Difference between pages "InfoCenter" and "SZYM Tower (building)"

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{{ infobox product
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'''SZYM Tower''' has been the name given to several large high-rise buildings built by [[Will Szymborska]]. Although they are numbered chronologically, they are all formally known as "SZYM Tower" without the numerical designation. The name is a play on the game [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SimTower SimTower], which was one of Will's favorite video games during childhood.
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| title            = InfoCenter
 
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| image            = [[File:replaceme.jpg|200px|center]]
 
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| caption          = InfoCenter Display Kit vendor image.
 
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| inventor        = [[Nelson Jenkins]], [[SLI Komarov]]
 
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| launch year      = 2008, upgraded in 2014
 
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| company          = [[Gentek]]
 
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| available        = Marketplace & In-World
 
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| url              = '''[https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/InfoCenter-Display-Kit-Four-Electronic-Text-Display-Sign-Models/6579929 InfoCenter Display Kit]'''<br>'''[https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/InfoCenter-Mobile-Trailer-Mounted-Electronic-Text-Display-Sign/6579901 InfoCenter Mobile]'''
 
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}}
 
  
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The '''InfoCenter''' is a series of electronic text display signs (Personal, Notice, Highway, Matrix, and Mobile) sold by [[Gentek]]. They are designed for transportation & commercial purposes, although have been creatively used for a wide variety of applications. They are all web-controllable and include an API for scripters and web developers.
 
  
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This page covers the InfoCenter Series v3 and above. Because of the complexity in the new system and licensing restrictions, v3 is not a free update. For older versions, visit these pages: [[InfoCenter Mobile|Mobile]], [[InfoCenter Highway|Highway]], or [[InfoCenter Personal|Personal]]
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==SZYM Towers I, II, and III==
 +
Little is known of these towers. They were constructed on the Teen Grid.
  
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==Models==
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==SZYM Tower IV==
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The InfoCenter is made up of two separate products - the InfoCenter Display Kit, and the InfoCenter Mobile.
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This tower was located in the [[Bliss]] region. It was demolished when Bliss shut down, in part due to ongoing drama between [[Will Szymborska]] and [[Nelson Jenkins]] before he joined NTBI.
  
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===InfoCenter Display Kit===
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==SZYM Tower V==
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The Display Kit includes the following models (in both standard and Duo variants, Duo typically doubling both the number of lines and characters per line, effectively quadrupling capacity):
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[[File:6829184757_604f7747c3_o.png|200px|thumb|right|SZYM Tower V in Lionheart next to the Union Micro building.]]
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* '''InfoCenter Personal''' - 16 x 1 (2 LI) or 32 x 2 (5 LI) characters. Ideal for general commercial use, and includes a variety of animated graphics for stores.
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This tower was located in Lionheart. It hosted the NTBI 2010 Christmas Party, where [[Nelson Jenkins]] was formally introduced as an NTBI affiliate. The tower was infamous for its easily broken elevators.
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* '''InfoCenter Notice''' - 16 x 7 (8 LI) or 32 x 14 (29 LI) characters. The highest-capacity model, ideal for news & information. Also includes graphics for commercial & industrial purposes.
 
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* '''InfoCenter Highway''' - 16 x 3 (4 LI) or 32 x 6 (13 LI) characters. Best suited for overhead gantry installations on roads, but can be used for walkway or general commercial applications.
 
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* '''InfoCenter Matrix''' - 4 x 2 (1 LI) or 8 x 5 (3 LI) characters. A road sign display with many graphics for lane control, variable speed limits, hazard warning, detours, turn restrictions, and more.
 
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All models, excluding the Highway, have a toggleable mounting bracket. All models are modifiable (scripts excluded) and can be resized or linked (with the caveat that they cannot be linked together).
 
  
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===InfoCenter Mobile===
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==SZYM Tower VI==
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The Mobile model is used for construction & road closures. 8 x 3 characters (3 LI) - the Mobile does not have a Duo variant. It is a trailer unit which can be rotated for the optimum viewing angle. It also has two trailer colors (grey & orange) and the display unit can be resized to three different sizes for different use cases. Unlike other models, the InfoCenter Mobile is not modifiable.
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[[File:5528673536_da5e1c0c7e_o.png|200px|thumb|right|SZYM Tower VI in Lionheart with the [[Gentek Interregional Tower]] in the background.]]
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SZYM Tower VI was a total remodel of SZYM Tower V in the same location in Lionheart.
  
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Because of the Mobile's long-lasting popularity over other models, we sell it separately to reduce costs for those just interested in this model. Besides the features above, the Mobile is technically identical to all other models - it is web controllable and uses the same API.
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The tower remained in the same location and was inhabited on a regular basis.
  
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==Setup & Use==
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Soon after, the [[Gentek Interregional Tower]] was built across the street. After a few weeks, GIT was moved to a different location across a different street and a skybridge was erected between them.
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InfoCenter devices are ready for use out of the box. You can control some cosmetic options described above, but once they are rezzed, they can be set immediately.
 
  
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All InfoCenter devices are accessible through the [http://ntbigroup.com/gentek/infocenter/ InfoCenter Manager.] If you access the Manager directly, you will have to log in - you can avoid this by clicking a sign and selecting ''Web Control''. (This will also highlight the selected sign in the manager.)
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The tower held mostly offices, with some various stores interspersed throughout the floors.
  
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If you have not created an NTBI Group account before, you will be prompted to enter a password - do not use your SL password for this! Then, in the future, you can log in to the NTBI Group website (including the InfoCenter Manager) without even being in-world.
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==SZYM Tower VII==
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[[File:6502031933_7c9c783d91_o.png|200px|thumb|right|SZYM Tower VII in the distance during a smoggy morning.]]
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This tower was a short-lived endeavor in the Prototype region.
  
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===Setting a Message===
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The tower was never completed, as it was deemed too prim-heavy for the region. Shortly after, the first [[Prototype Mall]] was built.
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You can set any of your InfoCenter devices from the InfoCenter Manager. Click the ''Set'' button, and you will be shown the message designer interface.
 
  
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Messages are made up of slides. Each slide can either be a text slide or a graphic slide, and can be set to display for generally any length of time you want. Slides are displayed sequentially and loop when completed.
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The design was reminiscent of previous SZYM Tower designs.
  
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The grey number next to the model name for the device you are setting is the maximum number of slides - this is dependent on the capacity of the display, so smaller displays can handle more slides (up to 60). Some very high capacity devices (such as the Notice Duo) can only handle a few slides.
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==SZYM Tower VIII==
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[[File:8053582228_98de1cbdfe_o.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Postcard of SZYM Tower VIII.]]
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This tower was built in Celaeno after the demolition of the [[NTBI Celaeno Complex]] in September 2012. The building structure was completed and floorplans were developed, but only around 1/4th of the building was ever furnished before its demolition in anticipation of the move to the private NTBI region.
  
