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Civilization Tech ScalesSocieties and civilizations differ
vastly according to the increasing density of the tech they are based
on. And while most civilizations will tend to embody a range of sizes,
scales, and applications, there will usually be a defining scale,
represented by the minimum practical level on which eir industry is
based.
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Note: In the following list of civilization types, the suffix -tech means that this is the smallest, densest and highest tech level (i.e. everything down to) this scale, whilst -scale means this is the largest scale on which this civilisation rests. e.g. a nanoscale civilization does not incorporate technology on grosser, larger unit size than nanotech. |
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Macrotech-only based Societies and
Civilizations:
Macrotech, macroscale civilisations represent the most primitive basic state. This is where naturally evolved civilisations begin. Many prim and ludd societies are included here. |
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Microtech-based Societies and Civilizations:
Microscale civilisations incorporate macrotech (as do most large-scale civilizations) but control structures and energy using microscopic (on the order of micrometers and less) tools, e.g. optical and x-ray lithographic integrated circuits, and genetic engineering. In the current era these are mostly ludd groups or societiums. |
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Macroscale to Nanotech Societies and
Civilizations:
While all advanced civilizations are nanotech or higher (ultratech), unaided subsingularitan sophonts will tend to use instead hybrid microscale and nanoscale tech along with macrotech. While hardly competitive with more advanced polities and civilisations, they can still be found away from the main centers. |
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Macroscale to Picotech Societies and
Civilizations:
Nanotech-based Societies will often acquire through trade more advanced, pico-level technology. In the current era this includes the bulk of lesser civilisations in less connected Inner Sphere worlds, polities, and habitats, the Hinterworld Regions, and the Outer Volumes are hybrid picotech, nanotech, and advanced microtech level. Frequently there is hyperturing supervision and regulation regarding the highest tech levels. |
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Macroscale to Femtotech Societies and
Civilizations:
Most of the biont and vec -friendly central civilisation active in the Inner Sphere, such as the Sephirotics and other very advanced civilisations, are hybrid femtotech, picotech, and advanced nanotech, with occasional hypofemto intervention, functioning on a macroscopic scale. Frequently very hierarchical, there is higher toposophic supervision and regulation regarding the highest tech levels. |
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Nanoscale based Societies and Civilizations:
Nanoscale, hyperfast Solidstate or Utility Fog, civilisations completely control matter using nanotechnology, achieving atomic precision. Almost always transapient. While some may continue indefinitely, such civilizations may easily become unstable, transcending at best, and undergoing hyperbolic collapses at worst. |
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Nanoscale to Picotech Societies and
Civilizations:
Solidstate or Utility Fog Transapient societies, more advanced than standard nanoscale civilisations. The picotech is often embedded in a nanotech support structure. Frequently there is higher toposophic supervision and regulation regarding the highest tech levels. The AIs and transapients of this level are often a toposophic level above the nanotech AIs. |
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Nanoscale to Femtotech Societies and
Civilizations:
Even more advanced hyperfast solidstate civilizations. Hierarchical, with higher toposophic regulation regarding. |
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Picoscale Societies and Civilizations:
Picoscale computronium or picolect civilisations controlling matter using picotechnology working with subatomic particles and quantum field events. |
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Picoscale to Femtotech Societies and
Civilizations:
Higher toposophic, transapient hyperfast solidstate or pico-fog societies, more advanced than picotech civilisations. |
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Femtoscale based Societies and
Civilizations:
Very advanced, hyperfast femtoscale civilisations use femtotech to control matter on the subatomic level, able to construct structures made of quarks, quantum fields and other exotica. These represent the maximum development allowed by the Bremermann's Limit. |
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Femtoscale to Hypofemtotech Societies
and Civilizations:
Extremely advanced, hyperfast computronium civilizations, rarely accessible to less developed civilisations. They often depart for abstract spaces. |
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Hypofemto and Planckscale Societies and
Civilizations:
These are more rumoured than known for certain, although there are numerous anecdotal reports. |
