BXBX NOVEL Chapter 60 - Augmented Cyberspace
"What is this mysterious NetServ project you want me to work on?" Edward asked.
"Augmented Cyberspace. I\'ve worked on this concept with many Future Tech divisions, sub-divisions, and even a company partner, Epic Games."
"You\'ll be working under Azuma in refining this new way of interacting with data and network traffic. 2013 is a massive year for Future Tech because of the plethora of new software and hardware we\'ll be selling in Q3 of this year."
"One of the devices we\'ll be publicly announcing at E3 is the Hypervisor," Vince said while Aiya brought in a laptop and a device the size of a headband.
"The Hypervisor is the latest generation MVR visor developed and tested at Kandahar for education and training purposes. Future Tech has added many features since the start of the MVR program a year ago. Still, you\'ll be focusing on a classified project developing the Augmented Cyberspace application with NetServ." Vince explained.
"I vaguely understand what you\'re saying, but I\'ll do my best, whatever it may be," Edward replied proudly.
"Don\'t worry. NetServ already has a demo for reference. Wear the Hypervisor over your eyes, and you\'ll understand." Vince instructed.
Edward wore the device over his face and expected to see pitch darkness but was surprised to see his surroundings vividly.
"There\'s a small high-resolution camera that provides the user with clear peripheral vision and light-compensation to see in the dark. Those features don\'t matter too much, so let\'s move on to activating the ACS demonstration. Move your hands in your field of view, and the operating system interface should show one application available for use." Vince explained.
Edward did just that, and a context menu appeared clearly in front of his view.
"Amazing! I\'ve never heard of an Augmented Reality device capable of this much detail and graphical fidelity." Edward said out loud.
"The AR mode of the Hypervisor is the least demanding video mode, not requiring any extra hardware, unlike the VR mode, which does," Azuma interjected.
"Now tap the program thumbnail you see in the middle of your field of view, and it should turn on ACS," Vince instructed.
The moment Edward enabled ACS mode, his surroundings suddenly changed and showed network traffic around the room visually and in real-time via colored dots and lines.
"What you\'re seeing is data flow around a radius of 100 meters, which is the current limit. The new project aims to visualize all network and data traffic within NetServ using unique tags to categorize different data types. You will also see any network intrusions and violations at a glance instead of trying to find a needle in a haystack." Vince explained.
"This technology is already advanced and working; what do you need me for?" Edward asked.
"You\'ll be working with Azuma in creating the ACS highways connecting traditional telecommunications systems like fiber optic, satellite, and cellular, in conjunction with proprietary NetServ network services. Unfortunately, one hundred meters is too small for my nethunters in Future Security. The ACS will eventually enable our nethunters to patrol cyberspace for dangerous unique tags without a range limit." Vince stated.
"Network infrastructure is my forte. I can already imagine the possibilities of the ACS, Vince. So I\'m on board 100%." Edward replied enthusiastically.
"I\'m glad to hear it. You\'ll be working closely with Azuma and the FS nethunter director, Anthony. Feel free to choose any home near the area, and we\'ll pay for your move. Future Tech recently started providing apartments and houses if you prefer." Vince explained.
[The Hyundai C&E trade secrets worked like a charm. Now, construction projects are a joke to Andreas and the Hive Mind division.] Vince pondered.
"I\'ll take a Future Tech-house, then. I\'m excited to see what kind of features it comes with." Edward replied jokingly.
"You can continue the day discussing how to use the new Future Tech API and ideas in updating the ACS with Azuma. Welcome to the family." Vince declared before shaking Edward\'s hand.
Azuma and Edward left the penthouse living room and headed to the NetServ building across the street.
Vince was busy working with Future Studios for the final touches to release their first triple-a game, Everlife, and its online component. He instructed Future Studios to continue debugging for two more months to ensure a smooth and bug-free experience.
Vince received a comlink request from Tim Sweeney, the CEO of Epic Games, a long-term partner of Future Tech.
"Tim, what a surprise. I barely see you at our weekly meetings. It\'s been a while." Vince said over the comlink channel.
"You know how busy I was in updating the Unreal Engine the past two years. And whenever I do work with Future Tech, It\'s mainly with Kyle, Jessica, Rick, Sarah, and the rest of Future Studios. So where have you been all this time?" Tim jokingly asked.
