Hessler gave Fowler his possessions back before leaving prison. Fowler had been in the Tank for three years. If he failed in Citynet, he would have another thirteen to serve. A new batch of prisoners filed by him in chains as he prepared to leave, flanked by guards on either side. Fowler was led on board the empty prison Floater and his shackles were unlocked. The craft took off, returning the way it had come, gliding past the automated weapons systems.
Fowler looked out of the window of the prison Floater as they emerged from the secure travel tube, leading into the giant commercial sector. In the distance, the lofty corporate sky-scrapers were as prevalent as ever. Memories flooded back into Fowler’s mind of the life he once led. Erstol still retained its hustle and bustle. Freedom had once been a word in Fowler’s vocabulary. Now it had a deeper meaning.
Within the cluster of teeming skyscrapers
in the commercial sector, one stood tallest amongst all the others. It was
**
“Hello Frank,” said Fowler as he walked towards the security guard, manning the desk in Citynet’s wide lobby.
The security guard looked up at Fowler taking in the heavily armed guards around him.
His sleepy eyes flashed open for a brief moment, unable to believe who he was seeing. “Hello… uh Mister Fowler. Sir.”
“Is Sandra in?” asked Fowler.
Frank checked his computer terminal and saw that the CEO was expecting him.
“Yessir,” said Frank, handing out the security badges. “Go right on up. Take the elevator first on your left,” he pointed.
“I know the way. Some things you never forget,” smiled Fowler. “Give your family my best wishes,” said Fowler finally.
“I will,” said Frank, closing his open mouth, feeling like he had just seen a ghost.
Fowler walked down the wide corridor and disappeared into an elevator with his escort.
Frank immediately picked up the phone and dialled an internal number.
“You won’t guess who I just saw,” said Frank, straightening his hat.
**
Sandra Verner looked at the hologram of her father’s strong face on the desk in front of her. She looked at him almost wishing she could seek his advice. Privately, she felt everything was falling apart. Even now, she could feel her father’s steely grip on her, almost reaching out to her from beyond the grave. She knew it was important to show no weakness but the pressure was building in her, threatening to tear apart her cool veneer.
She looked away from her father’s image and
looked up at
“We don’t need him. He’s past it,” said Delcass. “Just look at him. He’s a shambles like he always was.”
She watched Fowler on the security camera and monitored his progress to the top floor. Sandra looked at Fowler’s thin and frail body. He was badly shaven, shabby and seemed to have difficulty standing up straight. Being in the Tank for so long had taken its toll on him physically. He looked like a pale shadow of the proud man she had once known.
“It’s his mind we need. That’s all that matters,” she replied.
She zoomed in on his face, controlling the security camera in the elevator. Fowler looked up at the camera. She saw the look of defiance in his haggard face. His eyes spoke volumes. Fowler smiled coldly at the camera before stepping out of the elevator. Sandra looked away; the determined look reminding her of her father’s inner strenght. She brought her hand through a light sensor and the Citynet business holograms fizzled from view.
Sandra looked up as the knock came on the door. “Enter,” she announced.
**
Fowler walked into Sandra’s office. Nothing had changed, he noted. Not even the hologram of her dour father
whose eyes moved and occasionally blinked for effect.
“Hello Fowler,” said Sandra. “How are you?”
Fowler looked back at Sandra and wondered if she could even begin to imagine what it could be like to spend three years in the Tank. Of course not, he thought to himself. All she’s worried about is remaining in her ivory tower.
“Just fine Sandra,” he replied without emotion. “What can I do for you?”
“We’re looking for some consultancy. The warden filled you in I take it?”
Fowler nodded. “Just the preliminaries. So what’s in it for me?”
“A pardon and a one way ticket off Erstol.” Sandra sat forward waiting for his response.
“I also want my salary back-dated for the years I spent in the Tank,” replied Fowler. “I also want a glowing reference signed personally by you. If required you will personally vouch for me in any future positions that I apply for,” said Fowler .
“Done,” agreed Sandra. “So long as the N-Teks are removed. Delcass will have the contract drawn up.”
Delcass flexed his jaw irritably.
“Good. It’s settled then.” Sandra clasped her hands together. “Get to work. Delcass will bring you up to speed. We have a visitor’s room set up for you with a change of clothes. You’ll probably want to get cleaned up first,” said Sandra and then waved him out of the office.
Delcass followed Fowler out of the office, speaking quietly to him. “No delivery and you’re back in the Tank Fowler. I’ll be watching you.”
“Take me to my room,” said Fowler to the guards, ignoring Delcass.
....................................................................................................