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When you open the message designer, the message currently displayed on that device will be shown, so you can edit it if you wish. By default, it is a single blank slide.
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The tower was designed to accommodate the amenities provided by the Celaeno Complex in a more spacious vertical arrangement. As the Celaeno Complex featured only 5 floors (including basements) the tower provided a generous increase by way of 21 accessible floors (25 total) and 3 basements. Floors B1, B2, and 1-8 (1 and 2 being the lobby) were deemed public with plans to lease out upper floors to other companies, while floors 9-24 and B3 (excluding the lower auditorium) were private and only accessible to NTBI affiliates and staff.
  
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* To add a text slide, type your message into the text cell input area. By default, the Amber color is used, but you can click any color in the palette below to select that color. Any new characters you type will then be in that color. When you're finished, click the ''Add Text'' button to add it to the slides.
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Two public elevators served the public floors, while an express elevator accessed floors L, 9, B1, and B3. A separate bank of elevators beyond an NTBISS checkpoint served floors 9-24. A car elevator was also accessible from the exterior of the building on floor L, as well as floors B1 (private parking) and B3 (vault).
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** Because of Javascript limitations, you must release each key before typing the next one, otherwise it won't register - type slowly and carefully!
 
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** Some characters are not permitted as text. If that is the case, they will not be entered.
 
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** For a full box character, like older InfoCenter models, use the ^ (caret) character. (This will not be shown on the website - it will only appear correctly in-world.)
 
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* To add a graphic slide, select a graphic from the dropdown. A preview will appear above it. To add the graphic, click ''Add Graphic''.
 
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* To move slides around or delete them, click the icons next to them. Keep in mind that by default, a blank slide is included as the first slide - you may want to remove it.
 
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* To change the time that a slide is shown, click ''Change'' and type in a new time (in seconds), then click ''Save''. Some high-capacity devices require longer slide times.
 
  
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When you're finished, click ''Send To This Device''. The message will be sent and displayed immediately in-world. For information on how the ''Send To Entire Group'' button works, read '''Using Groups''' below.
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Below is information obtained from the final revision of the building's directory, on October 1, 2012:
 +
* The lobby floor featured entrances on all sides with a front desk and access to the central public and express elevator banks. The lobby spanned two floors. Some sections of it were furnished. The back portion of the lobby was to feature a museum on the history of NTBI and its affiliates, but it was never built.
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* Floors 4-8, which were public, were to be leased out to companies, but never were. None were furnished.
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* Floor B1, although accessible from the public elevator bank, only housed private parking, laundry, and maintenance services.
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* Floor B2 offered access to a ballroom and the auditorium. It was the lowest level accessible to the public - access to the lower level of the auditorium was done through a large stairwell along the side.
 +
* Floor B3 housed a secure vault as well as a data center which would have hosted backup servers.
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* Floor 9 was the sky lobby, accessible from the ground only from the private express elevators. It was to house a cafe and security checkpoint, beyond which would have been access to the private local elevator serving the upper floors. It was only partially furnished.
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* Floor 14 housed employee offices, which was only partially furnished.
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* Floor 15 was to house another dining area exclusively for private parties, as well as a large kitchen. It was never completed.
 +
* Floor 16 was the only floor fully completed, which was the home of the executive lounge. It had a very elaborate smoking lounge area, as well as some extra rooms and an in-house salon.
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* Floor 17 was the private apartments of [[Will Szymborska]], [[Nelson Jenkins]], and [[Lyte Rae]], the primary owners of the Celaeno land. Although partially completed, they were never inhabited long-term. All apartments featured a living room, bathroom, and bedroom, although the bedroom in Lyte Rae's apartment was used as an office.
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* Floor 18 housed two boardrooms which extended into the 19th floor.
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* Floor 20 was an observation floor, featuring an exterior deck.
 +
* Floor 21 was the office of [[Nelson Jenkins]], although it was never furnished.
 +
* Floor 24 was the office of [[Will Szymborska]], which was partially furnished.
 +
* Floors 3, 11, 12, 13, 22, and 23 were never allotted for a specific use, and remained empty.
  
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===Using Templates===
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In November 2012, the building was demolished and the Celaeno land was abandoned. Construction began on the [[NTBI Development Campus]] in the NTBI region soon after.
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Templates are a way to easily save and recall messages. Say, for example, that you have 3 different messages you plan on displaying, but only one at a time, and you don't want to retype them every time. Templates allow you to save the message and load it later on that device (or any same-model device).
 
  
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* To save a template, design the message that you want to display, then type in a name above the ''Save As Template'' button, then click the button. If you already have a template with that name, it will be overwritten, so check first.
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==SZYM Tower IX==
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* To load a template, click the dropdown to the right and select the template you want, then click ''Load''. To permanently delete a template, click ''Delete'' instead.
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[[File:43074843562_6c013f0253_k.jpg|300px|thumb|right|SZYM Tower IX at dusk.]]
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SZYM Tower IX was built in [[Northbridge]] after the demolition of one of the Northbridge complexes in July 2018, then later moved to the [[NTBI (region)|NTBI region]]. The design is based off of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NTT_Docomo_Yoyogi_Building NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building]. The tower stands 218 meters (715 feet) above ground level at the tip of its spire, and an additional 23 meters (75 feet) below ground level. On the southern exterior wall of floors 18 through SL/21, a large lit clock face shows the time in the Eastern US timezone, home to [[Will Szymborska]] and [[Nelson Jenkins]]. At night, the top three segments of the tower are lit, much like the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_State_Building#Lights lighting at the top of the Empire State Building], although all in white. The exterior lighting is the only lighting to operate on estate time; all other time-based lighting and operations in the tower run on Eastern US time.
  
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===Using Groups===
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The tower itself is split into four general zones - the main tower (floors L through SL/21), the Tower Mall (most of floor B1, as well as a small portion of floors B2 through B4, including the Party Hall), the basement (the rest of floors B1 through B4), and the executive suites (floors 22 through 24, as well as the roof utility area). Certain rooms in the tower are connected using hidden passageways. Additionally, the tower site is the home of the Peter Nelson Convention Center (PNCC), a very large hall attached to the lobby of the tower designed for public events. The tower sees frequent use among NTBI staff and friends.
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Groups are an easy way to control multiple devices at once. Devices can only belong to a single group at a time, but you can have multiple groups. Each group can only support one specific model.
 
