Ben hasn't noticed much in his office. He is totally immersed in his work. He is working on Internet-based on-line interactive programs. He is creating semi-intelligent autonomous "agents" which are "wired into the noosphere". From the Greek, "No-os", the noosphere is the global "info-sphere" or abstract information layer. It is the total knowledge base of human culture.

By combining Natural Language Processing with an evolutionary multi-media dictionary, he has built a real-time philosophical engine capable of deriving conclusive consensus from the electronic media as a unified information set.

His web server builds its knowledge base from ideas exchanged by the participants in the World-Wide Web -- not just in words, but in images, sounds and information derived from more complex interaction through telepresence interfaces. The computer network is as "wired-in" to the humans as they are "wired-in" to each other.

But what has the Internet Revolution done to society? Just widened the gap between the "haves" and the "have-nots". This revolutionary means of communication has just been used to perpetuate a perfect, seductive virtual world people can never be physically part of. It leaves them desperate to BUY that world -- but for what? It's all directed at the lowest-common-denominator -- and that's where the world is heading...

He knows this. He had solid proof. His visual dictionary system is a self-consistent symbolic universe of discourse. After Goedel's incompleteness theorem, Ben's system flags every inconsistency and automatically expands its scope in order to resolve the logical conflict.

Ben knows both sides of the economic struggle. He lived in CyberSpace when he was a techie in Academic Research -- where the Internet was born. Then he made the jump to Industry, where he was the brains that built enterprise Web servers for E-Commerce.

Ben now has his computers at home, where he lives. He sits at his desktop multimedia computer watching pieces of visuals -- play-backs of I-Talk sessions -- repeating and evolving. As he speeds them one gets the sense that these are moving visual compositions spontaneously generated from natural conversation.

I-Talk is real-time "conversation in pictures" -- automatic image collage composition, expressive typography and quick-cut video editing driven in real-time by spoken words. Ben believes that interaction on this level is a kind of personal communication "amplification" which approaches electronic "telepathy".

At the very least, he has taken the capability away from the big-ticket video producers -- to compose vivid, hard-hitting, quick-cut sequences that tell a story -- and given it to the world.

Finally he seems satisfied with what is happening on the screen so he stretches and checks the clock. It is about 1:00 a.m.

Ben leaves his office and goes to the kitchen. He realizes he is hungry and thirsty. While he is getting himself a glass of wine his computer "rings" like an electronic telephone. The Computer has a small video camera on top of it, like a videoconferencing system. Ben's system has an automatic motion-detector positioning mechanism -- it follows him around the room as he moves.

Ben asks the computer, "Who is it?"

The computer responds in a professional sounding female voice, "It is Theodora calling from Cyber-Cafe dot com."

Ben says, "Accept the call."

Computer screen produces a "window" with Theodora seated in her office at the Cyber-Cafe. She is a blond, professional-looking woman in her mid-forties. As she talks, text in colorful fonts and images evoking meaning of her words pop up in the window, and evolve as she talks. This is 'I-Talk' in action. "Ben,......How are you?"

At the sound of Theodora's voice Ben gets out a second glass and pours wine in it. "Theo, just fine. Have you given birth yet?" He puts the glass on the dining-room table and putters around getting out plates and utensils.

"Well that's why I'm calling," Theodora says, "The baby's being born Friday the 16th. I'm counting on you to be one of my birthing coaches.

Ben is still setting the table not looking at the computer screen. He is talking to the screen as if Theodora were in the room.

"One of?" Ben is not surprised, "How many are you expecting?"

"I've sent out 500 invitations," Theodora replies, " This is a private party you know."

Ben Puts music on very soft and low.

"Oh, 500 is private," Ben states, "When is the public opening?"

Theodora replies matter of factly, "The following Saturday."

Ben lowers his voice, "So this show is just for a few close.........intimate friends?"

Theodora flirts, "Yes, intimate. There are lots of nooks and crannies to explore, I had the architect design some cozy little party rooms. Rooms for small... intimate.... parties. I have screens in those rooms too."

Ben lights the candles on the table. "I'm looking forward to seeing the caliber of your hardware."

Theodora teases, "My hardware is quite good. I can assure you I have the best. I have OC-3c linked up. And I have some special demonstrations lined-up as well, just for the 16th."

Ben sits down at the table. "I don't know if I can compete with OC-3c."

Theodora feigns surprise, "You.... not be able to compete with OC-3c? I couldn't believe that." Changing the subject, "I have to tell you, Roman and Gya Mon have already said they will be there. Roman's even agreed to be one of the demonstrators."

Ben is interested, "Roman's going to be there?"

"Yes," Theodora replies, "He tells me your project is coming along quite well."

Ben picks up his wine glass, "Yes I'm happy with my progress...." He gets lost in thought.

Theodora says finally, "Well, I must be off. Take care. See you Saturday!"

Copyright 2000 Stewart Dickson and Rebecka Dickson