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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY |
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This page is divided into the following sections:
Click on the section names to return to the top of the page. Map of the World | Europe | Asia | Africa | North America | Central America | South America | Australasia | Antarctica SCIENCE IN GENERALScientific research and development has occurred over time much as in the real world. However, largely influenced by the French Physiocrats, there has been more focus on and patronage of agriculture-centred research rather than other areas of science. As such, the biological sciences, agronomy and so on are more advanced than in the real world, while engineering and the physical sciences are generally less advanced. Derived from this there are more advanced plant breeding techniques, genetics, chemical fertilisers and so on, as well as earlier versions of Chaos Theory, here known as Weather Mathematics, and the Gaia Hypothesis, here known as Bioteleology. In the past botanical expeditions, gardens and research have been very significant enterprises in France and other nations. Because of the more advanced biological sciences in this world, many governments, particularly the French, have become aware of the importance of an eco-friendly approach to sustainability, and instituted policies to further this end. As a result the environment of this world is generally in a better condition than that of the real world. However, in cities air pollution is often worse than in the real world, with the higher populations and lower level of engineering technology causing a high level of smog and other pollutants. In addition to this, because of the higher population, less advanced physical sciences, and longer use of steam and internal combustion engines, global warming is more advanced here than in the real world, with increasingly violent climatic effects becoming apparent. Another side effect of the more advanced biological sciences in this world has been the elimination of any rational basis for racism and sexism from the European-influenced world. However, people being people, irrational prejudices still linger. COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGYCommunications technology is quite well developed in Clive-Less world. The telephone has existed since 1872, and by the year 2000 there is an extensive telephone network extending around the world, though there is nothing analogous to the internet. All reasonably civilised nations have at least some form of postal service. All civilised nations have newspapers. In some nations, particularly within Columbia, Louisiana and the Union, these are part of a free press. However, in many more authoritarian nations, such as France, their content is controlled by the government. Neither radio nor television has existed for as long as in the real world. However, most developed nations of the world make radio broadcasts, and the French and the Union, in particular, do their best to broadcast to the entire world. Television only exists in black and white, and is only broadcast by the more developed nations of the world. Even then it does not, in general, reach more remote areas. All radio and television broadcasts outside Columbia and Louisiana tend to be government-controlled. As such there is usually quite a limited selection of stations, and programmes are quite bland. Most radio and television sets use transistor-based technologies, though many older valve-based sets are still in use, especially in the less developed parts of the world. Cinema has existed since 1892, slightly longer than in the real world, and is a very popular medium for both news and entertainment in all parts of the world. Because it originated during the Second Societal War, Cinema is less controlled by most governments, and so tends to be far more varied and interesting than radio or television broadcasts. A derivation of radio communications, RADAR, is known as ELOR in this world, from the term 'Echo-Location by Radio'. COMPUTING TECHNOLOGYComputing technology in Clive-Less world has taken a very different route to that in the real world. Although mechanical computing [Babbage Engines] was proposed in 1842, it was the discovery of the means to create fluidic switches and thus fluidic calculating machines that sparked the creation of the first computers using fluidic technology in 1870, the first of them known as Arithmetical Fountains [equivalent to Babbage's Difference Engine], with Analytical Fountains [equivalent to Babbage's Analytical Engine] being developed later. Although some use of mechanical computers was made, particularly by the Zulus, fluidic computers became the standard calculating device around the world. With non-fluidic peripherals, such as electrical printers and telegraph devices they gained great utility, to the point that even when the electronic computer was invented in 1959 it was never widely adopted. The transistor was invented in 1975, but has not found wide application in computers. Integrated circuits have not been developed, and there is little sign that they will be. Because the first computers developed from the fluidic technology of the Arithmetical Fountains and their descendants, in this world all computers regardless of their technology are known as Fountains, or sometimes simply Founts. This latter term is also derived from their being perceived as 'Founts' of knowledge or wisdom. A spin-off of Arithmetical and Analytical Fountains is the Synthesising Fountain. First developed in the Union in 1893, they do not use