TFL/Technology

Technological innovation in the Fringe and beyond has peaked and stagnated, mostly at the limits of material science. Computer circuits use single atom wide traces that cannot be shrunk any further or go any faster and that run hot enough that heat dissipation is a major concern. Algorithms to solve problems are as efficient as they can get, but sorting still takes a superlinear amount of time as the length of a list increases. Limited nanotech fabrication allows for controlled alloying of metals with perfect crystal structures as well as long carbon nanotubes, but the strength of a perfect alloy of steel-nickel is not magnitudes better than an imperfect alloy. Grand field theory has never been unified, but even were it to be, no one currently believes it would allow for the creation of force fields or antigravity.

With that in mind, technology in the Fringe is still amazing. Carbon nanotubes allow for Orbital Beanstalks. Cheap fusion power makes energy concerns fairly trivial. Room and high temperature superconductors simplify power storage and transmission enormously. Necklin Fields provide access to Hyperspace and thus star travel on the scale of weeks or months, not centuries, as well as powering SSTO Shuttlecraft for worlds without beanstalks. Cybernetic implants and genetic upgrades are common. Quantum computers enable strong AI.

## Tech Level

Broadly TL 10 (radical hard SF, cyberpunk, high biotech, limited nanotech revolution - See Ultratech pp 9-11 for terms) with almost no superscience.

### General technology notes

* Clothing by default is vari-buzz-memswear (UT p 39)
* Basic encryption (UT p 47) is asymmetric key ciphers and is not considered secure since any quantum computer can break it in a few hours, but is still used for time sensitive information and for initial exchanges between parties that do not know each other. Secure encryption uses symmetric key ciphers that are relatively immune to quantum computers, but require that everyone in the discussion meet in person to swap encryption keys. Secure encryption can be brute forced in less than a decade but usually more than a year. One-time pads (OTPs) remain unbreakable, but require that everyone in a discussion has a unique pad; capturing a pad completely negates the encryption for OTP.
* Memory metals (UT p 90) exist, but they are expensive and not commonly used
* Nanofacs (UT p 91) don't exist, but molecular construction techniques do, so perfect metal alloys or carbon crystals are possible (though expensive); RoboFacs (UT90) and VatFacs (UT91) are ubiquitous.
* Mechanical mind probes don't exist, but destructive brain uploading is possible. You can usefully only upload to a quantum computer as an Ellison class SAI; you can't write a brainscan back to a clone.
* Melee weapons include any antique melee weapon, very fine blades, superfine blades, very fine vibroblades, superfine vibroblades, rocket hammers, rocket picks, rocket spears, rocket axes, superfine vibro rocket axes, electric stun guns, zap gloves, and neurolashes.
* Common handheld ranged weapons are near-UV lasers, particle beams, or gauss accelerators. Electrothermal-chemical slugthrowers are somewhat old-fashioned but still useful; normal gunpowder weapons are obsolete.
* Space weapons are military UV-lasers, particle beams, civilian lasers, and guided missiles. Space fighters exist, but mostly as scouts/skirmishers - they're too vulnerable to large beam weapons and can't launch enough missiles to overwhelm working point defense.

See also Easier Armor Design and Better Ultratech Weapons.

## Equipment

In general, see Ultratech for equipment, along with Easier Armor Design and Better Ultratech Weapons. However, there are some other specific items that are available.

### Communication, Sensors, and Media

Encryption
In general, the asymmetric key encryption protocols of the 20th and 21st centuries can be trivially broken by anyone with access to a quantum computer and asymmetric key encryption is not used to keep anything meaningfully private. Reasonably Unbreakable Secure Encryption (RUSE) can't be broken quickly by quantum computers and is usually resistant to being broken within a decade, but operator error can make it easier to break. One-time pads (OTP) are preferred for communicating between only a few participants who can regularly meet in person to exchange new one-time pads, but scale poorly with multiple participants exchanging messages at different times and so other encryption schemes are often used. Many experienced operators assume that all encryption will be broken, and use code phrases and other tricks to confuse hostile actors. Much of modern cryptology practice is in decoding code phrases after having decrypted an intercepted message.

