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Description
(I'll write this one out without the 2nd person narration, as the "you" in the world isn't really familiar with holographic technology that much.)

=====================
LIVING HOLOGRAMS
=====================
Syms, specifically ExoSyms:
-They're projected in a 3D space and can simulate as much or as little sentience as you want them to.
-Their AI is highly customizable, allowing anyone to set their likes, dislikes, fears, hopes, dreams, etc. to whatever is needed.
-Syms can't talk. Zero vocal capability. The main reason for this is not due to a technical limitation, but because it takes a lot of work for someone in-universe to develop a way to get generated voices to sound good. The holographic teams worked on two approachesurely digital, and purely organic.
-Syms generally simulate internal organs and body heat, but they don't have to. Syms can even use those faked organs like real ones, when needed.
-Although the vocal project was scrapped, the digital approach managed to make a voice similar to Microsoft Sam/Samantha, and the organic approach came pretty close to sounding like one of those kids born without vocal chords. In the end, there wasn't enough of a reason to get Syms to talk, so they shelved it and focused on building EndoSyms instead.
-ExoSyms are generated via an external source, usually holographic projectors, and can't go anywhere or do anything that would distance themselves from the emitters too far.
-The main benefit to ExoSyms over EndoSyms is that they're incredibly easy to make and customize, and can be simply shut off when they're not needed, disappearing into nothing. A common use is to outright copy things from other worlds 1:1 to see what they look like; no personality can be copied though, it's purely physical.
-All Syms have a slight glow and a bright outline, much more visible on darker Syms in darker rooms.
-All Syms (at default settings) are smart enough to be able to write fluently; nobody finished work on their voices, but the mental faculties are still there.

EndoSyms:
-Mostly the same as ExoSyms, but with one important difference; they're generated from the inside out.
-There's a visible emitter somewhere on their bodies (like Dettna's back, or Fay's chest ribbon) that can be concealed with clothing. The emitter connects to other, smaller emitters located on various cables and wiring through their bodies. TBH, it kinda looks like five long, thin metal tentacles lined with green lights, one for each limb and one for the head, all held up like a noodly stick figure.
-EndoSyms can't be turned off, so they take up quite a bit more room; semi-related, but their bodies can't be outright replaced, either. Changed, yes, but not to something completely different.
-EndoSyms are free to go wherever they want and don't need external emitters.

=====================
NON-LIVING HOLOGRAMS
=====================

Objects and scenery:
-Trees, rocks, mountains, sand; all of it is fine and generates pretty realistically, without the telltale glow like the Syms.
-Plants can be simulated, but if they're designed to simulate growth naturally, they gain that telltale green glow.
-Inorganic holograms don't need direct line-of-sight to holographic emitters, but they still need them nearby.
-Things that move or flow don't simulate as realistically; especially fire and water.
-Reasonably unlimited max quantity/size.
-The system can't do extremely complex interactions, like mining holographic iron ore, melting it down in a holographic smelter and blacksmithing until you have a holographic sword. It CAN make the ore, a smelter, and a sword, just not changing properly through the whole process.

Food:
-Food can be generated, as long as someone's input a recipe.
-Holographic food can be eaten. It tastes reasonably accurate, but it's almost like all holographic food has a very light sprinkling of sand mixed in; that kind of gritty, crunchy texture.
-Holographic drinks aren't recommended; it has an almost lumpy texture in your mouth, sort of like a watered down cottage cheese or spoiled milk, but the taste is correct, if pretty bland.
-People CAN gain weight from the food, as it fakes it by stashing the food's volume inside the proper fat cells; the food can be deleted at any point, and stepping too far from holographic emitters will make it disappear, too.

(Side note: don't be afraid to ask questions if you have any.)
(Also yes, by pure chance, all three Syms in this pic are dogs.)
(I'm probably going to change the appearance of the portable emitter again; I keep changing it, but never deciding on one design.)

