Technology level 6

Technology level 6 is the seventh of the Technology level classifications. The defining characteristic of a society reaching TL–6 is the use of nuclear fission as an energy source and weapon system. Combined with advances in rocketry this gives a society, for the first time, the ability to fundamentally alter their own world.

It also includes the development and adoption of digital electronic devices. The vacuum tube devices quickly give way to transistors and integrated circuits for digital computing systems, leading to huge advances in data collection, analysis, and the insights this may bring.

In terms of classification TL–6 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

Theory of Electronics

Material Science / Manufacturing

Fiberglass - Consistent manufacturing of lightweight composite materials.

Plastics - Refined manufacture of raw materials.

Titanium - Manufacturing with rarer and more exotic metals.

Biological Science

Hybrid crops - Deliberate cross breeding to produce resistance to pests, drought, and increase yields

Cultural Science

Global nation states

Quality of Life Technologies

Energy

Nuclear Fission

Gas turbine engines

Photovoltaic cells

Information

Electronic Computers

Communications

Television - Video transmission and recordings

High speed press - Increased availability of printed material and mass marketing.

Medicine / Life sciences

Reconstructive Surgery

Organ Transplants

Environment

Weather prediction and forecasting

Underground cities

Transportation Technologies

Land transportation

Amphibian Vehicles

Water

Amphibian Vehicles

Long term submersibles

Air

Early jet aircraft

Helicopters

Space

Orbit capable rockets - Capable of reaching anywhere on a planet or manned missions to planetary moons.

Military Technologies

Weapon developments are mainly improvements in materials, with the addition of rudimentary electronics to large weapons, including gyrostablized fire control systems and very basic targeting computers.

Warfare continues along TL–5 lines, with new tactics involving deployment, use and defenses against atomic weapons among those cultures that develop them. Marginally effective body armor vs. high velocity fragments and small bullets becomes available, but is not in widespread use.

Propulsion technology allows for reaction engine missiles with intercontinental range and atomic warheads. It is conceivable that a starship without either point defense or nuclear dampers could be targeted by ground launched weapons at this tech level, but no instances of this have been recorded. Civilian and many personal weapon technology are more or less the same as TL–5 weapons. Personal night-vision devices of some effectiveness are available, but often a "secret" military technology.

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 Far Future Enterprises or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.

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• Jon F. Zeigler. First In (Steve Jackson Games, 1999), 94-95, 108-117.7
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• K. David Ladage, "Alternate Technologies II: Relativity", JTAS Online (2001)
• Martin Dougherty, Hunter Gordon. The Traveller's Handbook (QuikLink Interactive, 2002), 378.
• Jeff Zeitlin. "An Analysis of Tech Levels." Freelance Traveller 012 (2010): 10-12.
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• Marc Miller, Robert Eaglestone, Don McKinney. Starships (Far Future Enterprises, 2019), 223-237.
• Marc Miller, Robert Eaglestone, Don McKinney. Worlds and Adventures (Far Future Enterprises, 2019), 19.