Hylian Engineering

Before I begin, I would like to stress that this idea is not entirely of my own design. Indeed, I once ran across it on another Zelda-related forum and was immediately enthralled by the concept, but, unfortunately, the thread was run into the ground by spammers and nay-sayers before it actually got anywhere. Here on the Zelda Universe Forums, however, I am hopeful that this will go over more successfully than the original.

The entire concept here, is that there are many mundane things in the Zelda series that we take for granted without actually wondering how they work. From switches opening doors, to drawbridges raising and lowering without any visible control mechanism, to torches that re-light automatically even after they've been submerged by tens of meters of water, there are no small number of devices that seemingly defy logic.

We can blame it on magic, but that is, to be perfectly honest, boring and unimaginative. Magic works on magic articles, but other things require a deeper explanation.

It begs the question, then, as to how these devices can reasonably function using the level of technology present in Hyrule. It comes as no surprise that the Hylians are highly resourceful, and I would find it likely they would do their utmost to remediate any difficulty with technology where the application of magic is not prudent.

To start off, I would like to present my theory on how the Crystal Switch operates. Once I am done, however, feel free to tear my reasoning to pieces with your logic, and answer with hypothesis and designs of your own.


The Crystal Switch:

These ubiquitous devices are scattered throughout many of Hyrule's major dungeons. They have the curious effect of activating when struck, causing the middle portion of the 'switch' to glow bright yellow and a subsequent event, most often related to an object unconnected to the switch, happens soon afterward.

How do these strange, translucent devices operate? How does their activation affect other objects? That is what I intend to interpret.

I propose that the crystal switches are, in fact, a sort of resonator. When stuck, be it by arrow, blade, or bomb, the transparent outer shell vibrates. This vibration disturbs the innermost part, disturbing electrical contacts and completing a circuit. The black inner portion is, in fact, a filament which glows brightly when exposed to a current, not unlike that of a light-bulb. The completion of a circuit is what triggers the event in a room; be it a door unlocking, or a platform moving.

When the crystal ceases to vibrate, the switch reverts to the 'off' position, unless the switch is broken or is otherwise designed to remain active after it is triggered. Different crystals have different resonating frequencies and, therefore, different resonating periods, allowing the designers to determine how long the switches remain active.

As for the matter of power, there are a number of possible solutions. Those found in the Fire Temple can be accounted for by geothermal energy, those in the Spirit Temple by wind power, the Water Temple by wave action, and so on. I do not rightly recall if there are any in the the Shadow Temple, but I will concede that it is an enigma as to what could power such things in that place, although something is keeping those fans running (chemical batteries, perhaps?).

And so ends my hypothesis on the nature of crystal switches, but I do hope that you will not let it end there. You ZU members are sharp as tacks, and I know that a little creative thought is not beyond you.

It's a good theory, and quite logical, too. I don't mean to be a party pooper, but somet of them would probably be only explanable because of magic, you know? What about the eyes that you have to shoot with arrows/slingshot seeds in OOT? And the energy sources you mentioned- I don't think chemical batteries would be existant in the time setting of OOT.

I'm not trying to be a nay-sayer, just offering some arguments against your theories.

well, i don't think that the developers thought of any technicalities with technology when making games like OoT. you can walk through dungeons with no light and still see good enough.
anyway, one thing thta i find interesting is:
the gerudo icon is on all blocks and crystal switch's, and the mirror shield. they have a high relationship with glass, thats for sure. the fact that there are blocks with the gerudo symbol in areas like the shadow temple is interesting though. they seem to have developed all of the blocks.
the goron icon is on all armos knights. if you think about it, gorons are basically living rocks, while some armos also are. could this mean something?
and... thats the only references i can cbf pointing out atm. there is also the shiekah symbol that appears on truth related items though.

This reminded me that I need to get around to finding a way to do my "Hyrulean Mythbusters" gig.

EDIT: As an aside, it's also apparent that the Gerudo developed the Spinner.

also, the switches that you step on in OoT have the gerudo symbol on them.
the gerudo seem to be pretty advanced... they created the mirror shield, glass switch and stepping switch, and mayeb even more.

The Eye Switch is pretty gross but pretty simply. Basically I would say that whoever makes the eye switches procures the eyes of some large beast, perhaps a Wart as they have many to spare. These are drained of life and the rear of the eye is cut off. The eye is then placed over the top of simple metal press on/off button linked to the event and a clamp.

