Network Organization/plot post

[gridfather]

Alright folks, this is a call for tech-minded characters. I asked the mods about it here, initially regarding Flynn's initial forays, and have touched base with a few more people regarding a fix.

Flynn will be quite upfront about not having the skill to handle this behemoth on his own, and intends to reach out to others, so, here's where you come in!

If your character has experience building, repairing, modding tech stuff or has a skill set that can help get the Avagi network up and running, then please feel free to tag in here, let us know who they are, and what they can do. This is also a place to plot if you'd like to thread anything with your fellow tech brosises, or handwave anything.

Any questions, please let me know too. I'm not...that great with technology myself lol so I'll do my best.

Comments

MOD QUESTIONS

[gridfather]

The mods have put forward some thoughts we can consider here. I'll make subthreads for us to hash them out:

DEVICE NAME

[gridfather]

What do we wanna call them doohickeys??

[alan_1]

A.C.E (Avagi Comm Extension), solely so characters can say they have an "ACE up their sleeve" and other terrible puns.

[gridfather]

THIS IS WHY THEY'RE FRIENDS

[intrepiding]

I approve of this name so hard and all the puns that come with it.

[sonywalkman]

my GOD

aka: yes, yes please this

LOOK

[gridfather]

What do we want these babies to look like? What functions?

[gridfather]

I found some wrist concepts, if we want to go the wearable route. Also a ring possibility.

Because I'm extra as heck here are my scribbly take on a mix of both wearables, with a holo-interface for a screen/keypad, with the ring on a dominant hand for voice stuff.

I'm not married to any of this, jsyk, I'm bored at work rn and spitballing ideas.

[alan_1]

The bracelet design sounds the most convenient (and the punniest if the ACE name suggestion works out), though unlike the MIDs of Arc I, they should actually be removable. Since a physical screen would be tricky given the disparity of size/shape among crewmembers (i.e, a screen that's ergonomic to a human would not be so to a Cybertronian), an adjustable holographic screen would be ideal. Also if they're highly scalable, characters can use them as projectors to watch movies/give group presentations/etc! \o/

As for functions, Alan would point out that a mapping program would be convenient given that they're now on a space station again rather than a planet. It would probably make a lot of newcomers' lives easier if they knew where to find their room/food/rec areas/etc. Some safety features might be a good idea, too. For example, it could have an emergency distress button that broadcasts the person's location to the network or an emergency contacts list (or just their general direction/distance from other devices if they're on an uncharted planet).

OH and Alan doesn't know how they'd do this, but if anyone has the know-how to somehow integrate PAC-disc technology with these things, that would be amazing. Network device and bag of holding all in one, y/y?

[intrepiding]

Def agree with the wrist idea since that seems to allow functionality but also help to keep them on hand and not get lost so easily. The holo-interface as a keypad for typing also seems the best way to go if we used the wrist concept.

Installing GPS, IPs, and maps of the station would also be good to include in them both for convenience and safety should anyone get lost or go missing, their friends would be able to locate them (or at least follow wherever their ACE is).

[sonywalkman]

I like the idea of wearables. It seems the most convenient, as long as we H/C some workaround for non-humanoids.

(ICLY: Peter votes for bulkier tech, it's an 80s thing, it's tangible, and he doesn't trust this invisible slim tech shit when it comes to his music, thank you. I don't fully expect this to be an OOC thing at all.)

ALSO HEADPHONE JACKS. THIS AINT NO iPHONE 7.

[arcreact]

Tony will be in favor of wristband (FANCY ROLLEX WATCH STYLE), BUT would also push for at least some non-wearable options on hand. We've got like... giant robots and skeleton men, y'all, gotta keep all the options open.

As for the software/UI:
- +1 to holographic display/workspace
- Voice dictation
- MINIGAMES
- Also someone should stop him from programming Avagi Siri who snarks when she corrects your grammar, because he'll do that immediately if no one muzzles him. Manual human input is so 2008.

DISTRIBUTION

[gridfather]

Just c/ping the mod suggestion: Due to the game's nature as, well, an RP game, it will be assumed that a stockpile of extra devices is created and available where newcomers can receive them. However, if your character or characters want to involve themselves personally or organize an IC system for distribution, they're more than welcome to do so!

[intrepiding]

If they create the devices from scratch, they would have to know how many to make, right? Or would they just pick a number and make them just to get started and then add more after they know they work?

Re: DISTRIBUTION

[magneticfields]

We could probably just have a stockpile in Erik's workshop. It could be a project he gives annoying kids to keep them busy.

ANON?

[gridfather]

With the biosignature technology on-hand, it wouldn't be too difficult to ensure that individuals using the network can only do so as themselves. That said, maybe your technicians respect the value of anonymity. Or maybe they want to preserve enough backdoors that they can use a fake ID themselves. Discuss!

[intrepiding]

When it comes to the anon function I could go either way with it being a temporary glitch or a function given to the devices. But, like with any device, if people start abusing the function, it can either be disabled or the people abusing it can be banned from commenting on the network. IC actions = IC consequences etc.

[sonywalkman]

While ICly I can see a want for anon, OOCly, I'm more personally inclined to it being temporary/a glitch/not always accessible. I do have some concerns about IC anon turning into like IC anoncomms and I'm...wary. Basically, I agree with the above comment; anon with some sort of control over it is best if we do decide on it I think.

[sonywalkman]

OH point I also forgot to add that's only tangentially related:

Are we aiming for letting people use the network under usernames and/or pseudonyms if they don't go by legal/recorded/whatever names?

[gridfather]

OOCly my concerns are in line with Mars' above: the idea of anon prompted some interest in anoncomm-style trolling, which admittedly makes me leery as a player.

Flynn thinks people should be given an opportunity to be trusted though! ...with admin capabilities to boot/ban trolls and griefers. They have a really good team here and several people have stated their characters would be interested in making sure the network is highly secure, so he'd want to facilitate that as well.

Editing to add here:

I don't like the idea of one or two people prompting a full anon shutdown, because it's not really fair to punish everyone else on the station for their immaturity. BUT lbr, the tech team are gonna need to stress test the network. A troll blitz with admins getting to kick the instigators out could be useful as heck.

[squadgoals]

As I mentioned in the plurk thread, I like the idea of anon being available immediately, and the creators presenting it as basically for altruistic means (ie, people who don't want to necessarily out themselves about questions) — then shutting it down after it gets abused.

Longterm, I don't think we should have it — as with others, I think anon should be applied for in special circumstances, and even then, the person should have the wherewithal to know how to get to it in the first place.

Shortterm, hell yes. I want that IC hilarity drama to fly for at least the first anonymous dragging.

LONGTERM

[gridfather]

Do we want to assume a small group will be left in place post-development, as a kind of...network IT team in case of issues that arise?

[intrepiding]

I vote yes to having a team for all the post-development stuff and to keep an eye on things since this will all be a work in progress till it starts running smoothly.

[arcreact]

Big yes to this!! Ongoing device maintenance and network security are a must, at the very least

[squadgoals]

Just here to agree with everything else. Yes! Ongoing maintenance! Just a list of characters people can bug if they want enhancements/have issues.