User blog:Stormwell/Thoughts on Technology

I think we can all agree that technology in Dishonored is a bit all over the place, regardless I'm going to try and make sense of some of it.

Communications
The most common form of communication we see in the game is the Loudspeakers, though this is one-way only giving important information to guards and citizens alike. I believe the loudspeakers are probably an extention of the audipgraph players, this would make sense to have a load of pre-recorded audiographs to simply slot into the machine and that what happened with Hiram's confession.

But how to transmit the message from the tower to the loudspeakers?

Cables seem to be the answer going by pictures of loudspeakers, there is a cable visible going from the top of the device and suggests a city wide PA setup. Must be interesting for the work crew who has to maintain all the cables, what with the weepers, rats and thugs, etc.

We do get to see two-way communication in the Return to the Tower in the form of the communication screen thing that Hiram uses to speak to the guards with, though it has a visual feed that is two-way as well. Though this might only be a one off device.

Long-distance communications is something that hasn't been covered much, the cloest we see is Rothwild's fleet report. Though I hazard a guess it's still the old fashion letter delivered via ship or on horse, I mean if there was some sort of radio or telephone system then the Empress could've just called the other leaders rather than send out Corvo.

Transportation
From what we've seen transport appears either to be horse drawn, rail-borne or ship-borne depending on who you are and where you're going.

Makes me wonder whether there is anything like a traction engine in the Dishonored world?

Whale oil could just as easily power steam engines as coal or wood can, though I suspect in more rural areas that traditional steam power remains. Also begs the question regarding railways, are there city-to-city railways and do they use locomotives?