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Taro      It's Friday (by many calendars at least), and the inaugural ME-DEX (Multiworld Electronics Dealers EXpo, according to the signs and flyers) has opened at one of the larger of the many many convention centers in this sector of the multiverse. Attendance is pretty good considering this is the first one, thanks in part to the odd, one might even say eclectic, coalition of sponsors anchoring it. That the admission badges are reasonably priced doesn't hurt either.
    There are people of all descriptions wandering the trade show's main floor, which has been staked out by a number of the multiverse's mid-sized consumer electronics and computer corporations. Smart-clothes and smart-watches, household AUs and appliances, video games from handheld up through networked, yes they're all here. Along with a number of demonstration stages scattered throughout the booths and displays. It's busy, and it's noisy between all of the conversations and the devices.
Kirito     One of the people wandering around isn't quite... human. Well, not that EVERYONe in such a place would be anyways. But it might be better to say they aren't quite... REAL. Dressed in black attire but seemingly unarmed, there's a young man with pointy ears, smooth black hair and asian features wandering around the various booths! Kirito is in his avatar form, but it's... almost completely indistinguishable from reality apart from the outfit, the pointy ears, and... a hint of 'uncanny valley' to it compared to real flesh and blood.

    He's on the hunt for VIRTUAL REALITY and VIDEO GAMES as well as general computer hardware stuff because HECK YEAH.

    ... Among other reasons.
Taro     Not everyone here is human, no. Not everyone is physically here, either. Mind the telepresence 'bots zipping about - some remote-control drivers are better than others.
    Taro is physically present, and aside from his facial stripes, at a glance one might understandably mistake him for human. Still, it's the cassock he's wearing (in an entirely unironic manner) that might make him stand out than anything else about his appearance. Though he's wearing a badge with a vendor tag, he's been spending more time wandering the exibition hall than spending time in Tri-Optimum's boothspace.
    Virtual Reality Video Games segment of the market is definitely represented. There's a demonstration going on right now, in fact, with a couple of people in mascot-inspired costumes showing off a new lightweight set - a pair of wraparound mirrored glasses and faux leather gloves - to the people crowding around the platform. A holoprojection of the virtual cityscape shifts behind them to give a not-quite-but-close idea of what the world looks like behind those shades.
    Taro of course had no need of such things, but he pauses to watch anyway. Nothing to stop him from doing a little window-shopping of the competition, is there?
Kirito     "hoooooooh." This is NOTHING at all like the conventions Kirito's been to before. He eventually makes his way to the... "Wait, gloves? That's old school..." This is new in the Multiverse?

    The Black Swordsman (notably not carryin a sword at the moment) rubs his chin. Gloves. Gloves and virtual reality. Still being aware and not immersed... "There could be some lessons to be learned for FullDive in this." He says to himself. But... his attention's soon drawn to the crowd around him. Particularly... Taro, whom is eyesd carefully. It takes about ten seconds before the Spriggan shows any real recognition! ... But that recognition's in the form of a grin.
Taro     It's new to someone in the multiverse! Just not to the people who have better technology. Still, mixed in with all the babble about 'impressive framerate' and 'substantial immersive experience!', their particular selling points are a combination of affordable pricepoint and a better experience for people who don't tolerate the full immersive experience that well. 'Play with your friends next door and across the cosm without the headaches!' The demo game doesn't appear to be too bad, either - right now, the holoscreen shows the pair of demonstrators putting together a puzzle of tetris-like blocks into a square, which they can use to boost themselves up to reach a ladder.
    Taro senses eyes on him, and glances away from the demo to note Kirito. A moment later brings a blink of recognition, though he neither smiles nor frowns at the young man. Just a nod, and a small open-palmed gesture. ... Though he -does- arch an eyebrow at the grin. That's not the usual response he gets, at least not from those on the opposing side.
    Well. Since grinning isn't usually a threatening expression as far as humans go, he moves to edge closer to Kirito without ovely bothering the others between them. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised..." he says, his voice reflecting amusement that his face doesn't quite show.
Kirito     "The lure of checking out upcoming stuff knows no boundaries." Kirito exclaims juuuust loudly enough for Taro to hear him. He's still grinning. It's the grin o a geek who's spotted another. So to speak. And it only dampens slightly when Taro approaches.
Taro     They're both here ligitimately, and Taro doesn't appear to be inclined to cause the kind of trouble that would get either or both of them ejected. The grin goes mostly unreturned, a hint of a smile at the edges of Taro's lips, but nothing more. "Indeed...It's interesting to see what's sprung from the collective creativity of the multiverse. Even if some of it isn't personally useful."
    Meanwhile, the demonstrators and their avatars have climbed up the ladder onto a rooftop. A digital cityscape laid out on the holographic screen...and of course after a moment, the company's logo draws itself across the sky.
Kirito     "Full immersion's way more interesting than that to me, yeah." Kirito agrees, but he's still watching the display, wondering... "FullDive has a lot of applications though besides gaming I'm looking into!"
Taro     Taro shifts his gaze further away from the demonstration to arch an eyebrow at Kirito. No offense to the technology at hand, but what the young man has to say is more interesting. Assuming that his leading question will prompt a longer answer. "Are you now...such as?"
Kirito     "Hm? Well, the underlying technology of FullDive is having a digital interface with the brain. Think of the medical applications. A blind person could just wear a helmet that routes camera feed into the brain. Or you could use it to control a robot over the internet." Kirito offers, smiling confidently. he's pretty sure these ideas have merit.
Taro     "Mm." Taro's brow lowers into a more pensive expression. "Arguably a blind person could be better served with cybernetic replacements," he points out. "Though the surgical grafting would be more invasive than a helmet, the patient would not be as tethered. Still, the idea does have some merit, for those who are poor candidate for cyberware. As is your other idea." A pause. "Have you actually begun exploring these, or is this all theoretical?"
Kirito     "Cybernetics has a long ways to go on my world. We'll probably see FullDive technology take the lead in it. But me, work on medical? Nah... I'm working on some other devices. All I've got right now is a wearable device with a focusing camera, speakers, and microphone as a proof of concept for linking FullDive environments to reality over the internet. It's a personal project."
Taro     "I see...then perhaps I'll look into it myself." Taro raises his hand in a conversational gesture. "Cybernetics are common in Neo Arcadia, standard medical treatment for grievous injury or disease among our human population." Another momentary pause, before he asks, "You're strictly a robotics engineer, then?"
Kirito     Kirito makes a sort of sheepish face. "That's assigning more glory than the title's worth. I'm just a student. And a programmer." Kirito answers rather genuinely. "It's nowhere close to what the guy who made a complete FullDive interface for android neurology could do."