water as its operating fluid, but instead any of a variety of chemicals. Rather than producing a numerical output, they automatically synthesise a chemical output, its operations combining control of the sequence of chemical reactions with the chemical reactions themselves in one integrated machine. The Synthesising Fountain is a successful and widely used instrument, with later versions of the incorporating self-cleaning sequences, and many of them coming to be made of crystal or gold, or gold-plated, to avoid reactions between the chemicals used and the Fountain itself. Only the development of DNA computing technology in 1986, with the massive processing power it allows, has produced a technology that is beginning to render fluidic computing obsolete in many applications. DNA computers are large and complex machines descended from the most advanced Synthesising Fountains, each one more like a chemical plant than a real world computer, with mixing and separation vats controlled by Synthesising Fountains around a small central reaction chamber. In many cases the Synthesising Fountains use the solutions of dissolved DNA as their operating fluid. Although DNA computers require human involvement in the programming and interpretation stages of their work, they are nonetheless amazingly powerful processors. Because of these differences in technology there are no personal computers above the level of Analytical Fountains, and no equivalent of the internet. As a result of the earlier development of computing machines in this world, computer viruses have also existed for longer, with the first one being discovered in France in 1892. Although computer hardware technology in this world is not as powerful as that of the real world, this is somewhat compensated for by the fact that it has existed for longer here. As such, Befehl-Analyse ['command analysis' in German; what our world knows as software engineering] is more developed here than it is in the real world. In particular techniques for making the best use of limited computational resources - in terms of speed and storage space - are very well developed [not unlike the case in the real world where, despite increasingly powerful computer speeds and capabilities, such things are a flourishing art]. MEDICAL AND GENETIC TECHNOLOGYThe more advanced biological sciences of this world relative to the real world are partly derived from the work of the Hungarian Catholic monk, Gabor Szekeres, whose genius (comparable to that of Einstein, but in the field of biology rather than physics) outlined the basics of genetics in 1825, Entwicklung [Evolution] and Natürliche Vorwähler [Natural Selection] in 1833 and eugenics in 1840. This more advanced knowledge of biology means that a number of things have been done here which have not been done in the real world. A side effect of this is that the population of the world now tops ten billion people. A significant influence on medical and biological research has been the 1842 French novel 'La Nouvelle Race Et Le Nouveau Monde' ('The New Race And The New World') by Gustave de Lamartine. Inspired by the Theory of Entwicklung [Evolution], this is a tale of the future and evolved 'supermen', the emergence of the new race out of the old under human direction by the power of eugenics, the inevitable extinction of the old race, and also the whole concept of human-directed evolution. [The novel is an analogue of 'Frankenstein'.] In some nations condemned criminals have their organs harvested for use in transplants. In more nations they are obliged to give blood for the good of the general population. There is widespread use of eugenics, and even selective breeding of humans to improve the human species. Precisely how this is done and precisely what is meant by 'improvement' varies from nation to nation, but most nations have at least some form of eugenics programme which attempts to remove people with congenital defects from the gene pool (with varying degrees of resistance from the population). Many nations also encourage those deemed to have 'superior' genes (which often equate to those with noble blood or large amounts of money) to have as many children as possible, or if nothing else to donate their eggs or sperm for the artificial insemination of the 'less fortunate'. In some nations certain types of criminals are sterilised to prevent their 'bad genes' from being passed on to the next generation, and some nations also practise euthanasia. [With no Nazism and no Holocaust eugenics has not been discredited.] Because the technology to select the sex of children has been available and used since 1951, there are places where the sex ratios of the population are visibly skewed towards one gender (usually men). Cancer has, in general, been cured. At least for those with access to advanced medical care... The human genome was first decoded in 1982 by a joint Franco-Ottoman team in a project that used vast resources [perhaps comparable to the space programmes of the real world] and took roughly a quarter of a century to achieve success. The high level of time, cost and staffing required were because of the lower level of computer technology in this world compared to that of the real world. The facilities used in decoding the genome resemble vast factories covering huge areas that are in essence vast linked sets of synthesising fountains that simultaneously compute and perform chemistry. Much of this technology fed into the later development of DNA computers. Since 1987 it has been possible to genetically modify pigs to have organs immunologically compatible with those of humans, for use in transplants. Although