  
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* To add a device to a group, click the ''Group'' button, then enter the name of the group you want to add it to. If the group doesn't exist, it will be created. If it does, the device will simply be added to the group.
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SZYM Tower IX was the first to be built partially in mesh. The tower features the Maestro 512 Background Music System throughout the building in four separate zones - the PNCC (which plays a selection of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J-pop#City_Pop city pop], particularly [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GEI3PpXEAo Casiopea]), the lobby/skylobby (which plays light jazz), the Party Hall (never used), and Club Shinjuku (which plays piano music). Gentek lighting is installed throughout the building, and lighting in common areas automatically switches into eco mode at 11:45 PM nightly. Additionally, several areas - Ramen Man, KanSalon, the mailroom, the skylobby TahdaMart, and Club Shinjuku - open and close at different times daily using lights and security grate doors. On weekends, some opening times are shortened. Finally, beta NBS Synchron synchronized clocks are installed throughout the building, as are [[Gentek]] [[Security Camera Kit]] cameras, [[Gentek]] [[IntelliDoor]] doors, and [[NBS]] [[NorPhone]] public and private phones. [[Nelson Jenkins]] also beta-tested the [[Gentek]] [[Delta Elevator]] using four elevator cars - two assigned to the main bank, one for the Tower Mall basement levels, and one for the NTBI executive suites above the skylobby. He also designed a proprietary room numbering placard system and installed an early beta of [[BTN]] to broadcast to a handful of televisions throughout the building.
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* To remove a device from a group, click the ''Group'' button, delete the text in the textbox, and then click ''OK''. This will remove it from the group. If the group no longer has any members, it will be hidden, but not technically deleted - if you recreate that group with the same name, the API key will be retained. (More information on this is in the API section.)
 
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* To rename a group, click the ''Rename'' button next to it, then enter a new group name. This will rename it without changing the API key, and all devices will remain in the group under the new name.
 
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* To set a message on an entire group, begin by setting a message on a single group member. When you're ready, click ''Send To Entire Group''. This will send the message to all group members.
 
  
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===Renaming & Deleting Devices===
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One of the more popular features of SZYM Tower IX was the NTBI Resident bot, which sat at the reception desk in the lobby and walked to the bathrooms and TahdaMart on floor B1 every few hours. The bot ran well for several months, but at the start of December, he trapped himself in a bathroom stall and could not escape for several days. For this reason, he was canonically demoted to mall security at the [[Prototype Gardens Mall]].
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When your device is first rezzed, it will be named "Unnamed" followed by a number. Not only is this not descriptive, but it is a bit dangerous - if your display is reset for any reason, it will lose its old name and API key. To rename it, simply click the ''Rename'' button and enter a new name. You can also rename it from in-world using the ''Set Disp ID'' option.
 
  
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If your device disappears in-world, it will remain in the InfoCenter Manager. This is intended - it's to prevent accidentally deleting the device if the region is temporarily offline or there is a communication error. You can delete devices from the InfoCenter Manager by clicking ''Delete''. This will not delete it in-world - it will only disappear from the website and lose its API key. If you delete a display while it is still in-world and online, you will get a notification in-world.
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The tower layout is as follows:
 +
* Floor B4 houses storage rooms, a vault, a generator room, a development center, and the private apartment of [[Will Szymborska]]. It was also to house a [[Gentek Telecom]] exchange, although this has not been completed.
 +
* Floor B3 houses the Party Hall, theater, management office, restrooms, and NTBISS operations and conference rooms, as well as escalators up to floor B2.
 +
* Floor B2 houses a laundry room and mailroom, plus access to the projector booth of the theater. Most of this floor is used for the upper half of the Party Hall and theater, as well as an intermediate landing for the escalators between floors B1 and B3.
 +
* Floor B1 houses the Tower Mall, including a 24-hour TahdaMart, a KanSalon, Ramen Man (a ramen shop), and two empty spaces, one used for displaying suits. The building security room is located in the mall area, as are restrooms. This floor also has access from the mall to an underground parking garage, drop-off zone, and two loading docks, accessible from ramps to the underground parking lot outside at ground level. An NTBISS garage is located behind the southern loading dock. A second hallway connects to escalators up to the [[Prototype|Prototype Gardens Shopping Centre]]. The main escalators at the center of the Tower Mall connect to floors L and B2.
 +
* Floor L is the lobby, which includes the reception desk, escalators to the Tower Mall, and direct elevator connections to all floors except the NTBI executive suites floors. Outside, the building features a covered drop-off area and a large parking lot.
 +
* Floors 2-8 are filler floors.
 +
* Floor 9 is a public leased floor.
 +
* Floors 10-11 are filler floors.
 +
* Floor 12 is used for 8 public leased offices, as well as a small break room and restrooms.
 +
* Floor 13 is a filler utility floor.
 +
* Floor 14 houses the NTBI staff offices, which include a large floor with cubicles, a conference room, a break room, and restrooms.
 +
* Floors 15-18 are filler floors.
 +
* Floor 19 is a public leased floor.
 +
* Floor 20 houses the [[Gentek Telecom]] Network Operations Center, including an operator center, system monitoring displays, a conference room, the Records Department, and the billing data center.
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* Floor SL (21) is the skylobby, which includes an observation deck, TahdaMart, Club Shinjuku (a full-service restaurant), and two sets of restrooms. The skylobby also has elevator access to the NTBI executive suites floors listed below, which are inaccessible to the public.
 +
* Floor 22 is a filler floor.
 +
* Floor 23 houses an executive conference room, two offices, a storage room, and a restroom.
 +
* Floor 24 has a waiting room with receptionist, the offices of Will Szymborska and Nelson Jenkins, Nelson's private workshop, Will's private restroom (complete with gold toilet), and another restroom. Both offices are equipped with their own private Sei Audio sound systems, which are essentially the same technology used in the Maestro 512, as well as intercoms to the executive receptionist, security, lobby receptionist, and Will's private apartment.
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* Floor R is the lower roof utility floor, which houses power and control equipment for the [[Gentek Telecom]] microwave antenna arrays on the exterior roof of the building. The actual roof is only accessible by stairs and a ladder, and houses air conditioners, the antenna arrays, aircraft obstruction warning lights, and the spire.
  
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Sometimes, you may have several devices which no longer exist, but you don't want to delete them individually. To "flush" non-responsive devices, click the link at the very bottom of the page. This will individually check each device and, if it does not respond, it will be deleted automatically. Note that if a region is offline or very laggy, devices in it may be deleted without warning, so make sure all regions are OK before doing this.
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During construction, several planned rooms and features were removed, including a [[BTN]] TV studio, a much larger secure area for access to the vault, and a secret easter egg room.
  
