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.

AI created art by Dream

Published on October 13 2021

Seen by Flat Eye team on December 03 2021

{Content in English}

This website uses AI to randomly generate images.

https://app.wombo.art/

Note from the archivist: Since we began working on Flat Eye, the number of such generators has increased (Dall-E 2, Craiyon, Midjourney, etc.) as has the quality of the result.

[AI-15] See reference details

Controversial ‘suicide pod’ that ‘kills peacefully’ gets go-ahead in Switzerland

Published on December 07 2021

Seen by Flat Eye team on December 09 2021

{Content in English}

Sarco's inventor (the name comes from sarcophagus, of course) had been trying to make his "unique" device--a 3D printed capsule that allows users to commit suicide "gently"--work since 2017. In late 2021, the device was finally authorized in Switzerland. The inventor also wants to make the blueprint public so anyone can print their own Sarco.

https://nypost.com/2021/12/07/controversial-suicide-pod-that-kills-peacefully-gets-go-ahead-in-switzerland/

[WT-22] See reference details

Chemical emitted by babies could make men more docile, women more aggressive

Published on November 19 2021

Seen by Flat Eye team on December 13 2021

{Content in English}

Hexadecanal is a chemical substance emitted by humans--and especially by babies--that makes men less aggressive and women more aggressive. Scientists believe it may be an evolutionary development designed to promote infant survival by protecting them from a potential attack from their father and encouraging their mother to defend them.

https://www.science.org/content/article/chemical-emitted-babies-could-make-men-more-docile-women-more-aggressive

Note from the archivist: Found via the agregator Ycombinator with this comment: “I don't know if this is the same chemical that is released by decaying humans, but the few times I was exposed to decaying human bodies (forgotten elderly people in apartment complexes), I felt an overwhelming calming feeling.” Which in turn inspired this comment from the development team: “Narrative fuel for Flat Eye”.

[WT-23] See reference details

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.

[SOL-18] See reference details

An algorithm has been developed that creates artificial human DNA

Published on December 27 2021

Seen by Flat Eye team on December 28 2021

{Content in English}

Researchers at the University of Paris Saclay (France) and the University of Tartu (Estonia) used an AI to generate pieces of artificial human DNA. They see this accomplishment as useful for research: an artificial genome doesn't belong to anyone, so it's easier to do experiments on it.

https://deepfakechallenge.com/gb/2021/12/27/9022/

[WT-34] See reference details

Un écran léchable en développement

Published on December 31 2021

Seen by Flat Eye team on January 01 2022

{Content in French}

A Japanese researched has developed TTTV or "Taste the TV", a screen that exudes flavors, which consumers taste by licking the surface. Possible uses: menu choices, all sorts of games, sharing a meal via video, etc.

https://nofrag.com/un-ecran-lechable-en-developpement/

[WT-24] See reference details

Sony is Working on a 3D Scanner that will Allow Users to Put Real-World Items Into Video Games

Published on January 07 2022

Seen by Flat Eye team on January 10 2022

{Content in English}

Sony is trying to obtain a patent for a smartphone app that would allow users to 3D scan a real object and then manifest it in the game they're playing.

https://gamerant.com/sony-3d-scanner/

Note from the archivist: There are plenty of augemented reality apps that use Lidar technology to 3D scan objects (Polycam, Scaniverse, etc.).

[WT-25] 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

Life 3.0

Published on August 23 2017

Seen by Flat Eye team on January 12 2022

{Content in English}

In this 2017 book, Max Tegmark considers the present and future impacts of artificial intelligence on humanity.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_3.0

[AI-17] See reference details

Men Are Creating AI Girlfriends and Then Verbally Abusing Them

Published on January 18 2022

Seen by Flat Eye team on January 20 2022

{Content in English}

Quotes from users of the app Replika who create virtual girlfriend chatbots for the sole purpose of mistreating them. The article expresses surprise about the fact that such reprehensible behaviors are already so widespread.

https://futurism.com/chatbot-abuse

Note from the archivist: Comment on the Monkey Moon forum: "Someday someone will need to explain that dystopian fiction isn't meant to serve as a how-to manual."

[WT-26] See reference details

References