Database of databases
Luke Harms

        Evolution is no longer biological, it is technological. Humankind's 
physical development has slowed down to a crawl. However, every 
passing day breeds a significant increase in the carrying capacity of our 
global network. We are zooming forward, faster then ever before. Now 
evolution is the exponentially increasing pace of technology. 
        Society is enmeshed in a digital network. The information on this 
network is organized in an organic structure like a tree, or the vascular 
system. The database as a whole could not have developed otherwise, 
given the propensity for creation to reflect its creators (also, the original 
design called for a distributed system functioning largely in parallel).
        Infoception is a result of continued technological development. It is 
the act of navigating information: from live personal messages to the 
bottomless archive of film history. Data can take the shape of a voice or 
video signal, information from a colossal tomb of history, science and 
current events. The intimidating task of creating a customizable interface 
through which anyone can relate to the database and its labyrinth network 
of hyperstuff moves forward.
        Soon accessing the network is done by entering your ID and a 
password. This will not be typed, the ID will likely be encoded 
(encrypted) onto a smart card (updatable implant or similar) that is read 
by terminals, then the user will enter a password. From here the terminal 
opens your customized start point. Many use generic jump points 
provided by large corporations. The technocrats will all have their own, 
and the quality of such will be a status symbol to some extent.
 The network is a database of databases. Information about each user is 
stored on server systems, for example the users video conference records 
and archive will be on an AT&T computer, while the news articles that 
interest them will be saved at CNN. The information providers will have 
different arrangements with users and other businesses regarding the 
privacy of individual records. The organization that controls the main hubs 
and backbones (if not the government, a more powerful entity) will have 
access to any information in the databases. 
 Examples of interaction with these data systems are many and different. 
The business man logs on for a video conference (with relevant news 
tickers). A young adult logs on with his friends to entertain them with his 
links. An old woman simply chooses from a list of classic non-interactive 
television shows. The database knows the old woman's taste and offers 
shows similar to the type she has already seen. The more somebody 
browses news articles, the better the database is at prioritizing news items 
for that user.