A personal directory system.

[MR TEK]

This is as much flavor as anything else. Primarily starports, but transport hubs, accodations, on starships, traning facilities, etc.

Start with computers being a bit more sophistiocated than traveller gives crdit for. (I would love to have that discussion in an appropreate forum)

Now, low tech would use a tagging system, a radio tracker or a badge with a bar code that can be convenently read. Higher tech would use a system that actually tracked the person directly. then you simply have a large set of holo displays, phased so tha a specific display is only visable to the person it is aimed at.

Instant personal directional system. "Just follow the displayes to your room in the 'E' tower. And then at 7:00 follow them to the east promiade for your dinner reservations. And enjoy your stay at the Highport hilton"

Of course some joker will inevitably decide to sell ad space on the system, but it adds a great bit of atmosphere.

Mr TEk

 

[Spinward Scout]

I think they had some ad system like you're talking about in Minority Report. Pretty annoying if you are trying to stay incognito, if I remember right.

Later,

Scout

 

[womble]

The ad system in Minority Report was based on iris-scanning, I think, same as the bus charging system.

Making visuals only visible to one user might best be done with a personal HUD; 'pends on how refined/prevalent holotech is in YTU, but a little ocular overlay might be significantly easier to arrange than holograms anyway.

 

[MR TEK]

THat such a system is both an anoyance due to ads, and REALLY screws up pc's trying to pass themselves off as someone else is kind of the point.

I had used such a system in my tu back in the early 80's, but yes Minority report catures the essance quite nicly, though I always picured it as a high tech replacement for posted guide maps, and hall line painintings used in the real world.

Jim R

 

[womble]

Ray-bans (or other good sunnies). No way you can scan an iris through 'em. If advertising like in Min Rep started being commonplace, *everyone* would wear 'em. Or 'generic iris' contact lenses, though these'd be a pain for the bus fare...

I was thinking of the HUD system as being more suitable for directions etc; it would be confusing to see everyone's 'follow-me's and etchnically difficult to hide holo from all but the intended viewer(s).