4D Enhanciles, Superuser security, and walls of text.

More on Enhanciles

Let's talk some more about the data-spine. The default configuration package has three modes of operation: passive, active, and superuser. In passive mode, the tech is 'folded down' to its minimum area in 4D space and its energy profile is minimized. As Mr. Vincent pointed out, I had entirely neglected to take any sort of security into consideration. Even before getting to the point of superuser ID authentication, there are ways we can minimize the likelihood of malicious tampering. In its passive mode, the enhancile is consuming, and therefore generating, a minimum of energy; it is in fact evenly matched enough that, in theory, the generation and consumption are simultaneous, and its manifestation just sort of floats on currents of information from the fourth dimension; which is to say that there isn't a bunch of unused energy being broadcast out from the operator. The only thing giving it away as being there at all would be an irregular flow of information in the third dimensional space the enhancile is in. I very honestly have no idea how noticeable this is, both to more and less sensitive persons. I'm assuming that it is at least somewhat noticeable, and increases as the enhancile becomes more active, but have yet to have this verified.

Regardless, since the input and output of energy is matched, the other ongoing processes should be masked behind / appear as the flow of information. Chief among these is the trajectory optimization I mentioned. Being 4D, the data-spine has a perspective of time that allows it to automatically steer itself, and thus the operator, towards more optimal timestreams. My default definition for 'more optimal' has been timestreams with more flexibility, personal growth, and interesting and unexpected information; but I see no reason why this definition couldn't be altered to suit differing parameters.

Another background process running in all modes of operation is an alert system that warns the operator in various situations; from psychic vampirism attempts to unauthorized superuser access to potentially hostile spirits, etc. Obviously this bit is pretty important and thus will need to be reinforced and somewhat complex, since without it the operator would be relying on secondary paradigms, which, while certainly capable, still means that the operator is losing a substantial piece of protection. Designing the various failsafes for this system is a high priority for me and I would welcome input.

The operator can tap into the enhancile's more active abilities without actually switching over to active mode - and of course, any of the pieces that deploy in active mode can be utilized individually or in any combination, so it's more of a scale between passive and active. But being able to switch to fully active with a single thought can come in useful. In any case, some of the less-intensive pieces (enhancelets? I kind of like that, actually):

- Augmenting energy manipulation. I'll put this to use both when doing internal energy work, and when working on others - very hand for neck rubs. I don't even have a visual representation for this really, it just feels like flexing a non-physical muscle. I've yet to really find a ceiling on increasing the output and precision, besides the limits of my concentration - the higher the output, the more easily (or perhaps subtly) I become diverted (but that will likely improve with practice).

- A heads-up display. I have not fully manifested this yet but it is something I'm working on pretty actively. I understand what I want it to do and how I would interpret the information, it's just a matter of being able to sustain it. I'm not terrible at visualization but it's not my strongest suit. In any case, it should be able to pull up all sorts of information for you. The feeling I'm getting from this is that it appears like Iron Man's heads-up display, different information floating at different distances. Since energetic awareness isn't really limited by line-of-sight it has a 360 degree display, which is quite a bit easier to sense than the visual portions are to manifest. This one requires more concentration for me to pull up; it would definitely be difficult to maintain it for any length at my current level of skill. That being said it doesn't seem to use too much energy, varying of course with the area being sensed and the depth of scanning going on. The operator should also be able to tag beings, objects, etc, whether with feelings, ideas, or glyphs, which should then come up in the HUD.

Now, at this point on the slider between passive and active, there is a lot of room for innovation. Whole suites of enhancelets are waiting to be designed for any number of purposes. Examples can be found in the few bits that have constructed themselves (or came pre-programmed into) my own rig that manifest in active mode.

Active mode is essentially "I wish to operate at the height of my ability" mode. It requires concentration to maintain, depending on how intensively it is being used. To me, this 'looks' like the data-spine unfolding into something like a hard-light hologram version of Iron Man-esque armor; or like Shiloh Norman's godvision at the end of Seven Soldiers. All of which is made up the flowing (indeed, vorticitating) information of the fourth dimension. I am extremely interested to hear what sort of visual impression operators with different paradigms will have. The armor is around the edge of the energy field that is human-shaped and extends a number of inches outside the body (clarified as there seem to be any number of different energy fields). However, it, is also scalable and can unfold into other pieces. The armor doesn't serve to completely cut the operator off from the environment (unless specifically told to), but rather is a reinforcing of the operator's own energy body. I guess calling it armor at all is somewhat misleading, even though it does strengthen the energy body; it would be just as easy to have it in the form of an archetype or anything really. It appears as armor to me because that looks cool. But I guess that's the point of this, is that all of it could take any form and this is just how I'm looking at it.

