Technology

The various technological advancements in Rieko Yoshihara's Ai no Kusabi universe.

## **Audio and Visual**

### **Cameras, Security**

*"You mean not the Eos Security net but just the cameras [crashed]?"* (V7 p75)

[Riki] switched on the peephole camera... (V5 p47)

These cameras [in the ceiling of the interrogation room at the Midas Police Center] had a 360-degree field of vision with zoom capability. They were disguised well, but the same make and model of camera was situated everywhere in Eos to observe the pets. Riki knew they were there and ignored them. The other pets probably didn't have a clue. He didn't know who was looking on, but in a monitoring room somewhere the conversations that went on in that large [interrogation] room would be heard perfectly. (V5 p62)

### **Datavisors**

Iason's eyes were hidden by wraparound datavisors. (V8 p33)

### **Night-Vision Shades**

Used in Neal Darts along with map-enabled dataslates (V7 p93)

Jeeks in his night vision goggles, as seen in the 2012 anime series.Nightvision as seen in the 2012 anime series.
### **Window Visors**

With a touch of his hand, [Riki] enabled the visor mode on the window and dimmed the luminescence. (V8 p15)

## **Communication**

### **Holograms**

    (Holochannels, Holophones, Holoterminals, etc)

Having sent word of his arrival by holochannel, Iason stepped forth... (V7 p49)

Katze cut the holochannel. When the holophone pulsed, it was already close to midnight. (V7 p101)

    Katze was sorting out datastreams when the holophone opened a channel. (V7 p106)

The holoterminal chimed in the living room. Iason activated call reception. No holodisplay emerged; it was a **Vox Call**. (V8 p117)

The terminals used by the furniture [in Eos] were locked with a biometric code, and Riki couldn't access the [high-definition playback system]. (V6 p90-1)

### **ID Armlets**

    All Furniture had access to a neural network and an armlet -- so they could be reached anytime, but emergency calls were rare. This was unheard of. (V7 p65-66)

Tomass' ID armlet pulsed once. A holophone call... The caller ID was not security but Platinum. (V7 p65-66)

Oskar finally tapped his armlet to issue an alert. (V7 p67)

### **Mobile Devices**

The ultra-compact mobile device on the left wrist of ... Chief Marcus chirped shrilly... [He] then took an earpiece from his jacket pocket and turned it on. (V5 p68)

#### **Micro-Mobile Phones, Wristphones**

*"Idiot. Playing with that slum toy here [in Midas]."* (V5 p92)

Ordinarily, the cellular systems in Ceres and Midas were incompatible with each other. More specifically, signals reaching from Midas into Ceres were jammed to the degree that no wireless communication could be picked up.... (V5 p92)

It had nothing to do with frequency allocations or cell tower locations. Signals from Midas into Ceres were deliberately jammed. (V6 p59, V8 p118-9)

Then Guy received a call on his wristphone... Guy read the contents, fired back a short message, and cut the datalink. (V8 p81)

### **Smartphones**

    Smartphones with internet service (V4 p127).

The phone [Iason gave Riki] was the same compact, unrestricted 'smart' model that tourists could use at no additional cost. Voice-guided navigation was included, among other features. (V6 p62)

No pet had access to a smart phone. (V6 p90-1)

### **Network Booth**

[Guy] entered a network booth. The clear glass became opaque and sound dampeners kicked in, making it secure. Guy plugged in his datalink and searched for a certain room in Apatia. He enabled voice mode. (V8 p117)

### **Speaker Modules, Intercoms**

Buczka tapped the speaker module on his rocking chair arm. Getting to the security panel was such a hassle that he'd put this speaker module on the rocking chair. There were no visuals enabled, but there was voice communication. (V8 p66) Buczka sent a remote command to unlatch the door. (V8 p67)

## **Computers and Information**

### **Dataslates**

    Per his usual routine, Riki had finished dining and was in his private room reading a dataslate. (V7 p10)

Powering off his dataslate, Riki glared at Iason. (V7 p11)