About the Podcast story and the author
In 2005 I
purchased an iPod and listened to some music on it. I got my hands on a
piece of software called iPodder which allowed me to subscribe to audio
episodes called PodCasts. Then within a year, Apple integrated PodCasts
into iTunes and I moved over to that format for subscription. I started
listening to Audio Novels while I commuted to work and I really enjoyed
them. Then one day I listened to Scott Sigler who is the pioneer in the
area of episodal novel writing along with J.C.Hutchins in my mind. For
me it was a rebirth of radio in a modern context. The power was in my
hands to listen to what I wanted. Then while driving to work, I began
to think about my dust-gathering writing. I had been a member of the
Irish Science Fiction Association and been part of a gang of wannabe
writers who eventually went their separate ways. There was close
collobaration between the artists and writers and we even published our
own Magazine. In the end, the ISFA dissolved and I with it but I'd
written a short story called Digby's Bluff which had been set on a
place called Erstol. For me, this was my idea of a classic SciFi world.
In 1997 I wrote Engines Under Ursus and completed it in one year. I
sent it off to TOR and they sent me a response six months later
scrawled on a piece of paper which I couldn't even make out. I'd
suffered years of this type of reply. I was pretty cheesed off to put
it mildly. So, I put my manuscript away and decided to keep on writing
because it's what I do to relax. I have other stuff which I won't go
into here but suffice to say, in 2006 there is finally a way for an
author to find out if your stuff is really any good! To a certain
extent I feel like the Internet represents democracy in its truest
form. Here, an individual - if one chooses to - can attempt to make a
difference. Millions of us 'ordinary folks' can have our voice heard if
we choose to, literally. All it takes is a little know how and a lot of
desire. We're storming the modern day Bastille buildings. Are we really
making a difference? Who knows, only time will tell. I've seen the
Internet grow from a small seed to a billion dollar industry. If it
frees us up to do cool stuff and make new communities, it can't be all
bad. Anyway, rant over, here's the story. I hope you enjoy listening to
it as much as I have making it.
History of the Digital Camcorder
The first camcorders were introduced in the early 80s, and they were expensive and bulky but efficient. They were operated by using one's arms or a tripod. Later, miniaturization allowed camcorders to get smaller and smaller. By the time the 90s arrived, camcorders had their own recording format called VHS-C, or a tape called 8mm that was less compatible with VCRs. It wasn't until the late 90s that the first digital camcorders started arriving with the MiniDV (1996). This was an even smaller tape than before that allowed one to edit the tape on the computer. It's much easier to use and made higher quality tape than previous recording formats. Most new digital cameras use MiniDV, though new formats and cameras continue to arrive. The history of the digital camcorder is sure to change as time progresses.
Camcorders are important becuase of the convergence of media and can be used for publishing your own PodCasts. There are techniques required to make good program which require an understanding of timelines and how to keep a video presentation entertaining which is more difficult than it seems. A Camcoder I bought recently was the Panasonic NV-GS150. This camcorder has three CCDs. These are normally only available in professional models but I was able to buy this digital camcorder on EBay in the US. The Camcorder came with a bevy of extra such as a tri-pod, filters, hook for a microphone, remote control and so forth. The only misgiving I have about this camcorder is that I record onto a tape and not a disc. On looking up the reviews, it appears that the disc technology is not quite mature in the world of camcorders however the picure quality is excellent for a camcorder of this price range. Camcorders are very useful for example if you want to record your own show for PodCasting and so forth and are one of the creative tools at your disposal.
Today we take for granted the fact that we can buy a Camcorder at a reasonably inexpensive price. It's not so long ago that only television cameras were capable of recording our images and the humble 8MM tape based camera. The Camcorder was introduced in the early 1980s, first by Sony and then by Kodak. VHS won out this battle although it was technologically inferior but was more available. You could use 8MM becuase the quality was higher but lost the compatability with the VHS device. The introduction of the first handy-cam changed all that and added portability to the format. These days we have miniDDV format and has improved audio and video quality. Digital Cameras still have their place even with this format. Camcorders have not replaced the Digital Camera but complimented them. Next we move into an era of solid state Camcorders and all the promise that it holds.
Technology Behind the Camcorder
CCD (converts the photons to a signal), Imager (viewing the picture in question) and Lens (for focusing). Modern Camcorders are Digital storing their data as electronic bits.
History of the MP3
The German company Fraunhofer-Gesellshaft developed MP3 technology and now licenses the patent rights to the audio compression technology - United States Patent 5,579,430 for a "digital encoding process". The inventors named on the MP3 patent are Bernhard Grill, Karl-Heinz Brandenburg, Thomas Sporer, Bernd Kurten, and Ernst Eberlein.
In 1987, the prestigious Fraunhofer Institut Integrierte Schaltungen research center (part of Fraunhofer Gesellschaft) began researching high quality, low bit-rate audio coding, a project named EUREKA project EU147, Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB).
MP3 Players
.