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While the OS-tan universe is populated by characters possessing a wide range of body types, skin colors and styles of dress, the topic of character ethnicity has rarely been broached, either in-canon or theory. This lack of attention to race is somewhat justified by the nature of OS-tans themselves - since they are not human beings, they do not belong to human races per se. At the same time, OS-tans are frequently depicted as having bodies that are nearly indistinguishable from "normal" human bodies - it only makes sense that they would display the same level of variability seen in humans. | While the OS-tan universe is populated by characters possessing a wide range of body types, skin colors and styles of dress, the topic of character ethnicity has rarely been broached, either in-canon or theory. This lack of attention to race is somewhat justified by the nature of OS-tans themselves - since they are not human beings, they do not belong to human races per se. At the same time, OS-tans are frequently depicted as having bodies that are nearly indistinguishable from "normal" human bodies - it only makes sense that they would display the same level of variability seen in humans. | ||
There is a fanon precedent for ethnic variability in OS-tans; they are often depicted as belonging to whatever ethnic group is most common in their country or region of origin - for instance, personifications of Japanese systems are typically ethnically-Japanese. Furthermore, many OS-tans have been explicitly stated, by their creators, as belonging to a certain ethnic group - for instance, [[PCLinuxOS]]-tan is Mexican-American, [[TRS-80]]-tan is portrayed as Hispanic, [[Pardus]]-tan is Turkish and some | There is a fanon precedent for ethnic variability in OS-tans; they are often depicted as belonging to whatever ethnic group is most common in their country or region of origin - for instance, personifications of Japanese systems are typically ethnically-Japanese. Furthermore, many OS-tans have been explicitly stated, by their creators, as belonging to a certain ethnic group - for instance, [[PCLinuxOS]]-tan is Mexican-American, [[TRS-80]]-tan is portrayed as Hispanic, [[Pardus]]-tan is Turkish and some versions of [[Ubuntu]]-tan depict her as being of native South African heritage. | ||
Other times, ethnicity is only hinted at by the creator or depicted in drawn form, with little attention being given to the character's ethnicity in written depictions. For example, this may be the case with CTSS-tan and MCP-tan, who have been suggested by their creator as being Chinese- and African-American, respectively. | Other times, ethnicity is only hinted at by the creator or depicted in drawn form, with little attention being given to the character's ethnicity in written depictions. For example, this may be the case with CTSS-tan and MCP-tan, who have been suggested by their creator as being Chinese- and African-American, respectively. | ||
====Humans and OS-tan magic==== | |||
It has been theorized that OS-tans often have wide ranges of magical skill. In addition to their self-defense ("security") powers and other forms of sorcery used in their day-to-day lives ("personal powers"), they have a certain sorcery abilities that they use in whatever job they're assigned to - spells related to business stuff, keeping track of information, collecting data from scientific experiments, etc. Unlike their more reflexive security and personal-use powers, these "work spells" can be easily invoked by human users and program-tans via commands. [http://ostan-collections.net/forum/index.php/topic,1539.msg131178.html#msg131178] | |||
These commands can take a variety of different forms. Some OS-tans - specifically, real-time, timesharing and interactive OS-tans - process these commands in real time, and need only for a user to request them to carry them out. Meanwhile, batch-processing OS-tans require the commands to be written down before they can process them, and the spellcasting process tends to be more ritualistic and prolonged than it is for interactive OS-tan spells. (Analogous to the spell scroll vs. regular casting process used in various RPGs.) | |||
These ideas have implications for single-user and single-tasking vs. multiuser, multitasking and timesharing systems, since single-user OS-tans would presumably only be able to perform spell-casting for one person at a time, single-tasking OS-tans would only be able to perform single spells, while multitasking OS-tans could perform a variety in short succession and multiuser and timesharing OS-tans provide magical requests for large numbers of people. However, this subject has yet to be fully explored. | |||
A sub-theory suggests computer storage mediums, such as punch cards and paper-tape, are used as spellbooks by OS-tans and humans. | |||
Another theory proposes that, with enough time and training, humans have the potential to master computer-tan "code magic". However, this is regarded as a very rare occurrence, due to the difficulties posed by learning the intricacies of computer magic, as well as the biologically- and psychologically-foreign nature of code magic. [http://ostan-collections.net/forum/index.php/topic,1539.msg131217.html#msg131217] | |||
====Humans and codespace==== | |||
User NejinOniwa's theories on human-codespace interaction. [http://ostan-collections.net/forum/index.php/topic,1539.msg131194.html#msg131194] | |||
====Operational vs. non-operational OS-tans==== | |||
The working status of an OS or computer has a direct effect on its personification. Often times, when a computer/OS falls out of use, its OS-tan is considered deceased. But there is no widely-accepted classification scheme for those computers and OSes which are between extant and expired. | |||
One theory proposes that there would be a variety of states an OS-tan can fall into: working (still being used for commercial purposes, may be current or non-current), working/hobbyist (systems that are working, but also out-of-date and used as hobbyist computers), hobbyist (no longer used commercially, but maintains a hobby userbase) and non-working, non-hobbyist and fully retired (no known userbase, but the system is still considered "alive"). | |||
