Human Technology
The overall level of technology of Britain, America, and most European
powers is late TL5. Africa, South America, and Asia vary from TL0 to
TL5, depending on what contact they have had with the outside world.
Specific Types of Technology
- Weapons
Most forces are using bolt-action rifles with smokeless powder
(such as the British Lee-Metford) although some still use
breech-loading rifles or even muskets. Artillery is generally
breech-loading guns firing explosive shells. Machine-guns (including
the first truly automatic weapons) are available.
- Power
Virtually all human vehicles use steam power, usually triple-expansion
engines. Some new designs use the gasoline engines just developed by
Herr Daimler in Germany. Lead-acid batteries are available, but heavy,
leaky, dangerous, and inefficient, so they are seldom used.
- Transportation
Human forces make use of ironclad warships to travel by sea, and either
train (if available) or steam-transport on land. Horses are often used
in less populated areas. The development of the first Ironclad ground
vehicles has been inspired by the Martians Walkers.
- Electronics
While some simple electrical devices have been developed, most applications
won't be invented until after the turn of the century. Gas lighting is
slowly being replaced by electrical lights in London and other major cities,
and many richer houses have electricity.
New Technologies
Analytical Engines
In 1862 Charles Babbage constructed his Difference Engine. Despite this
remarkable success, funding was not provided for the development of
his Anayltical Engine until 1870, and the first working Engine wasn't
finished until 1874. None-the-less, Anayltical Engines are now common,
especially in government administration jobs.
Analytical Engines are an anachronism, but not an implausible one. They
are equivalent to late TL5 dedicated computers using the GURPS Vehicles
rules.
* - The small engine has an effective complexity of 0 since its
power is less than a tenth of a complexity 1 computer. However it still
has enough processing power to be useful in some applications.
Data Storage
Engines store information on punchcards, thin sheets with numerous
small holes. These are generally made of copper, although some are
cardboard or cellulose. Punchcards come in many different sizes,
with the British and German standards the most common. To
calculate storage capacity of a card, divide the area (in square
millimeters) by 32.
British Punchcards; A standard British punchcard is 6" x 4" and will
store 500 bytes of information.
German Punchcards; A standard German punchcard is 3" x 4" and
stores 250 bytes of information.
Data-Bank;Mass data storage usually relies on banks of 24" x
24" punchcards, each of which will store 10000 bytes.