Neural Interface USe

Neural interface technology is widespread in the Federation as the components are essentially simple to manufacture and require nothing in maintenance, nanite neural interfaces are available to anyone who wants them, and even the smallest medical facilities will be able to administer the equipment, most medical facilities are even able to produce the nanites themselves. Of the groups that are allowed to have neural interfaces installed, almost 100% of Federation citizens have neural interfaces installed (Male Trenoc [non sentient], and very young Panatrak and Humans are not allowed neural interfaces on grounds of moral [for the Trenoc] and developmental issues, the Pholi also decline neural interface technology, though they have special reasons). Although the Federation population is effectively saturated with this technology, only about 60% of people use their implants with any great frequency, of course in some professions neural interface use is extensive, for example medical, starship, and other scientific areas the advantages gained from neural interfaces are invaluable.

            In most populated regions in the Federation there is access to a kind of diffuse information web, allowing implants to communicate and extract information from the environment around them, most equipment is similarly accessible by implants, as it does not require any greatly sophisticated additional equipment to enable information transfer between implant and machine.

            One of the goals for this kind of technology is to create a kind of telepathy, already neural interfaces allow for communication (sub vocal, not like hearing words, but experiencing them silently in the head), which is particularly useful as there is some degree of translation between races and languages as the intermediate computer components serve to translate. This form of sub vocal communication is extremely widespread, it is perhaps the most used feature of neural interfaces, allowing free silent speech between anyone no matter what language they speak, this form of communication is has hundreds of colloquial names, headspeak, whispering, thoughting. However in most situations it is just as easy to exchange voice as it is subvocalise, and for most speaking comes more naturally.

            It is hoped that in addition to this form of telepathy that the type of information can be increased, so not only can people speak to each other remotely, but also share what they are seeing and feeling. There are already some who can do this, there are even some prodigies can create a kind of fantasy land and can open channels for others to experience it. The fundamental inhibition of this vision is not from the implants, but rather the inability of the user to access what is there, it seems that with experience from seeing and participating in these visions users are then able to develop the ability for themselves. It is thought that although technological improvements may aid the formation of this telepathy, it is rather the experience of the users that will make this particular ability bloom in the Federation.

            Telepathy may perhaps become a major part of Federation life, but for many neural interfaces provide a lot of everyday use, from accessing news and information, to communication. A lot of domestic machines and appliances can be directed from neural interfaces, and for most in their own homes controlling lights, temperature and background sounds becomes almost second nature.

            As mentioned before, some people find neural interfaces essential for their work, scientists can readily remotely control instruments through these interfaces, or use them to interpret data in ways that are simply impossible through material media and visual display. Starship crew similarly develop an attachment to their craft, for some it is an extension to their body, and for navigators and pilots this bonding allows for manoeuvring that would otherwise be difficult through manual interfaces. For engineers neural interfaces allow them to feel how machines are operating and enable them to make quick diagnosis of problems before they develop any outward signs.

            Most Federation races had sorted out the ethics and morality to neural interfaces prior to becoming part of the Federation, and neural technology is an accepted part of Federation culture, though most races had some difficulty in adapting to the technology when it emerged. The Trenoc still have a taboo about giving their non-sentient males neural interfaces, though this sensitivity does not extend to the sentient male members of other races, humans too have some uneasiness with neural interfaces, mostly form the turmoil caused when this technology first emerged, however this sentiment is predominantly felt by the older generation who saw the emergence of this technology. The Panatrak naturally embraced this technology, having already some degree of telepathy, this technology allowed them to build upon their natural abilities. The Galen also had little problems with the technology, they accepted it as providing an extensions to their abilities in as much as telescopes and microscopes improved the eye. The greatest tension in the use of neural interface technology is its use by the Panatrak, and to a lesser extent Humans and Galen of mixing this technology with animals, the Trenoc are uneasy with this, though they accept that their own culture has given this feeling, there are some within the human population who share this sentiment.

            The Pholi, as ever, are a little different, they decline the use of Federation neural interface technology, though they have all the abilities it would bring. It is thought that this kind of communication is natural to them, they already are known to be telepathic, and neural interface technology offers nothing more than what they already have, they have just retrained their abilities to work with Federation systems.