there have been cases of humans catching pig diseases from these organ transplants, they are still quite widely used. Chimpanzees have also been genetically modified to have organs immunologically compatible with this of humans, again for use in transplants. The first of these modified chimpanzees was born in a laboratory in Sierra Leone. However, as a side effect of the genetic modification process it was found that these chimpanzees were more intelligent than a normal chimp (though not to a human level). The massive ethical problems the creation of a new semi-sentient life-form caused a widespread international moratorium on the production of any more such creatures, one forcibly imposed by France. Experiments in mentally enhancing animals by adding human traits to them have been somewhat successful, with enhanced dogs, dolphins and elephants being developed despite a good deal of ethical objections from around the world. None of these creatures have had their intellects enhanced to the level of the modified chimpanzees. However, several scientists and philosophers have discussed the possibilities and implications of creating new forms of intelligent life. By the year 2000 there are more than a dozen human clones around the world. In some places they are not considered human. There are major ethical issues over this, especially as all of the clones born so far have been found to suffer from various medical problems. Many nations have the technology to make human clones, but in most nations their production is banned. It is known that several of the worlds less ethical governments, including those of Quebec and Zululand, have begun to experiment with human genetic enhancements, despite forcible French attempts to stop such research through the Conférence Permanente De Militaires Du Monde (Permanent World Military Conference) and via unilateral military action. Adding minor physical enhancements to humans has generally proved to be successful, though people with them also generally have medical problems too. Human mental enhancements, very controversial in most of the world, have so far been entirely unsuccessful, leading to madness and other mental problems in those given them. Thus going beyond the human, mentally, cannot yet be done successfully. It is rumoured that some governments have methods for encrypting information into DNA, proteins and other biological structures for covert transportation or storage, and that these governments may have created genetically engineered bacteria, or even more advanced life forms, with data stored on their 'junk' DNA. MILITARY TECHNOLOGYTanks are known as Cossacks in this world. They originated from two different sources:
Over time there has been a leaning of nations towards smaller (cheaper) armies with rapid reaction forces, transported first by ship, then by air. However, the limits of this strategy have also become clear over time, and most nations now have larger forces, usually divided between static local militias, and elite mobile national forces. Some nations have large 'base ships' for this purpose. In the past biological weapons were considered ideal for economic reasons - because they are cheap. However, they have never worked as intended when released into the field, leading to the Conférence Permanente De Militaires Du Monde (Permanent World Military Conference) banning them via the 1953 Versailles Agreement. Rumours of tough, hardy, 'war weeds', genetically modified to infest farmland and be nearly impossible to remove surface from time to time. These are based on the difficulties caused by genetically-engineered super-wheat in North America [see 'Exit Mundi']. Although not technically banned, these are generally considered almost as dangerous as 'conventional' biological weapons. ICBMs do exist in this world. However, their small payload [in the absence of nuclear weapons] and low accuracy mean that only the richest and most advanced nations have them, for use as a form of intercontinental artillery using either chemical or shotgun-like payloads. Nuclear weapons are the new threat. Although so far only massive ship-transported bombs have been deployed by the Swedes during the War of the Bomb (the Incorporation War), and no other nation has shown any signs of having developed them, there are persistent rumours that air-portable versions exist, and even if they do not, most nations with the resources to do so are racing to build them as quickly as possible. TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGYThe first steam-powered trains were developed in the early 19th Century. As such, they have been more developed than in the real world. The first practical internal combustion engine was developed somewhat earlier here than in the real world, and since then they have achieved very widespread use. Because of their invention before the availability of cheap mineral oils, internal combustion engines have always been powered by alcohol, and this continues to the present day, with the infrastructure for the production and distribution of fuel alcohol being present across the world. The French King of the time, Louis XVI, approved of the railways when he saw them, but also considered that if he was to ride on them then he wanted a proper amount of space for himself. Therefore French railways developed with a very broad gauge, and large, wide carriages. Because this made them more expensive to build French railways developed slowly, and did not expand greatly until after there was money to do so, well after the Economic Collapse. Because the French are the most powerful bloc in Europe the French Gauge has been widely