, BCI Standard
* Purpose: Usually installed in a BCI's standard software suite, an Augmented Reality Overlay projects real-time information into the user's field of view, in a way which makes the visuals part of reality. Hundreds of different ARO's exist, with several toting to be open squishware.
* Legality: Legal everywhere

### Synthetic Neural Communication Kit (SYNCK)

* Type: Patch Card, Subdermal Implant
* Purpose: Allows for secure, "telepathic" communication across a reasonable distance. Often used by tactical teams and agencies, it has found a niche in the civilian market, though only limited between two people. Cheaper models usually have the problem of random thoughts being transmitted.
* Legality: Illegal in Russia and China

### Cadaver Card

* Type: Patch Card
* Purpose: When installed into a dead body's BCI, will attempt to manually control the body through manual electrical impulses, where it is then controlled by an auxilliary operator, essentially turning the cadaver into a "zombie". Brain activity may resume, but is largely out of control of their bodily functions. Depending on the status of remaining brain cells and other factors, the cadaver may still be conscious when used as a host body. Their state is comparable to a mild state of demensia; the host body may become audibly confused by the event, audibly reciting their memories or their core knowledge. More intact brain structures may begin screaming for help, beg to die, or attempt suicide if they manage to wrest control from the Cadaver Card long enough. Motor functions are limited due to the primary use of electrical muscle impulses, but they can act as fodder or a screen in combat situations, on top of psychological distress against its enemies. During the Vancouver Island incident, dead Interlopers would be pulled from the field and installed with a BCI with the Cadaver suite pre-installed. It was initially designed to resuscitate unconscious patients, but its side effect of controlling dead bodies considered its use a warcrime. It was outlawed in 2035, but numerous black market copies exist. The card's longevity lasts for a while, surprising for the use case. The card acts as a "jumper" for the nervous system, which powers its own bioelectric capacitor. Some test subjects for the card which had fled were found months later, the card still controlling its host, feeding off the host's nervous system while its flesh is disposed of like a used battery,
* Legality: Extremely illegal according to the Hague (1899 §2: forced military service against their own country) and Geneva (Articles 2 & 3) Conventions. Despite this, they were used during the Vancouver Island Incident, among numerous other conflicts requiring AFUN intervention.