|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
Technological advancements like those previous are relatively mundane. They have shaped the world of 2033 a great deal, however, the technology which has greatly influenced and changed society are the fields of research and commerce which deal with things unexplored before the 21st century.
In the 1980s and the 1990s, prosthetic limbs were heavy, less than agile, and unable to fully interact with their surroundings. With the advent of Genetic technologies in the late 1990s, synthetic bone, muscles, nerve cells, and skin led to an improved mobility and sensitivity with the limbs’ surroundings. This is the sub-field of BioWare, the bio-engineering of limbs to reattach, sometimes stronger, than their previous counterparts.
This field led to cybernetics. With increased knowledge of grafting engineered tissue to live tissue, came the realization of grafting non-living substances to living tissue. The research first started with bone augmentation: the reinforcement of existing bone with webs of synth-poly and metallic alloys. Next came bone replacement: the replacement of existing bones with synth-poly and metallic alloys. After that, the research came in the form of organ replacement: replacing organs with completely synthetic materials. This research took a long time, as it was very complicated.
Next, with increased technological knowledge in artificial tissue, limb replacement became the new ‘hot field’ in cybernetics. Candidates were chosen from the military for ‘service to their country’ as opposed to choosing candidates from prison populations, as before.
The limbs started out metallic, usually a superstrong alloy. The limbs were extremely powerful, in unmanned laboratory tests, a single first-generation arm could lift up to 300kg without fail. Manned tests, however, soon revealed the flaw; without some sort of spinal or leg enhancement as well, the candidate would either crumple with a broken spine, or tear the limb from the shoulder. As well, the cyber-limb would be heavier than the flesh one, causing some minor instability and agility problems. Leg replacements worked well, as long as both legs were replaced, although increased jumping heights caused some minor arm fractures from poor landings, as well as some spinal damage, again, poor landings.
These problems were quickly sorted out. The limbs were made to be less powerful and weigh less, as well as the researchers made sure they added a reinforced spine(and reinforced legs for arm replacements), and the situations improved. The candidates were introduced to extensive rehabilitation programs, to acquire a good working knowledge of the limits of their new abilities.
Second generation cybernetics improved the responsiveness, the size, and the complexity of the limb replacements. Organ replacements were near-perfect, and more often than not, the new organs could be fitted with features that would make them improved over their natural counterparts. Kidneys and lungs that can filter all kinds of toxins, hearts that can pump faster and stronger, resulting in increased endurance.
At this point, cybernetics were relatively inexpensive, compared with BioWare, and were readily available everywhere in the world, with most cyber-outfitters delivering worldwide, for attachment in a hospital, or some kind of medical facility. The rich and the adventurous could outfit themselves with whatever they wanted to keep up with the Jones’s. Black market cybernetics became a hot commodity. Finger-blades, guns built into the palm of people’s hands, hydraulic jacks built into legs, and synaptic accelerators are just a sample of the kinds of cybernetics which were outlawed in many places. But, In the back rooms, in the dark alleys, in the bad parts of town, it was easy to find someone who was willing to implant illegal cybertechnology.
This opened up the arena for 4 new types of crime; the purchase of contraband cybertechnology, the sale/implantation of contraband cybertechnology, possession of contraband cybertechnology, and certainly, the most grotesque addition to the law books, theft of cybertechnology. The former three imposed penalties of minor consequence, however, the latter imposed strict and harsh penalties. The early 20s saw a crime wave of drastic proportions, as many people were hurt or killed for their cybernetic limbs or organs, as resale value for these products were unusually high.
With the herald of the 30s came the full body conversions, people who thought it would be a good idea to put their brain and spinal column in a completely artificial body. With the Billy Fanward project in 2031, and the subsequent mayhem which ensued, research was done into boomer syndrome in cybernetics. This caused a huge drop in the amount of new cybernetics installed(except for medical purposes), as the public became overly cautious about something which rarely occurred. As a result, in 2033, most cybernetics in the population are disguised or illegal.
Data from the research(which is ongoing) is sketchy, it seems that 60% or more of people who’ve received more than 50% replacement with cybernetics are more likely to have some sort of psychological breakdown, whether it be a form of psychosis, neurosis, or obsessive/compulsive behavior. The risks increase if there is any drug or alcohol abuse involved.
‘Boomers’ as they are known, are androids, built to serve mankind. They come in all different shapes and sizes, from little children boomers used for espionage or terrorism, to huge, hulking space construction boomers.
The first Boomer was created in 2020, by Dr. Stingray at Wiz laboratories, a subsidiary of Genom Enterprises Incorporated. The labs were burned to the ground in a freak accident in 2022, and, picking up the pace, Genom reinvented the technology and released the first Boomer into the public market in late 2023. From then on, Boomers became firmly sewn into the fabric of modern society.
Boomers are everywhere. They’re cops, cab drivers, construction workers, sex toys, and warriors. Genom continues to make unheard of profits as they market Boomers for any field or job. In both polar wars, Boomers outnumber the human participants. In space, they outnumber people two to one, as their abilities are very useful in the vacuum of infinity.
Boomers are not human, by law. In cases of Boomer destruction, the case is treated as property destruction. Their brains are wiped clean if they are to start serving a new master, that way they have no recollection of serving another, and therefore are more productive and obedient. Boomer Syndrome
Once in a while, a Boomer will malfunction, and suddenly wreak tremendous havoc and destroy everything in sight. These episodes, once called Boomer Rampage, are common enough to see at least one event a day on the news, ranging from a construction boomer abruptly turning on its co-workers, to a nurse Boomer systematically destroying an entire ward in a hospital. Many times these Boomers are found to be faulty, with a circuit or two burned out, but once in every ten or so, there will be nothing wrong with it. This prompted some major research around 2025, as the episodes began happening.
