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Technology
Topic Started: Dec 15 2010, 11:19 AM (110 Views)
Ricci
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This is one of the pages that needs to be updated for the Site Opening Event

I. Technology
Alright, so do we have flying cars yet?

Alas, no. But things have certainly changed. While Pern does not have electricity, as they found they could not maintain electricity with the resources they had, some clockwork and steam-powered devices have become standard. Not only that, but Healing has improved. Some substances that had been long forgotten to exist have been rediscovered and are being used again, and others are named for old Earth "cousins." Here is a list of how things have changed in the tech-department.



1. Clockwork and Steam-powered devices
--Clocks. Pocket-watches.
Clocks used regularly and frequently, though watches and such are tools for the rich. Most households do not have their own clocks, instead going to the Gather square to see the clock tower. At the Weyr, there are seven public clocks. One in the Dining Area, one in the Formal Hall, one in both the Weyrling and Wherling Barracks, one in the Candidate Barracks, one in the Bowl, and one by the entrance of the Hatching Cavern. The Weyrwoman and Wherwoman/man both enjoy large private clocks in their room, and Weyrleaders and Wherleaders are given pocket-watches upon their bonded's success in mating with the ranking female.
Note: In Canon, there are 26 hours in a day. However, here at CWW, we are going to keep it relatively simple, and maintain the 24 hour days that we have here on Earth.
--Clockwork Toys and Music Boxes.
Toys for the rich, the priveledged, and the Crafty, clockwork toys and music boxes are the envy of every child. Small wagons that can go by themselves, (something that people are unable to achieve on the larger scale, even!), and little walking men among other things are toys that children can wind up and watch them go over and over again. Music boxes are frequently given as wedding gifts, and are often passed down through generations. The oldest known music box currently is at Fort Hold with the Lord family, at nearly one hundred and fifty turns of age. It is valued at well over 5,000 Marks now, which is enough to start a mid-sized Hold!
People who would have access to the average clockwork toys and music boxes include:
Wealthy Lords and Ladies
Master Crafters
Weyrleaders
Clockwork Crafters
--Steam Powered Machinery
Powering the richest ships of Pern is steam, chugging through copper pipes that turn green from oxidation maybe a little too quickly. Steam has been used experimentally to make car-like vehicles, however there is not much call for them on Pern, where roads have never properly been paved, and Holds are too small to justify taking a vehicle from one place to another. Runnerbeasts are still the primary mode of transport, and with alternatives such as dragons for those who have access, there is not much reason to develop such things.
--Crystal Waters Weyr's Sands Heating System
Unique to Crystal Waters Weyr where the Sand is not naturally heated, a complex system of pipes run steam through them at all times once a female has Risen. It takes approximately one sevenday to make the expansive Sands the appropriate temperature through and through, and another sevenday to cool down. Far beneath where the Sands actually are, Smiths run the Steam Room next to the smithy and Weyrfolk who are not otherwise given a craft often rotate to the Steam Room for duty. It takes twenty men and women to run the steam room at a minimum, with an ideal number of thirty. They work in 4 hour shifts in the Steam Room, as it is too hot to work longer before they move on to water-drawing, an equally difficult job with just as many perils, as they must haul salt-water up from the ocean, or to another job, the job of cleaning and replacing pipes. Even when the Sands are not being heated, the Steam Room is a full-time job, with constant repairs being made to the pipes.

2. Medical Advances in the Healer Craft
--Psychology and Psychiatry
Under the title of "Mindhealer," Healers have begun to take a more avid interest in the human psyche. As society becomes more and more strained by the stress of Thread and sickness, Healers have seen that depressed and anxious individuals take the hardest toll and work hard to fix this. Through turns of trial and error, they have learned that talk-Healing alone is not always enough, and have employed herbs and special diets to help suffering indivudals. Currently being researched are disorders such as personality disorders and schizotypical disorders, the latter being known as "Schism DIsorders," as the records from old Earth were too corrupt to find the original words. Healers have begun to consider that not all "evil" people are evil, but that they may suffer from some sort of mental illness.
--Blood Transfusions
Healers are currently researching what makes some blood transferrable and others not. If you know how they can do it, let us know!
--Prosthetics
Simple prosthetics are now fairly regular, with well-made legs for those who have lost legs, and hook-arms for those without arms. They are usually made of a combination of copper, which is a light metal, and light woods.
--Surgery
Amazing advances have been made in surgery! It is now possible for Healers to amputate an arm or leg with a very high rate of survival, as well as remove penetrative objects from deep within the body. Organ removal such as appendectomies are now performed, especially since Healers have learned what causes the symptoms of various inflamed or sick organs. Transplant is not yet possible, but being researched. Additionally, vasectomies are possible and are performed on sexual criminals without negative affect aside from psychological, and Caesarean Sections are becoming more common, though often women are unable to become pregnant after they have had a C-Section. Nevertheless, the heightened survival rate is an amazing medical advance!

3. Rubber, foil, and other Thread-proof materials
--Rubber
Originally thought by the first Pernese colonists to be impossible to produce on Pern as Pern seemed to have no natural Rubber Tree analogs, it has been discovered by Western Continent settlers that there are trees very similar to the Rubber Trees found on Earth. These trees produce a sap very similar to latex in its properties, and primarily through chance, a Glass Smith discovered its rubbery properties. It took fifty some-odd turns, but eventually rubber was beginning to be produced on a semi-regular basis. Now, these Rubber trees have been planted on other continents, and though rubber production is low, rubber is considered a precious commodity, as it has been found to be impermeable to Thread. The very richest caravans prefer to use Rubber over foils, as it has a lower tendency to tear and create weak spots, though it is heavier.Rubber is used even by poorer wagons, however, as emergency wheel covers. These reusable covers slip over the wheel at the first sign of thread so that the wagon can be left exposed to the elements while humans and animals take shelter in whatever place they can (considering how hard it could be to fit a wagon into a small outcropping, for example).
--Foils
Used as an expensive but necessary shield against Thread, Caravan wagons are covered in the thinnest possible metal foils. While they are not nearly so thin or flexible as foils found on Earth in our modern day, they have already saved many goods from Thread, causing the Thread to bounce off. It is not a 100% protection, however, because it tends to tear after some time due to the varying pulls on it, and it is impossible to properly protect the wheels unless you have rubber.
Edited by Ricci, Nov 20 2011, 08:45 PM.
Riders and Wherhandlers:
Wherman Galanaven of Jasper Galanavesk
Head Weyrling Master T'ere of Silver Deruvianth

Crafters and Weyrfolk:
Journeyman Harper Vadoran

Weyrlings and Wherlings:
N/a

Candidates:
Zimarino and Firelizards Orange Jedidiah and Pyrite Ichi
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