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==Updates & Release Notes==
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<gallery>
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You can update any InfoCenter product by rezzing it directly from your inventory (each one has an updater script which auto-deletes on first rez, so rezzing a used copy will not work).
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File:40209258972_c920893a3a_k.jpg|During construction
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* '''v3.1'''
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File:28430510359_11df500b0a_k.jpg|Original lobby
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** Added chat API.
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File:28430509999_859c0d8891_k.jpg|Peter Nelson Convention Center before December 2019 expansion
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* '''v3.0'''
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File:28430634139_17985ed565_k.jpg|Tower Mall on Floor B1 before redesign in June 2019
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** Upgraded public release.
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File:41881745225_ce3fc961ce_k.jpg|Underground parking and mall drop-off before December 2019 expansion
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** Rewrote everything, so old release notes are irrelevant.
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File:42065048254_3023f22f2b_k.jpg|Club Shinjuku
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</gallery>
  
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==API Documentation==
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During its original existence in 2018, Northbridge was also the home to a [[Gentek Telecom]] microwave antenna tower on a hill on the other side of the region, as well as a filler factory, a scenic overlook, and the Hutson River, with a bridge crossing to [[Prototype]]. Passaic County Route 610 also ran through the region, as did the Northbridge Rail Line, which ran a freight train through every three hours from Prototype in the west through [[Glenbrook]] (Augest Isles) in the east. Those in Northbridge could also hear the Tredpro factory steam whistle, which blew twice at 9 AM, 12 PM, and 5 PM on weekdays. All of these features were scripted by [[Nelson Jenkins]].
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If you aren't planning on using the API as a scripter, you don't need to read this part - everything below this line is about the API. If you are, you'll be surprised how much you can do through the API.
 
  
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The InfoCenter API allows you to control any sign from anywhere in-world or from any web server. You can set messages, change groups, rename things, and query for information. All you need is the API key for the display or group you want to control - you can even use API keys for displays you do not own.
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On December 15, 2018, SZYM Tower IX, along with the rest of Northbridge, was demolished to make space for planned new construction that never significantly materialized. The NTBI bot was repurposed as a mall security officer in [[Prototype]].
  
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That said, '''keep your API keys private'''! If anyone else gets a copy of your API key, they can control your device without you knowing. (Of course, you can give API keys out to trusted people if you want them to control your devices.) If this happens, you can reset your API key by clicking the ''Refresh'' link next to it - but note that you can't set your own API key, and any scripts that use the old key will no longer work.
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On March 8, 2019, SZYM Tower IX was re-rezzed with very minor modifications. The rest of the region has been left flat and empty, except for filler trees, to maximize prim usage in the tower. Passaic County Route 610 was restored and the Northbridge Rail Line was reactivated. The NTBI bot, however, remained a mall security officer.
  
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Unlike the InfoCenter API from v2, the v3 API is HTTP-based, and the "server" can be deleted or do other things - the API can send entire messages, not just single frames, and they will be cycled locally on the device. Additionally, messages sent through the API are visible from the InfoCenter Manager, and can be edited manually. As stated above, the API object can be anywhere in-world, and no longer has to be in the same region - scripters with knowledge of PHP or other web server languages can also use the API by adapting the commands shown here (this will not be documented, so it's a DIY job). If you prefer a chat-based API, scroll to the bottom of the page.
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On May 11, 2019, SZYM Tower began accepting rental applications for floors 9, 12, and 19 through its [https://szymtower.com/ website].
  
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All commands return some form of usable repsonse. Invalid request types and internal errors will return <code>ERROR</code>. Although it is recommended to capture the request key and handle a response accordingly, it is not absolutely required. More information on LSL's <code>http_response</code> event is [http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Http_response here.]
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On June 1, 2019, the basement levels were redesigned to accommodate new escalators. These were the first installed escalators in Second Life to be fully animated and fully functional without the use of poseballs, courtesy of Animats. This redesign moved Ramen Man from floor B3 to B1, moved the Party Hall into the area previously used by the Tower Mall's floor B3 (including Ramen Man), and added a theater. A third empty store space was also added in the Tower Mall on floor B1, and the empty store space on floor B2 was eliminated to accommodate the upper area of the Party Hall. Later, on June 20, 2019, [[Nelson Jenkins]] replaced the escalator scripts to add minor details and synchronize with the nightly eco mode lighting.
  
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===Setting a Message===
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On November 26, 2019, the tower was moved to the [[NTBI (region)|NTBI region]]. An underground walkway was added to allow access to the [[Prototype|Prototype Gardens Shopping Centre]] and another was added to the showroom floor of the new Peter Nelson Convention Center, which took one of the empty store spaces. An extra set of doors was added on the side facing the entrance to the Prototype Gardens Shopping Centre. The tower was also rotated to face north instead of south. The underground parking area was expanded to include more parking and two loading docks. A theater was finally constructed on floor B3. Finally, a set of bots were created to staff some of the facilities in and around the tower.
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You can set a message using the <code>set</code> request:
 
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<code>
 
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llHTTPRequest("<nowiki>http://ntbigroup.com/gentek/infocenter/api.php?r=set&k=apikey</nowiki>",[HTTP_METHOD,"PUT"],"content");
 
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</code>
 
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Replace ''apikey'' with the API key for the device or group you want to use, and replace ''content'' as described below. (This command will work for both devices and groups interchangeably.)
 
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This request can return the following in the <code>http_response</code> event:
 
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* <code>OK</code> - the message was sent to all devices succesfully
 
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* <code>GROUPFAIL</code> - the message was sent to some devices in the group, but some (not all) did not respond
 
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* <code>FAIL</code> - the message was not sent to any devices because none responded
 
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* <code>FORMAT-SEPARATOR</code> - your content string is not separated by <code>#$</code>
 
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* <code>FORMAT-SLIDES</code> - your slide data and slide time lists are not the same length, or you sent more slides than the selected device/group can handle
 
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* <code>FORMAT-DATA</code> - one of your slide data strings is not the correct length
 
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* <code>FORMAT-TIME</code> - one of your slide times are not valid (<1 or >3600 seconds)
 
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** '''IMPORTANT:''' The API does not enforce the minimum slide times for high-capacity devices. If your slides are too fast, you may encounter problems.
 
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* <code>NOTFOUND</code> - the API key you used was not found
 
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====Content Format====
 
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The ''content'' for a set request must be of a very specific format. InfoCenter messages are composed like this:
 
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<code>HELOWRLDWWWWWWWW|HOW R U?GGGGGGGG|GRAPHIC_Blank#$3|5|3</code>
 
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This looks confusing, so let's take it step by step.
 
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First, there are two sections separated by <code>#$</code>. The first section is the slide data, the second section is the slide times. Slides are individually separated by <code>|</code> characters. They must be padded to fit on the display they are set on. Each slide time is in whole seconds (integers, not floats), but slide data is more confusing:
 
−
 
 
−
<code>HOW R U?GGGGGGGG</code>
 
−
 
 
−
This is a single slide for a 8-character display. It is made up of the text and color strings concatenated together, each of which must be padded to <code>columns * rows</code> characters. So this could be an 8 x 1 display, or perhaps a 4 x 2 display. Think of these two strings as different "layers" of the slide - the color "layer" moves over to cover up the text "layer", coloring those characters individually.
 
