Daistallia 2104 Technology Overview

Computer Technology

Processors

Computing devices are based on optical integrated circuits and data transmission is primarily via fiber optic cables and photonic crystal plates, which are stronger, cooler and have higher data transmission speeds. The typical photonic processor operates at 500THz (600nm photons used). Circuit boards are made of sheets of photonic crystal. Circuitplates have processor plates fused to them.

The typical operating speed for photonic crystal processor plates is 10 PFLOPs per 1 cubic centimeter of volume. Advanced designs operate in the 100 EFLOPs range.

For smaller and/or slower applications, GaAs IC chips are used.

Memory/Data Storage

Memory technology is based on atomic holographic memory crystals, holding an average of 64 petabits (Pb) or 8 petabytes (PB) of data per cubic centimeter.

Datacards

Standard datacards measure 2.5mm x 5cm x 8cm. Even though their total volume is 10cm3, only half of it is actually used, giving them a 40PB capacity. Datacards can be rewritten an unlimited amount of times and do not suffer any data degradation over time. Standard datacard readers (datacard read/write devices) consist of a 2.5mm x 5cm slot which the datacard is inserted into completely.

Datachips

Standard datachips are 2.5mm x 1cm x 1cm and have a 2 PB capacity. Datachips are usually used for small devices such as wristcomps or subdermacomps. Other than their size, they function the same as datacards. Datachip readers are simply a tiny 2.5mm x 1cm slot.

Onboard Dataplates

Computer systems almost always have a built-in block of onboard dataplates. Onboard dataplates are usually 16 PB and measur 2.5mm x 8cm x 8cm, but this can vary. They are arranged in banks that plug into the main circuitplate and are accessed by opening up the computer casing.

Software

Common operating systems generally require several PB of disk space and hundreds of megabytes of RAM. Most personal applications range from 100 MB to 10 PN.

Programs are not simple text datafiles or simple databases; they may include artificial intelligence, voice recognition, video-recorded visual display imagery, and image recognition, at resolutions where pixels cannot be distinguished and sounds do not sound processed.

Displays

Displays are based on advanced long-lived OLED technology. Most displays are simple 2-D or very basic 3-D. The most advanced (and expensive) displays are Holographic Panstereoscopic Displays (HPDs) which generate a three-dimensional image inside the display area, with an unrestricted POV angle. Both types are touchscreen, Most displays are durable enough that everyday contact and even the occasional abuse leaves little or no wear on them. Most OLED or HPD include touchscreen technology.

Interfaces

Most computers utilise an OLED touchscreen "keyboard/mouse" interface (generally separate from the display). Some systems utilize a built-in voice/face command (VFC) recognition interface routine, but these take up significantly more memory. Programs using VFC recognition are usually driven by a robust AI.

Occassionally computers require other interface devices depending on their particular use.

Neural interfaces are in experimental stages, but are still considered dangerous and are very expensive.

Cables

Power cables are still sheathed copper wire bundles. Data cables are almost always fiber optic cables.

Power

Computers require very small amounts of power. The two most power-intensive devices are datacard readers and HPD screens. Some computers have MFC (micro fuel cell) battery slots. MFC batteries can power a workstation for 72 hours, a portacomp for 14 days, or a wristcomp for 5 years. Subdermacomps are powered via bioelectric or hemapneumatic energy from the user's body, or micro glucose fuel cells. Workstations also typically have an external power port; they are only run off of MFC batteries when necessary.

Standard Computer Systems

Workstations

Workstations are the modern equivalant of the old desktop computer, and consist of a vertical display panel and a horizontal interface panel set into a stylish alloy case with various ports and slots on the sides and back of the case.

A typical workstation has 512PB of onboard dataspace, eight dataports, eight datacard slots and four datachip slots, a 30x45cm OLED display panel and a 15x45cm OLED interface panel. These weigh between four and five kg.

