From cmeadows@nyx.cs.du.edu (Chris Meadows) Subject: [ADMIN] [SereNet] Updated SereNet Listing (Periodical) Date: Tue, 27 Jul 93 19:10:58 GMT It seemed just a bit odd to me that Haven's Rest only had one "message drop"--the bulletin board in Haven's Rest. One would think that in as technologically-advanced a place as the Rift there would be some sort of hyperspatial computer network already in existance, something like a super-advanced combination of Usenet, Internet, and CompuServe. Since this seemed to be lacking from the story thus far, I created one, and ret-conned it into existance. If anyone wants to write some sort of flashback in which it is "created," or explain its past history further, that is fine with me. And anything that needs to be defined, you're welcome to do so. I'll keep up any new features that appear on SereNet (so if you HAVE any new features to put up there, email 'em to me). But I will NOT keep track of what you DO on the net, so don't expect collections of postings. Here's a little suggestion to people who want to post a SereNet posting: put [SereNet] [SERENET] [SereNET] or some other derivative in the header, so people will know to look at it or avoid it if need be. I plan to post this semi-regularly--whenever I think it's needed, or whenever I make a change. I'm trying to make it SIMILAR to, but not identical to current systems, thus there will be different names for the same things we can do today. Here goes! I've noticed that people don't seem to be using SereNet. C'mon, people, I came up with this neat computer system...why doncha USE it? :) ----------------------------------------------------------------- SereNet is a computer service based on Serendipity. It has several main features that would be of use to the average person, as well as having a good deal of utility to businessmen and other people as well. There is a slight fee for subscription, something on the nature of 10-20 credits per month for the basic package, advanced subscriptions costing several times as much (with discounts for businesses or academic institutions), but the fee is slight compared to the benefits of membership. Listed below are some of the services that SereNet offers. DATA STORAGE The basic SereNet account comes with 1 gigabyte of disk space (actually they don't use disks any more, but the term remains). This space is used for storage of any data--saved electronic mail, saved audio/video mail, processing files, utility programs, etc. (Unread mail is stored in a temporary disk until it is read, then erased afterward unless the user saves it to his disk.) Exceeding this space may be penalized by surcharges or, in extreme cases, account deletion. Extra space may be rented at a rate of 20 credits per gigabyte per month. More advanced accounts may have more basic memory and/or pay lower surcharges. UTILITIES There are many utilities available to the average SereNet user, including word processors, spreadsheets, audio/video editors, programming compilers, and other services. The rates for these vary; most basic utilities are free with the basic account, and others may cost from 1 to 10 credits or more per hour of use. More advanced accounts may receive substantial discounts or even free use privileges. ELECTRONIC MAIL SereNet offers an electronic message delivery service; text messages of up to 2 megabytes in length (or up to 20 megabytes if you're an advanced subscriber) will be flashed to their destination anywhere in the Rift usually within an hour or so; other dimensions take a bit of extra time. E-mail privacy is guaranteed (though it is more guaranteed for those who buy privileged subscriptions than for the basic subscribers, of course). There is an allowance of 200 megabytes of free email per month on the basic account, with a 1-credit-per-megabyte surcharge for email exceeding that. More advanced accounts may have larger allowances, or no limits at all. FILE TRANSFER Using the Rapid Internode File Transfer System (RIFTS for short), files can be obtained from anywhere on Serendipity (that isn't top-secret restricted, anyway) or within the Rift at rates ranging from 100 kilobaud up to 30 megabaud (though the average rate is usually between 300 and 1800 kilobaud). There is a free allowance of 1 gigabyte of data transfer per month, with a 1-credit-per-megabyte surcharge for transfers surpassing that on the basic account. More advanced accounts may have larger allowances, or no limits at all. VIRTUAL INTERFACE This part of the system is for those with cyberjacks or tactile-interface VR suits. It allows simulations of activities and places in the "real world" that are experienced through interfacing with the brain. The VR interface may be used in the performance of various standard functions, such as email or RIFTS--the system uses icons to make these tasks easier. Other VR activities include teleconferencing and remote access to other computers, personal and business, that are a part of the SereNet network. On the lighter side, there are also VR games and recreation activities connected to SereNet. One of these, called Serendipity^2, is a simulated replica of Serendipity which may be used for tours, disaster simulation, or even games. Other games are available, as well. There is an allowance of 100 hours of VR interface per month on the basic account, with a 10 credit per hour surcharge for additional time. More advanced accounts may have larger allowances, or no limits at all. AUD/VID COMMUNICATION For those people who do not have access to VR equipment, as well as those for whom it is inconvenient, SereNet offers audio/video communications, either in real-time or "image mail". Local AV communications is usually free with the basic account, but long-distance transmissions may have per-minute surcharges ranging from from .05 to 20 credits or higher. Higher-level accounts may pay lower surcharges, or no surcharges at all. NEWSGROUPS A wide variety of discussion groups for message posts is available on SereNet. These range from topics of local interest, such as local concerts or politics, etc., to topics of universal discussion, like astronomy or starship repair. They vary from entertainment to business, from the techical to the merely silly. There are thousands of groups available, and group service and posting is free and unlimited to any class of account. These groups are named with two, three, or more-part names with the parts separated