Eye tissue is very soft and gooey, but it's still tough (if you've ever dissected a bull's eye in science you'll know) to cut without force. If you were to fire an arrow through the eye (and arrows travel with quite some power) then it would quite easily pierce and remain rigid implanted in the eye. The arrow would pierce through the eye quite easily and hit the button, kept safe from rusting because of the vacuum the eye creates, and trigger the event and the clamp which would clamp down on the arrow around the eyeball and wallah. An eye button that is closed.

Then another arrow to undo the eye, quite simply smacks the outside of the eye and gives it enough of a whack that the eyelids spring back to their original spot and the event is undone.

If the eyelid is timed, the button could be spring based so when it is smacked back it would slowly move back forward as it slowly smooshes the arrows back through the gooey eye until it pops back in to place and the event is undone. The more strength in the retaliation of the button the less time.

It's really funny how some people over-analyze some of the smallest things in the series . Does it really matter to us how the technology and switch mechanicsm works in a video game series?

Either way, it's a nice theory, though some poarts I'd think are a stretch. Pretty good way of thinking though I guess...

We do it because we can. Ya lil cry-baby

Say, do we have any idea about the state of glass production in Hyrule?

We can all say that there is definitely glass present, but it seems to be relatively rare (e.g. bottles). Are there glass windows in all the houses? If not, which ones are lacking? Are there any mirrors in Hyrule?

Also, what is their current state of metallurgy?

Originally Posted by Grass

And the energy sources you mentioned- I don't think chemical batteries would be existant in the time setting of OOT.

I researched batteries for a science project once. Two words, which I suggest you search on Google. Baghdad battery.

Edit: Twilight Princess showed us how the Spinner switches work. It is apparent that most, if not all, switches activate objects by means of gears, levers, and/or pulleys hidden in the floors, ceilings, and walls of the dungeons.

Originally Posted by Master of ALttP

I researched batteries for a science project once. Two words, which I suggest you search on Google. Baghdad battery.

Edit: Twilight Princess showed us how the Spinner switches work. It is apparent that most, if not all, switches activate objects by means of gears, levers, and/or pulleys hidden in the floors, ceilings, and walls of the dungeons.

So Hyrule has access to clockwork technology (which was the basis of the first conceived computer [Babbage]) and electricity. Are there other energy sources in evidence, like steam power? Note: Magic and divine power are taken for granted.

Originally Posted by HurriPen

Say, do we have any idea about the state of glass production in Hyrule?

We can all say that there is definitely glass present, but it seems to be relatively rare (e.g. bottles). Are there glass windows in all the houses? If not, which ones are lacking? Are there any mirrors in Hyrule?

Also, what is their current state of metallurgy?

Most of the buildings in all of the Zelda games have had windows for sure...the Hidden Village of Twilight Princess has several that you can break through, in fact. Link has a mirror in the basement of his house, so glass can't really be all that common. Lastly, the windows of the Temple of Time in both OoT/TP are made of glass.

I doubt there would be any difficulty in getting sand for melting down...there seems to be plenty of that in Gerudo Desert!

As for metallurgy...not much of an expert on that. Hyrule definitely has access to iron (probably from the Death Mountain area) for weapons, tools, etc...as for whether they use iron or the more refined steel, I'm not so sure, but I think that they do.

Originally Posted by Hurripen

So Hyrule has access to clockwork technology (which was the basis of the first conceived computer [Babbage]) and electricity. Are there other energy sources in evidence, like steam power? Note: Magic and divine power are taken for granted.

I think that the Gorons may use steam (geothermal) power, but I'm not certain.

Abit pointless, but so is most theory threads, and this ones really interesting, and a really good look into the hyrulian culture.
Could the Gerudo be on good terms with the hylians and others during peace times. i meen the games show us there not all evil.

Originally Posted by Anslyn Siles

Most of the buildings in all of the Zelda games have had windows for sure...the Hidden Village of Twilight Princess has several that you can break through, in fact. Link has a mirror in the basement of his house, so glass can't really be all that common. Lastly, the windows of the Temple of Time in both OoT/TP are made of glass.

I doubt there would be any difficulty in getting sand for melting down...there seems to be plenty of that in Gerudo Desert!

I think that the Gorons may use steam (geothermal) power, but I'm not certain.

This is fascinating stuff here. I think that they have access to tin as well, if they have that mirror (since it resembles a modern mirror, it most likely has tin backing), and the gold is a given since we saw a guy who became made of gold. I would theorize that they no longer do much glass-making since they were cut off from the desert. The technology levels for commonplace Hyrule has risen dramatically in this game.

Also, geothermal energy does not equal steam power. Steam energy comes from burning coal. You know, like steam punk. If the humdrums do not have it, they have the best of advanced technology, but without the environmental hazards! This is an important discovery, to say the least