The Tech of The MORFS Universe

ACNO (aggregated carbon nanorods)

A material invented around the turn of the century that is harder than diamond. See Buckyballs.

Algacotton

Seen in Journey to humanity

Algacotton is made from genetically engineered algae. The algae loses its chlorophyll when it dies, leaving white fibers. Some specialty companies grow strains of algacotton that are naturally colored with dyes similar to the dyes found in fall leaves.

Algacotton looks and feels similar to regular cotton, but is stronger and more absorbent

Buckyballs or Buckminsterfullerine (C60)

In the mid twentieth century, an inventor/engineer named R. Buckminster Fuller invented the geodesic dome. It was later postulated that carbon atoms could form a molecule that is shaped like a geodesic dome. Soon thereafter, these C60 molecules were manufactured and found in nature (including in space).

Larger forms, like C72, can also be made.

It was later postulated that carbon atoms could be made to form tubes. This resulted in the invention of the carbon nanotube.

In the early 21st century, it was found that subjecting C60 buckyballs to 200 atmospheres and heating them to 2226 degrees C would produce a substance harder than a diamond — aggregated carbon nanorods (ACNR)

"Cupid's Knife"

A twisted perversion of the IPPI technology, this gruesome device is a helmet-sized unit that is specifically tuned to cause a severely painful reaction in the nervous system whenever it detects certain kinds of thoughts. It's terrible purpose was described as follows by it's original 'inventor':

"Made this little number on a bad Crystal trip back in college, see? It clamps right HERE. VERY stylish. VERY nice… Nice like a pop-quiz from hell… Because what you say… It doesn't really matter to the Knife… Any time you think bad thoughts about me, the Knife is gonna hurt you. Only way for the pain to stop is to submit. To surrender, to GIVE IN. To… Love… Me… You might beat the lie detectors, you might beat the Psychics, but they tire. The Knife just keeps going… And going… And going…"

Dimensional Drive Thruster or DDT

The Dimensional Drive Thruster, DDT, is a continuation of the development of non-reaction mass drive technology. Building on theories developed for the Synergy Thrusters, the DDT does not 'push' against matter in the current dimension like a normal Synergy type thruster, but rather, against dimensional barriers. As such, the DDT is not usable in atmosphere or in close proximity to planetary bodies. It's high thrust to weight ratio and relatively low energy consumption makes it a useful drive system for space launched vehicles, or as a secondary drive for vehicles that launch and land on a planet's surface.

One of the drive systems limitations is that it is a low impulse drive system, it takes time to build up or shed speed.

The higher mathematics used to develop the DDT are understood by very few people, mostly those working with theoretical mathematics and quantum mechanics. Its for this reason that the drive system has been nicknamed by the techs that service the system 'Demented Thrusters'. The name has become popular with the general public.

Dimensional Power Module or DPM

After finding connections to other dimensions, Synergy found a way to put electrical power into some kind of battery. The dimensional shift increased the power, to extremely great heights. The catch is that the (re-)charge of a DPM needs to be done simultaneously with electrical power, high pressure and high temperature. To achieve this you'd need three elementals working simultaneously to charge the DPM or it can be done by one powerful Energy Converter.

eBoard:

An eBoard is essentially a computer monitor that is used where chalkboards were traditionally used. It can be used to display anything a traditional computer monitor can display, and can be written on by an eChalk. Presentations can be recorded or networked live to multiple classrooms.

The first eBoards were expensive novelties in the late twentieth century, and were known as electronic chalkboards or electronic whiteboards.

OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode), electronic paper, and other technology reduced the cost of the eBoard, and allowed them to become as common in the classroom as video walls are in the home.

eCom

Seen in Sanura's tale and Grey
Short for entertainment communicator a successor to the mobile phone of today. A portable device that is available in many styles and designs. This device is capable of the following tasks

* Three-dimensional hologram recording (Holograms can be played back on select models or auxiliary devices)
* Audio and video recording and playback
* Internet browsing
* Worldwide satellite telephone
* HD Digital camera

Energy Drink:

Energy drinks are the successors to the energy drinks of the late twentieth century, which were themselves the successors to an early commercial product known as 'Gator-Ade'

Energy drinks use are spin-offs of the stim packs that were developed to help people get through MORFS quickly.

Energy drinks were developed for athletes, but soon became popular with elementals, telekinetics, and other MORFS survivors who often need a quick dose of nutrition.

HEFW7 (High Energy Flechette Weapon)

A recent development in small arms weapon technology. This weapon is designed to counter advances in armour technology that increasingly makes armour piercing rounds ineffective.

