Cortex Terminal, Black Box: An illegal terminal, designed to disguise the user from Alliance snoops. Unfortunately, since so many features of the Cortex are closely monitored, pretty much everything interesting is locked up tighter than the First Allied Bank. About all you can do with this clunky unit is send anonymous waves (basically voice and video mail) and read the news.
Cortex Terminal, Personal Access: What most Core citizens use. Essentially a 2’x 2’ touchscreen monitor, 5” thick, with a moderately sized base to allow for the rest of the equipment, Cortex terminals are a phone, a computer, and a TV all rolled into one—to put it in the terms of folk back on Earth-that-Was. You can surf the Cortex, access almost any information (assuming you can pay for a pass code), send waves, use progs, store almost limitless amounts of data… assuming, of course, that the gorram thing wants to cooperate. Since a terminal is just that—a terminal—sometimes you can lose Cortex access if a satellite or transmission station goes down, and then you lose whatever you were working on, and have to hope your connection gets going mighty quick, because you have no storage capacity.
Cortex Terminal, Public Access: These terminal panels can be found in all sorts of places. Generally they serve a specific purpose, and can access only a limited number of functions. Police, Telofonix (a local-area communication service), and emergency calls (direct to a hospital or ambulance) are three standard options. Docking berths on the surface usually have public terminals for ship specs and for logging travel plans, which can be useful if you want to advertise for cargo or passengers.
Data-library, Standard: Knowledge is power, and power costs money. If you want access to a vast library of literature, history texts, recipes, and so forth, then paying for a data-library subscription is the way to go. These can provide a lot of information; how general or specific is up to the GM.
Data-library, Professional: The latest in medical science, gravitic engineering, ship construction, and pretty much anything else can be had by those who feel the urge to pay for it. Sometimes a fellow needs to be licensed to get access to such, but at least you can be guaranteed to get pretty much all the information the Alliance doesn’t feel it’s too dangerous for you to know.
DataBook: The exact appearance can vary, but these data readers range in size from a paperback novel to a hardback textbook. They can store up to 5 terabytes of data (enough for a few useful progs or 3-D schematics or such), read data discs, and link to the Cortex through a terminal or sourcebox. They can even be linked to other electronic devices to be used for programming or control purposes, though that’s less of a sure thing. Not many on the
Rim bother with such a posh bit of gear, but it has its uses.
Data Disc: These crystalline hexagonal discs can be clicked into a data reader for access at most any terminal or computer station. The standard disc holds enough information to store even short holographic recordings and can be reused. Dedicated Sourcebox: Expensive sourceboxes that not only act as terminals, but can also store up to 200 terabytes of data and maintain a terminal link for up to a mile around.
Encyclopedia: Another expensive little toy, these devices are slick Core databooks with their own extensive data-libraries. While the common features are Languages, Human History, and Universal Encyclopedia, different models come with up to three other libraries. For example, a doctor might get one with Medical Science, Anatomical Engineering ,and a Bio-Physical Atlas in addition to the standard three. Otherwise, it functions as a normal DataBook.
Holo-Image Development Suite: Holographic tech is expensive, but not uncommon in the ‘Verse. This device allows you to produce holographs. A bunch of progs and a 3-D manipulator (little box you stick your hand in, so you can move it about and shape the images) lets you make durn near anything you put your mind to (if you have the right skills).
SubKelvin: Where there’s a will, there’s someone workin’ against it. SubK is a well-known (and thus almost useless) security-removal utility. It works well against Core softies who don’t know their operating matrix buffer from their main feedback path, but that’s about it. There’s better stuff out there, if you know where to look.
XerO Security: One of the most popular Cortex Profile Protection Utilities, XerO self-updates, autoruns, and jumps through hoops on command.