Backstory, tech, terminology, cast, etc.

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The world has changed drastically in a short amount of time. Once the premiere world power, the United States now hobbles along, crippled by economic depression. All nations of the world feel the resulting shockwaves and face difficulties of their own. As people lose faith in their ailing, bankrupt governments, the corporations rise up with slogans of hope. Billboards of charity. Commercial breaks of brotherly love.

The Internet gives way to the Ultranet - a darkfiber mesh that spans the entire globe. Virtuality becomes a way of life for millions of people seeking to leave the troubles of the real world behind. Quantum computers emerge. Integrated circuits are reduced in size to an atomic scale. Sythetic Intelligence is born.

The Alphagenome is developed; a genetic map for a super-human. One-hundred test embryos are developed, few survive beyond the first week after conception. The pharmaceutical firm behind Alphagenome begins taking pre-orders from prospective Alphagen parents.

Fossil Fuels dwindle, causing further economic strain. Scientists around the globe work to develop a renewable energy source to replace the combustion engine. It is widely accepted that whoever wins the race will likely replace the United States as the world's broker for wealth. Most technology firms persue the practical source: Nuclear Fusion. However, there are a few government-sanctioned projects involving more radical concepts such as the singularity drive.

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Cred
In the fallout of the greater depression, the world has shifted to a singular, credit-based currency: the cred. Cred comes in two forms, based upon how it is transferred. If transferred via virtual means, it is refferred to as Ecred. Otherwise it is just 'cred.' The older forms of currency and coin money are still used outside of metropolitan areas. In many rural townships cred is actually refused as legal tender (though refusal is, by law, illegal).

Cred is stored and transferred logically. The means by which transactions take place outside virtuality is via a credstic or Omnicom.

Credstic -
The credstic is a singular device with the sole purpose of transferring funds from a cred account into another cred account. It is comprised of a scrollwheel, a few buttons, a small monitor, and an infrared interface. Optional security features include voice recognition, thumbprint, pin-key, or any combination of the three. Transactions are initiated by completeing all security measures, selecting an amount of cred to be transferred, moving the IR interface to be in close proximity of the recipient's transfer interface, and then confirming the recipient. The transitory connection between two cred interfaces is heavily encrypted and protected against evesdroppers.

Credstics are small enough to serve as keychains. They also break quite easily and are often referred to as credstuck, crudstic, slapstic, or crapstic. In extreme circumstances, one might even hear "craptastic."

Omnicom -
The Omnicom is everything. Set it down near a public terminal and it logs you in, authenticates, scans the terminal for vulnerabilities, and even acts as a wireless mouse interface. It can also transfer cred like a credstic. It is a phone, a clock, a computer, a media player, a camera. It can be used to tell anything with the proper interface that the owner bearing it has a right to access. Security systems, house alarms, door locks... A skilled hacker can do amazing things with an Omnicom, like bridging two wireless networks together, creating a rogue access point for a secure network, or altering credentials to make it transfer cred from someone else's account.

It is diminutively referred to as just 'omni.'

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Ultranet - A global mesh network of high speed optical connections capable of transferring terabytes of information within moments.

iVenue - Shortened version of Interactual Venue. An iVenue is any one of many virtual locations accessible from the Ultranet. Some iVenues are free to visit, but the most interesting ones are subject to a monthly subscription fee.

RiVR - The Root iVenue Resource. Also referred to as 'The Hub,' this is a massive iVenue from which all other public iVenues are accessible. It also provides public areas for people to sit, chat, play simple games, stroll, etc.

Loadspace - A private iVenue that resides entirely upon the user's hardware. Its primary function is to act as a launch pad from the local interface onto the Root iVenue Resource. Skilled programmers are able to craft Loadspace as they see fit and even program worlds that rival the most complex iVenues in their design.

Synaptic Interface (AKA SnIF, sniffy, sniffer. temple tap, braindrain) - The instrument by which an individual is able to enter virtuality. Snifs come in all shapes and sizes ranging from goggles to tiaras. The one thing they have in common is a series of electromagnetic transceivers that are able to interpret brain functions and introduce external stimuli into the cerebral cortex. Essentially, it allows the brain to send and receive digital signals.

Spatial Emulation - A fancy way of saying Virtuality, or an alternate-reality produced within simulated 3D space. Within Spatial Emulation, the individual is only limited by skill and imagination.