−
 
 
−
All InfoCenter devices support the same colors, each with a single-digit color code - '''R'''ed, '''O'''range, '''A'''mber, '''Y'''ellow, '''G'''reen, '''B'''lue, '''P'''urple, and '''W'''hite. Any characters used for color other than these will be interpreted as white. So, if you wanted to make a rainbow-colored line, you could do this:
 
−
 
 
−
<code>^^^^^^^^ROAYGBPW</code> (remember, the ^ character turns into a full box character)
 
−
 
 
−
Remember that these strings are concatenated separately, not line-by-line. So, for an 8 x 3 display, it would look like this:
 
−
 
 
−
<code>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ROAYGBPWROAYGBPWROAYGBPW</code>
 
−
 
 
−
====Alignment & Padding====
 
−
For multiple-line displays, you'll want to pad out each line individually, as the text will hard wrap. For example, on an 8 x 3 display (note that this uses <code>_</code> characters for spacing - because of wiki formatting, it's impossible to display multiple space characters, so just pretend):
 
−
 
 
−
<code>LEFT____ALIGNED_TEXT____WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW</code>
 
−
 
 
−
<code>__I AM__CENTERED__TEXT__RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR</code>
 
−
 
 
−
<code>___RIGHT_ALIGNED____TEXTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA</code>
 
−
 
 
−
Below is an LSL function for aligning each line:
 
−
 
 
−
<code>
 
−
string align(string in, string dir, integer length, string pad)
 
−
{
 
−
    if (pad=="") pad=" ";
 
−
    if (llToUpper(dir)=="L")
 
−
    {
 
−
        while (llStringLength(in) < length)
 
−
        {
 
−
            in=in+pad;
 
−
        }
 
−
    }
 
−
    else if (llToUpper(dir)=="R")
 
−
    {
 
−
        while (llStringLength(in) < length)
 
−
        {
 
−
            in=pad+in;
 
−
        }
 
−
    }
 
−
    else // assume center
 
−
    {
 
−
        integer osc=0; // we have to be a little smarter here
 
−
        while (llStringLength(in) < length)
 
−
        {
 
−
            if (osc) in=pad+in; // this will align left, then right,
 
−
            else in=in+pad;    // then left, then right...
 
−
            osc=!osc;          // ... effectively centering the text
 
−
        }
 
−
    }
 
−
    return llGetSubString(in,0,length-1); // cut off any excess if we added it on accident
 
−
}
 
−
</code>
 
−
 
 
−
This function allows you to align text left, right, or centered, to a specific length (in our case, <code>columns</code>), using an optional customizable padding string. You can use this padding string for colors.
 
−
 
 
−
For example, here's how to get the same text as above using this function (remember, we are on an 8 x 3 display):
 
−
 
 
−
<code>align("LEFT","L",8,"") + align("ALIGNED","L",8,"") + align("TEXT","L",8,"") + align("","",24,"W")</code> - we can leave the padding string empty and it will default to a space
 
−
 
 
−
<code>align("I AM","",8,"") + align("CENTERED","",8,"") + align("TEXT","",8,"") + align("","",24,"R")</code> - we can leave the alignment string empty and it will default to centered
 
−
 
 
−
<code>align("RIGHT","R",8,"") + align("ALIGNED","R",8,"") + align("TEXT","R",8,"") + align("","",24,"A")</code>
 
−
 
 
−
Note that we used a trick to create the color strings - by leaving the input and alignment strings empty, the function will simply create a string duplicating the padding string until it reaches the length. In our case, we used it to fill the entire display (8 x 3) with a single color. You could also make each line a separate color, or create a rainbow effect, like so:
 
−
 
 
−
<code>align("","",24,"^") + align("","",8,"R") + align("","",8,"G") + align("","",8,"B")</code> - would make a red, green, and blue line
 
−
 
 
−
<code>align("","",24,"^") + align("","",24,"ROAYGBPW")</code> - would make rainbow stripes (note that using any length of padding is fine, because any excess will be cut off)
 
−
 
 
−
Slides must be of the correct length for the device they are set on, or they will be rejected by the API. Remember, the formula is <code>columns * rows</code> for the text and color strings - so <code>columns * rows * 2</code> for both of them combined together.
 
−
 
 
−
====Example====
 
−
Okay, let's start backing up. Recall that all slides are separated by the <code>|</code> character, but there was one slide - GRAPHIC_Blank - which looks odd. That's because you can set graphic slides by simply taking the name of the graphic you want and adding <code>GRAPHIC_</code> to the beginning - for example, <code>GRAPHIC_Lane Open Down</code> for the Matrix. (If the graphic isn't supported by the model you are working with, it will show up as Blank.) Because graphics aren't colorable, you don't need to worry about color strings for them.
 
−
 
 
−
Once you have your desired slides and times, you can do something like this to "finalize" them into the required format:
 
−
 
 
−
<code>
 
−
string makeContent(list slide_data, list slide_times)
 
−
{
 
−
    return llDumpList2String(slide_data,"|") + "#$" + llDumpList2String(slide_times,"|");
 
−
}
 
−
</code>
 
−
 
 
−
Note that the slide_data and slide_times lists must be of equal length.
 
−
 
 
−
So, using the above functions (which are omitted for brevity), here's how to make (and send) a 3-slide centered message - obviously you'll have to replace ''apikey'' first. The entire script is included, and is extremely basic, but demonstrates how to also capture the response:
 
−
 
 
−
'''REMEMBER: The following example uses the 8x3 display from the InfoCenter Mobile. If you are going to use the API for any other size, you will need to modify the number of characters in each slide.'''
 
−
 
 
−
<code>
 
−
key api_request;
 
−
 
−
default
 
−
{
 
−
    state_entry()
 
−
    {
 
−
        api_request=llHTTPRequest("http://ntbigroup.com/gentek/infocenter/api.php?r=set&k=apikey",[HTTP_METHOD,"PUT"],
 
−
            makeContent([
 
−
                align("I AM","",8,"") + align("CENTERED","",8,"") + align("TEXT","",8,"") + align("","",24,"W") ,
 
−
                align("I AM","",8,"") + align("CENTERED","",8,"") + align("RED TEXT","",8,"") + align("","",24,"R") ,
 
−
                align("LOOK AT","",8,"") + align("THESE","",8,"") + align("COLORS","",8,"") + align("","",24,"ROAYGBPW")
 
−
            ],[3,3,5])
 
−
        );
 
−
    }
 
−
    http_response(key request_id, integer status, list metadata, string body)
 
−
    {
 
−
        if (request_id==api_request)
 
−
        {
 
−
            api_request=NULL_KEY;
 
−
            if (status==200) llOwnerSay("Response: "+body);
 
−
            else llOwnerSay("Server error. ("+(string)status+")");
 
−
        }
 
−
    }
 
−
}
 
−
</code>
 
−
 
 
−
===Setting a Device's Group===
 
−
You can set a device's group using the <code>grp</code> request:
 
−
 
 
−
<code>
 
−
llHTTPRequest("<nowiki>http://ntbigroup.com/gentek/infocenter/api.php?r=grp&k=apikey</nowiki>",[HTTP_METHOD,"PUT"],"New Group Name");
 
−
</code>
 
−
 
 
−
Replace ''apikey'' with the API key for the device you want to modify, and replace ''New Group Name'' with the group name that you want to add it to. To remove from a group, leave blank or enter ''NULL''.
 
