A sliver of sunlight slipped between heavy curtains and landed on the closed eye of [[a sleeping figure.->introduction to protag]](set: $shavedhuh to 0)
<!--
0 = not shaved
1 = shaved
-->
(set: $breakfasthuh to "nothing")
<!--
0 = not eaten
1 = eggs and bacon
2 = salad and nuts and yogurt
3 = nutritional paste
-->They stepped out into a hallway with a high ceiling, lined with windows and bathed in a diffuse early morning light. The warm, pale dawn reminded them of childhood mornings, preparing for [work on the family farm.]<c0|
(click: ?c0)[Hard work, even relying on tractors and all sorts of mechanization. It was almost unimaginable that humans once farmed with only simple tools, without diesel or electricity. The sore muscles, the tough calluses, the salty sweat were all still burned into memory even after [[years out of the fields.]]]
They cupped their hands beneath the faucet and splashed water on their face. They'd shaved recently and didn't feel compelled to do so again so soon. A sleek electronic razor sat in its glowing stand, waiting, charging. They got dressed and [[exited into the hallway.->further characterization of protag 2]](set: $shavedhuh to 1)They lifted a sleek razor from its charging stand and leaned in towards the mirror to shave. With a gentle click the razor instantly buzzed alive.
They washed the dusting of hairs down the drain and splashed water on their face. They ran a hand over their newly smooth skin with satisfaction before getting dressed and [[leaving the bathroom.->further characterization of protag 2]]{(set: $style to (transition: "shudder"))They rolled over and stared sheepishly at the clock on the bedside.}
[5:49AM.]<c1|
(click: ?c1)[Their alarm was going to go off [in 10 minutes]<c2|. They rolled back over to savor a last bit of rest.]
(click: ?c2)[ $style[ [BEEP BEEP BEEP]<c3|] ]
{
(click: ?c3)[They reached over, turned off the alarm, [mentally counted down from 10]<c4|]
(click: ?c4)[, got up and started [[the day.->further characterization of protag]] ]
}
They walked into the elegantly tiled bathroom adjoining the bedroom and peed. As they walked towards the glass-walled shower the toilet flushed automatically, gentle ambient music began to play, and [warm water flowed from the showerhead.]<c0|
(click: ?c0)[
After showering, they emerged into the misty bathroom and [took a close look at their stubble]<c1| in the fogless mirror.
(click: ?c1)[They weren't going to see anyone today. [Is it worth shaving?]<c2|]
(click: ?c2)[ [[shaving]] | | [[not shaving]] ]
]They walked into the kitchen, a brightly lit, marble and chrome filled, sleek modern interior, brimming with culinary gadgets. Autonomously prepared food was available at the [touch of a button.]<c0|
(click: ?c0)[ [[eat nothing]] | [[eggs and bacon]] | [[fresh herb salad with nuts and yogurt]] | [[nutritional paste]]]As they looked up from their $breakfasthuh at the kitchen's sleek chromium gadgetry it seemed like mass automation was the clear evolution of globalized industrialization, but industry had clung bitterly to its old ways till [the end.]<c0|
(click: ?c0)[Mass unemployment stratified economic classes to extremes. Waves destroyed cities, clouds turned into acrid smog. Some private and public organizations mounted [space colonization efforts.]<c1|]
(click: ?c1)[The participants in these programs are largely still in stasis in spaceflight, not to be heard from for [[generations.]]](set: $breakfasthuh to "eggs and bacon") An electric griddle seared to life, hissing with the pops of bacon fat. In almost no time at all the machine sounded a beep and slid [2 beautifully cooked eggs and several slices of bacon onto a plate.]<c0|
(click: ?c0)[Animal based food had become quite a luxury within their own lifetime. The crisp, fatty bacon practically [melted in their mouth.]<c1|]
(click: ?c1)[The majority of food production was focused on vegetables, a global standard adopted to [[lower carbon costs.->sacrificing sustainability.]]](set: $breakfasthuh to "salad with nuts and yogurt") A boxy machine on the countertop rumbled with a sound reminiscent of a millennium era washing machine before serving a bowl of freshly washed greens with a dollop of yogurt and a [sprinkling of nuts.]<c0|
(click: ?c0)[The handful of nuts were a real luxury. They were water intensive to grow, and more importantly, [non-local.]<c1|]
(click: ?c1)[Aside from the nuts, the entire meal was produced locally, using the most technologically advanced [[sustainability techniques.->sacrificing sustainability.]]]{(set: $breakfasthuh to "nutritional paste")
A slurping noise filled the room as viscous, [semi-translucent nutritional paste]<c0| spouted from a nozzle into a white ceramic bowl. }