Based a coil or gauss gun design it uses a series of powerful electro magnets to accelerate a projectile to very high velocity imparting huge amounts of kinetic energy allowing it to punch straight through most forms of armour. It's very high firing rate and almost zero recoil allows it to send a large number of Flechettes at a target in a small space of time.

One of the inherent downsides of normal Flechettes is they penetrate well but cause very little tissue damage, to counter this the HEFW7 Flechettes are less like the stereotypical needles or darts but are based on a development of experimental SCIMTR type projectiles flat razor edged metal arrows with twisted fins that once fired spin for greater accuracy. Their flat broad cross-section causes a more disabling wound than a equivalent density needle shape would. While this increases the lethality of the weapon it also increases the cost to manufacture the projectiles. Advances in manufacturing techniques make these rounds more practical but still very expensive making this a very specialist weapon.

The small package and near silent operation are made possible by advances in superconductors and power storage, it is made from fully solid state components and contains no moving parts making it very reliable and perfect for applications where stealth is required.

It is not widely deployed given the expense of manufacturing the weapon and its ammo but it's stealth and effectiveness mean it is popular with special forces and some of the more elaborate assassins.

HEW3 (non-lethal version of the HEFW7)

First seen in Flying High, byt Stephanie B

A Huey, or more accurately a HEW3, was the latest in non-lethal hand gun technology. Instead of a bullet being fired by a chemical explosion, a Huey used a magnetic field to fire small needle like projectiles. Since these had less weight and little penetrating power, they were one of the few weapons permitted into the city and were widely used by the Tenkei police department. They were also not classified as a firearm. Its main advantage however was that its needles could be loaded with one of several nonlethal drugs to take down a suspect. Its high manufacturing cost was it's only reason for not being adopted by all police forces.

Home Transition Packs

As seen in almost all stories.

Developed to ease the transformation caused by MORFS they make it both quicker and safer. Also enable the user to change in the comfort of their own home freeing up hospitals who only deal with extreme cases.

A variety of styles are available from Intravenous dispensors, energy drinks, to energy bars.

They consist of a mixture of nutrients vitamins and minerals that allow optimum nutrition for those changing, providing the body with all the materials to complete the change without having to cannibalise the host body.

Often coupled with a sedative to make the process of changing less unsettling for the person undergoing it.

IPPI (Invasive Psionic Pattern Inhibitor)

A technological breakthrough in the early 2040s led to the creation of the first electronic thought processor, originally nicknamed IPRU (Integrated Psionic Recovery Unit). It's uses are almost as wide as any biological psion, with it's only limitation being comprehension. IPPI is a modified version that is commonly used in high-profile interrogations. It specifically inhibits certain thoughts and feelings an individual might experience, and is employed as a lie-detector and tranquilizer in many severe criminal cases, as well as being used for the detention of MORF-powered criminals.

Kittybot

A small robotic cat created by Lexi Jones in 2038, shaped like a kitten with aluminium chassis, four legs providing stability while moving with the tail acting as a balance arm. Dual cameras provide stereoscopic vision and two microphones in her "ears" provide directional sound sensing. Touch sensors are located at various point on her chassis to allow her to sense her environment and react to being stroked. She can provide feedback to the world via an array of multi colour lights on her face. Her control systems are based on a combination of technologies, one main conventional processing unit running neural network software with self modifying code and a co-processing unit containing an F.P.G.A. (Field Programmable Gate Array) which allows her to create customised hardware to optimise her functionality and improve her performance. She is a learning machine that responds to her environment reconfiguring her hardware and software to suit. She is powered by conventional batteries and requires charging every day in a little "bed". She acts as a companion to Lexi and a sounding board for her ideas. She appears to have a playful kitten like personality but whether she is truly alive or if she is just an automaton is an open question.

Monomolecular Blades

With the advent of MORFS, certain fictional technologies began to be realized as individuals became more adept with using MORF-induced powers as tools in their creation. Among the first of these technologies to fully be developed into a useable prototype was the concept of a Monomolecular Blade. Working on the simple concept that the thinner the edge, the keener the blade, a monomolecular blade has an edge that is no more than a single molecule wide. This allows it to slip between individual molecules and separate them with almost no force being applied to the edge. Monomolecular weaponry was deemed too expensive for mass-production, and once the millitary contracts died, so did much of the research, though they are still used widely in the world of science where exact cuts are required, as well as in some industrial processes.

n-dimensional pattern physics:

Seen in Better late than never

n-dimensional pattern physics is a new branch of physics.

It is postulated that everything — matter, energy, and things currently undetectable — consist of patterns in n-dimensional space.

It is further postulated that the ability to control these patterns directly account for elemental, telekinetic, telepathic powers, and some of the processing behind those powers and behind the creation of the MORFS changes themselves.

