Editing FederalSpace:Technology (section)

==== Communications ====

Physical jacks, lasers, radio, and sonar. The FTL comm, as according to the scale rule (above), is building-sized only.

Translator programs are quite good, but each program only handles one language combination; the more you run at once, the slower the results. Imagine diplomatic gatherings, with each attendee carrying or wearing a translator computer—pausing every few moments to listen to the translation. Human translators can greatly speed up the process, and of course the best answer is always to learn the language yourself. 

As I said, I'm cool with passive neural input devices—akin to those being experimented with so paraplegics can use computers, and amputees can maneuver their bionic limbs more effectively. But computer-to-brain input makes me hesitate—it breaks the flavor. 

Presumably, any inhabited world has a computer net. The core worlds have ubiquitous coverage; colonies might have, or might have only a few core computers and limited terminal access. 

Physical mail can be sent very rapidly, thanks to transport, though transport direct-to-person is reserved for items of the utmost importance.