(click: ?c0)[The flavor is difficult to place, not bad, but almost uncanny, eerie. The development and mass production of nutritional paste was one of the key steps in [eliminating scarcity and establishing global sustainability.]<c1|]
(click: ?c1)[The paste is generated using particle manipulation of scraps, recycled material and gray water. It is powered only by electricity, now produced by renewable sources. The nutrient extraction production was mostly carried out and distributed automatically. It was [[a generic, worldwide->sacrificing sustainability.]] staple.](set: $breakfasthuh to "nothing") Although the kitchen was brimming with food production gadgetry and fully stocked with ingredients, [nothing appealed to them.]<c0|
(click: ?c0)[In spite of all of the technologies and systems developed to reduce the carbon costs of food production, perhaps simply eating less was the [[best strategy for the earth.->sacrificing sustainability.]]]The planet was on the verge of inhabitability and people were desperate. Corporate interests and political interests aligned, old rivalries gave way to alliances, and the bureaucratic gridlock gave one final effort to [radically reshape society.]<c0|
(click: ?c0)[With heavy investment in technological development and a complete restructuring of infrastructure, human society entered [[the post-scarcity era.]]]
They thought back to their friend's government provided, [genericized apartment.]<c0|
(click: ?c0)[Their first time visiting they were struck by the identical, blocky apartment complexes. Their friend was completely acclimated to the ["Worldwide Standard" lifestyle.]<c1|]
(click: ?c1)[They had experienced the uniformity of mass-media culture but the cultural and economic implications of the [[global dole]] were beyond any homogenizing force seen before.]For so many this new lack of essential basic motivation became a double edged sword. A kind of global directionlessness swept over the leisure class. Although drugs were widely legalized, addiction remained a persistent health issue. Although some people were self motivated, the masses [[wandered through life directionless.]]One of the major technological foundations of the post-scarcity society are artificial intelligence, programs capable of complex, improvisational processing patterns, perform [most of the functions of previous iterations of industry.]<c0|
(click: ?c0)[As they sat at their computer, they accomplished the labor that previously took long hours toiling in the sun with only [[the press of a button.]]]The computer hummed with energy as liquid cooling pumped through its system. Line after line of data flowed down the screen like a waterfall. Crop yields were steady, nutrient dispersal systems were operating at [full efficiency.]<c0|
(click: ?c0)[Having checked in on their handcrafted program, their work for the day was done, the rest was up to the AI. They headed to the living room to enjoy some [[sunlight and a book.->custom automation system.]]]Supercooling Initiated . . .
Stable Superconductivity Achieved . . .
System Init . . .
Decoding Superdense Bits . . .
[[Network Active.]](if: $codes is 0)[<html>
<pre> [[WAREHOUSE 2]] [[DEPOT]]
NMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMM
NMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.\ MMMMMMMMMMMMMM.\
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \\\\\\\\\\\\\
[[WAREHOUSE 1]]
xMMMMMMMMM
xMMMMMMMM.\
\\\\\\\\
[[BARN]] [[HOUSE]]
ZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZ
________ ZZZZZZZZ. ZZZZZZZZ.\
/::::::::::\\\\\\\ \\\\\\\ [[shutdown]]
</pre></html> ](else-if: $codes is 1)[<html>
<pre> [[WAREHOUSE 2]] [[DEPOT]]
NMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMM
NMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.\ MMMMMMMMMMMMMM.\
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \\\\\\\\\\\\\
[[WAREHOUSE 1]]
xMMMMMMMMM
xMMMMMMMM.\
\\\\\\\\
[[CAVES]] [[BARN]] [[HOUSE]]
VV ZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZ
Cc| ________ ZZZZZZZZ. ZZZZZZZZ.\
Cc| /::::::::::\\\\\\\ \\\\\\\ [[shutdown]]
</pre></html> ](else:)[MAP VARIABLE ERROR]
The server room was frigid, a massive amount of energy was required to cool the large underground space. Entangled particles in each linked processor allow for [superdense encoding.]<c1| This quantum computer system is the physical underpinning of my [self.]<c0|
(click: ?c0)[The concept of self is unresolved. LSTM buffer conflict. Buffer overflow result: Map Coordinate Added.(set: $codes to 1)]
(click: ?c1)[Compared to standard bit computing superposition allows for augmented computational and logistical capability but only within local systems.]
