New Submissions
Sitting before you is a mass of gears, clogs, wooden armatures and springs. This messy, bulk device can talk to its mate across any space. Each of these is made in pairs, and each one holds a special crystal that was split into two pieces and each have put into one of the Aetherschreibers, allowing them to listen to each other, and to speak to one another. The clock work armature turns the movement of the attached pen into vibrations the travel into the crystal and so into the aether and back out through the mate crystal and back into vibrations that move the armature (with the aid of clockwork) to write on paper what was written.
Adapted from Newton’s Cannon and A Calculus of Angels, Books One and Two of The Age of Unreason written by J. Gregory Keyes
June 9, 2005, 20:34
Another issue would be that they are ony keyed to one other crystal, which means that even if the device were common it doesn't help much.
With a few minor tweaks though, this could be quite the creation.
June 9, 2005, 20:38
June 9, 2005, 20:41
4/5.
June 10, 2005, 9:06
That fact that each is attuned to only one other crystal is a limitation, but with the proper organisation this can be overcome relatively easily (one machine in each village and a central exchange in the local market town with machines linked to each of them)
Anteaus, this is the best yet - keep up the good work - 4/5
June 10, 2005, 9:43
ah... Modern military theory in application.
A couple of these devices would give any military an unfair advantage over another. Even given similar armaments, communication and logistics are key to superior effectiveness in the field... able to rapidly give location information and re-direct troops and supplies would make a small force able to take down a larger force (even though that larger force might be superior on the battlefield). The command lag of a few minutes should be compared to the command lag of a couple of days between the riding of scouts and the riding of messengers. The smaller force could out manuver the larger force (by letting scouting unit cut their information lag to nothing), cut supply lines, and take out elements of the force as they were re-deployed away from the main force. Sure they are not a panacea and will not ensure victory, but it will give a small force a decisive edge. Besides if they have these, what other marvelous toys will they have?
June 10, 2005, 12:42
July 28, 2005, 21:31
November 27, 2005, 21:08
November 28, 2005, 10:43
April 12, 2007, 20:45
December 15, 2008, 8:12
April 29, 2013, 21:32