Tablets

Standard tablet computers are the modern equivalant of the laptop. A typical tablet has 256PB of onboard dataspace, two dataports, two datacard slots, two datachip slots, and a 30x20cm HPD display/interface panel and weighs around 1 kg

Personal Communications Device (PCD)

The Personal Communications Device (PCD) is the modern equivalant of the PDA. The standard PCD has between 64 and 128 PB of onboard dataspace, one dataport, one datacard slot and one datachip slot, and a 8x12cm OLED display/interface panel and weighs around 0.3 kg

Wristcomp

Wristcomps are basically tiny computers (about 3cm x 3cm x 1cm) secured to a wristwatch band. Wristcomps come standard with a 5 THz GaAs main processor, several compact subprocessors, 2PB of onboard dataspace, one dataport, one datachip slot, and a 3x3cm OLED display/interface panel.

Printers

People still like to print things out on paper. Most people use paper made out of synthetic materials. Printers themselves are just as advanced as their computer counterparts. Three typical kinds of printers exist: Professional Printers, Standard Printers and Portable Printers. The image quality is the same on all three types; the only difference is their size, speed and cost. All print on standard pages: 20cm by 30cm. Specialized printers that can print on larger paper cost proportionally more (and decrease the printing speed proportionally as well). Professional Printer: consists of a 20cm by 25cm by 35cm case, and holds up to 1000 sheets (6cm) of paper at a time (but can be fitted with an external pagefeeder that can hold thousands of pages). Speed: 1200 pg/min Weight: 5 kg Standard Printer: consists of a 10cm by 25cm by 35cm case, and holds up to 500 sheets (3cm) of paper at a time (but can be fitted with an external pagefeeder that can hold thousands of pages). Speed: 240 pg/min Weight: 3 kg Portable Printer: consists of a 3cm by 5cm by 25cm bar, which draws pages from an external tray that can hold up to 100 sheets at a time. Speed: 120 pg/min Weight: 1 kg

AIs

AIs are still not truly self-aware; though advanced AI programs can seem very self-aware, true self-awareness and living intelligence has yet to be achieved. AIs come in a variety of complexities and personalities, so that people who dislike chatting with their computers can get simple AIs, while others often have a tailored AI personality managing their computers and as an interface assistant. Basic AI programs come standard in all computer systems and programs.

Security

Most computers come with biometric analysis subprocessors, using voiceprints, retinal scans, handprints and even facial scans. However, these measures are becoming easier to defeat. The cutting edge of security technology is geneprints and genelocks. While still a relatively new technology, geneprinting technology has matured enough that it is proved to be 100% reliable. Geneprinting involves a small scanner that someone can place any part of their skin on (a finger, for example). The genescanner reads numerous skin cells touching the scanning surface at the molecular level, analyzing their genetic code and comparing it to a genetic database. If the person's geneprint is in the database and marked as "authorized", the genescanner can activate whatever device it is hooked up to. Genescanners used as locks - called genelocks - can be installed into computers, doors, vehicles, and even guns in order to prevent unauthorized access. Genescanners can be fooled by using dead tissue (such as a dead person's finger) or even several layers of epidermis glued to someone's thumb. But the latest genescanners use several different methods to detect these kinds of tricks, and are now over 99% foolproof. Genelocks are used in various high-security places (large corporations, government installations, etc.) but they're not common and they're fairly rare in the public marketplace. The only detriment some see to genelocks is the idea of building genetic databases of people.

Industry

Desktop Manufacturing/Stereolithography

This is used to create a three-dimensional plastic model from a three-dimensional computer-aided design (CAD) drawing. The machine produces 3-dimensional copies of CAD (Computer Aided Design) files from plastic and metal. The system uses CAD files to build up a set of very thin layers of plastic or metal, thus reproducing the desired object using a relatively low-tech electrical heater filament. Companies create 3D files and then distribute them on their websites; you would make your own copy of the object at home. Stereolithography machines range in cost from about $25,000 to several million dollars. Standard polymer is about $20 per litre. Special polymers and other materials range widely.

Industrial Foodstuffs

Many foodstuffs are produced industrially. Some examples are: Textured Vegetable Protein Textured vegetable protein is basically defatted soy flour which has been processed and dried to give a substance with a sponge-like texture which may be flavoured to resemble meat. Soy beans are dehulled and their oil extracted before being ground into flour. This flour is then mixed with water to remove soluble carbohydrate and the residue is textured by either spinning or extrusion. Extrusion involves passing heated soy residue from a high pressure area to a reduced pressure area through a nozzle resulting in the soy protein expanding. The soy protein is then dehydrated and may be either cut into small chunks or ground into granules. Textured vegetable protein may be purchased either unflavoured or flavoured to resemble meat. It is prepared simply by mixing with water or stock and leaving to stand for a few minutes.

