Your Agent
How You Stay in Touch with others
In the Time of the Red, the cell phone of the 2000s
has been replaced by a device a generational
step beyond its predecessors. Even back in 2013,
cellphones could make calls, record information,
take pictures, and record music. Some could even
download movies and TV. But the Agent is the new
tech solution and goes a lot further than simply
taking your calls.
▶ Agent AI ◀
What makes your Agent unique is its Self-Adaptive AI (SAAI)—the programming that operates your Agent. It's not a true AI, but rather a set of interlocking programs that manage data and "learn" how to do things by interacting with its owner. This allows the Agent to manage your life—to make sure you have the time to do what you need instead of going to the store or washing the laundry. ▶ What Your Agent Can Do ◀
Let's start with basic "phone" functions. Sure, you can use your Agent to make phone calls in voice, or flatscreen. You can record your calls, forward them, or even put them on answer mode. But why stop there? Like a real agent, your Agent can also manage your calls. If you're trying to locate a person, your Agent will not only scan the local Data Pool to get their location from their Agent but can also place the call for you. If you don't have time to talk, it can generate a realistic talking headshot of you compiled from the times you've used it; the headshot can deliver messages or act as an answering machine. Your Agent can also screen your calls, tailoring the headshot's response to each caller as needed (nice for a client, nasty for a solicitor) and telling you what's been done in each case, using one of the hundreds of possible downloadable "voices" it can access for itself. Finally, your Agent can send or receive text messages as well as download screamsheet (news) updates keyed to particular subjects you want to keep ▶ Getting Personal ◀
Your Agent is also your backup memory. Not only can it keep appointments for you like an organizer, but it can act on them. Let's say you have an anniversary. Tell the Agent the person and date. Not only will it remind you, but you can set it up to scan its personal data base on the person in question and use the data to pick out a gift. It'll ask you ahead of time if the gift would be acceptable; if it is, the Agent orders the gift, pays for it out of your cred account, and has it delivered to the recipient—all via the Data Pool. Your Agent also acts as a portable "farley file"—compiling information about the people you associate with, either by noting your interactions with them, or by interrogating their Agents to ask for data (like phone numbers or personal preferences). ▶ Let's Get Even More Personal ◀
Your Agent doesn't have to be a lifeless tool. With upgrades, you can give it a surrogate personality with a name, voice, and even a avatar in the form of a face and body. You can call it by name, ask it to do things, or even set it to call you and talk to you as though it were a real person. Some lonely souls stationed on distant transport runs or orbital stations have been known to reprogram their Agents to act as surrogate lovers as well as personal assistants (with the aid of specific cybernetically driven "enhancements" to meet very specific needs). ▶ Database ◀
Need information? Forget using a Data Term. Your Agent has autonomous search functions that let it do research for you. Ask your Agent to find you information on a topic, and it cruises the Data Pool looking for facts. It can compile those facts into a simplified report format (you choose the report parameters) that can be delivered through text, graphics, or voice. Your Agent can also scan the Data Pool to locate a person, place, or thing. You can tell it to display the result as a map, a GPS guide, or a vocal file. ▶ Lifestyle Manager ◀
Your Agent can be linked to most of the appliances in your Conapt. It talks to your fridge and your cupboards to ask them if you need food; if you're running out of items on your shopping list it can be set to order more supplies and have them delivered to your door. It even talks to the toilet paper roller to make sure you never run out. You can hook your Agent up to talk to your clothes—the digital fabric tells your Agent when it's getting worn out, lets the Agent know what it is, where it was purchased, and from where to order a replacement. You can hook your Agent into most of the devices in your life: if your fancar needs maintenance, it'll schedule an appointment with the mechanic; if your weapons need cleaning or repairs, it'll tell you that, too. The Agent even monitors your body signs if you ask; if you're wounded, it can scan your body and call the Trauma Team if you link it to a Biomonitor. ▶ Entertainment ◀
Your Agent is also your main entertainment conduit. Forget about lugging around those old-school music players, MPEG pods, or entertainment dataslivers. Your Agent can store thousands of hours of programming: music, video, movies, games. It can display them on its own onboard LCD or automatically seek out any unused video/audio screen in the area and project its programming though that. With digital fabrics, it can even project your favorite entertainment onto your clothes. Your Agent takes note of the entertainment programs you watch; after the second time you watch, your Agent will automatically download future episodes for you from the DP. It'll also keep track of similar kinds of programs and flag a sample episode for you to watch. And if its storage memory gets overloaded, it can automatically download unused data into backup memory modules (which it can buy and have delivered to your Conapt) where it can access them at any time. ▶ What Your Agent Can Carry ◀ While not fully functional computers, Agents do have access to many computer program functions as well. They can word process using voice or a Virtuality keyboard, downloading the output to Data Pool or a hardcopy printer. They can record images in 2- or 3D (depending on the model) and upload the images to the Data Pool. Onboard programs can be used to mix music, create special effects, even generate CGI imagery. With links to flop-screens and music synths, you can even use an Agent to play a gig. track of. In short, having an Agent is like having a personal secretary equipped with a phone, TV, recording studio, entertainment system, computer, medical alert button, personal organizer, and online shopping service all in a box about the size of a pack of cigarettes. ▶ Agency and Data Pool Links ◀ But all this power isn't much use without a hookup, neh? And that means Agency. You'll need a service provider to sell you that Agency-connectivity. No one company owns connectivity; there are millions of providers and new ones rezzing in every day. They put up a few wireless nodes and link cheater software into the existing nodes that are already active. No one owns all the nodes, but since every new node simply increases the reach, existing providers are happy to let new guys link in. The cost of your Agency is included in any Lifestyle.