With him [Riki] had his dataslate with a guide to plants downloaded for access. If he felt like it, he could stop to check the name of a particular flower. (V7 p40)

[Riki] was reading a translated version of the myths of Vila Napas in ancient Elant. (V7 p62)

Even the dataslate was a hard-fought concession. (V7 p40)

For Riki to be granted access to a dataslate was an unheard-of luxury for a pet. (V8 p29)

see Pet Ownership: Literacy

As seen in the 2012 anime series.Kirie recorded on a dataslate, as seen in the 2012 anime series.Riki holding a dataslate - Tokuma Shoten edition (2009-10) – Saichi Nagato
#### **Map-Enabled Dataslates**

    Its soft light positioned a holographic arrow in the direction of travel. Without it, there would have been no way to navigate the giant maze of Nier Darts. It was impossible in daylight, but even more so in darkness. (V7 p93)

### **Memsticks**

    [Guy] inserted a memstick into the terminal with practiced hands and downloaded the data. (V8 p69)

Guy wordlessly drew out a memstick. Berne slotted it into a datalink and confirmed the funds. (V8 p84)

## **Entertainment**

### **Virtual Reality**

Toward the front of the large room filled with virtual reality gaming equipment, unabated by even the soundproofing walls, Manon was firing off a laser gun. (V4 p135)

## **Environmental Science**

### **Climate Control**

    The door to the pharmacy was specially treated for climate control. The temperature on each side was drastically different. (V8 p89)

In Eos, environmental controls kept the temperature the same no matter the day. Here in Midas there were seasons, the presense of which gave Riki relief rather than annoyance. (V8 p89)

see Eos Garden Level

see Midas: Climate

see Subzero Scarface: Office Hideout

#### **Ion Generators**

Soft breezes wafting from the negative ion generators bathed the skin. (V6 p9) see Midas: Ainis (Area 4)

### **Shielding, Protection**

    Each Area of Midas activated shields that limited the damage to the rest of the city. (V8 p161)

In the 1994 OVA during the assassination attempt on Iason Mink at Parthia, the gunfire the assassins shot richochetted, bouncing off of Iason and leaving the Blondie unharmed. No details are given, but Raoul is seen smugly pressing a button nearby, which might have beem an environmental force field generator.

#### **Lasers**

    There were no hard, high walls isolating Ceres from the adjoining  areas, no interdicting lasers preventing intrusion or trespass. Nevertheless, the avenues separating here from there marked an abrupt change in scenery obvious to all but the blind. (V1 p28)

## **Medical**

### **Cryosleep**

*"For the right price, there is cryosleep."* (V7 p112)

The [brand new] container was marked blue for Lukia. Namely, it was a cryo-refrigeration unit. Riki remembered all the color codes and terminology by hear when he was running the delivery side; he was certain. (V8 p74)

see Keeler's Lab

### **Cyborgs**

*"Psychopathic hackers, failed cyborg experiments, crazed junkies -- [Neal Darts] has it all." (V7 p90) "*

*For the right price there is...even a cybernetic body."* (V7 p112)

### **Medkit**

Tomass opened the medkit and sprayed Riki's [seriously cut] arm with a coagulant. (V7 p66)

The wound on his arm was so deep that after three days, Riki was still in medical. (V7 p73)

### **Nanosurgery**

*"If Guy can be saved, change his face, wipe his memory."* (V8 p157)

Katze delivered Guy into the hands of a nanosurgeon. (V8 p161)

*"At any rate, you're dead as far as the official record is concerned, so you'll need to put your face under nanosurgery."* (V8 p170)

### **Scar Removal**

    Riki had the scars from the slums to prove it -- or did, until Iason had them surgically removed. (V7 p64)

The only concession to blemish [pets] carried on their skin were love bites. They replaced his hard-earned scars in the slums, wiped smooth by nanites. (V7 p80)

see Pet Ownership: Pet Health

Despite the luxuries available that could heal scars and even completely restructure the face, Katze chose not to have the scar on his cheek removed. (?!)

see Katze Scarface: His Scar

## **Tracking Devices**

### **Cell Phones and Watches**

    [Riki's] pockets had been emptied....even the butterfly knife he kept tucked in his boots in case of emergency was gone. Everything. (V2 p171)

Katze had given [Riki the Dark] a butterfly knife that had a cell phone built in [with a GPS]. (V3 p101)

It was an emergency transponder on a wavelength receivable in either Ceres or Midas by Katze. (V8 p138)

In the 1994 OVA Riki uses a watch to hail Katze for help, rather than the cellphone.