−
 
 
−
This request can return the following in the <code>http_response</code> event:
 
−
 
 
−
* <code>OKNew Group Name</code> - the group was set successfully (the new group name is appended to <code>OK</code> - for example, when removing from a group, this will be <code>OKNULL</code>)
 
−
* <code>LENGTH</code> - your group name is too long (maximum 64 characters)
 
−
* <code>MISMATCH</code> - the group you want to join already exists and is for a different model
 
−
* <code>NOTFOUND</code> - the API key you used was not found
 
−
 
 
−
Remember, groups are never technically erased, so if adding to a group that previously existed but is currently empty, the group will be "recreated" using the old API key. This makes it possible to add devices to an empty group while knowing its API key in advance. However, it is not possible to get the group's API key through the API itself.
 
−
 
 
−
===Renaming a Device or Group===
 
−
You can rename a device or a group using the <code>ren</code> request:
 
−
 
 
−
<code>
 
−
llHTTPRequest("<nowiki>http://ntbigroup.com/gentek/infocenter/api.php?r=ren&k=apikey</nowiki>",[HTTP_METHOD,"PUT"],"New Name");
 
−
</code>
 
−
 
 
−
Replace ''apikey'' with the API key for the device or group you want to rename, and replace ''New Name'' with the new name you want to use. (This command will work for both devices and groups interchangeably.)
 
−
 
 
−
This request can return the following in the <code>http_response</code> event:
 
−
 
 
−
* <code>OKNew Name</code> - the name was set successfully (the new name is appended to <code>OK</code>)
 
−
* <code>LENGTH</code> - your name is too short or too long (1-64 characters required)
 
−
* <code>DUPLICATE</code> - the name you want to use already exists, or the device/group is already set to that name
 
−
* <code>NOTFOUND</code> - the API key you used was not found
 
−
 
 
−
Note that it is possible to remove all devices from a group by renaming the group to ''NULL''. However, this will make it impossible to use the group's API key again until a device is added to it.
 
−
 
 
−
===Querying Device/Group Information===
 
−
You can request information about a device or a group using the <code>inf</code> request:
 
−
 
 
−
<code>
 
−
llHTTPRequest("<nowiki>http://ntbigroup.com/gentek/infocenter/api.php?r=inf&k=apikey</nowiki>",[HTTP_METHOD,"PUT"],"");
 
−
</code>
 
−
 
 
−
Replace ''apikey'' with the API key for the device or group you want to get information about. The content field is not used. (This command will work for both devices and groups interchangeably.)
 
−
 
 
−
Running this command on its own without capturing the response is worthless, so you'll want to do that.
 
−
 
 
−
This request can return the following in the <code>http_response</code> event:
 
−
 
 
−
* For devices, a <code>#$</code>-separated string with the following: OK, DEVICE, device name/ID, device owner's username, device group, device model, device columns, device rows, max supported slides, location, UUID
 
−
** For example: <code>OK#$DEVICE#$Unnamed 1#$nelson.jenkins#$NULL#$InfoCenter Mobile#$8#$3#$42#$Prototype (142, 228, 43)#$9794a972-0131-3f33-7059-b04fc5ad92dd</code>
 
−
* For groups, a <code>#$</code>-separated string with the following: OK, GROUP, group name, group owner's username, device model, device columns, device rows, max supported slides, number of devices in group
 
−
** For example: <code>OK#$GROUP#$Test Group#$nelson.jenkins#$InfoCenter Personal#$16#$1#$60#$2</code>
 
−
* <code>NOTFOUND</code> - the API key you used was not found
 
−
 
 
−
You'll probably want to make use of [http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/LlParseStringKeepNulls llParseStringKeepNulls] for this - although it is not technically possible for null entries to appear, don't rule out the possibility. Also, do not expect this command to return data at this length forever - we may add additional fields (however unlikely) in the future, so don't check the response list length.
 
−
 
 
−
===Chat API===
 
−
Starting in v3.1, all InfoCenter displays support a basic chat API to set the display only. If you are experimenting with the API, it is strongly recommended that you start with the web-based API to ensure your requests are properly formatted, then switch to the chat API.
 
−
 
 
−
The chat API mode is different in the following ways:
 
−
 
 
−
* The chat API '''does not validate any data you send'''. The input sent to the chat API is processed immediately without regard for formatting mistakes. This can cause some odd behavior.
 
−
* The chat API can only accept 1024 characters per request, which can limit the data you can send per request. However, all InfoCenter displays can support at least one frame within 1024 characters.
 
−
* The chat API can only set the text on the display (a "set" request). It cannot set the display's group, rename it, or query it for information.
 
−
* Text sent to the display through the chat API will not update the saved text shown when accessing the display through the website editor.
 
−
* The chat API cannot set a display by its API key. To set a single display, you must use the display's UUID and use llRegionSayTo.
 
−
* The chat API can only set a single display at once using llRegionSayTo. It cannot send a message to an entire group. While you can set multiple displays through llWhisper, llSay, llShout, and llRegionSay, you cannot do so if you have different sizes of displays in range, as that will cause issues.
 
−
* The chat API will only work in the same region for displays owned by the same owner.
 
−
* The chat API is somewhat faster than the web API and can handle setting multiple devices at once or in sequence very quickly. Each display can also queue up to 64 requests and will process them in order.
 
