All contents © 2005 Jim Cameron
All contents © 2005
Jim Cameron
The
World
/ The System Itself / Human Interaction Within
/
Possibilities / VRAI Notes
/ Back to Toon1
This is
one of my favourite story ideas because it's pretty much an excuse
to write about anything. So far that's mostly been reflecting the manipulation
of the
southern hemisphere by the northern one (it doesn't take much to see beyond
the myth of
the East - West confrontation), but I'm starting to think in terms of playing
around with
different ecologies and political systems that would make for good story backgrounds.
'VRAI'
(and no doubt someone'll be quick enough to correct me if I'm wrong),
is French for 'truth', which I thought was quite an appropriate title for a
story that
deals in Virtual Reality (VR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in a future world
where
so many levels of consciousness and 'reality' can exist that it's often best
not to
question it, but just go with the flow.
Having
long since thrown off the charades of thepast, multi-nationals
have taken control of the old governments systems of controland operate as
virtual dictatorships to the populations under their control. Beyond the cities,which
now
house 85% of the human population, the people have effectively become a dis-infranchised
sub-class. They sell their produce to the companies for what thy can in order
to survive, but
it's rarely enough,
and they struggle to pay for the mass produced and designed goods
the technological elite take for granted. Little knowing that their own goods
are
sold within the cities as rare and exotic commodities to the executive classes.
These people
have slowly developed into a complex clan system based on corporate
allegiance. From time to time this has degenerated into open conflict (often
engineered by
the corporations themselves to diffuse any chance of alliances forming.)
They operate
at a technology level relating roughly to the late 20th Century, which
although able to offer an acceptable quality of life, is far from the life and
opportunities
available to a city dweller.
The
system is an extention of the old internet from the late 20th Century,
however since then, with the evolution of chemical computing, and the eventual
mastery of nano technology (after a few unfortunate bumps with Quantum theory
and strange correlations with the mathematics of Hinduism).
The result
of these advances has seen advances in cryptology that to the
point where software effectively rewrites itself as it learns to adapt to attempted
infringements on the domains it protects. These systems within systems are created
by engineering artisans who, using a variety of virtual constructs can model
worlds
precisely to the clients specifications.
The size of these systems and worlds vary enormously. Some are virtual galaxies,
others the size of planets, and yet others are as small as buildings. There
are systems
within in systems in this complex web of worlds, and many virtual wars are taking
place at
any given time. Due to the sheer complexity of it all, systems can be decommissioned
and
yet still exist after being 'unplugged'. This has led to numerous uncharted
or forgotton worlds
within the myriad of systems, and within them endless evolutionary paths, with
many not
even aware of the nature of their reality.
VRAI:
Human Interaction Within.
Although
the VRAI system is overwhelmingly inhabited by AI constructs, and there are
a great many levels and designs of them. Humans (or, 'Wetware') fill many of
the key positions,
leading up management teams who decide and direct strategy. Of course, they
are always aided
by teams of specialist AI's, but the final decision is made by humans (their
consciousness is
downloaded into the systems for periods of up to 10 days.
During these
periods they are open to attack within the system and destruction of their
projected consciousness in the form of VR bodies results in brain death. Similarly,
it is not
unheard of for real world assassinations to take place at these times, in which
case, any
attempt to exit the system back into their body results in the lose of that
construct. However,
the construct can survive indefinitely within the system if this occurs, but
cannot be uploaded
into a new body as yet, though the technology for this is improving.
The
sheer unlimited scope within the system has saw an amazingly diverse range
of ecologies arise, along with the full spectrum of systems of governement and
cultural
and ritual behaviours dispersed amongst the inhabitants of the sub-systems.
The ecologies
of the worlds can be viewed on a host of levels as entities in their
own right, and it's hard to give any point of reference for the balance of power
that
is permanently shifting along the numerous inhabitants and allegiances, not
to mention
the bizarre meta-species that have evolved or appeared as if a by-product of
interactions,
some form of 'emergence' from the clash of software systems.
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