Bionic Woman Looks like NBC is putting out a newer spin on the old classic. It features a cybered up woman, and her chief antagonist is a cybered out rival. Wether or not it will be any good who knows, but the promo is interesting. Looks like they gave her skillwires to boot.
Link to NBC.com
Researchers are looking at new ways to use old ideas by creating a nano-scale mechanical microchip. The military is already looking for potential applications of the tech. The article mentions the ability to survive in environments and situations, such as EMP, that would wreck traditional chips. Tell me these didn’t make their way into cyberware.
The blueprint for a tiny, ultra-robust mechanical computer has been outlined by US researchers.
The energy-efficient nano computer is inspired by ideas about computing first put forward nearly 200 years ago.
Data storage and device capacities have always been somewhat nebulous in the Shadowrun rules. Sure, we had the “one minute of video takes up a megapulse” rule in SR3, but that has never stopped the debates over the exact “real life” size of the megapulse; how much text, how many pictures, and so on. Now, we measure in gigapulses, and don’t really have to worry about it anymore.
According to science fiction writer Charles Stross, throw a grain of sand in your computer and you’re pretty much set for life. Well, eventually. But hey, Shadowrun is eventually, isnt’ it?
Think that gun you had whipped up that’s made of ceramic and plastic is going to get you through the front doors at SeaTac? Your GM probably has other things in mind. Like a chemsniffer cranked up to the point that it detects the perfume of that joytoy from last night that you thought you had washed off. But it wasn’t always so easy to smell the rounds in your holdout, why…
In my day, a chemsniffer was the size of a microwave!
(The authors of the article use a lot of Star Trek references, but that’s only because they haven’t played enough Shadowrun.)
Science Daily — Purdue University researchers have created a handheld sensing system its creators liken to Star Trek’s “tricorder” used to analyze the chemical components of alien worlds. But the system could have down-to-earth applications, such as testing foods for dangerous bacterial contaminants including salmonella, which was recently found in a popular brand of peanut butter.
Michael Anissimov at Accelerating Future writes about what he considers to be the top 10 transhumanist technologies.
Transhumanists advocate the improvement of human capacities through advanced technology. Not just technology as in gadgets you get from Best Buy, but technology in the grander sense of strategies for eliminating disease, providing cheap but high-quality products to the world’s poorest, improving quality of life and social interconnectedness, and so on. Technology we don’t notice because it’s blended in with the fabric of the world, but would immediately take note of its absence if it became unavailable. (Ever tried to travel to another country on foot?) Technology needn’t be expensive – indeed, if a technology is truly effective it will pay for itself many times over.
Just an FYI that I updated the software that powers dumpshock.com today, and in the process blasted away some 13,000 spam comments that had been collecting for far too long [and installed some new spam blocking software.] It’s always possible that you posted a comment that was part of that blasted-away pile of bits, and if you did, I apologize, but there was no way I was dealing with those 13,000 comments manually, and the spam-blocking software was choking on that many backed-up comments.
As reported by IMR/BattleCorps:
INMEDIARES PRODUCTIONS LLC. ENTERS NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE CLASSIC BATTLETECH AND SHADOWRUN LICENSES FROM WIZKIDS INC.
Everett, WA, April 20, 2007—InMediaRes Production LLC has entered into negotiations with WizKids, Inc. and FanPro, LLC to explore the acquisition of RPG publishing rights for the Classic BattleTech and Shadowrun Intellectual Properties. IMR is confident in the strength of Shadowrun and Classic BattleTech and the commitment that WizKids, Inc. has shown in supporting these two long-standing properties.
About InMediaRes Productions LLC
InMediaRes Productions LLC has developed BattleCorps.com as the premiere on-line fiction source for Classic BattleTech. BattleCorps.com actively support the Classic BattleTech community, their BattleShop offers everything from poster maps to PDF sourcebooks, miniatures to software, and is the one-stop-shop for any fan of the BattleTech/MechWarrior universe. Their subscription-based services also take the Classic BattleTech experience to a whole new level, featuring a stable of authors from national best sellers to great new talent, new art, unique product previews, faction specific message boards and moderated chats with authors and developers.
About WizKids, Inc.
