NEURAL INTERFACE SYSTEMS USER REFERENCE (6th Ed.)

3: Chip Classification, Protocols, and Safety

"A well-handled chip is a story. A mishandled one is a scar." — MIC User Safety Code, 2102

3.3 Device Interface: Neural Port

The Neural Port serves as the physical and digital conduit between the brain and external neuro-chip systems. Installed surgically and bonded with the body's cranial or peripheral nerve structures, the port enables seamless communication between the chip and the user's sensory and cognitive systems.

Neural Ports come in multiple versions, with v4.2+ considered the current standard for MIC-certified installations.

Key Features of Standard Port (v4.2+)

Bio-authenticated link: Uses the individual's neural signature for secure chip interfacing.

Dual-pathway design: Separates memory input (sensory playback) from emotional feedback (affective integration).

Self-regulating firmware: Auto-adjusts for hormonal fluctuations, fatigue, or instability to prevent overload.

Failsafe protocols: Includes auto-eject features for corrupted or blacklisted chips and cooldown timers between intense sessions.

Installation Sites

Crown Port: Behind the ear. Most common civilian model. Hidden beneath hairline, offers minimal cosmetic impact.

Spine Tap: Base of neck. Obsolete in regulated sectors, but still common in legacy users and military archives.

Subdermal Jack: Inside wrist. Covert and often used by black market operatives or deep field agents.

Halo Ring: Encircles the occipital ridge. Experimental tech allowing multi-thread chip integration and passive memory scans.

Reader Compatibility

A Neural Port must pair with an external chip reader through a handshake protocol. Upon detection, the port verifies:

Reader firmware version

Device classification

User authority level

Chip integrity and class (E, M, H, S, or X)

Readers lacking MIC-certification will be rejected by the port unless override settings are forcibly enabled (only available through illegal firmware manipulation).

Maintenance Requirements

Firmware update required every 180 days to maintain secure functionality.

External cleaning with neutral saline solution; internal recalibration recommended annually.

Port diagnostics must be logged in the user's Neural Health Record (NHR) and reviewed by certified technicians.

Improperly maintained ports are the leading cause of session instability, memory misalignment, and chip misfire errors.

3.4 Common Side Effects by Chip Class

While neuro-chips offer immersive and often therapeutic experiences, each class of chip carries unique neurological and psychological side effects. Severity varies by individual sensitivity, chip duration, and frequency of use. Below is a breakdown by class, listing both mild and severe risks.

Chip Class: E-Class
• Mild Side Effects: Emotional fatigue, irritability, mood drift
• Severe Side Effects: Emotional flooding, addiction loops, involuntary emotional recall