−
 
 
−
The format for the chat API is the same as the web API's "set" request. However, the request is sent over channel -495310229, like so:
 
−
 
 
−
<code>
 
−
default
 
−
{
 
−
    state_entry()
 
−
    {
 
−
        llRegionSayTo("displayuuid", -495310229,
 
−
            makeContent([
 
−
                align("I AM", "", 8, "") + align("CENTERED", "", 8, "") + align("TEXT", "", 8, "") + align("", "", 24, "W") ,
 
−
                align("I AM", "", 8, "") + align("CENTERED", "", 8, "") + align("RED TEXT", "", 8, "") + align("", "", 24, "R") ,
 
−
                align("LOOK AT", "", 8, "") + align("THESE", "", 8, "") + align("COLORS", "", 8, "") + align("", "", 24, "ROAYGBPW")
 
−
            ], [3,3,5])
 
−
        );
 
−
    }
 
−
}
 
−
</code>
 
−
 
 
−
{{Gentek}}
 

Revision as of 23:02, 4 December 2019

SZYM Tower has been the name given to several large high-rise buildings built by Will Szymborska. Although they are numbered chronologically, they are all formally known as "SZYM Tower" without the numerical designation. The name is a play on the game SimTower, which was one of Will's favorite video games during childhood.


SZYM Towers I, II, and III

Little is known of these towers. They were constructed on the Teen Grid.

SZYM Tower IV

This tower was located in the Bliss region. It was demolished when Bliss shut down, in part due to ongoing drama between Will Szymborska and Nelson Jenkins before he joined NTBI.

SZYM Tower V

SZYM Tower V in Lionheart next to the Union Micro building.

This tower was located in Lionheart. It hosted the NTBI 2010 Christmas Party, where Nelson Jenkins was formally introduced as an NTBI affiliate. The tower was infamous for its easily broken elevators.

SZYM Tower VI

SZYM Tower VI in Lionheart with the Gentek Interregional Tower in the background.

SZYM Tower VI was a total remodel of SZYM Tower V in the same location in Lionheart.

The tower remained in the same location and was inhabited on a regular basis.

Soon after, the Gentek Interregional Tower was built across the street. After a few weeks, GIT was moved to a different location across a different street and a skybridge was erected between them.

The tower held mostly offices, with some various stores interspersed throughout the floors.

SZYM Tower VII

SZYM Tower VII in the distance during a smoggy morning.

This tower was a short-lived endeavor in the Prototype region.

The tower was never completed, as it was deemed too prim-heavy for the region. Shortly after, the first Prototype Mall was built.

The design was reminiscent of previous SZYM Tower designs.

SZYM Tower VIII

Postcard of SZYM Tower VIII.

This tower was built in Celaeno after the demolition of the NTBI Celaeno Complex in September 2012. The building structure was completed and floorplans were developed, but only around 1/4th of the building was ever furnished before its demolition in anticipation of the move to the private NTBI region.

The tower was designed to accommodate the amenities provided by the Celaeno Complex in a more spacious vertical arrangement. As the Celaeno Complex featured only 5 floors (including basements) the tower provided a generous increase by way of 21 accessible floors (25 total) and 3 basements. Floors B1, B2, and 1-8 (1 and 2 being the lobby) were deemed public with plans to lease out upper floors to other companies, while floors 9-24 and B3 (excluding the lower auditorium) were private and only accessible to NTBI affiliates and staff.

Two public elevators served the public floors, while an express elevator accessed floors L, 9, B1, and B3. A separate bank of elevators beyond an NTBISS checkpoint served floors 9-24. A car elevator was also accessible from the exterior of the building on floor L, as well as floors B1 (private parking) and B3 (vault).

Below is information obtained from the final revision of the building's directory, on October 1, 2012:

  • The lobby floor featured entrances on all sides with a front desk and access to the central public and express elevator banks. The lobby spanned two floors. Some sections of it were furnished. The back portion of the lobby was to feature a museum on the history of NTBI and its affiliates, but it was never built.
  • Floors 4-8, which were public, were to be leased out to companies, but never were. None were furnished.
  • Floor B1, although accessible from the public elevator bank, only housed private parking, laundry, and maintenance services.
  • Floor B2 offered access to a ballroom and the auditorium. It was the lowest level accessible to the public - access to the lower level of the auditorium was done through a large stairwell along the side.
  • Floor B3 housed a secure vault as well as a data center which would have hosted backup servers.
  • Floor 9 was the sky lobby, accessible from the ground only from the private express elevators. It was to house a cafe and security checkpoint, beyond which would have been access to the private local elevator serving the upper floors. It was only partially furnished.
  • Floor 14 housed employee offices, which was only partially furnished.
  • Floor 15 was to house another dining area exclusively for private parties, as well as a large kitchen. It was never completed.
  • Floor 16 was the only floor fully completed, which was the home of the executive lounge. It had a very elaborate smoking lounge area, as well as some extra rooms and an in-house salon.
  • Floor 17 was the private apartments of Will Szymborska, Nelson Jenkins, and Lyte Rae, the primary owners of the Celaeno land. Although partially completed, they were never inhabited long-term. All apartments featured a living room, bathroom, and bedroom, although the bedroom in Lyte Rae's apartment was used as an office.
  • Floor 18 housed two boardrooms which extended into the 19th floor.
  • Floor 20 was an observation floor, featuring an exterior deck.
  • Floor 21 was the office of Nelson Jenkins, although it was never furnished.
  • Floor 24 was the office of Will Szymborska, which was partially furnished.
  • Floors 3, 11, 12, 13, 22, and 23 were never allotted for a specific use, and remained empty.

In November 2012, the building was demolished and the Celaeno land was abandoned. Construction began on the NTBI Development Campus in the NTBI region soon after.

SZYM Tower IX

SZYM Tower IX at dusk.

SZYM Tower IX was built in Northbridge after the demolition of one of the Northbridge complexes in July 2018, then later moved to the NTBI region. The design is based off of the NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building. The tower stands 218 meters (715 feet) above ground level at the tip of its spire, and an additional 23 meters (75 feet) below ground level. On the southern exterior wall of floors 18 through SL/21, a large lit clock face shows the time in the Eastern US timezone, home to Will Szymborska and Nelson Jenkins. At night, the top three segments of the tower are lit, much like the lighting at the top of the Empire State Building, although all in white. The exterior lighting is the only lighting to operate on estate time; all other time-based lighting and operations in the tower run on Eastern US time.

The tower itself is split into four general zones - the main tower (floors L through SL/21), the Tower Mall (most of floor B1, as well as a small portion of floors B2 through B4, including the Party Hall), the basement (the rest of floors B1 through B4), and the executive suites (floors 22 through 24, as well as the roof utility area). Certain rooms in the tower are connected using hidden passageways. Additionally, the tower site is the home of the Peter Nelson Convention Center (PNCC), a very large hall attached to the lobby of the tower designed for public events. The tower sees frequent use among NTBI staff and friends.

