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.

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

[SOL-14] See reference details

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.

[SOL-15] See reference details

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/

[SOL-17] See reference details

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).

[SOL-19] See reference details

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.

[SOL-20] See reference details

References