Now dubbed ‘Boomer Syndrome’, the episodes are all recorded by members of the IBSC, the International Boomer Syndrome Commission, and well-researched. The commission is made up of members of every nation in the world, individuals who are committed to documenting and researching this phenomena. There are offices in every major city(they have their own station in space), and members are on call at all times to get to the scene of the incident and investigate.
Where the AD police are authorized to use all means necessary to bring down a rampaging boomer, the IBSC are authorized to use all means necessary to obtain the remnants of the downed boomer. Often they will be at the scene of the disturbance, mottled gray uniforms in a sea of blue ADP front-line suits, aiding in any way they can.
Most computers in 2033 have some sort of artificial intelligence, not just the Boomers. Many computers will develop their own personality after a while, as they learn from and adapt to their environment. Many believe that this creates a more efficient, productive system, although many also argue that a computer that can think for itself is a dangerous thing.
After the Kenshiro Corporation incident of 2027, more research was done into the AI field, trying to create a smarter computer, but also to create systems whereby the AI can be kept in check should it decide to work only for its own benefit.
In 2033, this is where all the money is. Nanotechnology seems to be applied to anything that the megaconglomerates can think of. Roads and buildings that repair themselves. Buildings that build themselves. In space there are factories that assemble themselves and then terraform a planet, without any human interaction at all.
After the 2nd Great Kanto Quake in Japan, many of the buildings and infrastructure destroyed or damaged were repaired using state-of-the-art nanotech assemblers. The only difference is that structures repaired were not exactly the same, because, microscopically, the nanos are arranged in tight hexagonal shapes, adding reinforcement at a subatomic level.
In Boomers, Nanotechnology is used for the androids to be able to repair their endoskeletons, as long as they are in contact with a supply of metal, and, to repair any organic tissue, as long as they are in contact with organic material. All boomers have this ability to a limited degree, and rarely, some boomers have extraordinary power with this technology. For one reason or another, this technology in boomers is termed ‘Fusion’.
Some cybernetics are equipped with fusion capabilities as well, although generally to a lesser extent than the boomers.
Part nanotechnology, part genetic engineering, the modern field of bioware is very popular among those who don’t favor cyberware. It is, however, twice as expensive as cybertechnology, and twice as rare. It is difficult to find surgeons in other than top-quality hospitals willing to do the surgery, because anyone who is skilled enough to perform the surgery is going to be affiliated with only the best hospitals or clinics. Old, rich people can afford to replace their old, polluted lungs better than anyone else can.
Low cost bioware is usually taken from the dead, or taken from cloned bodies. The expensive bioware is cloned from cells taken from the recipient, ensuring a perfect match every time.
The level of technology in engineered bioware is now so high, that many people are not settling for just replacing their old organs for new ones, but now, replacing their old organs for improved ones, kidneys which filter better, lungs which gain more oxygen from the air, and produce less carbon dioxide.
This is creating a new tier in social status, people who should be long dead, but keep replacing their bodies, bit by bit, until their mind is damaged beyond repair. These are the ‘Long-Timers’.
Since the birth of the first cloned human being in 1994 there has been a lot of controversy over them. Are they people? Is it ethical to clone human beings just to harvest their organs? Is a clone’s life worth less than a non-clone?
The religious community has had a tremendous impact on this issue, many religions embracing the idea that a clone is not an actual person, because it is merely a copy, and has no soul to speak of. Many ‘good’ upstanding members of the religious community advocate the removal of clones from society, and a further ban on all forms of cloning, since it is not god’s work. The really radical groups, mostly the right wing conservatives have gone so far as to establish groups who do nothing except destroy clones, on a mission from god.
There are many secular groups against clones and cloning, such as Parents Concerned For The Safety Of Their Children In A Clone Society, who feel that of the few times when a clone has gone violent in a public situation, their children’s lives have been threatened, and they feel that a society without so-called ‘clone rage’ is a better, safer society in the long run.
To understand the so-called ‘Clone Rage’ one must first understand the mentality of a clone. A lot has changed since the first cloned human being.
A near-full grown adult body, housing the intellect of a newborn. The clone child learns quickly, much faster than a normal human baby, often with much more difficulty, as the neural pathways are not forming as quickly as a normal baby’s. Because they are introduced into military service only three short years after birth, they are driven hard, pushed, and encouraged to be aggressive. ‘Defective’ clones are incinerated.
Clones, to earn their place in society, have to work to gain a social status. Clones are forced into a minimum of an eight year term in the military, after which, pending review, they may be allowed into society, given some property, and arranged a meeting with a special clone employment placement committee.
Life in the military for a clone is a hard life, often drilled into the ground, pushed farther and farther, with little regard to their safety. They usually have one year of intense training, and, unfortunately, clones almost never make more than sergeant, forced to fight as mechanized infantry for their entire career. Clones are allowed a vacation of sorts, for every year of service, they are allowed one week of rest. Often the rest is simply a week in a bio-tank, strengthening and repairing tissue and bone with expensive nanotechnology. The last night, a full course meal is provided for the soldier, giving him a taste of what might come when his service is completed.
However, most clones, when turned out of the Army, end up on the street, unable to keep a steady job, often aggressively anti-social, and plagued by nightmares and fears induced by war.
Back to Technology