Construct Grid

[TC]

This thought came to me the other day while watching a commercial about home security. One could create a construct to stretch along the dimensions of a floor, programmed to alert you when someone enters that is unwelcome.

How I thought this could work: Create the construct along your floor like a grid. This grid would have separate panels. Program each panel to alert you differently when an unknown signature enters the space, programming regular people's signatures into the construct, to leave them exempt to alerting you.

An example:

You have a room that is 12 ft. by 15 ft. with three doors leading inside. You create a grid to stretch the dimensions of that room. Divide the grid into three panels, one each by a door entering the room. The first panel would alert you by sending the color red, on sending the color blue, and one sending the color green.
If someone enters that room every day, you would program the construct to disregard their signatures. Every time someone who is not a threat enters that room, program the construct to disregard their signatures as well.

I did think of the possibility that the construct might overwhelm you if a large number of people entered that room, or in other situations.

Any thoughts, suggestions, ideas?

[wolfdancer]

That would be an interesting and practical application. It might also be nice to do more advanced programming, if it were proved effective with the basic, to identify specific people like siblings vs. parents.

[jaci]

I've used something that sounds like a similar concept to this before, although it sounds simplified compared to what you're using. I generally set up a kind of "trip wire" around a particular area and have it let me know if anyone or a particular person crosses that boundary. Something like what you're saying could work, although I reckon it'd get annoying if it's a high traffic area and you were getting pinged often. Might also start to get confused with lots of different responses comming in at the same time as well. Try it, see what happens. Mabey you could try simplifing it to only alert you to people not usually around (disregard certain sigs) if there are problems and see if that helps to start with.

[The Devil's Advocate]

I've used a version of that myself, usually for anyone stepping through my shields into my room, or if I have them extended to the house, 'unfamiliar' movement within the house. That is someone who isn't one of the people who live here or practically live here. I don't use the color references. I'm usually 'alerted' with information on the sig and general emotional state and intent if I can pick it up. (Are they hostile, malicious, friendly, curious, lost, confused, etc.) I also do this through a general proximity awareness. So it is doable. I hold with Jaci's advice. Simple is good.

~The Devil's Advocate

[wolfdancer]

Yikes! Now I'll have to start watching where I go and what I do if that many people have alarm systems set up....where else are they that I go? *giddy giggle* Yes, I'm being a wee bit silly here, but honestly give it some thought. I wonder if a trained psion could scan for such things and pick them up. I would think a trip wire would be less noticeable in a scan since it could be so small.

[The Devil's Advocate]

I know the shield-alert is easy to scan for. The shield is rather obviously there unless it is cloaked. Around my personal space I don't much care if anyone knows that I have defenses. I would be rather shocked at a psion that DIDN'T have such defenses, but I can also think of circumstances where subtlety would be better. For the 'alarm' system itself being visible I'm not sure. Constructs, even small ones, tend to stand out when I scan rather brilliantly. It would probably have to be deliberately disguised or incorperated into another construct that was otherwise no cause for concern. (Preferably subtly enough that the programing wasn't noticeable.)

~The Devil's Advocate

[TC]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought of something similar.

Jaci: Yeah, I did think about programming the construct to disregard certain signatures. You're right, it may be unadviseable in a high traffic area. Possibly a room or around a certain part of a building. I'll have to brainstorm some possible ways to simplify the construct. Thanks for the response.

DA: Yeah, it would stand out like a sore thumb, depending on the size of the construct. A defensive construct in this situation would probably not be the most stealthy construct.

This brought a lot of other ideas to my head, but I think I'll leave that until I brainstorm some possible constructs. The other idea I'll leave for another thread.