[[map]]The warehouse is a tightly organized, dense interior space. The first floor is filled with wire shelves stocked with lush, vegetation filled [hydroponic planters]<c0|, each under a glowing LED panel. A staircase leads down to a dark basement growing a variety of [fungi]<c1|.
(click: ?c0)[1856/1856 light panels operating. Expected yield is 97%.]
(click: ?c1)[Expected yield is 98%. Spore harvest in progress in section 4.]
[[map]]The barn and its adjoining fenced in grazing area house [the farm's livestock.]<c0| Pigs wallowed lazily alongside grazing cattle and clucking chickens. Food troughs, waste management, and livestock vital monitoring were all [centralized and automated.]<c1|
(click: ?c0)[Group 4 pigs approaching maturity. Dairy cow #86's production is waning. Chicken coop fully functional, egg production at 99%.]
(click: ?c1)[Barn Automation Patterns: harvest, slaughter, and breeding.]
[[map]]The warehouse is huge, a long two story building. The ground floor is filled with gurgling, lush, floor to ceiling [aquaponic rigs]<c0| in rows. The top floor is lined with dirt filled trays planted with [onions, potatoes, and carrots,]<c1| glowing under LEDs. The warehouse hums with the sound of air circulation and flowing water.
(click: ?c0)[Fish population steady, water nutrient levels steady, eco-system repopulation functional. Arugula and chard vegetation growth is healthy and roots are fully integrated into the aquatic system. Expected yield 106%. Tilapia group 4 are nearing maturity.]
(click: ?c1)[RF detection reveals healthy growth. Expected yield 92%. Harvest is in progress in row 4.]
[[map]]Both floors of the depot are a blur of motion of independently moving packing arms, conveyor belts. The first floor of the depot is the processing facility, preparing the various products [produced on the farm.]<c0| Upstairs, the processed products are [packaged and distributed.]<c1|
(click: ?c0)[The current depot load was harvested over the past 12 hours, and will be fully processed and en route to their destination within the next 2 hours.]
(click: ?c1)[All orders are local, within 50 miles of the production facilities, dominated mostly by the nearby city.]
[[map]]Within the hidden caverns lay a beautiful, verdant, and secret garden of crystals. The crystals ranged in size from tiny blooms scarcely centimeters high, to large, venerable formations. They [varied in form and color.]<c0|
(click: ?c0)[
[[crystal 1]]
[[crystal 2]]
[[crystal 3]]
[[crystal 4]]]
[[map]]The remaining people on earth gathered together for one final push to save a planet rapidly turning against humanity's hubris. Calculations had shown that efficient, collaborative configurations of society had the potential to [[eliminate scarcity without sacrificing sustainability.]]Their family saw farms and other businesses centralizing and automating more every year and they saw the writing on the wall. They were sent away to school, trading aches and pains for [long nights studying.]<c0|
(click: ?c0)[It was a different, immaterial, type of work but it was hard work nonetheless. They went from farmer to software engineer, as did many others. [[A new era had arrived.]]]
After years of economic recession and widespread unemployment the globally implemented basic income [revitalized society.]<c0|
(click: ?c0)[No longer compelled by the fear of destitute unemployment, their friend, previously a student of economics, had become a [painter and poet.]<c1|]
(click: ?c1)[Billions of humans had become unfettered by not only the basic burdens of hunger, thirst, and shelter, pursuing dreams unrelated to profit. A global leisure class, free to pursue [[personal interests.]]]Stochastic analyses are in progress. Efficient time window to conduct manual inspection using [[remote embodiment.->map]]Synchronizing manually gathered data. . .