A wholly owned subsidiary of the Topps Company (TOPP), WizKids is a Seattle-based game developer and publisher dedicated to creating tabletop games driven by imagination. Its HeroClix® and Pirates brands are among the most successful games on the market today, with over one hundred million miniature game figures sold worldwide. For additional information, visit www.wizkidsgames.com.
Loren L. Coleman’s Letter to the Community
Some of you may have heard the rumors beginning to build. Well, the announcements are now getting out there. Negotiations have begun, seeking to move the Classic BattleTech and Shadowrun properties to a new company, InMediaRes Productions.
As this moves forward, I’m certain we will hear information of long-time employees moving between companies, as well as dark rumors as to the fate of CBT and Shadowrun. I want not only to strike down such rumors, I can tell you that I see nothing but brighter, better days ahead for both game lines.
I have spoken with WizKids, and can assure you that this move is in the best interest of both Classic BattleTechand Shadowrun. I have every confidence in WizKids, in their support for the game lines, and their ability to ensure that the games we enjoy so much will only grow stronger.
I also think we owe a deep debt of gratitude to FanPro and its employees, as well, for bringing the properties this far. They have done an exceedingly hard job, taking over after FASA closed its doors, and the quality of the product we’ve seen in the last several years is a testament to their hard work and love for the games.
I know that I, and all other industry professionals I’ve spoken to, have re-committed ourselves to the game lines, no matter what. This is not something we would do if we were worried about their future. In fact, we are more excited than ever to have the ability to take both Classic BattleTech and Shadowrun to new and greater heights.
We look forward to seeing you there, along for the ride!
Loren L. Coleman
InMediaRes Productions
Rob Boyle’s Letter to the Community
I’ve been the lead Shadowrun line developer for FanPro LLC since the day it started, through good times and bad. Along with the other developers and freelancers, we have all been absolutely committed to continuing and and growing this game line in new and exciting ways.
The time has now come to transfer the Shadowrun line into the hands of a new company. We are not saying goodbye, however–we’re coming along for the ride as well. Everyone who is part of the core Shadowrun production crew is looking forward to relocating the line to IMR’s stewardship and continuing to publish one of the best games out there. Despite the delays we’ve recently faced, we are excited that things will be getting back on track quite quickly.
Rob Boyle
Shadowrun Line Developer
Randall Bills’ Letter to the Community
The last ten years I’ve seen the Classic BattleTech property and community thrive. I’ve been a part of the development of over one hundred products and novels for this universe. I’ve also been the key driving force behind the largest re-branding and revitalization Classic BattleTech has seen in well over a decade, including the creation and launching of the Dawn of Jihad sourcebook and storyline, as well as Total Warfare.
FanPro has made the above accomplishments possible. With the expiration of the license and WizKids’ desire to position the Classic BattleTech product to achieve even more, WizKids, Inc. is working with both FanPro LLC and InMediaRes Productions LLC. to transition the Classic BattleTech license to InMediaRes.
I have immensely enjoyed the working relationship between myself and WizKids and the other licensees surrounding Classic BattleTech/MechWarrior, such as Iron Wind Metals, InMediaRes Productions and so on. I completely support this move by all involved and look forward to an even stronger relationship between the various licensees that positions Classic BattleTech/MechWarrior to even greater heights.
Randall Bills
Classic BattleTech Line Developer
Nanotechnologists are beginning to find that they can deliver insulin to a diabetics blood stream using tiny, insulin filled nanocapsules. Soon, I’m sure that they (or the government – or any number of corporations) will realize that you can deliver any liquid you’d like to the body…which sounds a bit like something else I’ve heard of.
Neuronet, which is planned to be separate from the Internet, “will evolve into the world’s first public network capable of meeting the data transmission requirements of emerging cinematic and immersive virtual-reality technologies,” according to a Thursday announcement from the Vancouver-based International Association of Virtual Reality Technologies.
Well, it’ll either be the little brother to The Matrix or a communication route for the upcoming T-100s.
A tiny, bacteria powered rotary motor has been developed in Japan. I could absolutely see this as a way to power cyberware; though currently they have to coat the bacteria in a protein for it to work, I’m sure they’ll develop a way around that soon enough.
Japanese researchers created the bacteria-powered motors, which they say could be used to power micro-pumps on semiconductor chips designed to analyze fluids, such as blood and drug compounds. And because the machines are biological hybrids, working cells could divide and multiply to replace worn parts.
Check out the full article.
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