### **Cigarette Cases**

Katze's tracking device: Katze took his beloved cigarette case from his breast pocket. No, not a cigarette case.... It was the latest model of tracking devices. Projected on the screen inside the case was a digital map... (V3 p101)

Projected on the screen inside the [tracking device] case was a digital map... A location that was probably Soraya Bar was marked with a blinking orange dot. (V3 p101)

Riki hailing Katze for help, as seen in the 1994 OVA.Katze tracking Riki, as seen in the 1994 OVA.Katze tracking Riki, as seen in the 1994 OVA.
###

### **Pet Rings**

*"Never forget, Riki...wherever you go, the power is right here in my little finger. A GPS is built in as well.... I can hurt you with the touch of a fingertip."* (V3 p32-3)

see D-type Pet Ring

#### **Tracer Interception**

*"Don't worry...the room is shielded. No tracking device is going to work down here."* (V8 p96)

*"No wonder we couldn't find you through tracking the pet ring."* (V8p145)

The security grid on Midas itself drew a blank trying to trace Riki.... The search function on Iason's control ring indicated that Riki was last on the grid at 1923 hours in the Tilma District. (V8 p115)

## **Travel and Transport**

For automobiles and other travel conveyances see Transportation for more.

### **Grav Elevators**

    Riki left Iason's residence on the Apex Level and got off the grav elevator on the 30th Level. (V7 p63).

More descriptions (V7 p37, p49, p62)

Having sent word of his arrival by holochannel, Iason stepped forth from the grav elevator into the company of Orphe's honor guard. (V7 p49)

As seen in the 2012 anime series.As seen in the 2012 anime series.Iason and Raoul, as seen in the 2012 anime series.Elevator controls in Ceres, as seen in the 2012 anime series.As seen in the 2012 anime series.
### **Gravity Belts**

Without a pause, the gravity belts released with a soft click. The capsule car rose upward and then again came to a silent halt. (V4 p99)

### **Hab Modules**

From the hab modules to the salon required a transfer to the grav elevator at the 30th Level. (V7 p59)

## **Weapons**

### **Crossbows**

    In the 2012 anime series, Kirie is chased by the members of the Jeeks gang throughout the alleys of Ceres, as they shot at him with some manner of modified fcrossbows.

It is unknown if the darts were sharp enough for lethal intent (though highly likely), or more akin to blunted rubber or wooden bullets.

### **Bombs, Explosives**

(?!)
see Dana-Bahn: Destruction

As seen in the 1994 OVA.As seen in the 1994 OVA.Dana-Bahn destruction, as seen in the 1994 OVA.Dana-Bahn destruction, as seen in the 1994 OVA.
### **Guns, Laspistols**

    Katze ntered the room with a laspistol at the ready. (V8 p139)

In the slums, where gun control was strongly enforced, only a cop would ever brandish a firearm -- let alone one with laser sights. And these guys sure didn't look like slum cops. (V5 p49)

The Darkmen, a phalanx of armed men, dressed in all black...a military squad and the laser lights of weapons... (V5 p27)

### **Lasknife/Las-knife/Laser Knife**

    Riki was slumped against the wall, bleeding from his left arm. At his feet was a furniture collapsed in a pool of blood... On the floor was a las-knife. (V7 p66)

Forged of a special alloy, not even a laser scapel could mar its surface. Only Iason could remove [the pet ring]. (V8 p130)

The laser knife tore through the darkness. (V1 p41)

As seen in the 1992 OVA.As seen in the 1992 OVA.Tokuma Shoten edition (2009-10) – Saichi Nagato