Flat Eye presents a possible future which may be neither desirable nor avoidable.

To create this world and make it credible, MONKEY MOON took inspiration from the present. There is no lack of sources: online articles, social media videos, scientific journals and more. On the team's private chat, one observation came up again and again: ""when reality goes beyond fiction."" Things that may seem a long way off or even impossible in the game may in fact have already happened, and some of the game's narrative threads were directly inspired by these true stories.
As archivist for the project, my mission, toward the end of the development process, was to gather all of these articles to create this coherent bibliography. It provides a closer look at what inspired Flat Eye, of course, but also at our present--a time of such rapid, constant change that we don't even realize it's happening anymore.
The goal of this snapshot of the world is to place Flat Eye's major themes (artificial intelligence, the future of work, social change, etc.) in their context. The bibliography sorts articles into several different categories (with frequent overlaps) and provides a summary for each. If you're only after the links and references, you'll find it all at the bottom of the page.

September 2022. The archivist.

A crisis? A problem? No need to panic: people will find a technological solution. Not a realistic, easily rolled out, effective or existing solution, no. But an innovative, expensive, modern or even futuristic solution that inspires people and leaves them in awe, an invention that raises capital and builds a reputation for its designers. In short, a new product, because a problem or a crisis is first and foremost an opportunity.

Molecular Farming Means the Next Vaccine Could Be Edible and Grown in a Plant

Published on August 17 2021

Seen by Flat Eye team on August 18 2021

{Content in English}

North American researchers believe that molecular agriculture is the next step in producing pharmaceuticals. A Canadian lab used the technique to produce a Covid-19 vaccine, but the article outlines broader potential uses with medicines grown inside plants, which could be stored as seeds or dried leaves and treatments that could be taken by simply eating a vegetable. It also suggests production would be easier to roll out than setting up a lab.

https://singularityhub.com/2021/08/17/the-next-vaccine-could-be-edible-and-grown-in-a-plant/

Can artificially altered clouds save the Great Barrier Reef?

Published on August 25 2021

Seen by Flat Eye team on August 30 2021

{Content in English}

Australian scientists are developing technological solutions to save the Great Barrier Reef located just off the country's coast. One such solution involves using "cloud-brightening" machines, which release seawater mist into the air, to enhance cloud cover and cool the area by blocking sunlight. Forty-two other ideas are also being tested. A few other notable ideas from among the 160 original suggestions include cryopreserving coral or growing new varieties of coral in a lab to make them more resistant to rising temperatures.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02290-3

I went to Amazon's high-tech hair salon and virtually dyed my hair pink — then got the best haircut I've ever had

Published on September 25 2021

Seen by Flat Eye team on September 27 2021

{Content in English}

In the spring of 2021, Amazon opened a hair salon in a trendy London neighborhood. The Amazon Salon is equipped with several screens that provide information about different shampoos and other hair products on display at the site. But they also (more importantly) allow customers to use an augmented reality app to test different hair colors and styles in real time. The Business Insider journalist chose to keep her natural color. She was pleased with her cut, performed by a regular hairdresser.

https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-salon-hair-dye-pink-virtual-app-london-2021-9?IR=T

Note from the archivist: "So very Flat Eye," says an anonymous developer on the Monkey Moon forum.

In Iceland, CO2 sucked from the air is turned to rock

Published on November 02 2021

Seen by Flat Eye team on November 04 2021

{Content in English}

One of the methods being tested to reduce CO2 levels in the atmosphere is Direct Air Capture (DAC). A company called Orca has built a plant in southeast Iceland that captures atmospheric carbon. Climeworks, a Swiss competitor has also opened a plant in Iceland. Once captured, the carbon is stored underground, where it takes to years to petrify. The CO2 will remain there unless it's disturbed by a volcanic eruption.

