In THE SPIRAL: Connected Stories & Fragments from the Virtual Future

VOICE/FRAGMENT: 'The Interface Arrives...' [7XP]

First he'd opened the box, offline for now, being careful not to tear it anywhere. After he'd laid out the contents obsessively on his bedroom floor; after he had taken out the hardware with its scent of freshness; the compact headset, the light casing of the visor and its crisp instruction manuals; after he had cradled the main components in his hands he sat down on the floor and looked at the gleaming, rounded shapes waiting for new life. It had never before been fired-up, at least not by many mortals, i.e. those outside Immertech's post-production tests. It belonged to him now; he needed to take a moment to think carefully.

He tried not to think about the cost, or what it might cost him later on, in other ways. What was immediately exciting was the tiny amount of people - among the teeming millions of people - who would be staring at a similar sight. Staring at the next major upgrade for the future of immersive capability for the mind. The next chapter in the chronicle for greater interaction with: information, experience, learning, concepts... and other people. He still remembered the early ads on TV for the first versions: This is not a fad. Take a look into the future.

He knew he would have to carefully re-box it all, for his online audience later that night. He'd be filming the 'unboxing' webcast, of course, straight after his barbecue chicken pizza. Maybe he'd include the pizza; it might make an amusing, casual addition to the big event.

The 'next future' had now come. So many geeks were guessing across the medias at the impact of this interface; the next commercial movements. Many of them had tried and tested it; used it for weeks or months for the purposes of trials and magazine articles... but so few in comparison had actually owned it; pre-ordered it through industry contacts and brought its power – as he had now - into the sphere of their own, everyday lives. And from this evening it would be up to him to report on its 'real' capabilities; its power to change his life and others around him. What power would it bring him, if any at all and at what price? Who was really controlling who with this custom-made, spidery device attaching itself intimately to his own, more honest, natural interface? What visions had been created for it - so far - to render it useful or powerful at all?

Well, he knew for certain that it would be his ticket to 'The Spiral', as they were calling it. Ever since the notorious – mysterious - incident with the Neuroceans with its many rumours there had been wide changes including a large migration and upgrade onto a new network. This was visually accessed via the 'Spiral Tower' filling with doors to worlds each designed in-line with the traits of this new interface. He'd be able to see inside this tower now, for himself; to see the bright portals to the new worlds of the future; the continuing virtual future...

What would these visions be? Would the overhaul have just made impressive enhancements or would the migrated worlds now feel very different? If not, perhaps he wouldn't have to bother with any of them; he could send the device back to its makers and go outside, into his garden to spend evenings under the sun.

It was unlikely. If the rumors were true, the features of this interface looked set to be incorporated into every Virtual World currently available. These spaces either existed already, or you could say were locked in books and films and all the older media. But they would be brought closer; to become more vivid; more real. Some visions you could imagine but not fully; not these new realms. They would have to be seen to be believed; to be made real; to be made resonant and relevant to the real world or else kept hidden: divorced and escapist. There would be winners and losers: the rulers and the shapers and their victims; those lost amongst the riches and distractions. And there would be glorious insights; 'wonderful things' just like the opening of tombs long buried...