Cybertechnology is defined as a field of technology that deals with the development of artificial devices or machines that can be surgically implanted into a humanoid form to improve or otherwise augment their physical or mental abilities. Cybertechnological products are known as "Cyberware". There are many types and subclassifications of Cyberware, and they can be found in various different grades of quality.
Types of Cyberware
There are three categories of Cyberware: headware, bodyware and cyberlimbs. Headware is any Cyberware that installed in ones head, and bodyware is generally any Cyberware installed in the torso. Cyberlimbs are both a Cybertechnological product and a classification of Cyberware, owing to the fact that cyberlimbs can have equipment and additional Cyberware installed in them in bulk.
Quality Grades
Cyberware comes in varying grades of quality. The higher the quality of the cyberware, the less impact it has on the body's ability to cope with Cyberware (or in other words, better quality cyberware reduces the Essence cost of a given piece of cyberware). Better quality Cyberware costs more money to purchase.
- Basic Cyberware - Cyberware for the mass market. Inexpensive, easy to install. Essence inefficient.
- "ɑ" Alphaware - Higher quality Cyberware. High-end mass market products. Also easy to install.
- "β" Betaware - Custom-made Cyberware. Expensive. Much less of an impact on the body than with Basicware.
- "Δ" Deltaware - Highest quality Cyberware. Art-like construction and difficult installation. Most expensive.
Dangers of Cyberware
Aside from the threat of malfunctioning Cyberware causing a fatal injury, complications can arise due to issues regarding the installation of Cyberware. Specifically, installing too much Cyberware in a person is fatal. The body of a metahuman can take a fair amount of stress in regards to having artificial material installed into it, but it will die if too much Cyberware is installed. This limitation can be bypassed with Cybermancy, but that solution comes at great cost both financially, physically and spiritually.
Major players
The Big Player
- Yamatetsu - Yamatetsu by far is the leader in cybernetics. They do anything and everything that has to do with cyberware. They have access to all grades of cyberware and their CrashCart subsidiary offers clinics that do implantation.
Second Tier
- Cross Applied Technologies - CATCo focuses on headware and manufacturing. They have access to all grades of cyberware, but sometimes must obtain it from other corporations.
- Renraku - Mostly focuses on headware and Matrix research. Their subsidiary Iris Firmware creates microelectronics for cyberlimbs to cybereyes. They do very little implantation work.
- Shiawase - The Japanacorp that does everything, Shiawase's subsidiary, Shiawase Biotech, is an entire division dedicated to cybertechnology and its sister industries, Biotechnology and Nanotechnology. Many consider them the first developers of Delta-grade cyberware. Their manufacturing arm produces only high-end goods, and they own a few exclusive private clinics for implantation.
Specialists
- Ares Macrotechnology - Ares focuses mostly on smartgun links and other cyberware involving personal weaponry.
- Aztechnology - They provide basic-grade cyberware worldwide, and have a strategic alliance with Universal Omnitech.
- Mitsuhama Computer Technologies - Most of MCT's work is done on smart materials and microelectronics for drones and robotics, and their cyberware reflects their research and manufacturing in this area. Their manufacturing philosophy for drones crosses over to their manufacturing of cyberware, and thus is responsible for the current widespread availability of alpha grade cyberware.
- Transys Neuronet - Transys Neuronet is best known for its research and design of matrixware, but they have diversified into skillwires and chipjacks. They also produe the best headware memory on the market, and are credited with the development of the first move-by-wire system.
- Universal Omnitech - This corporation is involved ni nearly every aspect of cybertechnology. Its medical facility has trained nearly every doctor capable of alpha grade or better surgery.
Others
- DocWagon - DocWagon is the number one company in the world for implanting and repairing cyberware, typically dealing with standard and alpha grade cyberware.
- Novatech - As Fuchi, they claimed the top cybernetic spot, but Novatech has taken a major hit to its research and development to stay alive, and thus the company only focuses on matrixware and cyberdecks. However, they own a deltaware manufacturing, research, and implanting clinic.
- Saeder-Krupp - S-K covers all aspects of cyberware, but lags behind the other companies in terms of manufacturing and research. They are the number-one manufacturer of skillwires and wired reflexes.
- Wuxing - Wuxing's interests in the cybertechnology field only are noted by their corporate investments and their position in the Pacific Prosperity Group.
References
- Primary Source: Man and Machine
- Shadowrun, Third Edition