[Fwd: [semi OT] P.A. was women wargamers]

Here was my reply tom.anderson@altavista.net wrote:the trouble we have here is
that we all thing of

> something different when we think of power armour. for

Well how do you "shut off the muscles?" If the guy has to think about running
in a way that he's actually running then how do you circumvent the actual
function while still giving him the fine motor control hat comes from actually
doing, balancing, etc etc? Seems to me that even in your scenario, If I'm
going to wear power armor I still have to run jump flip someone the bird, etc.
The only differnce between your version and the standard version is that
instead of basing the actuators on a negative feedback net, they are based on
a nueral jack right into the brain or CNS (BTW, this is sort of how Space
Marine armor works, interfacing through their carapace.)

If the guys not doing anything and you are going the "Firefox" route. Why put
him in the suit? Save the dough and make the suit RPV with a reliable link
from pilot to suit. Or make a big suit and stick him safely in the middle with
arms and legs tucked in and safe from harm. This is has been pointed to be Joe
Halderman in Body Armor 2000 (I think that'sthe title) he gives a few good
examples of this. The suit also has a liquid metal type appendage that can
shape iteself in to various weapons etc.

> if the user want to run in a line at 60 mph for five

So what's the point of a PA suit? Sounds like you have invented a tank that's
RPV'd ala "Firefox". The advantage of a suit is that it's intuitive to use and
wear with accustomization. Now I've got to think of actual macrocommands
commands to get the suit to do stuff instead of just twitching a finger or
moving naturally. If I want to run five miles I'd rather just run. It's much
more natural given the confines of a suit as opposed to a vehicle.

Now your commnd scheme is actually a good idea to augment the natural movement
abilities of the body. I move along as I normally would but I'm humming at
60mph. I want to activate ECM deception mode to look like a
deer on the radar or visual (holo) so I think 'control-meta-k'
instead of keying some damn switch with my tounge. Hmm now you've given me
some ideas. Eventually my Rot Hafen story will come to a real land battle
including PA, so now you've got me thinking!

I hope this formatting is coming out OK. I haven't changed anything in my
mail. Are you haveing a problem with et way it is looking.