Put into OS-tan terms, a working OS-tan would be just that - currently holding down some sort of employment or otherwise contributing to some commercial end. The uses for hobby systems are is harder to define, but it has been speculated that they are kept around as sort of living records of the past, studied by scholars wishing to learn from their archaic forms of magic and about the history they witnessed. They may also be used in contests, reenactments and for other forms of entertainment. Thus, in spite of having a low work value, they are still highly regarded for their historical and recreational purposes. OS-tans who are both working and hobbyist would be a combination of the first two, while non-working, non-hobby systems would be the true retirees of the OS-tan universe, contributing neither to the OS-tan "workforce" nor the field of recreational computing. | |||
MCP-tan, PDP-8-tan, PDP-1-tan and Multics-tan are a good example of each of the respective categories. [http://ostan-collections.net/forum/index.php/topic,1539.msg131505.html#msg131505] | |||
==Theories about present and past factions== | ==Theories about present and past factions== | ||
====The DEC-tans became a military faction in response to outside forces==== | ====The DEC-tans became a military faction in response to outside forces==== | ||
The DEC-tans did not originate as a military faction. In fact, their first decade or so was entirely peaceable, and the members opposed to fighting for the most part. However, in the late 1960s, the Data General faction was founded not far from DEC territory; unlike the DECs, the DG faction was an aggressive group, and often made direct threats to the DEC-tans. Fearing for their safety and security, the DEC-tans took up arms and taught themselves how to fight. | The DEC-tans did not originate as a military faction. In fact, their first decade or so was entirely peaceable, and the members opposed to fighting for the most part. However, in the late 1960s, the Data General faction was founded not far from DEC territory; unlike the DECs, the DG faction was an aggressive group, and often made direct threats to the DEC-tans. Fearing for their safety and security, the DEC-tans took up arms and taught themselves how to fight. [http://ostan-collections.net/forum/index.php/topic,1539.msg121828.html#msg121828] | ||
Fear of the IBM-tan faction may have also contributed to this shift. | Fear of the IBM-tan faction may have also contributed to this shift. | ||
====The Data General-tan Faction==== | ====The Data General-tan Faction==== | ||
Like the DEC-tans, the DG-tans had their own faction. It was founded in 1968, when [[PDP-8]]-tan's creator abandoned DEC after the higher-ups refused his plan to create an improved successor for her. The Data General faction was founded, with [[Nova]]-tan becoming the de-facto leader of their computer-tans. | Like the DEC-tans, the DG-tans had their own faction. It was founded in 1968, when [[PDP-8]]-tan's creator abandoned DEC after the higher-ups refused his plan to create an improved successor for her. The Data General faction was founded, with [[Nova]]-tan becoming the de-facto leader of their computer-tans. | ||
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==Theories about individual characters== | ==Theories about individual characters== | ||
====Multics-tan is CTSS' and BESYS' child==== | ====Multics-tan is CTSS' and BESYS' child==== | ||
In canon, it is commonly thought that [[CTSS]]-tan is [[Multics]] lone ancestor. A conceptual tie is recognized between Multics and [[BESYS]]-tan, but they are not widely believed to be related by blood. | In canon, it is commonly thought that [[CTSS]]-tan is [[Multics]] lone ancestor. A conceptual tie is recognized between Multics and [[BESYS]]-tan, but they are not widely believed to be related by blood. [http://ostan-collections.net/forum/index.php/topic,1539.msg121791.html#msg121791] | ||
In an alternate theory, Multics-tan is the daughter of both CTSS and BESYS-tan. Evidence cited in support of this theory includes Multics' hair color, eye color and the fact that Multics was ordered by CTSS to live with BESYS in her youth (although she and BESYS mutually disliked each other and the stay was short-lived), as well as physical and mental similarities between BESYS and Multics' child, Unix. | In an alternate theory, Multics-tan is the daughter of both CTSS and BESYS-tan. Evidence cited in support of this theory includes Multics' hair color, eye color and the fact that Multics was ordered by CTSS to live with BESYS in her youth (although she and BESYS mutually disliked each other and the stay was short-lived), as well as physical and mental similarities between BESYS and Multics' child, Unix. [http://ostan-collections.net/forum/index.php/topic,1539.msg127675.html#msg127675] | ||
====VMS-tan has powerful empathic skills==== | ====VMS-tan has powerful empathic skills==== | ||
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====Plan 9-tan is a hardcore geek==== | ====Plan 9-tan is a hardcore geek==== | ||
She's a confirmed space- and science-geek who cosplays, loves B-movies, anime, and is a Touhou fan. How can she NOT be a huge nerd? | She's a confirmed space- and science-geek who cosplays, loves B-movies, anime, and is a Touhou fan. How can she NOT be a huge nerd? | ||
====Unix-tan collaborated with the DEC Faction==== | |||
In the late 1970s DEC released an in-house, lightly modified version of V7 Unix. Since Unix-tan represents all research Unix variants (V7 included), it stands to reason that Unix-tan collaborated with the DECs during this time. | |||
====Windows 3.1-tan is still working==== | |||
Since Windows 3.1 has been reincarnated as an embedded OS, some theorize that 3.1-tan leads a double-life - she presents herself as retired to her family, but in reality still holds down work in the highly competitive embedded market. | |||
[[Category:Theories]] | |||
