Cultural Carp

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Harvey
Ghost of Christmas Past
Posts: 1780
Joined: Thu Nov 25, 2010 3:27 pm

Cultural Carp

Post by Harvey »

Since I'm abandoning story-based writing, gunna be this for a while.


Bracelets

While the Favored live in a relatively high-tech society, with holovision TVs and monorail transportation systems, not to mention the genetic combination lab of Basin and ever-present AURA Facilities, probably the most conspicuous element of Favored culture, at least to outsiders, is the bracelet.

Bracelets are a small combination of electronics, worn about the wrist similar to a watch. They consist of speakers, a microphone, a tracking beacon, and a transmitter to AURA. Bracelets have no screen, reacting only to voice commands, but this is not much of an issue since a bracelet is merely a link to AURA and AURA is an intelligent enough computer to understand contextual and other vague commands and requests. Bracelets are configured with a citizen’s ID number and that ID number only activates one bracelet at a time, so owning more than one is pointless as all others will be inactive.

If Page wishes to call his friend Penny, he merely needs to say something along the lines of “Attempt to connect to Penny” and AURA, aware of Page’s recent call history with Penny, will connect to the proper bracelet despite potentially hundreds of Pennys out there. Penny’s bracelet will then inform her that Page wishes to connect, and she may choose to open the connection, send a short reply explaining why she doesn’t want to (“I’ll be busy for a while, sorry” or “It’s loud here; I’ll call you back” or “I told you to stop stalking me!*”) or simply not answer, in which case Page will be informed that Penny did not answer. If the call is successful, both people can talk normally until one wishes to end the call. This function is basically like a hands-free telephone with really strong reception. Most Favored use them heavily for work meetings and social interaction, with the most reclusive using them nearly entirely in lieu of face-to-face meetings.

(* this is a joke. Penny would simply ask AURA to reject all calls from Page and he would automatically get the no-answer message every time he tried to call)

Bracelets can also be used to directly ask AURA questions or request assistance in certain tasks. Someone looking for a certain store may attempt to explain the destination in mind; if AURA can understand the description, it will provide directions; otherwise it will ask pointed questions asking for clarification. People can also ask AURA to help with simple tasks, such as adding up numbers, remembering a list of items, or prompting a bracelet call at a certain time or when certain conditions are filled. Depending on the person and the job, the direct person-AURA interaction can get tremendous use, as AURA knows and sees nearly everything in Favored society, making it invaluable for certain jobs that require long-term planning and large amounts of data.

The final function of every bracelet is to allow AURA to know where that person is at any given time and, if necessary, to enable the microphone to listen in or the speakers to speak directly without prompt. While we would see this as a disturbing breech of privacy, the Favored have lived with AURA for their entire existence and most trust it like a mother or a goddess. In any event, most citizens have nothing to really worry about; AURA tracks everyone but isn’t out to persecute people for little offenses. And if AURA speaks up, its usually to warn of some impending danger that the person may not be aware of, so that’s nice.

Bracelets come in a variety of styles, colors, and technical add-ons. The standard issue bracelet is functional and provided freely by the government. More aesthetically pleasing ones are relatively cheap. Bracelets that support add-ons such as a wireless headset connection or a HUD for receiving image files cost a bit more, but not much.

Bracelet laws and taboos are known widespread, with the most common being:
1. Bracelets must be worn at all times in public with only several exceptions.
2. They may be taken off in private (i.e. in any dwelling, not necessarily the bracelet owners’) for any reason.
3. They may be taken off during any activity that requires exposure to a large amount of water, such as bathing, swimming, or jobs that involve water or liquids. HOWEVER, rain alone is not a reason to remove a bracelet, and citizens must take reasonable measures to ensure that their bracelet remains dry in the rain. Plastic coverings are common and cheap.
4. Certain jobs where the bracelet can pose a health hazard (such as operating machinery where a bracelet may get snagged, potentially damaging the arm) may be given special status where bracelets are stored in a known, secure location for the duration of the work.
5. Once any given exception activity is complete, the bracelet must be put on before the person leaves the area.

Damaged or lost bracelets must be replaced at the soonest possible opportunity. Generally, 24 hours after the damage is detected or the user is pretty sure it’s lost for good. Several days is pushing it, but they understand; we’re all busy. Most Favored find them so useful that they want to replace them quickly, and most jobs will give the person immediate leave to get a new bracelet if they bring it up.

Being stopped on the street without a bracelet (but other proof of citizenship, which isn’t hard for most Favored to find) because the bracelet is damaged or lost isn’t a crime, but the officers will escort the citizen to a bracelet distribution center for a new bracelet unless there is an extreme pending emergency. Being stopped without a bracelet, but the bracelet is at home (or elsewhere) and functioning IS a crime, but most Favored get off with a warning unless they are repeat offenders (and, if they are, AURA knows.) Being stopped without a bracelet when you’re a foreigner is big, big trouble. Being stopped while wearing someone else’s bracelet… let’s just say you’d better have a GREAT story.

Bracelets only function within proximity to Real Diamond, or close to smaller, developed towns, as that is where the AURA network is. Favored that work in the remote areas of the country, at sea, or abroad can buy (or are provided with by work) a sort of telephone that functions as a bracelet communicator. They are clunky and generally undesireable, but it's the only way they have to stay in touch with home.

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