Mycoprotein

Mycoprotein is a food made by continuous fermentation of the fungus, Fusarium gramineurum. The fungus is grown in a large fermentation tower to which oxygen, nitrogen, glucose, minerals, and vitamins are continually added. After harvesting, the fungus is heat treated to reduce its RNA content before being filtered and drained. The resulting sheet of fungal mycelia is mixed with egg albumen which acts a binder. Flavouring and colouring may also be added. The mycoprotein is then textured to resemble meat, before being sliced, diced or shredded.

Wheat Protein

Wheat protein is derived from wheat gluten. Gluten is extracted from wheat and then processed to resemble meat. It has a greater similarity to meat than textured vegetable protein or mycoprotein and is used as a meat substitute in a range of foods.

Single Cell Proteins

Single cell proteins (SCP) are produced using dried cells of microorganisms such as algae, fungi, yeasts, and bacteria. The most common sources are Spirulina, Methylophilus methylotrophus (a bacterium), and torula yeast (Candida utilis). SCP is grown grown on a wide variety of feedstocks such as molasses, methane, methanol, ethanol, cheese whey, cassava starch, and a range of agricultural and forestry wastes.

Materials Science

Bioweave (Artificial Spider Silk)

Spider silk is made up of alanine and glycine, with lesser amounts of glutamine, leucine, arginine, tyrosine, and serine--serve as silk's primary constituents. The fiber is made up of two alanine-rich proteins embedded in a jellylike polymer. The crystalline structure of one of the proteins is highly ordered and the structure of the other is less ordered. These proteins stick to the glycine-rich polymer, which makes up about 70 percent of the material. Artificial spider dragline silk's strength and elasticity derive from a blend of ordered and disordered components. The silk's amorphous polymer, resembling a "tangle of cooked spaghetti," makes the fiber elastic, while the two types of protein give it toughness. Cloned portions of the genes of the golden orb-weaving spider, Nephila clavipes, are implanted in Escherichia coli bacterium to produce the silk protein in solution. It is then squeezed through a fine tube to make synthetic silk fibers, making a close analog of natural spider silk. In other cases, soy plants are implanted with either parts of or the full dragline silk gene sequence, which allows silk proteins to be harvested in vast quantities and processed into a liquid polymer, and spun in factories. Products include: clothing, body armor, ropes, nets, seatbelts, parachutes, panels and bumpers for automobiles, sutures and bandages, artificial tendons and ligaments, and supports for weakened blood vessels.

Biosynthnetic fabric, based on protein constructed polymers extruded from engineered organisms inertial armor fabric, which is relatively soft and flexible, until it is struck by a fast-moving object, when it becomes rigid.

Foam Metals

Metallic foams are strong lightweight materials manufactured by bubbling gas through molten alloys, stirring a foaming agent through the molten alloy, consolidation of a metal powder with a particulate foaming agent and pressure infiltration of the molten metal into a wax or polymer-foam precursor. This process is done in microgravity. Metal foams have a range of relative densities and cell sizes. Their structure may be classified as open-celled or closed-celled. In general, the closed-cell structure is favoured for energy absorption applications whilst the open-celled structure is often used in thermal management and other similar areas. Metal foams have low density with good shear and fracture strength and are ideal for sandwich construction. The resulting structure can be used for energy absorbtion and for lightweight structural applications. Their exceptional ability to absorb large amounts of energy at almost constant pressure make them useful in applications ranging from automobile bumpers to aircraft crash recorders. The acoustic properties of metallic foams mean that they find uses in many places where sound absorption is vital. Open cell foams have large accessible surface area and high cell-wall conduction giving exceptional heat transfer ability. Metal foams are also finding architectural applications purely on the basis of their aesthetic quality; their light weight is an added advantage. Metal foam is also an excellent material for arresting flames in such environments as along pipes and ventilating enclosures. They are both fire proof and highly permeable. They may also be used in blast protection applications.