by periods. The prefixes each denote different areas of interest. local Topics local to the civilized area surrounding Haven's Rest. music Topics dealing with some facet of music. seren Topics relative to the planet Serendipity (and to some extent the Rift) univr Topics with universal interest Some groups include local.havens-rest Gossip on what's been happening at Haven's Rest lately local.rocknroll. Information on upcoming rock and concerts roll concerts (is there any other kind?) music.fan.red-rain Fan group devoted to the music group Red Rain music.fan.undertakers Fan group devoted to the music group The Undertakers music.havens-rest What's playing at the Haven's Rest seren.culture About whatever culture Serendipity has, if any at all (hey, does the Hive count?) seren.hive Speculation on the Hive seren.radio Serendipity local radio seren.serenet SereNet discussions seren.tourism Serendipity Tourism information seren.weird.alien. Discussion about the strangest ships alien starship designs seen in or around Serendipity univr.hyperspace Discussion of hyperspaces, sometimes including the Rift univr.hyperspace. Comparing various methods of travel hyperspace travel, information univr.other. Discussion of dimensional travel. dimensions Places like Arkham-Earth, Krynn, and the Dragon's Inn often come up, as well as other worlds accessible from the Rift NEWS SERVICE SereNet has up-to-the-second press coverage through direct feeds to news services all over the Rift and in several other dimensions, too (even the Generican Examiner). This coverage includes major news events, stock market quotes, sports, weather, et cetera. News coverage is usually rapid, except in the case of other dimensions, where it may take days to filter through. (Note: In actuality, most extradimensional news is so well hidden under lots of menus and things that most people don't know it exists; and many of those who do are not assured of its credibility.) An interesting aspect of this service is the comment space under each article. Readers are invited to leave comments if they feel something needs to be said, and provided up to ten lines each in which to pose these comments, then sign their names or distinctive "handles" denoting their identity; these comments are then time-stamped and left to be seen by subsequent readers. (This feature was added because brilliant hackers were hacking into the news articles themselves to add their comments, and the SereNet managers figured this was cheaper than totally redesigning their news software. BTW, these comments should probably be in the Shadowrun format, like in the sourcebooks.) (NOTE: Any nicknames or handles people use in their own posts to alt.pub.havens-rest to make their own comments are considered their own characters and not to be used by anyone else without permission.) Other than normal news, the news service also contains sports, weather reports and travel advisories, space navigation hazards, and other pertinent information. As with regular news, space is provided for readers to leave their own comments. (Note re the timestamping: Since Serendipity has a revolution period of approximately 30 hours, I guess we use a 30-hour clock, with times from 0:00:00 to 29:59:59? But what about dates? What year is the current calendar? What is it based on? (Probably basing it on the crash-landing would be the best idea.) Does it use the standard months, or what?) MULTI-USER CHAT AREAS A multiplicity of multi-user chat conferences are available in both VR and textual interface (there are even some that experiment in VR/text or VR/reality interface). They are available on a variety of subjects, from rock music to astro-navigation. A variety of actions are also possible, especially in VR chat areas, including some which are better left up to the individual's imagination. Some of these chat areas are free; others generally cost one credit per hour for the basic package, in addition to any VR connect charges. More advanced accounts may receive additional or all chat areas for free. ENTERTAINMENT SERVICE Music, videos, concerts, movies, books, magazines, etc. are available over SereNet for a slight subscription fee (higher-level accounts may get discounts or even free access). SereNet often tries to discourage independant radio and TV operations, because they don't want the competition. The shows are usually burst-transmitted over the net (or hyperspace beam for starships) for a fee, usually 2 to 5 credits per hour, or up to 20 credits or more per hour for a major event (pay-per-view). HOME SHOPPING SereNet offers the services of over 100 retailers, both on Serndipity and in the most-accessible nearby dimensions. Orders are placed, with a slight fee added for use of the service, and most products will arrive within several days (sometimes within hours). Several local restaurants have registered with this service, taking delivery and carry-out orders through the SereNet network, and groceries may also be ordered in this manner. For the basic account, the fee charged is usually something like 4% of the total value of orders made during the month up to 10,000 credits, and 3% of the total value if more than 10,000 credits is ordered. More advanced accounts may pay substantially less for use of this service, or nothing at all. MULTI-DIMENSIONAL SERVICE SereNet, being at the nexus of a series of Rifts, has taken advantage of advanced methods for access between dimensions. Some of these methods are fairly standard (messages being stored in the computer of a starship passing through a regular commercial Rift shipping route, then transmitted from the other side); others involve more esoteric means (which no one outside of extremely high-level SereNet employees are privy to. It has been rumored that even those executives do not know how this interdimentional service works). What does SereNet connect to in other dimensions? In some cases, there is actually a branch of SereNet present in these other dimensions, though under a different name. In other cases, it simply taps into a local, unrelated computer service or network (such as Internet). In most cases, there is a substantial time-delay for interdimensional delivery, ranging from days to possibly even months, and sometimes the messages don't even get through at all. Note that interdimensional netrunning is usually quite impossible, and often there are surcharges when interdimensional service is used.