Communications

The oldest and most widespread communications technology still in regular use is radio. Every habitat and world inhabited by transhumanity is awash in radio traffic, with humans, machines, and uplifts all constantly communicating with one another. The smallest radios are no larger than a speck of dust and have a range of no more than 20 meters, while the largest are the size of a truck and have a range of many thousands of miles. Radios large and small are ubiquitous and almost all devices contain at least short-range radios so they may interact with the mesh. Most morphs are equipped with basic mesh inserts (p. 300) that include an implanted radio. For radio ranges, see p. 299.

The shell's visual sensors are situated for a 360-degree field of vision.

High Active Hyperspectral Imager

The active model incorporates infrared, ultraviolet, terahertz and radar imaging. See the rules for hyperspectral sensors, PO p. 162.

Trivial Analog Sensors/Tools

Given the digital characteristics of the exsurgent virus and the potential of sensory-based basilisk hacks, some agents and researchers have resorted to using archaic analog gear for specific missions and tasks deemed high-risk.

Trivial Blood Scanner

Blood scanners are used to detect infection by the biological nanovirus strain of the exsurgent virus. The scanner is simply pressed against the skin of a biomorph (or other living creature) so that microneedles can painlessly extract blood samples from capillaries. These samples are then analyzed and compared to a database of known nanoviral strains. See Exsurgent Virus Detection (Firewal p.

Moderate Brain Print Scanner

This portable skullcap takes approximately 5 minutes to thoroughly scan a subject's brain patterns, producing a verifiable brain print.

Moderate Chemical Sniffer

This sensor detects molecules in the air and analyzes their chemical composition. It enables Chemistry Tests to determine the presence of gases, including toxins and other fumes. It can also detect the presence of explosives and firearms.

Low Deception Scanner

This device is used to scan a subject's brain activity for patterns indicating deception. There are two versions, digital and analog.

Moderate Fiber Camera

This camera is made from polymer fabrics, like clothing, that record visual wavelengths but without a lens making them immune to dazzlers and lens spotters.

Trivial Fiberoptic Cable

Fiberoptic cables are used to establish wired connections between two devices. Given the ubiquity of radios and the tangled mess wires cause, they are typically only used for privacy (unlike radio communication, fiberoptic signals may not be intercepted) or in areas with heavy radio interference.

Low Fiberoptic Microphone

This device is a flexible and mesh-controllable length of fiberoptic cable, it can record infrasound and ultrasound. +10 to hearing Perception Tests.

Moderate Flat Camera

These cameras rely on an array of tiny, networked micro-lensed imagers. These systems are flat and are easily hidden. Apply ?20 to visually spot.

High Ghost Imager

These devices ignore all visual modifiers and they can see in infrared as well as standard visual frequencies.

Expensive High-Capacity QBit Reservoir

High-capacity qubit reservoirs can be used for 100 hours of high-resolution video conferencing or meshbrowsing and 1,000 hours of voice or text only communications.

Low Hypersonic Communicator

This device allows the user to transmit audio in a beam, so that the directed sound is only audible at the targeted position

High Hyperspectral Flat Camera

These cameras rely on an array of tiny, networked micro-lensed imagers. These systems are flat and are easily hidden. Apply ?20 to visually spot.

Moderate Hyperspectral Microphone

A hyperspectral mic hears the entire audio spectrum, from infrasonic to ultrasonic frequencies.

High Hyperspectral Super-Wide Camera

This camera can view a 300 square kilometres with a 0.1 meter resolution.

Low ID Scanner

This small hand-held device is used to read the nanotat IDs carried by most morphs

Moderate Laser Link

This portable device is used to establish a tight-beam, line-of-sight communications channel with laser link. The range of this transceivers varies widely with environmental factors, but approximates 50 kilometers in atmosphere and 500 kilometers in space (though horizon limits must be kept in mind, being 5 kilometers at ground level on Earth and less on smaller bodies).

Low Lidar

This sensor emits laser light and measures the reflections to judge range, speed, and image the target. See Using Enhanced Senses.

Low 360-Degree Vision