"Alright. You win this time. What did you call me for?" Vince stated.
"Have you tested the latest stable version of Unreal Engine? All of the technologies we\'ve developed together, like FT Physics Simulation and Global Illumination for the engine, are practically finished. Except for that Augmented Cyberspace thing you wanted so much to include." Tim Sweeney explained.
"The ACS program is in good hands now. It shouldn\'t be long until it\'s in working condition." Vince replied.
"Nonetheless, this new version of Unreal Engine is a milestone achievement! Without FT AI and FT Micro Devices, I would have needed to sell half of my company to Tencent this year. Thank you for your continued financial and engineering support!" Tim said.
[I was ready to sell half of Epic to Vince based on how quick our progress was, but I wonder why he never asked to buy us out.] Tim pondered.
"Don\'t mention it, Tim. Even though we\'ve never met in person, you and your company have helped Future Tech since the start of War Online\'s development. Likewise, my company and friends wouldn\'t have flourished without Epic Games." Vince stated sincerely.
"Vince, you\'ve spent $5 billion on our Unreal Engine collaboration just in the past year. That\'s enough money to buy Epic Games five times over." Tim replied.
"Yes, but think about all of our physicists, engineers, software developers, designers, and more who were able to hone their craft during this project. I spend money to nurture technology and ourselves. There\'s no better way to burn cash than this." Vince replied honestly.
"That is indeed true. I\'ve heard from Elon that SpaceX and Tesla significantly optimized their designing pipeline using the new Unreal Engine feature set. Even your friends have grown to become talented developers and artists in their own right." Mr. Sweeney stated.
"When will you publically unveil Epic\'s new game engine?" Vince asked.
"During E3 in June, of course. I can\'t announce the new engine without Future Tech, and I heard you paid a hefty $20 million for a Future Tech booth. I expect nothing less, considering you\'d be unveiling a game console, the Hypervisor, and Everlife." Tim said.
"Most of our executive directors have been busy the past year in preparation for our 2013 product line-up. However, those three are just the tip of the iceberg. The new Unreal Engine is designed explicitly for Future Tech components, which we\'ll sell in Q3 of this year." Vince explained.
"You got me excited all of a sudden, Vince. I\'ll wait until your E3 presentation, then. But in the meantime, Epic Games will finish developing the Future Education modules and user documentation. And ask Kyle to update me on Everlife\'s final production phase." Tim said before bidding farewell.
Vince instructed Aiya to have Kyle meet him at his office within the hour.
Kyle arrived fifteen minutes later and sat down on one of the comfortable sofas.
"Tim is asking when Future Studios will be through the final production phase of Everlife and online mode. I think he\'s willing to share Epic devs if we need the help." Vince stated.
"Without work crunch, the debugging and optimization will be finished by the end of May. Though we have 10,000 of our 15,000 game devs working on this project, Everlife single-player is still an enormous and ambitious video game. I\'ll welcome any assistance Tim can provide. If I learned anything from him in the past years, a successful product is a team effort." Kyle replied.
"I\'m glad you learned at least one thing from spending time training with the Epic Games developers. Future Studios will release the game on June 15, with an early E3 demo in our booth from June 11 to 13. I trust your timeframe estimation, but please don\'t overwork the devs even if we have to delay the release." Vince instructed.
"Don\'t worry, Vince; We don\'t do that to family. Everyone is so proud of their work this time around. War Online was a massive success in the competitive and casual gaming industry, but Everlife is our first triple-a game. Even the new GTA 5 or The Last of Us doesn\'t look half as visually appealing as our game." Kyle said with jittery excitement.
"Good. As the technical director of Future Studios, you\'ll be presenting Everlife and the new Unreal Engine with Tim Sweeney at our E3 press conference. You\'ve earned it." Vince instructed.
"Really? I don\'t know if I can pull it off without a hitch, but I\'ll do my best!" Kyle replied honestly.
[That\'s the mentality I respect the most.] So Vince thought while joking around with his friend.
Stats last time checked:
Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion
15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)
$40 Billion cash in Future Tech
105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, SpaceX)
20,000+ operators under Future Security
Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner
Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)
Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i.e., Instagram)