A common enhancelet that often deploys of its own accord is some sort of power augmentation unit that functions something like a heat exchanger. At first I took it as a heatsink or something along those lines, but I think it... this isn't how it works, but it's something like it creates a field of negative information, or like an information vacuum, which causes a much huge influx of energy. These enhancelets feel or appear like.. fronds, maybe? that deploy from between the shoulder blade and spine on either side, extending up and out. At times the whole system seems more organic and at others more technological, but I think this is just impacted by the operator's current state of mind. Another related enhancelet is an array of receptors that harvest solar energy; this I've experienced as a 4D bloom of flower-like tech around me, which automatically faces the sun. This produces a less intense, but still ample boost in available energy, but feels much less... I would not say aggressive, but something like that. It's a little more on the passive side of the scale.


The superuser level is used to modify existing tech as well as install new enhanciles. The data-spine doesn't have to be first, but it provides a useful framework that simplifies new additions, whether adding on to it or something unrelated. The superuser level works (as near as I have experienced) just like the metaprogramming circuit, except that the operator is working on the enhancile (if modifying), or installing an entirely new program structure into the consciousness. This obviously requires working on the operator's own consciousness as per regular metaprogramming, there is just an added level (or levels).

In terms of security, in addition to the alert systems noted above, there must be a very thorough superuser ID authentication, otherwise, as the inestimable Mr. Vincent told me, the 4D nature of the tech would be supremely easy to exploit by malicious non-authorized operators. I'm working on the security systems but welcome any and all thoughts on it.

The direction I'm exploring now was helped along by Wolven who suggested, "Explore the idea of Chimera: particular combinations of said info/animal types, the interplay & context of which (gestalt)...is said key. Can't be reproduced, because the meaning of the combination changes In The User. It's a co-evolving ID system." To which I saw, THIS. So I believe it would work something like this, using some made up examples. Say I'm a fellow who wants to enable superuser mode to add some bits. Let's say I have some ongoing relationships with bear spirits, as well as eagles, and that I'm on very good terms with Odin and I guess Thor. When I install the first enhancile, I will, through ritual or some other means, energize my link to Thor, bears, eagles, and Odin. This would probably involve assuming god forms, invocation, offerings... the idea is not that you are just calling on the spirit or god or animal, because that could be easily done by someone else trying to hack your system. Rather, you are empowering the context that the particular symbol holds in your life at that moment, and all the moments up to it, and presumably after as well. The same order would need to be utilized every time (although changing the order, or adding bits to it, should be possible in superuser mode). The gestalt of all of these different vectors couldn't easily be spoofed, because the vectors would be different for the hacker in time leading up to, and after, the hacking attempt. Even if the hacker did match every action you did, physically, mentally, magically, when you went into superuser mode, it still wouldn't work for them, because their narrative is not your narrative; only you have lived this life, all your previous lives, and all your potential future lives. I suppose this would leave you vulnerable to higher-dimensional beings that could conceivably follow your entire narrative by existing outside of, but being able to manifest in, time, but this less of an immediate concern (though definitely needs to be addressed). Anyway, that is the direction that I'm exploring for superuser security, let me know what you all think.


In theory, a user could install enhanciles simply by knowing the idea, reaching the necessary energetic level and willing it. However, I plan to supplement this using tech similar to that of the mystery generators seen here, with the necessary changes in structure and programming. I think knowing the nature of the enhancile would be, if not necessary, then highly beneficial; perhaps one could still get it installed just through the machinery depiction, but it would be kind of like implanting something in your body and having no idea what it is. I am also EXTREMELY interested in using music, either alone or in conjunction with the art-machinery, as a method of installation. I mean, imagine you get a thumb drive in the mail, it has a song named 'auto-complexifying data-spine', you get set at the superuser level and install it by listening to the song! Awesome. I think individual songs might work better as enhancelets, as in my experience so far, the longer I've taken to install something the higher the quality of the fusion between my energy field and the tech. A song on repeat, though, or in conjunction with a visual key, would work wonders.

That's it for now. I've still got a lot more on this, and on pieces that factor into but are not directly related to this, that I will try to get up in the next few days. My plan is to, with everyone's help, get the security features figured out, and then integrate them into the bare-bones alpha version that was given to me or installed in me or whatever. Then once the security is deemed satisfactory, I'll start working on devkits to send out to all of you supremely wonderful beta testers. I can barely contain my excitement on this everyone!