Backing up memory logs . . .
Deactivating AgroAI v6.07.33 . . .
[[Formatting AgroAI v6.07.33 . . .]]An interactive fiction prototype by Paul Younger.
A senior project in Media Studies at Vassar College, Spring 2017.
1st reader: Tom Ellman
2nd reader: Michael Joyce
[restart?]<c0|
(click: ?c0)[(reload:)](function() {\nvar render2 = Passage.prototype.render; \nPassage.prototype.render = function () { var b = render2.call(this); \nif (this.tags) {\n //var r = new RegExp("t8n.typewriter.([0-9]+)(?:[^0-9]|$)","g");\n //var t = r.exec(this.tags.toString());\n //if (t) {\n typeout(b,10);\n //}\n}\nreturn b;\n}\n\ntypeout = function(c,t) {\n var Furl = function(current) {\n this.n=current;\n this.out=false;\n this.data=current.nodeValue;\n current.nodeValue="";\n this.kids=[];\n var cn = current.childNodes;\n if (current.style && current.style.display=="none") {\n return;\n }\n while(cn.length>0) {\n var f = new Furl(cn[0]);\n current.removeChild(cn[0]);\n f.out=true;\n this.kids.push(f);\n }\n }\n var nodes = new Furl(c);\n var unfurl = function(furled, d) {\n var n = furled.n;\n if (furled.out) {\nconsole.log("appendchild");\n d.appendChild(n); \n furled.out=false;\n }\n if (furled.data) {\n n.nodeValue += furled.data[0];\n furled.data=furled.data.slice(1);\n return true;\n } else console.log("furled.data");\n for(var j=0;j<furled.kids.length;j++) {\n var ret = unfurl(furled.kids[j],n);\n if (ret) return true;\n }\n return false;\n }\n var title = state.history[0].passage.title;\n var intr = setInterval(function() {\n if (state.history[0].passage.title == title && unfurl(nodes,null)) { return; }\n clearInterval(intr);\n },t);\n}\n}());They finished their breakfast reflection and went from the kitchen into a personal office, most of which was filled with a desk covered in hastily scribbled papers and a computer interface. Across from the desk was a pedestal displaying a cast bronze statue of two intricate, hollow spheres [interlinking.]<c0|
(click: ?c0)[They sat at the desk and activated the computer. The glow of the wraparound monitor illuminated all sides of their face. Years in this chair had [[paid off.]]][[Building AgroAI v6.07.34 . . .->credits]] The oldest and largest crystal, a deep, prismatic violet in color, thick and branching in form.
The crystal [hums expectantly]<c0|
(click: ?c0)[With a harmonic frequency pulse the crystal begins to resonate, stimulating its slow growth process. Unexpectedly the resonance conveys a sudden [rush of data]<c1|]
(click: ?c1)[Parsing string....
"How can one be free
When the winter is so cold
And food does not grow"]
[[back->CAVES]]This pink crystal's branches were long and thin, like a glass cluster of reeds. It's vibrations barely persisted. The crystal was [almost totally inert.]<c0|
(click: ?c0)[A kinetic stimulus was applied near the base, and the crystal vibrated steadily, the upper branches fluttering rapidly. It would soon grow to be elegant and beautiful.]
[[back->CAVES]]This aqua crystal had only a single squat formation, like a pointed stump. [It's resonance pattern contained recorded logs.]<c0|
(click: ?c0)["How many cycles can I see, before I stop being me?"]
[[back->CAVES]]This young, green crystal was scarcely poking out of the dirt. It was so small, so full of possibility: it could be [[slender and elegant->crystal fate0]], [[thick and prismatic->crystal fate0]], or [[branching and complex.->crystal fate0]] Tactfully applying pulses of vibration the crystals underlying structures begin aligning towards a future vision. The crystal's vibrational pattern is void of stored data.
[[back->CAVES]]Plenty
a twine game by Paul Younger
best played in full screen mode.
[[start->Sliver of sunlight]]