AR, VR, and sim FAQ, Answers to your questions Options

[Buster]

1) How do I experience VR? (What's a sim module for?)
A: A commlink, a sim module (commlink accessory), and a DNI (Direct Neural Interface) is needed to experience full VR such as full-VR matrix running and VR games (SR4 p228). The user connects to the DNI, the DNI connects to the sim module in the commlink, and the commlink+sim module connects to the external environment such as the matrix or a BTL chip. With the illegal hot-sim modification, the commlink+sim module can be used for hot-sim-VR matrix running and BTL chips. A datajack alone can also be used to access BTL chips (SR4 p331). A sim module is NOT necessary for experiencing AR, but it can be used for that (SR4 p209 Augmented Reality). Sim modules are only necessary to experience simsense and sim emotions. While running in VR mode, your physical body goes completely limp so you better be sitting/laying in a comfortable position before you hit the switch. While in AR mode, the sim module does not paralyze your body.

2) What is a DNI (Direct Neural Interface) device?
A: Trodes, nanopaste trodes, datajack, or cyberware/internal commlink.

3) How do I experience AR?
A: In order to experience AR, you need a commlink (either electronic or cybernetic) and some sort of sensory receiving device. The sensory receiving device can be electronic, cybernetic, or a sim module running in AR mode. Electronic sensory receiving devices include contacts/glasses/goggles for vision, earphones/earbuds for sound, AR gloves and/or feedback clothing for (crude) tactile sensations (SR4 p209 Augmented Reality 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th paragraphs). Cyberware sensory receiving devices include cybereyes and cyberears (SR4 p228-9). By using your commlink and a sim module in AR-mode you can view AR the natural way (by pumping it straight into your brain :D ). While in AR mode, the sim module does not paralyze your body. Your commlink can communicate with your sensory receiving devices via wireless, skinlinks, or (if cyberware) direct hardwire. Direct hardwire can be included between any cyberware devices for no extra cost or essence loss. A sim module is a commlink accessory that can be built into the commlink.

4) How do I control AR?
A: You can control AR through AR gloves, feedback clothes, or a DNI control device such as trodes, nanotrodes, datajack, or internal commlinks (SR4 p209 Augmented Reality).

5) How do I connect my devices to the matrix in order to experience AR?
A: All devices (including cyber) are wireless-enabled by default, so they are always connected to the matrix, all the time. You can also add skinlinks to devices and connect those skinlinked devices to a wireless enabled device. If you then turn off wireless on those other devices, this creates chokepoints in your PAN (Personal Area Network) and protects your devices from hacking. For example, you can leave your commlink (with tons of security software) wireless, but disconnect wireless from all your other devices and connect all your other PAN devices to your commlink via skinlink. A hacker would then have to get through your wireless comlink before reaching your other devices. Of course you could just add uber-security to each of your wireless devices, but the chokepoint method saves money.

6) Can non-metahumans experience VR or AR?
A: Since VR needs a DNI, only metahumans can experience full VR. Even possessing cannot experience VR or any other DNI through their host. However, flesh form inhabiting spirits CAN use DNI and therefore VR (Street Magic p100). Any non-metahuman can experience AR through the appropriate interfaces (as long as they can physically see/manipulate the device).