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. Below are the key facets that outline this digital society:

Digital-Driven Lifestyle

Society operates almost entirely online, with physical infrastructure optimized for high-speed, reliable internet access and constant camera access from devices. Remote work dominates industries, including education and healthcare, eliminating the need for most physical buildings. As a result, private vehicle usage declined, replaced by delivery systems that monopolize roadways. Virtual platforms form the foundation of community life, with connections based on shared digital fields rather than physical proximity.

Achievements revolve around virtual milestones, which function as both currency and social status markers. Gamified platforms rank individuals, reinforcing competitive hierarchies. Traditional celebrations are replaced with AI-themed holidays, such as "Eliza Day," which honours the rise of artificial intelligence. These events take place in virtual reality (VR) spaces, allowing individuals to experience communal rituals from isolated settings.

Mental 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, 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.

The environment also suffers under this system. Roads filled with delivery vehicles contribute to polluted air, deterring outdoor activities and reinforcing indoor, digital lifestyles.

Traditional markers of time and cultural rhythms, such as the distinction between day and night, have disappeared. Individuals operate on personalized schedules, erasing shared societal routines. leading to the emerging new window tints are automatic (you can flip a switch and tint your windows or un-tint them)