A question about VR and AR Options

[Stahlseele]

Direct Neural Interface
Datajack for example.

[Sengir]

Does a skinlink work exactly like a trodenet, then, or nanopaste trodes?

No, a skinlink just replaces the radio transmissions between two devices by sending low-power singals through the skin.

Okay. So gloves are still necessary to interact (not just view) AR or VR, even if you have an implant/trodes/etc.

A sim module (implanted or connected via trodes/datajack) does not just send visuals and other data into the brain, it can also "read" the brain signals and convert them into commands to your devices. So gloves, contacts, feedback clothes etc. are no longer neccessary once you have a sim module and some way to get the simsense data into your brain.

[DracoBlue]

Awesome. I think that answers all of my questions for now! I'll be sure to swing by if I come up with any more, and I think I'll stick around here even if I don't. You've all been super helpful and I didn't feel dumb for asking anything.

Thanks, everyone! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

This post has been edited by DracoBlue: May 23 2010, 07:24 PM

[Banaticus]

So gloves are still necessary to interact (not just view) AR or VR, even if you have an implant/trodes/etc.

No, that's not true. AR is normal every day interaction. When you use an iPhone, you're using it in AR. All those apps and the ability to multitask with a touch screen interface... AR. If you use the holographic projector, then you either need gloves or an implant or a trode network to interact with the holographic projection (otherwise, how will the commlink know where you're touching?).

If you're in VR, the gloves don't do a bit of good because your body goes all drooly while in VR. So, gloves are only useful if you don't have an implant, aren't using a trode net and still want to use an AR holographic projection.

[Raven the Tricks...]

Or for that matter AR projected onto your eyes using any type of eyewear or ware with an image link.

[Raven the Tricks...]

Edit: Argh, another double post. I can't wait to get back home to a decent speed connection.

[Mirilion]

To clarify what I wrote earlier - You need AR gloves or you need to manipulate your commlink interface if you don't have some form of DNI. If you have DNI you can just see the AR in your field of vision, and interact with it by thought alone. Most of my non-hacker characters had no form of DNI whatsoever. one of the examples in the SR4 rulebook (a highschool girl with no DNI, nor AR gloves) led me to believe that DNI (by trodes or datajack) isn't that common.

[Falconer]

I can think of a marginal use for AR gloves.

Technical adepts w/ item attunement. It lists commlink as a possibility, but it would only get the bonus while manually working the commlink through it's manual interface.

I could see item attunement AR gloves as viable... then when the adept interacts w/ cyber using the AR gloves he gains the dicepool bonus equal to half his initiate grade. Granted proably only usefull for a grade 4+ initiate... but it's a unique way to add dice to the adept.

[LurkerOutThere]

I think AR gloves are going to be kind of a niche item. They will most often used by people who work with computers an AR enough that they don't want to mess with trodes or direct comlink interface but for whatever reason don't want to get a datajack put in.

[Sengir]

one of the examples in the SR4 rulebook (a highschool girl with no DNI, nor AR gloves) led me to believe that DNI (by trodes or datajack) isn't that common.

Yep, even though technically a sim module + trodes is better in any way and just costs 150 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nuyen.gif) , the more clumsy and expensive options still seem to be popular...maybe people don't like the idea of some electronic signal messing with their brains

[Raven the Tricks...]

maybe people don't like the idea of some electronic signal messing with their brains

There are certainly plenty of fluff references in various books to suggest that, especially in Unwired.

[LurkerOutThere]

Which contributes to my often trotted out belief that tech in shadowrun is functionally stagnant soon to be eclipsed entirely by magic as the only two new ideas that have been floated recently are wifi and nanotech. One of which is old news even in RL andf the other is interesting but doesn't seem to be going anywhere.

[Drats]

I think it'd be kind of tough to advance the kind of nanotech available in the Shadows too far beyond what we've got without leaving "cyberpunk" in the dust and heading for The Singularity or transhumanitarianism at a full run. Plausible, perhaps, but not really in keeping with the flavor of the game.

[Xahn Borealis]

The Idiot's Guide To The Matrix in Unwired can help you out too.

[RunnerPaul]

one of the examples in the SR4 rulebook (a highschool girl with no DNI, nor AR gloves) led me to believe that DNI (by trodes or datajack) isn't that common.

For what it's worth, p.209 of the original edition of the SR4 core rules stated, "The easiest and most common way to get your AR fix, though, is through simsense."

SR4A's version of this line omits "and most common," but I would chalk that up to needing to prune the word count to make room for the other changes to that chapter, and not an intentional shift in the assumptions of the 2070s setting.

[Sengir]

SR4A's version of this line omits "and most common," but I would chalk that up to needing to prune the word count to make room for the other changes to that chapter, and not an intentional shift in the assumptions of the 2070s setting.

Well, half of the sample characters have no sim module. Although to be fair, the matrix gear seems to have been assigned at random - several chars have sim modules but no trodes/datajack, others have DNI gear but also AR gloves...