Technology level 5

Technology level 5 is the sixth of the Technology level classifications. The defining characteristics of a society having reached TL–5 is the consequences of industrialization expanding into more areas of technology. The consequences of mass industrialization now begin to show rewards to broader population through availability of goods. What were once rare and expensive machines are now cheap and easily available. Virtually every aspect of life acquires some level of mechanization.

In terms of classification TL–5 is the Technological Period of Ur-Tech, the initial planetary bound cycle of development. It also occurs within the Technological Epoch know as the Division of Labor Epoch.

Theoretical Technologies

Physical Science

First estimates of Quantum mechanics and relativity

Understanding of the structure of the Atom and radioactivity

Material Science / Manufacturing

First synthetic fibers like rayon

Bakelite, PVC, and other synthetic construction materials.

Biological Science

Biochemistry - Understanding of how chemistry drives biology.

DNA - Discovery of the basics of genetics and inheritance of traits

Discovery of viruses - The smallest sources of disease.

Cultural Science

Dictatorships

Quality of Life Technologies

Energy

Petrochemicals - expansion of the petrochemicals as a primary energy source.

Steam Turbine - Highly efficient means of turning pressurized steam into motion (hence electricity).

Information

Electric Calculators - use of vacuum tubes to build simple electrical calculating machines

Radar and Sonar - Use of radio and sound (in water) as a detection system.

Communications

Radio - long distance communications without a connecting wire.

Radio networking - Building one to many information distribution networks

Sound recording - Create audio records.

Medicine / Life sciences

Internal Imaging - X-Rays combined with photographic techniques to see within the body.

Crude Prosthetic -

Antibiotics - Capable of enhancing the body's ability to fight off infections.

Blood transfusions

Environment

Sealed/Conditioned Cities

Herbicides / Pesticides - Use of chemical controls to enhance agriculture.

Transportation Technologies

Land transportation

Ground Cars - Wide spread use of cars drive development of high speed road networks.

Tracked Vehicles - Tanks for military applications and tractors for farm work.

Water

Steel hulled vessels - larger and better armored war ships.

Early Submersibles - Battery powered sea worthy submarines.

Personal Self-Propelled Boats - Small light weight engines drive boats.

Air

Airplanes & Seaplanes - Prop driven aircraft.

Space

Unmanned Rockets - Liquid and solid fuel system capable of reaching around the globe.

Satellites - First small objects to orbit a planet.

Military Technologies

Warfare begins using weapons and tactics including aircraft, armored ground vehicles, chemical warfare, radio communications and remote sensing devices like radar and primitive countermeasures against the same. Early in this period, warfare will use some of the TL–5 advances with TL–3 and TL–4 tactics, resulting in horrific casualty rates, while later TL–5 conflicts will develop the new tactics required for effective use of these weapons.

Advanced materials like aluminum, primitive composites and heavy element penetrators are experimented with, but not in widespread use. Development of heavier-than-air flight brings the use of unguided bombs and manual sighting systems to fire on rapidly moving targets. The first primitive fire control systems using purely mechanical and passive optical elements are introduced. The first electronically enhanced night vision devices appear in late tech level 5, using an active source of non-visible wavelengths for target illumination.

The development of Aircraft are both driven by and foster development of Military applications. This in turn drives development of places to service the aircraft on both land and sea. The initial developments of the aircraft carrier as a water borne landing and takeoff platform.

See Also

Technology levels

§ == ( Please refer to the following AAB Library Data for more information: ) == §

• Technological Systemics
  • Technology Level
  • Tech Level Comparison Chart
  • Technological Epoch
  • Technological Period
  • Universal Technological Profile
• Foundational Period
  • Tool Making Epoch
    • TL–0
    • TL–1
    • TL–2
    • TL–3
  • Division of Labor Epoch
    • TL–4
    • TL–5
    • TL–6
  • Processor Epoch
    • TL–7
    • TL–8
    • TL–9
• Interstellar Period
  • Gravitics Epoch
    • TL–10
    • TL–11
    • TL–12
  • Biologicals Epoch
    • TL–13
    • TL–14
    • TL–15
  • Artificials Epoch
    • TL–16
    • TL–17
    • TL–18
• Galactic Period / Accelerating Tech Level
  • Matter Transport Epoch
    • TL–19
    • TL–20
    • TL–21
  • Transformations Epoch
  • Psionics Epoch
  • Trans-galactic Epoch
  • Pocket Universe Epoch
  • Post-Technological Period

References & Contributors

This list of sources was used by the Traveller Wiki Editorial Team and individual contributors to compose this article. Copyrighted material is used under license from Mongoose Publishing or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.

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• K. David Ladage, "Alternate Technologies II: Relativity", JTAS Online (2001)
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• Marc Miller, Robert Eaglestone, Don McKinney. Starships (Far Future Enterprises, 2019), 223-237.
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