https://techxplore.com/news/2021-11-iceland-co2-air.html

Crypto Investors Buy 40 Acres of Land in Wyoming to Build Blockchain City

Published on November 03 2021

Seen by Flat Eye team on November 04 2021

{Content in English}

CityDAO (for Decentralized Autonomous Organization, a blockchain-based voting system and entity) wants to build a "crypto city" managed by a DAO. The group has acquired 40 acres of land in Wyoming, which recognizes DAOs as companies. Members can purchase NFTs to obtain voting rights and the ability to settle land.

https://www.vice.com/en/article/93b5ve/crypto-investors-buy-40-acres-of-land-in-wyoming-to-build-blockchain-city?utm_source=tldrnewsletter

Note from the archivist: Not much has changed a year on.

Here's what boring company is doing to solve this insanity.

Published on November 22 2021

Seen by Flat Eye team on November 24 2021

{Content in English}

Replying to a Tweet of a 2021 video of a commuter traffic jam in Los Angeles, an Elon Musk fan reposts a commercial for The Boring Company, owned by Musk, which builds tunnels for cars. In the video, the cars which access the tunnel are conveyed aboard a specially designed vehicle at 200 kph. Other Twitter users highlight the fact that these tunnels will only be able to accommodate a few hundred vehicles per hour and that trains would be a much better solution.

https://twitter.com/Mr_Gauti/status/1462881688426483714

Note from the archivist: The first tunnel opened by The Boring Company in Las Vegas has yet to live up to is promises. Cars drive at a speed of 50 kph in the tunnel, which has no specially designed vehicle. On the Monkey Moon forum, someone said, "Elon Musk has to be the CEO of EyeLife."

Electric cars with sound by composer Hans Zimmer

Published on July 13 2021

Seen by Flat Eye team on November 26 2021

{Content in English}

How can we make electric vehicles as loud as cars with combustion engines? BMW has entrusted award-winning composer Hams Zimmer with creating sounds for its electric cars. Zimmer has designed "sound worlds" for the inside of the car depending on the selected "driving mode" as well as an engine sound projected outside the car.

https://blog.son-video.com/en/2021/07/electric-cars-with-sound-by-composer-hans-zimmer/

Synthesia

Published on September 01 2020

Seen by Flat Eye team on December 15 2021

{Content in English}

This start-up provides a platform for making corporate videos. Their number one asset: artificial intelligence that allows users to have avatars based on real actors say anything they like in any language.

https://www.synthesia.io/

Note from the archivist: Welcome to the era of commercialized deep fakes.

Farmer Puts VR Headsets on Cows to Simulate Green Pastures

Published on January 08 2022

Seen by Flat Eye team on January 12 2022

{Content in English}

To motivate his cows, a Turkish farmer bought a virtual reality headset and fitted it to one of them, so it would feel like it's in a beautiful field, he says. He claims the cow then produced more milk. The article underscores the fact that this is a very expensive way to manage a symptom without resolving the real problem: his cows aren't happy.

https://futurism.com/farmer-cows-vr-headset

Note from the archivist: The Mootrix (sorry, not sorry).

They Hacked McDonald’s Ice Cream Machines—and Started a Cold War

Published on April 20 2021

Seen by Flat Eye team on May 30 2022

{Content in English}

Given the recurring malfunctions of McDonald's ice cream machines, start-up Kytch decided to try to figure out how to fix them. The machines are sold by food service equipment company Taylor, which refuses to give McDonald's access to the maintenance panel, where the machine can be restarted or repaired. Which means the restaurants have to call and pay for a repair visit every time. So Kytch developed a device sold to restaurants that gives them full access to the maintenance panel. In so doing, Kytch has started a war with Taylor and the McDonald's Corporation. The article tells the tale of industrial espionage and machinations.

https://www.wired.com/story/they-hacked-mcdonalds-ice-cream-makers-started-cold-war/

Note from the archivist: Kytch has since filed a lawsuit against Taylor and confidential documents were leaked. The ice cream machines are still out of order far too often.

References