Introducing the Information Age, computers are constructs which primarily have synthetic mental abilities, usually only capable of interpreting or executing instructions called software.

Computerized devices come in a variety of forms:

• Mainframes
• Mini-mainframes
• Servers
• Desktops
• Laptops / Netbooks
• Tablets / Smartphones
• Embedded

Manufacturers routinely “retire” old equipment, which they stop manufacturing, selling, or supporting.

This “end of life” equipment carries risks of having unpatched exploits in its code.

Equipment life can be extended by replacing the original code with a more modern work-alike which may still be supported.

Software comes in three template types:

• System Program - operates the hardware and runs the interface for the operator
• Application Program - provides or connects to a service, processes data
• Development Program - allows for debugging or creating new programs

Programmers and spend months or years creating the core of a complex piece of software such as:

• Interface: 1D, 2D, 3D, Neural
• Development: Compiler, Interpreter
• Utility: Transfer, Backup
• Scanner: Sniffer, Intrusion Detector, “Scrutineer”
• Attack: Virus, Trojan, Denial of Service, “Kaos”
• Defense: Hardening, Firewall, Anonymizer, Honeypot, Tarpit,
• Server, Daemon
• Database, Broker
• Client

• “1D” - a plain text or command line interface
• “2D” - a graphical interface using only two-dimensional graphics such as a GUI.
• “3D” - a graphical interface using three-dimensional graphics such as virtual or augmented reality and world simulation
• Neural - a direct connection between the programmer's nervous system and computerized device or network

Software may come from the following sources:

• Commercial, closed source
• Community, open-source

The source of software may affect the quality, availability of support, and compatibility with other software.

A compiled language core or module runs much faster and typically makes more efficient use of memory.

However a compiled core or module must be recompiled when patched or changed, which can be a time consuming process taking minutes or hours, and is generally not possible to do during a specific hacking run.

Programmers may use an interpreted or scripted language for their core or module.

Interpreted cores or modules sacrifice speed and memory efficiency and gain flexibility.

The programmer may stop a running interpreted software, change it, and re-run it easily, allowing for a greater degree of modification and flexibility in short time spans of a hacking run.

Note: From TL+2 (Stellar Age) onward, multiple technology levels become possible in a setting as different distant locations diverge in their technological capabilities and social conventions.

Computers could posses, or grant, bonuses or penalties to the following Attributes:

• Strength (-10 to 0 to +10) - durability?
• Endurance (-10 to 0 to +10) - ability to take damage?
• Agility (-10 to 0 to +10) - penalty or bonus to wearer agility?
• Dexterity (-10 to 0 to +10) - penalty or bonus to wearer dexterity?
• Speed (-10 to 0 to +10) - penalty or bonus to wearer speed?
• Appearance (-10 to 0 to +10) - attractiveness - penalty or bonus to wearer charisma?

Hardware abilities specialize in one of more of five areas:

• Compute: the number of programs a device can run at a time
• Memory: the size of programs a device can run as well as the size of data those programs can process
• Storage: the capacity of the device to hold data even when powered down
• Network: wired/cabled connections or wireless transceiver antenna ports
• Interfacing: the number of plugs, ports, and pins available to connect the device to other devices

So called “smart computers” add electronics, computers, bioengineering, and synthetics bringing mental abilities into play:

• Intelligence (-10 to 0 to +10) - penalty or bonus to intelligence?
• Will (-10 to 0 to +10) - penalty or bonus to willpower and will-based activity such as spellcasting, mysticism, or psionics?
• Ingenuity (-10 to 0 to +10) - penalty or bonus to creativity - could include illicit or illegal compounds?
• Awareness (-10 to 0 to +10) - penalty or bonus to awareness?
• Reflexes (-10 to 0 to +10) - penalty or bonus to reflexes?
• Charisma (-10 to 0 to +10) - penalty or bonus to others perception of you?

• Intelligence - represents the sophistication of the computer's ability to run software
• Will - represents the robustness of the software and its ability to continue running in the face of errors
• Ingenuity - represents the self-modification ability of the software.
• Awareness - represents the amount of sensor monitoring included within the software
• Reflexes - represents the responsiveness and computational benchmark or throughput of the software
• Charisma - represents the ease of use of the software, or user-friendliness

Timeline of computing hardware before 1950

▲ Chronology