A SmartStone is a magitech communication device which uses the IrynaNet to transmit information between devices. SmartStone ownership has become near-ubiquitous among Irynians.
The SmartStone itself is roughly the size and shape of a hockey puck - 3 inches in diameter, 1 inch in height, with rounded edges and two flat sides. One side has an optical trackpad to register touch input, while the other is featureless, meant to be cupped in the palm of one’s hand. The SmartStone also contains a camera, projector, speaker, and microphone, but the size, location, and specifications of all these features are dependent on the model. SmartStones are made from marble, a commonly-used construction and decorative material in the Corvidan Archipelago.
SmartStones are powered using a magitech power core in their interior. Power depletes over the course of days or weeks, depending on usage. If SmartStones are not regularly turned off to allow the core to regenerate power, they will drain completely, and the core will have to be taken out to be charged. Cores can be charged at SmartStone stores or at independent magitech repair shops.
Each SmartStone contains an IrynaNet core that can communicate with the central cores housed within Iryna’s support pillars, as well as other magitech devices. SmartStones attempt to establish a connection with three central cores, to triangulate position and maintain service as the user travels between cores, but only one connection is required. If a SmartStone is disconnected from the IrynaNet for any reason, it will receive any missed messages once it reconnects.
Upon initial purchase of a SmartStone, the user must set up a 5-character code, which serves as a unique identifier for the SmartStone as well as its user. Each code corresponds to one device, but can be transferred between devices at a SmartStone store location. SmartStone codes use all the symbols found on a standard keyboard: 26 letters, 4 special characters, and 6 numbers, or a total of 36 characters. The SmartStone was originally designed when Iryna’s population was under 1.6 million, so a 4-character code would have been more than sufficient for the entire population of the city. However, wishing to be forward-thinking, SmartStone engineers instead established 5-character codes with 60 million possible combinations. Many Irynians use their name or a common word as their code, but with most good codes already in use, late adopters compromise with intentional misspellings or random sequences of characters.
When a SmartStone is deactivated, a single touch will activate the SmartStone and prompt the user to enter their log-in credentials. Users can log in using a sequence of taps, a written password, or a spoken passphrase. The trackpad can be used for simple inputs such as scrolling and selecting menu options. However, more complex inputs such as typing require the use of keyboards.
SmartStones project an intangible, micro-thin screen that can be resized and reconfigured to the user’s liking. Viewing the sceen from behind results in a flipped, but still decipherable, image. The screen does not distort or otherwise react when physical objects intersect with its plane. Color range, frame rate, and image resolution have steadily improved during the SmartStone’s lifetime; older screens were monochromatic, blurred the display at large sizes, and played videos as a slow progression of still images rather than giving the illusion of smooth continual motion.
The SmartStone keyboard is functionally a second holographic screen which registers interactions with solid matter as meaningful input. Although technically keyboards can be configured however the user desires, the default is a simple 6-by-6 grid of 36 characters. Most users either project the keyboard directly above the hand holding their SmartStone and type with their free hand, or set their Stone down on a table for two-handed typing. The keyboard provides no visual, auditory, or haptic feedback.
The SmartStone’s volume can range from completely silent to loud enough to hear from across a room. Most Irynians set their volume to a moderate level, holding their Stone close to their ear to hear clearly without publically broadcasting a potentially-private conversation. However, this poses an issue for those who wish to display and capture video in addition to audio, since the user's head would block the screen projector and in-built camera if held up to the ear. For this reason, many Irynians purchase an external camera and/or screen projector, using their SmartStone as a remote to operate these devices, or elect to communicate through video only in the privacy of their own homes, where being overheard is less of a concern.
One feature that SmartStones do not possess is any kind of data storage. The SmartStone design prioritizes portability and responsiveness, with the IrynaNet system designed to allow for high-speed data transfer, so that users do not feel any delay in retrieving their information from the central network. If a SmartStone is misplaced or damaged, no data is lost.
SmartStones are purchaseable at multiple store locations scattered throughout Iryna. The flagship location is in the Oceanview district, which still serves as the company's corporate headquarters. These stores are visually identifiable by their "retro" design, with stonework meant to echo historic castle architecture, serving as a contrast to the hypermodern magitech sold within. SmartStones are an expensive investment, costing between 300-500 CG depending on the model, with an additional recurring fee for IrynaNet access. The SmartStone Company also sells a variety of cases, which make the Stone easier to grip, add straps so users can carry their Stone over their shoulder, or simply add a personal aesthetic touch.