Description
(I'll write this one out without the 2nd person narration, as the "you" in the world isn't really familiar with holographic technology that much.)

=====================
LIVING HOLOGRAMS
=====================
Syms, specifically ExoSyms:
-They're projected in a 3D space and can simulate as much or as little sentience as you want them to.
-Their AI is highly customizable, allowing anyone to set their likes, dislikes, fears, hopes, dreams, etc. to whatever is needed.
-Syms can't talk. Zero vocal capability. The main reason for this is not due to a technical limitation, but because it takes a lot of work for someone in-universe to develop a way to get generated voices to sound good. The holographic teams worked on two approachesurely digital, and purely organic.
-Syms generally simulate internal organs and body heat, but they don't have to. Syms can even use those faked organs like real ones, when needed.
-Although the vocal project was scrapped, the digital approach managed to make a voice similar to Microsoft Sam/Samantha, and the organic approach came pretty close to sounding like one of those kids born without vocal chords. In the end, there wasn't enough of a reason to get Syms to talk, so they shelved it and focused on building EndoSyms instead.
-ExoSyms are generated via an external source, usually holographic projectors, and can't go anywhere or do anything that would distance themselves from the emitters too far.
-The main benefit to ExoSyms over EndoSyms is that they're incredibly easy to make and customize, and can be simply shut off when they're not needed, disappearing into nothing. A common use is to outright copy things from other worlds 1:1 to see what they look like; no personality can be copied though, it's purely physical.
-All Syms have a slight glow and a bright outline, much more visible on darker Syms in darker rooms.
-All Syms (at default settings) are smart enough to be able to write fluently; nobody finished work on their voices, but the mental faculties are still there.

EndoSyms:
-Mostly the same as ExoSyms, but with one important difference; they're generated from the inside out.
-There's a visible emitter somewhere on their bodies (like Dettna's back, or Fay's chest ribbon) that can be concealed with clothing. The emitter connects to other, smaller emitters located on various cables and wiring through their bodies. TBH, it kinda looks like five long, thin metal tentacles lined with green lights, one for each limb and one for the head, all held up like a noodly stick figure.
-EndoSyms can't be turned off, so they take up quite a bit more room; semi-related, but their bodies can't be outright replaced, either. Changed, yes, but not to something completely different.
-EndoSyms are free to go wherever they want and don't need external emitters.

=====================
NON-LIVING HOLOGRAMS
=====================

Objects and scenery:
-Trees, rocks, mountains, sand; all of it is fine and generates pretty realistically, without the telltale glow like the Syms.
-Plants can be simulated, but if they're designed to simulate growth naturally, they gain that telltale green glow.
-Inorganic holograms don't need direct line-of-sight to holographic emitters, but they still need them nearby.
-Things that move or flow don't simulate as realistically; especially fire and water.
-Reasonably unlimited max quantity/size.
-The system can't do extremely complex interactions, like mining holographic iron ore, melting it down in a holographic smelter and blacksmithing until you have a holographic sword. It CAN make the ore, a smelter, and a sword, just not changing properly through the whole process.

Food:
-Food can be generated, as long as someone's input a recipe.
-Holographic food can be eaten. It tastes reasonably accurate, but it's almost like all holographic food has a very light sprinkling of sand mixed in; that kind of gritty, crunchy texture.
-Holographic drinks aren't recommended; it has an almost lumpy texture in your mouth, sort of like a watered down cottage cheese or spoiled milk, but the taste is correct, if pretty bland.
-People CAN gain weight from the food, as it fakes it by stashing the food's volume inside the proper fat cells; the food can be deleted at any point, and stepping too far from holographic emitters will make it disappear, too.

(Side note: don't be afraid to ask questions if you have any.)
(Also yes, by pure chance, all three Syms in this pic are dogs.)
(I'm probably going to change the appearance of the portable emitter again; I keep changing it, but never deciding on one design.)