Teleterminal

A teleterminal (or simply 'terminal') is a combination of a teletype machine and a teleprinter, allowing for full text input and output over a telecommunications connection. While the teleterminal can trace its ancestry back to the middle of the steamtech age - where simple versions served as more efficient means of of encoding and decyphering telegraph signals - it became significantly more important in the dieseltech age with connection protocols for mechanical computers, autonet nodes, and (most recently) RadNet nodes.

Mechanics & Inner Workings

Teleterminals are often standalone electromechanical devices when used strictly for end-to-end communications. These are functionally typewriters featuring a series of encoding spools which translate the stroke of each key into a series of electronic pulses. Such pulses may then be either set across a telegraph line, where they will likely be read out by a teleterminal at the other end, or to a radio translator's antennae, where they will be broadcast and repeated over the RadNet until they reach the intended destination.
Dieseltech computers with re-writeable programming gasket loops are often attached to terminals for use as message buffers (storing text for editing and later transmission), encoders, and translators (i.e. converting between GasKIT and Ixiotaba instruction sets). Such computer-augmented teleterminals can then be used to interface with other computers or autonet endpoints. When used in this fashion, teleterminal functionality often overlaps with Gasketype functionality within the same device, though gasketypes often have the benefit of requiring no external power to operate and having superior mechanical displays for situations unique to programming. On the other hand, a teleterminal has the benefit of being more versatile as a device and less conspicuous when found in someone's possession; gear-grinders often carry suitcase teleterminals to conceal their true profession beneath a disguise as a market analyst, secretary, or other form of 'signal man.'

Significance

Teleterminal messages are regarded as being more secure than RadNet communiques (especially when combined with encryption methods, such as a programming gasket grille cypher), but less secure than a well-vetted courier. As such, very important teleterminal messages are often sent within allied territories and the environs thereof, but less often across international boundaries where the signal is more likely to be intercepted by ne'erdowells (i.e. one's enemies in the ongoing War of Reunification).

Item type

Miscellaneous

Rarity

Teleterminals are ubiquitous in the Manifold Sky setting, with terminals being seen as essential for near-instantaneous communications.