A summary of applications: Self-supporting, stiff and super light weight panels for building and transport Impact energy absorption parts for cars, lifting and conveying systems Decks and bulkheads Non-flammable ceiling and wall panels with improved thermal and sound insulation Compressor casings Motorcycle exhausts and frames Heat exchangers, filters, catalysts Instrument housing Acoustic Transducers Loudspeaker enclosures Batteries Gearbox housings Structural parts for spacecraft Housings for electronic devices providing electromagnetic and heat shielding Sound absorbers for difficult conditions (high temperature, moisture, dust, flowing gas, vibrations, sterile environment) Armor

Other

A wide varietry of other advance metallic, non-metallic, composite and ceramic materials are in use. Alumino-Ceramics Boro-carbon aluminide/aluminum borocarbide Several aerogels are in widespread use. Silica aerogels are used as glass, insulators, and shock paddings among other applications. Electrically conductive carbon aerogels - are used in supercapacitors. Synthetic Diamonds are unscratchable. Synthetic diamonds can be produced fairly cheaply in eithe gem stone form or in sheet/plate form. Cellulose compounds are strong cheap materials made from grass and wood compounds. They are widely used in architecture and many other applications. Fullerenes and nanotubes are also used in a variety of applications.

Power

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Systems (OTECs)

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Systems (OTECs) generate electricity using the temperature difference of seawater at different depths, utilizing the temperature difference that exists between the surface waters heated by the sun and the colder deep waters to run a heat engine. OTECS are only utilized in the tropical waters. A typical OTEC generaters 100 megawatts of net power. As side benefits, the typical OTEC also produces 32 million gallons of fresh water per day and up to 40 million kilograms of fish per year

Magnetic Fusion Reactors (MFRs)

Magnetic Fusion Reactors (MFRs) use nuclear fusion to generate power. Standard MFRs use a toroidal (doughnut-shaped) magnetic plasma confinement device. The typical MFR generating station produces 500 gigawatts of net power.

Lithium Polymer Batteries

Lithium Polymer Batteries use a polymer electrolyte. This electrolyte resembles a plastic-like film that does not conduct electricity, but allows the exchange of ions (electrically charged atoms or groups of atoms). The polymer electrolyte replaces the traditional porous separator of most batteries, which is soaked with electrolytes. The dry polymer design offers simplifications with respect to fabrication, ruggedness, safety and thin-profile. There is no danger of flammability because no liquid or gelled electrolyte is used. ith a cell thickness measuring as little as 1mm (0.039in), design engineers are left to their own imagination in terms of form, shape and size. Some designs even form part of a protective housing, are in the shape of a mat that can be rolled up, or are even embedded into a carrying case or a piece of clothing. Typical batteries weigh .5kg per kW generated .

Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Proton Exchange Membrane hydrogen fuel cells can be found in many applications. Both heavy duty and personal fuel canisters are in plentiful supply. Typical fuel cells weigh 1kg per kW generated and consume 50 milligrams of hydrogen per hour per watt generated; thus, a typical 20W generator consumes 1 gram per hour, while a 120W generator consumes 6 grams per hour. Most fuel cells use an advanced alkali-modified fullerene nanotube lattice to store hydrogen. These canisters hold six times as much hydrogen as a metal hydride canister of the same size, but weigh half as much and has virtually no loss in efficiency with repeated refills.

Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES)

Other

A few fission power plants are still in use. BioDiesel and alcohol pwered engines are also common alternatives to HFCs for vehicles.

Ground Transportation Systems

Maglev Trains

Maglev trains run in unidirectional, small-diameter tunnels situated, where the lie of the land allows, at a depth of approximately fifty metres. These tunnels form a network which link the centres of the main cities of Daistallia. In order to attain high speeds in complete safety, the train uses magnetic levitation, without any contact with the ground, powered by linear electric motors. This also minimises strain on the different structures, noise level and energy and maintenance costs. The quantity of air in the tunnels will be reduced to pressures similar to atmospheric conditions at an altitude of 15,000 meters. This partial air vacuum is maintained by vacuum pumps, situated every 15 kilometres in the tunnels. The train is pressurised and has a similar appearance to the body of an aircraft. A typical car has a 400 seated passenger capacity.