    Well. ... that explains that he's recognized Taro.
Taro     Taro acknowledges both the compliment and the recognition with deep nod that borders on a bow. It's pleasing to know his reputation still preceeds him, at least in some circles. "There are always improvements to be made, of course, but the technology is quite impressive, isn't it? Still," he continues, "if you are learning from the experience of building a better organic-real world interface, I would encourage you to continue that pursuit."
Kirito     Kirito's a bit startled by the show of respect, but he answers by keeping up that mischevious smile. "Of course. I have a few promises to see through... and you?"
Taro     The brief demonstration is essentially over, and the throng around them begins to break up. Some head further in to have a closer look at the VR rig, while the others wander off to see what else the trade show has to offer.
    "I have my hand in a number of projects," Taro answers vaguely, the corners of his lips twitching upward in a ghost of a smile. "Some destined for the open market, others more, shall we say, specialized." He gestures to the right of them, down the aisle. "For the former, you're welcome to stop in at the TriOptimum booth to see what they'll be releasing for the holidays."
Kirito     "Hoh. Now you've piqued my interest!" Kirito exclaims, heedless of the dispersing crowd. "Nothing beats the Multiverse for being surrounded with all kinds of awesome technology. It's great!" ... yep. This amazing swordsman, and responsible guild leader is, during a convention like this, just a kid in a candy shop. Weird.
Taro      Taro takes a step to the side so as to be out of the way of the direct line of traffic as the others walk away, but otherwise he doesn't directly acknowledge them. No, Kirito has and keeps his full attention for now. "It -is- one of the tangle benefits of Unification," he agrees. "The problems we all face may be the same, but it's interesting to see the wide variety of solutions to those problems that have been found. You are finding a solution to a problem using the limits of your technology, while I find mine."
     "Incidently, do you know whether ALO will be releasing any major updates soon? I'd like to be sure that we have the newest drivers out ahead of time for that."
Kirito     "nothing that would change how it interfaces with FullDive! The FullDive API has nothing to do with Alfheim Online itself. RCT handles the FullDive stuff, but I've not heard of anything too new coming out of that." Kirito explains, shrugging.
Taro     Taro gives a small nod at that. He'll no doubt be making a stop at RCT's booth at some point during the convention anyway, but no harm in asking someone far closer to the game. He begins to say something further, but then stops before actually speaking, as if he's been interrupted. His mouth closes and his brow furrows at what's presumably a different conversation, one that Kirito's not privy to.
    The furrowed brow lightens somewhat but not entirely as he turns back to his original conversation partner. "My apologies, but one of my subordinates has called me about a matter that needs my personal attention. Perhaps we'll be able to speak again like this later."