Spoilers Treecats post UH

PeterZ wrote:

Peregrinator wrote:Luckily this has already happened.

Apologies, the symbolism of written language hasn't been taught yet. No text on it anyway.

Written language will differ from sign language, which has its own grammar, etc. But I suspect the computers for 2 millenia in the future will be able to translate with a high degree of accuracy. But this is another reason why keyboards and text-to-speech would be more cumbersome; the 'cats would have to learn a whole other language!

kzt wrote:You can do it as of a few years ago. There was an Xbox that could do it. It’s all plot why they can’t.

As I recall someone was using an Xbox Kinect to do it. I don't know how mature the technology is however. Obviously it should be very mature in Honor Harrington's era, assuming it hasn't been abandoned because medical advances have made it unnecessary (but then if they have, how are there sign language experts in the first place?).

Why not a vocal prosthetic?

You can use a glove/gauntlet type design. Read the book Congo by Michael Chriton

saber964 wrote:You can use a glove/gauntlet type design. Read the book Congo by Michael Chriton

The "glove" is from the (very bad) movie -- I don't believe it's mentioned in the book. It would also require two gloves as many signs require the use of both hands. That might be a bit cumbersome especially for treecats whose hands are smaller than humans' (and especially too if we want them to be armed with pulsers ).

Peregrinator wrote:

saber964 wrote:You can use a glove/gauntlet type design. Read the book Congo by Michael Chriton

The "glove" is from the (very bad) movie -- I don't believe it's mentioned in the book. It would also require two gloves as many signs require the use of both hands. That might be a bit cumbersome especially for treecats whose hands are smaller than humans' (and especially too if we want them to be armed with pulsers ).

There are a handful of "air gesture" technologies out there that can see and interpret hand movements. It might be one of those, built into a collar, cuff or belt.

Peregrinator wrote:Luckily this has already happened.

PeterZ wrote:Apologies, the symbolism of written language hasn't been taught yet. No text on it anyway.

Peregrinator wrote:Written language will differ from sign language, which has its own grammar, etc. But I suspect the computers for 2 millenia in the future will be able to translate with a high degree of accuracy. But this is another reason why keyboards and text-to-speech would be more cumbersome; the 'cats would have to learn a whole other language!

I was actually thinking about the 'cats having to use symbolism in yet an extra level. They now use hand/paw symbols to indicate meanings of their mind words. To understand written words, they have to convert aural experiences into visual images that represent mind words. This from beings who represent meaning by direct experience mind to mind with minimal intervening symbols. Sure, they can learn to do so, but that won't be a natural throught process. It won't ever be natural for older 'cats. It can only become a natural process for 'cats that learn this as kittens.

I think we would need clarification from RFC about Citizenship Status with Manticore (SEM) vs taxation. That is getting into all sorts of "interesting" questions of Treecats working (in whatever capacity) or living in the areas set aside for the Species on Sphinx etc.

That hasn't come up before because it has not so much been an non-issue as not one that needed to be addressed in the story line. At present there are at least hundreds working for SEM (not with Sphinx Forrest Service) in the role of protectors for various people. That includes members of the GA etc. That would not actualy include cats bonded to humans- which seems to have a whole separate set of rules but mostly covered as a protected relationship of humans with another species due to the bonding.

If a Treecat hired themselves out to private citizens, that would be interesting. What would the Treecat want in return? Would that be for themselves or their Clan or just what?
Again, RFC would be the only realistic source of information.

Brigade XO wrote:I think we would need clarification from RFC about Citizenship Status with Manticore (SEM) vs taxation. That is getting into all sorts of "interesting" questions of Treecats working (in whatever capacity) or living in the areas set aside for the Species on Sphinx etc.

That hasn't come up before because it has not so much been an non-issue as not one that needed to be addressed in the story line. At present there are at least hundreds working for SEM (not with Sphinx Forrest Service) in the role of protectors for various people. That includes members of the GA etc. That would not actualy include cats bonded to humans- which seems to have a whole separate set of rules but mostly covered as a protected relationship of humans with another species due to the bonding.

If a Treecat hired themselves out to private citizens, that would be interesting. What would the Treecat want in return? Would that be for themselves or their Clan or just what?
Again, RFC would be the only realistic source of information.

Another logical step is mind healers working at Basingford MC or in "private practice." Yep those pesky memory singers sure opened a can of snakes for someone else to deal with.

Yes, Himself will be the final authority. Until then, we're just curious.

Theemile wrote:There are a handful of "air gesture" technologies out there that can see and interpret hand movements. It might be one of those, built into a collar, cuff or belt.

This raises the mental image of a group of treecats playing air guitar. Their set list:

Eye of the Tiger
Stray Cat Strut
Year of the Cat
Cat's in the Cradle
What's New, Pussycat?
Honky Cat
Cat Scratch Fever
The Lion Sleeps Tonight