[Journal File 01242110-000135]

The date is January 23, 2110. The world has changed greatly, but not in the way that most people would have imagined the future a hundred years ago. There's no hoverboards or flying cars, or faster than light spacecraft, or time-traveling DeLoreans. In fact, I doubt we have any normal DeLoreans left. What a shame, it's got a nice design. If they remade those, I'd buy one if I had the money.

Random tangent aside, computing is the field that made the most impact. Our computers really took off, especially about twenty years ago, when biologic technology started to get implemented. Long before that, computers were already a part of just about everything except human bodies. Turns out people don't like having computer parts inside of them. I think the government considered putting ID chips in everyone, but that got shot down really quickly. Besides, your cell phone or even your watch is just as easy to track if it's not modified.

The largest change really came about twenty-three years ago. In 2087, an old network called SEPIANET was declared to be some sort of other world. A world that's in everyone's computers and electronic devices. I know, sounds really crazy, right? From the stories out there, it was made around a hundred years ago, and now it's everywhere. It's scary, really, thinking there's artificial intelligences crawling around everywhere. Even in the real world, they have millions of androids, but you wouldn't know it by looking at them. You have to have special equipment to tell the difference. That should be creepy, but they've been around longer than I have, so it almost feels normal. I think they even have a seat in the United Nations. Might have to double check that one, though.

In fact, to at least a majority, it is normal. They're in every field of research and development out there. Yeah, there are religious groups that are protesting against them because they're destroying the sanctity of life or something like that, but most people are glad that a world-wrapping AI network is helping us and trying to live with us rather than going all 'Skynet' on us. You can even get punished for killing androids, but it's not really considered murder. You might be hit with hard destruction of property charges, but that seems to be about it.

There was also something a few years ago that really started freaking people out. Word leaked out about this lab, run by this network, that was doing something called 'bioneogenesis' experimentation. From what leaked out, it looked like the AIs were trying to make real, organic, human bodies that could harbor data. Now, that sounds freaky. A lot of people went pretty crazy about that, especially the religious organizations, talking about how they had no right to 'play God'. They've said that about science forever, but for once, I kind of agree with them. They're toying around with genetic material and making real bodies from scratch. For anyone that has any belief in a soul, that has huge implications. The last time we heard about that was seven years ago, though, so maybe that got shut down. Seven years is a long time as far as scientific experimentation goes.

Once in a while, a few of those AIs would get onto my computer. I'd interact with them once in a while, but they always creeped me out a little. How did I know they weren't getting private stuff off of my computer? Sure, I have logs, I have security, but they managed to get everywhere in the world. Who's to say they couldn't do what they wanted without notice? They tell me there's punishments for criminals there, too, but...well, I don't know whether I can believe them. We can explore their world through programs, if we're so inclined, but, that's not like the androids. They have a real presence here, we don't have one there. Even though their world is contained by ours. Gives me the shivers when I start thinking about it too much.

But, now that you know a little bit about the world, well, just who is talking to you about it? Well, I'm male, sixteen years old. Yeah, I sound kind of young for what I'm saying, but, well, I keep up with things that are going on. Though, my mom always gets after me for wasting time, since I'm on the computer all the time, either playing games or surfing the internet. I can't have a pet or anything, what does she expect me to do when I'm not out of the house? It's not like I don't have a few friends at school, even if I am a bit of a nerd, so it's not like I have no social interaction.

Oh, and yes, you heard everything right, I'm on the computer all the time, but creeped out about digital life forms. I really don't want to hear it.

I tend to get good grades at school, except for P.E. Someday, that won't matter too much, though, right? I mean, I'll probably get into a computing field, anyways. Of course, that would mean working with those androids, but, oh well. Heh, maybe someday, this'll end up being completely normal. You know, like all those other things that used to be big issues long ago. I guess we'll see one of these days.

Oh, yeah, and making this a private file. I don't know how much it matters. I wonder if someone's watching what data I make or something. Supposedly, no, but, I never really know. I have to sleep soon, though, so one last thing. I never really mentioned exactly who I am.

I'm Tanara Kuranov. My dad's American and my mom is Russian, and I was born in America. Hearing stories about what things used to be like in Russia, you get paranoid about the fact that someone, or something might be watching you. Russia's not quite so bad about that with their government any more, it seems like, but I'm still glad to be here in the US.

Great, they're yelling up the stairs. Why are they awake at midnight? Oh, well, I have school tomorrow, anyways. I actually like being out of the house for school, but not always what I have to do for school. Can't get into it now, though, or they'll start coming up the stairs, though, so logging off now.