SimStim Hardware

SimStim (Simulated Stimulation) hardware represents one of the most popular entertainment and communication technologies in Horizon City, allowing users to experience recorded or transmitted sensory information as if it were their own.

Historical Development

SimStim technology emerged in the 2060s as an evolution of virtual reality systems, adding full sensory feedback beyond just visual and auditory information. The breakthrough came when NeoTrans researchers developed a way to translate neural signals associated with physical sensations into digital data that could be recorded, transmitted, and played back.

Early SimStim was limited to pre-recorded experiences played through bulky equipment, but by the time Horizon City was constructed, the technology had evolved to allow for live streaming and had been miniaturized into more convenient forms.

Benjiro Takahashi's work on neural interfaces in the 2070s dramatically improved SimStim capabilities, as referenced in "Deck Jockey":

"This seemingly simple explanation belied the revolutionary nature of his discovery - a firmware upgrade for existing SimStim hardware that allowed human consciousness to interface directly with computer systems, enabling the brain to function as a quantum computer."

Technical Operation

Modern SimStim hardware consists of several components:

1. Neural Sensors: Detect and record sensory information from the user's nervous system
2. Signal Processor: Converts neural signals to digital data and vice versa
3. Storage Module: Holds recorded experiences for playback
4. Transmission System: Allows for sharing experiences between users
5. Interface Controls: Permits users to adjust intensity and focus of experiences

The technology works by intercepting and interpreting the electrical signals that would normally travel from sensory organs to the brain, then either recording these signals or replacing them with pre-recorded ones. This creates the illusion that the user is experiencing something directly, even when they are actually receiving someone else's recorded sensations.

Commercial Applications

SimStim has become a cornerstone of entertainment in Horizon City, as mentioned in "Rock Star":

"Media corporations bought content to broadcast to VidScreens, HoloVids, and HoloBoards, as well as SimStim. They made money by taking a cut off sold products and selling advertisements."

The technology has created new forms of celebrity, with "simstars" famous for the quality and intensity of their recorded experiences. Matt Charadon's story illustrates how corporations like Spinning Disc Media exploit performers:

"He made commercials for everything from toothpaste to vibrating male sex toys, which he graphically demonstrated the use of, finishing by squiring on the camera lens. After that, the pornos really got popular, and he would be seen screwing some new celebrity every week."

Beyond entertainment, SimStim has applications in:

• Education: Allowing students to experience historical events or scientific phenomena
• Training: Providing realistic practice for dangerous or complex tasks
• Therapy: Treating phobias or PTSD by controlled exposure to triggering situations
• Tourism: Experiencing destinations without physical travel

Social Impact

SimStim has profoundly changed social interactions in Horizon City. The ability to share sensory experiences has created new forms of intimacy and connection, but also new avenues for exploitation and addiction.

The technology has contributed to social stratification, with high-quality SimStim experiences available primarily to residents of Blue and Gold levels, while Red level residents often access only low-quality or black market versions with higher risks of side effects.

SimStim addiction has become a recognized condition, with some users preferring recorded experiences to real ones. Treatment centers specializing in SimStim dependency can be found throughout the upper levels of Horizon City, while in Red, addiction often goes untreated.

Ethical Considerations

SimStim raises significant ethical questions about consent, privacy, and authenticity. The recording and distribution of experiences without proper consent has become a form of assault under Horizon City law, though enforcement varies by level.

Matt Charadon's experience with Spinning Disc Media illustrates the potential for exploitation:

"At the end of each sex scene, he would always say, 'Baby, I was born to perform!'"

The line between authentic experience and SimStim has blurred for many residents of Horizon City, leading philosophers to question whether mediated experiences can ever truly substitute for direct ones, and whether a society increasingly dependent on recorded sensations is losing something essential about human experience.

As SimStim technology continues to advance, these questions become increasingly urgent, with no clear consensus on how to balance the benefits of shared experience against the risks of exploitation and addiction.