Since no genetic material could be found that codes for TE, TK, and elemental powers, it is postulated that NDPs (n-dimensional patterns) encode the necessary information.

Nanotubes:

Nanotubes are single molecule carbon fibers. They consist of carbon atoms in a hexagonal pattern rolled up into a tube. The diameter of the tube and the angle of the 'chicken wire' varies, and this varies the characteristics of the fibers.

Nanotubes have the highest tensile strength of any known substance.

Nanotubes can be used to reinforce many other materials (metal, glass, ceramics) by mixing the raw fibers into the material. They can also make very high strength composites. Where fiberglass, Kevlar, and graphite fibers were used in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, nanotube composites are now often used.

One of the first commercial use of nanotubes was to create high-impact covers for cell phones. Later, high end sports equipment took advantage of the high strength/weight ratio of this engineering material. The military and police forces soon developed bullet-resistant vests and ballistic armor. Now, it is commonly used in aircraft bodies, car bodies, tools, sports equipment, and anywhere strength is at a premium.

Nanotubes are used in the medical field. Various diagnostic tools are use them, as do several drug delivery systems.

The conductivity of nanotubes vary depending on the configuration. At least one configuration can act as a superconductor. The electrons travel down the center of the tube balistically. There are some losses at either end of the conductor, but those losses are independent of the length of the tube. This makes them useful for winding motors, creating transmission (power) lines, and the like.

Because of their electrical properties, nanotubes are useful for high-speed electronics. They are rapidly replacing silicon as the material of choice.

Nanotube ultracapacitors are used where chemical batteries were before. They rival the energy density of gasoline, and surpass that of most other fuels.

Neosilk

Seen in Journey to humanity, First Hybrid
Neosilk is a synthetic form of silk. Silk protein from genetically engineered bacteria is extruded around a spiral (actually, woven interlocked spirals) of nanotubes. This allows the silk to be spun in much finer strands than are found in nature. The spirals of nanotubes allows the strand to stretch, but only a set distance.

Neosilk has the smooth luxurious slippery feel of natural silk, but more so. It is also stronger than any fabric that isn't reinforced with nanotubes.

It can be used for any type of clothing, but is particularly useful for items where sheerness and smoothness are at a premium. Because of its sturdiness, it has almost totally replaced nylon in sheer stockings — though most people still refer to them as 'nylons'.

Swift or LBSC Swift I, II and III

Seen in Synergy and Higher and Higher.
A type of Aircraft build by a new conglomeration of Lockheed, Boeing and Scaled Composites. They started designing this plane around 2030. The first version was put into production around 2037.

The third version of this plane is fitted with Repulsor type propulsion and lifting mechanisms. They are called Synergy Thrusters named after the initial inventor. DARPA scientists and Maren Zoë Johns aka Synergy developed this technology. The lifting repulsors were already in use with the second version, the propulsion thrusters are a later development.

Synergy Thruster

Seen in "Synergy", "First Hybrid" and "Higher and Higher".
Maren Zoë Johns had been tinkering around the idea for quite a while, but never could get it to work because of the power requirements needed. Then after she gained her energy converter power coupled with an accidental set up she got a prototype working. This was confiscated by the ASA and DARPA, who gave it back a while later to Maren to ask for her help in developing this technology.
The first models needed a hard surface (ground or wall) to push against. In some cases a fluid (water) surface was sufficient.
Later models were equipped with different frequency settings, making them able to push against molecules that were not solidly together.
Meaning it can propel against an atmosphere.
The Thruster does need something to push against though, so in space it is only useable in proximity of another structure.
Some thrusters have been specially modified to act as a sort of shield against spacedebris. They are linked in series for this purpose.

Tablets

Seen in Tale of Jet and Quartz and Angels Tale
General purpose portable computing devices much like the tablets of today. Much more mainstream than tablets currently depending what point in the timeline you are looking at.

In 2030 Quartz's tablet is about a half an inch thick, and 22" by 14" in surface dimensions which is all screen. Off, it looks a LOT like a modern flat screen monitor without the stand. It's got a stylus and the screen operates as a touch screen, as well as USBx ports for peripherals. Like keyboards, drives, holographic monitors, printers, that sort of thing. It also has network ports, and hardware expansion slots. Its the 2030 version of the Ultra High End laptop.

In 2060 the tablets Angel et al use are the niche equivalent of midrange business laptops. The one from the theatre is configured to offer full, portable office functionality to a manager, and includes some games and so on for stress reduction and the like. The tablets at the spa are narrower in function, configured more for AV/text communication within the spa, while offering word processing and other such functions.

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