adopted across Europe despite its impractical aspects. There are various places in the French Empire where another, smaller, railway gauge known as the Mesure Coloniale Française (French Colonial Gauge) is used for local industrial lines, This is used because it is cheaper and easier to build. It is particularly used in Africa and India. Some places in the French colonies also have dual gauge tracks - three rails allowing trains of two gauges to both use the line - where Royal visits have occurred, necessitating the construction of standard French Gauge railways to carry the King. There usually run along existing Mesure Coloniale Française lines. The Union, both in Britain and in Europe, uses a smaller railway gauge, derived from that used in horse-drawn mining and other non-steam railways. As their railways developed the North American parts of the Union adopted a different gauge again. This also comes to be used in Columbia, Louisiana and Quebec, as it is simply easier to do so, and because Union engineers were responsible for building much of the Colombian and Louisianan railway system. These are both different to both French gauges. Because there is a need for international railways in Europe (and some other places) dual gauge tracks allowing trains with both French and Union gauge wheels to run on them are used on a number of major European rail routes. The first steam-driven road vehicles were descended from horse-drawn carriages. However, in this world the first of them to find common use had the engine simply replacing the horses rather than being built into the body of the vehicle. A stoker travelled with it, but the driver sat on the carriage, controlling the engine by reins. As vehicles developed, this configuration persisted, resulting in vehicles with a wasp-waisted look, where the entire engine and drive wheels section turns to steer the vehicle by way of a large joint between the engine and main body of the vehicle. As vehicles became larger the reins were superseded by steering chains, then powered chains, controlled by a left-right lever or geared wheels, or two levers, one for left and one for right. Later versions had powered steering, with wires to control other engine functions running over the top of the steering joint on pulleys. Because of this original design self-propelled road vehicles have become known as 'Wasps', and even vehicles of different configuration to this are known by the same term. The Union and its allies drive on the left hand side of the road. France and most of the rest of Europe drive on the right. This causes problems at the borders between them. Steam turbines were developed later than in the real world here. Because of this, jet engines were also developed later. Aircraft, however, were developed earlier, so propeller planes are more developed than in the real world. Pusher propellers become the commonly used type (as opposed to tractor propellers in the real world), and thanks to the work of Russian aviator Gennadiy Innokentiyvitch Illarionov the majority of aircraft also have an asymmetric design. Military planes of this type include ones similar to the real world Blohm and Voss designs of World War II (see also Luft46.Com, Nest of Dragons and Axls Planes Gallery). Pusher-driven aircraft include ones like the World War II Dornier 252, 247 and 335, Henschel Hs P.75 and 87, and the Blohm and Voss BV P.208.03. Autogyros are also in common use, as the helicopter has not been invented in this world. Long-distance plane design is dominated by seaplanes. Some designs of asymmetrical airliners have their engines in a cluster on the wing to one side of the cabin; this is considered better for fuel and control line delivery. With propeller-driven aircraft, engines are often mounted in pairs one behind the other, with one pulling and one pushing. Engines also are often mounted in pods above and below the wing, and sometimes also embedded in the wing. Four engined aircraft with two engines above and two below the wing are common; seven engined aircraft with two above, two below and three in the wing in a hexagon configuration are also quite common. Propeller-driven aircraft with the same engine configuration have double this number of engines. The success of asymmetric aircraft has inspired other asymmetric designs and a trend towards asymmetric artefacts in general. This has led to a spread of asymmetric ships, airships, cars, Cossacks, trains and buildings including:
Hovercraft exist, having been invented in 1958, and have found wide use in some of the worlds more inhospitable terrain, particularly in the Alyesko-Siberian Federation, where they allow travel over cleared 'roads' regardless of their condition. The Alyesko-Siberian Federation and a number of the other nations of the world such as Zululand, Cape Colony and New Wales make use of vast military and cargo ships built out of reinforced ice. [These are equivalent to the idea of 'Pycrete' ships from the real world; more information can be found at Wikipedia, The Royal Navy and Combinedfleet.Com.] Zululand and Cape Colony use them to support their Antarctic colonies. Space flight has been developed, but later than in the real world. The first person was launched into space by the Union in 1995, using a heavily modified mail-carrying rocket. The French have had somewhat less success with their manned space programme, but were the first to launch a satellite in geosynchronous orbit in 1999. The World in 2000 | Europe | Asia | Africa | North America | Central America | South America | Australasia | Antarctica Go to the Clive-Less World Timeline, Politics, Society or Differences Pages. |