Category:Technology

The basic concept of what constitutes technology is best described by the Wikipedia article on the subject, however, it's worth noting the most glaring technological changes in the forty-four years between now and the Wildcard universe:

• Computer science has leapt forward, discarding the Von Neumann architecture of computers in favour of a Harvard-based approach. This was possible despite the high distribution of computers based on Von Neumann mostly because of a viral catastrophe that decimated most network-capable computers in 2031.

• While certainly not all of the internet has gone virtual-reality (which has always been unlikely and improbable), the entertainment portions of it adopted those technologies. An interface between the new protocol(s) and HTTP was developed, meaning few people bother with laptops or other screen-based means of browsing the web anymore, given that many people have grown up with the neural connectors for VR.

• Biotechnology and medicine have greatly advanced. Most notably, mankind can treat most cancers, but AIDS remains a troublesome foe. Biological warfare is considered, without a doubt, the most terrifying of all, and any terrorist activity tends to threaten with such 'weapons', rather than bombs and explosions.

• Fossil fuels as energy sources are almost entirely unheard of. Oil remains a pivotal component in the production of plastics, though.

• Cars are still used, though public transport ended up with an upsurge after magnet trains became considerably more affordable to build. Notably, there are no flying cars.