All but one of the members of the Renraku Computer Systems Board of Directors were gathered in the spacious boardroom overlooking the cityscape of Chiba. Some were present physically, but most attended the meeting virtually, via the Matrix. Sophisticated holo-projectors built into each place at the table created near-perfect simulacra of the attendees in their correct places at the long table. It was not unlike the manner in which Leonardo appeared in Inazo Aneki’s office. Although the images of the Renraku board members lacked the animation and the sheer presence of the elf, the holographic technology and the neural/visual algorithms Renraku used to make the holographic simulacrum process possible were rapidly advancing.