Stations

The stations comprise an upper level (reception and check-in area) and a lower level (boarding and disembarkation area) linked by large-capacity lifts. At each station, automatic doors and airlocks allow efficient and risk-free passenger transit.

Operation and energy consumption

top speeds of over 500 km/h; departures every 6 minutes (or 4 minutes if necessary) and station stops of 3 minutes; a capacity of 4,000 to 6,000 passengers per hour in each direction and a daily capacity of up to 216,000 passengers; a station efficiently connected to the urban transport network and designed to minimise the distance for travellers; use of the network in close collaboration with the operators of other means of urban, regional and interurban transport; very low energy costs, equivalent to approximately half the consumption of conventional rail systems.

Safety

Generally speaking, maglev trains are safer than other forms of rail transport, such as surface trains or underground systems, and offer considerable safety advantages inherent to its design, such as: the use of two separate tunnels, one in each direction, making the collision of two vehicles impossible; one single type of traffic (no dangerous goods, no slow traffic to integrate, one single type of service); a guiding system which prevents derailment; total independence of climatic conditions; protected site and accesses, easy to supervise (no obstacles on the line; no sabotage, hijacking or malicious acts possible from outside); a fire probability of virtually nil, thanks to use of fireproofing materials and low oxygen concentration in the tunnel. In addition, in the event of a serious accident, emergency repressurisation of the tunnel is activated. This allows, as in civil aviation practice, a viable pressure of approximately 0.6 atm to be reached in 2.5 minutes, corresponding to atmospheric pressure at an altitude of 5,000 m. Passengers will then be able to breathe adequately in both the vehicle and tunnel. Subsequently, for comfort reasons, restoration of pressure will be continued up to approximately one atmosphere. Finally, the transverse connections between tunnels will greatly facilitate the arrival of assistance and passenger evacuation.

Air Transportation Systems

The DASI-1 Flying Wing

Wingspan: 88.1 meters Height: 12.5 meters Length: 49 meters Engines: three high-bypass-ratio jet engines Passenger Capacity: 800 Range: 11,265 km Cruising Speed: 900 kph

The flying wing is constructed out of advanced composite materials and be divided by 10 intermediate ribs that run from the front to the back of the aircraft. These ribs divide the aircraft into 10 separate passenger bays. The body is fused together with the engine and wings, creating one lifting surface.

Passenger bays - The aircraft has a passgenger capacity of 800 in a double-deck cabin that is divided into five bays per deck. Most seats don't have windows, but video screens display window views. Each bay has doors at the front and back to make emergency exits easier.

Engines - Three high-bypass-ratio jet engines are located at the rear of the aircraft's body. Air that is on and near the surface of the wing flows through the flying wing's curved inlets and into its engines.

Heim-Dröscher-Häuser Gravitophotonic Hyperspace Drive

The Heim-Dröscher-Häuser Gravitophotonic Hyperspace Drive ("Triple H" drive) is based on the Heim Quantum Theory.

The propulsion system works by creating an intense magnetic field that, produces a gravitational field and results in thrust for a spacecraft.

At sufficient strength, the magnetic field creates the means for the ship to slip into parallel space, popularly known as hyperspace, where the speed of light is faster, allowing incredible speeds to be reached (Transiting causes a a velocity gain by a factor of 33,000.) Switching off the magnetic field would result in the engine reappearing in our current dimension.

A huge rotating ring placed above a superconducting coil creates an intense magnetic field. When the magnetic field reaches propulsion strength , the electromagnetic force reduces the gravitational pull on the ring to the point where it floats free. In order to creat a sufficient magnetic field for a 150-ton ship to completely counter a 1 G fravity well, a magnetic field with a magnetic flux density of 20 tesla is needed. In order to creat a sufficient magnetic field for a 150-ton ship to enter hyperspace, a magnetic field with a magnetic flux density of 30 tesla is needed.

Space flight is achieved in one of two modes. The first is simple acceleration and the second is transition into parallel space. The second is transiting into parallel space. For short interplanetary distances, ships gnerally transit at .000 1 c, and at longer interstellar distances, ships gnerally transit at .01 c