Post by Lorpius Prime on Jan 14, 2011 22:43:55 GMT -5
Communications
Interstellar communication is limited to the speed of hyperdrive. Messages must be physically carried aboard a ship to arrive in a useful time frame. Most starships make a small income on each journey to another system carrying messages. A few more remote systems must rely on scheduled courier visits, rather than regular commercial traffic.
Volumetric Displays (Holograms)
No.
At least, the IS tech-base (and who could be more advanced?) is not capable of producing practical, free-standing volumetric displays.
Artificial Gravity
Yes.
Sub-light Ship Propulsion
Artificial gravity used for inertia-less travel. Military and recreational vessels sometimes have high-efficiency rockets for boosted acceleration.
Artificial Intelligence
Commercially produced AIs are a fundamental part of the operating system of most computerized equipment. They are "smart" by the measure of their computational abilities, and are perfectly capable of understanding and participating in ordinary conversation. For the most part, however, they lack creativity, initiative, and some would even say personalities.
Androids
Robotic companions for living creatures, animated by an artificial intelligence. They are possible, but rare, mostly due to the personality deficiencies of AIs.