What makes your Agent unique is its Self-Adaptive AI (SAAI)—the programming that operates your Agent. It's not a true AI, but rather a set of interlocking programs that manage data and "learn" how to do things by interacting with its owner. This allows the Agent to manage your life—to make sure you have the time to do what you need instead of going to the store or washing the laundry. ▶ What Your Agent Can Do ◀
Let's start with basic "phone" functions. Sure, you can use your Agent to make phone calls in voice, or flatscreen. You can record your calls, forward them, or even put them on answer mode. But why stop there? Like a real agent, your Agent can also manage your calls. If you're trying to locate a person, your Agent will not only scan the local Data Pool to get their location from their Agent but can also place the call for you. If you don't have time to talk, it can generate a realistic talking headshot of you compiled from the times you've used it; the headshot can deliver messages or act as an answering machine. Your Agent can also screen your calls, tailoring the headshot's response to each caller as needed (nice for a client, nasty for a solicitor) and telling you what's been done in each case, using one of the hundreds of possible downloadable "voices" it can access for itself. Finally, your Agent can send or receive text messages as well as download screamsheet (news) updates keyed to particular subjects you want to keep ▶ Getting Personal ◀
Your Agent is also your backup memory. Not only can it keep appointments for you like an organizer, but it can act on them. Let's say you have an anniversary. Tell the Agent the person and date. Not only will it remind you, but you can set it up to scan its personal data base on the person in question and use the data to pick out a gift. It'll ask you ahead of time if the gift would be acceptable; if it is, the Agent orders the gift, pays for it out of your cred account, and has it delivered to the recipient—all via the Data Pool. Your Agent also acts as a portable "farley file"—compiling information about the people you associate with, either by noting your interactions with them, or by interrogating their Agents to ask for data (like phone numbers or personal preferences). ▶ Let's Get Even More Personal ◀
Your Agent doesn't have to be a lifeless tool. With upgrades, you can give it a surrogate personality with a name, voice, and even a avatar in the form of a face and body. You can call it by name, ask it to do things, or even set it to call you and talk to you as though it were a real person. Some lonely souls stationed on distant transport runs or orbital stations have been known to reprogram their Agents to act as surrogate lovers as well as personal assistants (with the aid of specific cybernetically driven "enhancements" to meet very specific needs). ▶ Database ◀
Need information? Forget using a Data Term. Your Agent has autonomous search functions that let it do research for you. Ask your Agent to find you information on a topic, and it cruises the Data Pool looking for facts. It can compile those facts into a simplified report format (you choose the report parameters) that can be delivered through text, graphics, or voice. Your Agent can also scan the Data Pool to locate a person, place, or thing. You can tell it to display the result as a map, a GPS guide, or a vocal file. ▶ Lifestyle Manager ◀
Your Agent can be linked to most of the appliances in your Conapt. It talks to your fridge and your cupboards to ask them if you need food; if you're running out of items on your shopping list it can be set to order more supplies and have them delivered to your door. It even talks to the toilet paper roller to make sure you never run out. You can hook your Agent up to talk to your clothes—the digital fabric tells your Agent when it's getting worn out, lets the Agent know what it is, where it was purchased, and from where to order a replacement. You can hook your Agent into most of the devices in your life: if your fancar needs maintenance, it'll schedule an appointment with the mechanic; if your weapons need cleaning or repairs, it'll tell you that, too. The Agent even monitors your body signs if you ask; if you're wounded, it can scan your body and call the Trauma Team if you link it to a Biomonitor. ▶ Entertainment ◀
Your Agent is also your main entertainment conduit. Forget about lugging around those old-school music players, MPEG pods, or entertainment dataslivers. Your Agent can store thousands of hours of programming: music, video, movies, games. It can display them on its own onboard LCD or automatically seek out any unused video/audio screen in the area and project its programming though that. With digital fabrics, it can even project your favorite entertainment onto your clothes. Your Agent takes note of the entertainment programs you watch; after the second time you watch, your Agent will automatically download future episodes for you from the DP. It'll also keep track of similar kinds of programs and flag a sample episode for you to watch. And if its storage memory gets overloaded, it can automatically download unused data into backup memory modules (which it can buy and have delivered to your Conapt) where it can access them at any time. ▶ What Your Agent Can Carry ◀ While not fully functional computers, Agents do have access to many computer program functions as well. They can word process using voice or a Virtuality keyboard, downloading the output to Data Pool or a hardcopy printer. They can record images in 2- or 3D (depending on the model) and upload the images to the Data Pool. Onboard programs can be used to mix music, create special effects, even generate CGI imagery. With links to flop-screens and music synths, you can even use an Agent to play a gig. track of. In short, having an Agent is like having a personal secretary equipped with a phone, TV, recording studio, entertainment system, computer, medical alert button, personal organizer, and online shopping service all in a box about the size of a pack of cigarettes. ▶ Agency and Data Pool Links ◀ But all this power isn't much use without a hookup, neh? And that means Agency. You'll need a service provider to sell you that Agency-connectivity. No one company owns connectivity; there are millions of providers and new ones rezzing in every day. They put up a few wireless nodes and link cheater software into the existing nodes that are already active. No one owns all the nodes, but since every new node simply increases the reach, existing providers are happy to let new guys link in. The cost of your Agency is included in any Lifestyle.
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