SZYM Tower IX was the first to be built partially in mesh. The tower features the Maestro 512 Background Music System throughout the building in four separate zones - the PNCC (which plays a selection of city pop, particularly Casiopea), the lobby/skylobby (which plays light jazz), the Party Hall (never used), and Club Shinjuku (which plays piano music). Gentek lighting is installed throughout the building, and lighting in common areas automatically switches into eco mode at 11:45 PM nightly. Additionally, several areas - Ramen Man, KanSalon, the mailroom, the skylobby TahdaMart, and Club Shinjuku - open and close at different times daily using lights and security grate doors. On weekends, some opening times are shortened. Finally, beta NBS Synchron synchronized clocks are installed throughout the building, as are Gentek Security Camera Kit cameras, Gentek IntelliDoor doors, and NBS NorPhone public and private phones. Nelson Jenkins also beta-tested the Gentek Delta Elevator using four elevator cars - two assigned to the main bank, one for the Tower Mall basement levels, and one for the NTBI executive suites above the skylobby. He also designed a proprietary room numbering placard system and installed an early beta of BTN to broadcast to a handful of televisions throughout the building.

One of the more popular features of SZYM Tower IX was the NTBI Resident bot, which sat at the reception desk in the lobby and walked to the bathrooms and TahdaMart on floor B1 every few hours. The bot ran well for several months, but at the start of December, he trapped himself in a bathroom stall and could not escape for several days. For this reason, he was canonically demoted to mall security at the Prototype Gardens Mall.

The tower layout is as follows:

  • Floor B4 houses storage rooms, a vault, a generator room, a development center, and the private apartment of Will Szymborska. It was also to house a Gentek Telecom exchange, although this has not been completed.
  • Floor B3 houses the Party Hall, theater, management office, restrooms, and NTBISS operations and conference rooms, as well as escalators up to floor B2.
  • Floor B2 houses a laundry room and mailroom, plus access to the projector booth of the theater. Most of this floor is used for the upper half of the Party Hall and theater, as well as an intermediate landing for the escalators between floors B1 and B3.
  • Floor B1 houses the Tower Mall, including a 24-hour TahdaMart, a KanSalon, Ramen Man (a ramen shop), and two empty spaces, one used for displaying suits. The building security room is located in the mall area, as are restrooms. This floor also has access from the mall to an underground parking garage, drop-off zone, and two loading docks, accessible from ramps to the underground parking lot outside at ground level. An NTBISS garage is located behind the southern loading dock. A second hallway connects to escalators up to the Prototype Gardens Shopping Centre. The main escalators at the center of the Tower Mall connect to floors L and B2.
  • Floor L is the lobby, which includes the reception desk, escalators to the Tower Mall, and direct elevator connections to all floors except the NTBI executive suites floors. Outside, the building features a covered drop-off area and a large parking lot.
  • Floors 2-8 are filler floors.
  • Floor 9 is a public leased floor.
  • Floors 10-11 are filler floors.
  • Floor 12 is used for 8 public leased offices, as well as a small break room and restrooms.
  • Floor 13 is a filler utility floor.
  • Floor 14 houses the NTBI staff offices, which include a large floor with cubicles, a conference room, a break room, and restrooms.
  • Floors 15-18 are filler floors.
  • Floor 19 is a public leased floor.
  • Floor 20 houses the Gentek Telecom Network Operations Center, including an operator center, system monitoring displays, a conference room, the Records Department, and the billing data center.
  • Floor SL (21) is the skylobby, which includes an observation deck, TahdaMart, Club Shinjuku (a full-service restaurant), and two sets of restrooms. The skylobby also has elevator access to the NTBI executive suites floors listed below, which are inaccessible to the public.
  • Floor 22 is a filler floor.
  • Floor 23 houses an executive conference room, two offices, a storage room, and a restroom.
  • Floor 24 has a waiting room with receptionist, the offices of Will Szymborska and Nelson Jenkins, Nelson's private workshop, Will's private restroom (complete with gold toilet), and another restroom. Both offices are equipped with their own private Sei Audio sound systems, which are essentially the same technology used in the Maestro 512, as well as intercoms to the executive receptionist, security, lobby receptionist, and Will's private apartment.
  • Floor R is the lower roof utility floor, which houses power and control equipment for the Gentek Telecom microwave antenna arrays on the exterior roof of the building. The actual roof is only accessible by stairs and a ladder, and houses air conditioners, the antenna arrays, aircraft obstruction warning lights, and the spire.

During construction, several planned rooms and features were removed, including a BTN TV studio, a much larger secure area for access to the vault, and a secret easter egg room.

  • During construction

  • Original lobby

  • Peter Nelson Convention Center before December 2019 expansion

  • Tower Mall on Floor B1 before redesign in June 2019

  • Underground parking and mall drop-off before December 2019 expansion

  • Club Shinjuku

During its original existence in 2018, Northbridge was also the home to a Gentek Telecom microwave antenna tower on a hill on the other side of the region, as well as a filler factory, a scenic overlook, and the Hutson River, with a bridge crossing to Prototype. Passaic County Route 610 also ran through the region, as did the Northbridge Rail Line, which ran a freight train through every three hours from Prototype in the west through Glenbrook (Augest Isles) in the east. Those in Northbridge could also hear the Tredpro factory steam whistle, which blew twice at 9 AM, 12 PM, and 5 PM on weekdays. All of these features were scripted by Nelson Jenkins.

On December 15, 2018, SZYM Tower IX, along with the rest of Northbridge, was demolished to make space for planned new construction that never significantly materialized. The NTBI bot was repurposed as a mall security officer in Prototype.

On March 8, 2019, SZYM Tower IX was re-rezzed with very minor modifications. The rest of the region has been left flat and empty, except for filler trees, to maximize prim usage in the tower. Passaic County Route 610 was restored and the Northbridge Rail Line was reactivated. The NTBI bot, however, remained a mall security officer.

On May 11, 2019, SZYM Tower began accepting rental applications for floors 9, 12, and 19 through its website.

On June 1, 2019, the basement levels were redesigned to accommodate new escalators. These were the first installed escalators in Second Life to be fully animated and fully functional without the use of poseballs, courtesy of Animats. This redesign moved Ramen Man from floor B3 to B1, moved the Party Hall into the area previously used by the Tower Mall's floor B3 (including Ramen Man), and added a theater. A third empty store space was also added in the Tower Mall on floor B1, and the empty store space on floor B2 was eliminated to accommodate the upper area of the Party Hall. Later, on June 20, 2019, Nelson Jenkins replaced the escalator scripts to add minor details and synchronize with the nightly eco mode lighting.

On November 26, 2019, the tower was moved to the NTBI region. An underground walkway was added to allow access to the Prototype Gardens Shopping Centre and another was added to the showroom floor of the new Peter Nelson Convention Center, which took one of the empty store spaces. An extra set of doors was added on the side facing the entrance to the Prototype Gardens Shopping Centre. The tower was also rotated to face north instead of south. The underground parking area was expanded to include more parking and two loading docks. A theater was finally constructed on floor B3. Finally, a set of bots were created to staff some of the facilities in and around the tower.

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