### Housing, Tools, and Survival Gear

Tool Kits
Portable tool kits, mini-tool kits, portable workshops, and robotic workshops can be built from memory metal for x10 normally cost. A morph tool kit covers all specialties within its skill, and can be used as the next smaller tool kit for related skills: Armoury, Machinist, and Mechanic are all related, as are Electrician and Electronics Repair. A morph mini-toolkit gives a -3 (quality) modifier for all specialties of related skills. Morph tool kits are not any lighter but they do not draw any additional power over normal tool kits.

### Transportation

Personal Transport Platform (PTP)
The modern version of a wheelchair, personal transports are used to transport a single person and some amount of gear. Quaddies use them when not in zero-G; Slugs use them almost all the time though there are religious and cultural groups among the Slugs who consider using PTPs to be a sign of weakness.

PTPs normally consist of a seat or saddle, some side storage space that is immediately accessible to the occupant, a power cell and motive system below the seat, and additional storage behind the seat that is somewhat slower to access. The motive system includes a tiny computer and NAI that drives the PTP, in response to either voice commands, a small joystick, or a direct neural link. The side storage can hold 20 lbs of gear that can be accessed with a Ready action; the rear storage holds another 50 lbs that can be access with 2d Ready actions.

PTPs come with 3 different motive systems:

**Hover** PTPs use multiple ducted blades to provide lift; they are somewhat noisy, carry less weight, and don't corner well but can be very fast. Quaddies prefer hover PTPs. Hover PTPs can only carry half the load of other PTPs. Anyone in an hover PTP effectively has Flight Move 3 with Enhanced Flight Move x8. $2000, 30 lbs, runs for 16 hours on two D cells.
**Walker** PTPs have 4 to 8 multi-jointed legs. They are quiet, agile, and can go about anywhere, but are slower than other PTPs. Anyone in a walker PTP effectively has Ground Move 7. $1000, 20 lbs, runs for 20 hours on four C cells.
**Wheeled** PTPs have 3-4 smart wheels and the user sits somewhat lower than in other PTPs. Wheeled PTPs are faster than walker PTPs and more steerable at speed than hover PTPs, but while their wheels can climb steers, they do it slowly. Anyone in a wheeled PTP effectively has Ground Move 6 with Enhanced Ground Move x2. $750, 20 lbs, runs for 20 hours on three C cells.
### Utility Robots

Much if not most manual labor tasks have been replaced (or at least augmented) by mechanized devices to increase accuracy, safety, and speed. Most robots will return to their charging stations on their own and alert operators to any problems or anomalies.

#### Cargo Bots

Automated forklifts, grippers, cranes, sleds, and other assorted crate handlers are ubiquitous and unremarkable. All have hard coded safeties to avoid damaging persons, cargoes, equipment and infrastructure. Overriding those safeties is difficult to perform without having the system shut down completely (Computer Programming -X and Engineering (robotics) -Y).

#### Maintenance bots

All modern systems with physical upkeep requirements are designed to be serviced by robots, generally by several working together to inspect, diagnose, and repair the most common problems. Unique situations still require competent operators to assess the situation and make decisions. Many repair tasks can be linked to automated parts and consumables generation infrastructure (see robofacs and vatfacs above).

#### Investigation Bots

Robobugs (UT111) are commonly used for inspection of hard to reach systems and as pest exterminators. Some unscrupulous individuals use modified versions for espionage purposes.

#### Petbots and toys

Keeping live animals in many space environments is difficult, if not impossible. The psychological desire for pets is fulfilled by AIs operating robotic shells (UT41). Some companies also produce salacious versions of anthro (or other) shells catering to the more physical desires of their clientele.