Group X

Hi Group X - its Kurt here. A few notes. You don't have to identify the Novum within the wikimedia entry (that will just be a part of the world building process). Second, you can do a couple of things with formatting - link out to new pages, or create sub-headings, as I have done below. And provide a "setting" type Intro that alerts to reader to time, context, and the novum can be introduced here, but indirectly (since that is more of a literary term).

• Plot/Novum
• Setting

Culture and Community

Culture and Community are fundamentally transformed by the pervasive integration of digital technologies. The world is shaped by hyperconnectivity, where the Internet of Things (IoT), hypersurveillance, and remote systems redefine how people interact, live, and work. Paradoxically, while digital integration brings the world closer, it fosters feelings of loneliness, individualism, and disconnection. Below are the key dimensions shaping this digitally driven society:

Digital-Driven Lifestyle

The digital age has restructured daily life, with society operating almost entirely online. Physical infrastructure is designed to support high-speed, reliable internet access and constant connectivity through cameras embedded in devices. Key features of this lifestyle include:

• Remote Dominance: Industries like education, healthcare, and corporate work have shifted to remote models, reducing the need for physical spaces. Traditional skills, such as writing with pen and paper, are becoming obsolete, and private vehicle usage has declined, replaced by fleets of delivery systems that monopolize roadways.
• Virtual Communities:Community life thrives on virtual platforms, where connections are formed through shared digital interests rather than geographic proximity. Relationships are often transactional, mediated by technology rather than genuine interpersonal bonds.
• Gamified Achievements: Success is measured through virtual milestones that function as currency and markers of social status. Gamified platforms rank individuals, perpetuating competitive hierarchies.
• AI-Themed Celebrations: Traditional cultural celebrations are replaced by AI-driven events, such as "Eliza Day," which commemorates the rise of artificial intelligence. These rituals occur in immersive virtual reality (VR) environments, allowing participants to engage in isolated settings.

Health & Emotioal Disconnect

The shift to a digital-first society has led to widespread emotional and social isolation. Face-to-face interactions are rare, and over-surveillance further alienates people from one another. Mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, are pervasive because of being a lot of surveillance and constantly having to have their camera onand normalized by society.

The erosion of social skills has given rise to industries like emotional intelligence tutors, trained professionals of “Emotional Expression Studies”, who teach individuals how to express emotions and navigate social interactions. These tutors fill the void left by the loss of natural, in-person relationship-building. Making emotional well-being a commodified skill, with individuals relying on paid tutors to relearn basic social and emotional expressions.

Additionally, the bond between humans and emotional support animals deepens. As people struggle to form meaningful connections with each other, animals provide companionship and emotional stability. Resulting in a decrease in the marriage and children rate.

Sensory and Environmental Impact

The world feels both noisy and silent—technologically noisy with constant digital notifications but physically silent due to the absence of human voices and community gatherings. This dichotomy creates a sensory void, deepening feelings of solitude and alienation.

• Environmental Consequences: The dominance of delivery vehicles on roads contributes to air pollution, discouraging outdoor activities and reinforcing an indoor, digital-focused lifestyle.
• Temporal Disruption: Shared societal routines and traditional markers of time, such as the distinction between day and night, have been abandoned. Personalized schedules dominate, creating a world where individuals operate in isolated temporal bubbles. Leading to innovations like switchable window tints—where windows that can be darkened or cleared with the flip of a switch—reflect the need for flexible living environments in an era where natural light and shared rhythms are less significant.