Cyberspace

**Cyberspace** is a highly advanced virtual reality internet in the universe of Aleph Null. It can be more conventionally browsed through a computer or a mobile phone, more immersivity is granted by a VR headset however the most immersive option is connecting through a dedicated Cyberspace jack.

## History

The internet was initially invented to connect, provide unlimited knowledge, freedom, and essentially to bring trollkind together. That was sadly an unrealized dream, as it quickly devolved into the abolishment of privacy, dignity and free will of it's users; Leading to a virtual world where the government knows everything about you and carefully observes your every step.

## The appeal of Cyberspace

Although it sounds fairly dreamy, Cyberspace itself is a dystopian nightmare overwhelmed by government and corporation control. However it doesn't stop many from having it as a form of escapism from the grim everyday life in the Alternian Empire. It's because in Cyberspace, you can look sound and present yourself however you could want. Many, may mean absolutely nothing in real life but can be living out their best life in Cyberspace, detached from the outside world. Video games, virtual art galleries, movie showcases, chatrooms, everything on the internet is present in Cyberspace in a way that allows one to witness it with their own eyes.

## IRL vs Virtual

When in Cyberspace, you cannot see or feel anything what happens around you in real life as your brain is focused on the signals from the virtual connection. There is a strong disconnect between your physical and virtual body. Neither of them affect each other, meaning your body isn't affected by anything happening in the virtual world and vice versa. You cannot feel anything in Cyberspace, however some may get phantom feeling where their brain is attempting to rationalize the stimuli it's receiving from the code and it leads to the user feeling like they're actually touching the things they interact with. A user disconnects from Cyberspace manually, through a sort of exit menu, but can also be brought out by pulling out the jack out of their temple (which is painful).

## Hackers and programmers in Cyberspace

Cyberspace is expectantly made out of code, which means someone with enough skill and knowledge can manipulate it to their liking, warping the virtual reality around them. This can enable moving around it without detection and the Empire's eyes on oneself, which easily leads to some Trolls wandering where they're not supposed to.
Companies and websites have established precautions for these cases, with their firewalls, security and AIs guarding spaces where virtual trespassing isn't well liked.

Typical firewalls simply prevent a user from entering or accessing something, however imperial firewalls are actually dangerous and are capable of sending an electrical current through the cable the user is connected through resulting in a fatal shock to the brain, essentially "frying" it.

## Shadowspace

**Shadowspace** is the Aleph Null equivalent of Troll Deep Web. Most typical Cyberspace dwellers don't even realize it exists, let alone how to access it. Entries to Shadowspace are scattered around the surface web, and in order to find them one has to know where to look. Entering it without a sort of VPN or proxy is an unwise idea to say the least. Because of the Empire's tracking, you would not like to be caught shopping on the hidden Silk Road.

## Trivia

* VPNs are illegal, and aren't obtainable to a typical user.
* Cyberspace in Aleph Null was visually inspired by 1980's movie Tron and conceptually by the metaverse from the novel Snowcrash.

## Sources

* https://clockworkreapers.wixsite.com/alephnullau/cyberspace