Starguild - What Do Cybernetics Look Like?

By Alex White

- 2 minutes read - 319 words
Cybernetics are man-machine interfaces of one kind or another. Characters and opponents can use money to build in additional capabilities of one kind or another, but at a cost – every bit of tech embedded in you causes you to lose a little bit of humanity. And when the chips are down, the horror of what you have done to your body can cost you dear.

I have categorised cybernetics into three main areas. Interfaces, Implants and Bionics.

Interfaces

There are different kinds of interfaces, all of which give one minor benefit directly, but are significant because it is possible to plug in a variety of ‘augments’.

If you have a neural interface , you can plug in skill augments, which each give you a specialty in any skill you want. You cannot have a skill augment where you already have a skill specialty, but apart from that you can have a skill augment whether you are trained in the base skill or not. Or in other words “I know Kung fu”.

An ocular interface allows you to plug in a variety of different eyeball based technologies – whether it is video recorders, head up displays or the ability to see electric and magnetic fields.

An audial interface allows you to plug in components such as audio transmission, satellite links and directional hearing.

A glandular interface allows you to attach synthetic glands which feed you performance enhancing drugs on demand.

Implants

Implants are internal operations which improve your physical capabilities through a range of enhancements distributed throughout your body.

This can include environmental adaptation, neuro-muscular improvements, built in armour and even hidden storage compartments.

Bionics

Bionics is the term used for the complete replacement of a limb or hand. Normally you can have one or two bionic hands, one or two bionic arms and a pair of bionic legs. You would never have a single bionic leg, because that just wouldn’t make sense.

A bionic hand could have claws, miniaturised tool kits in your fingers or even miniaturised guns.

A bionic arm could have extra strength, power tools or rifles built in.

bionic legs might have springs, shock absorbers, booster jets or even be allowed to treat running as if you were a vehicle rather than an athlete.

Cover Photo by Franck V. on Unsplash