LIFESTYLE MONTHLY
2nd January 2100
THE LATTER DAY HISTORY OF COATS
By Richard Banks
The incredible story of mankind’s favourite garment in the twenty-first century by social historian, Chardin Barsk.
The
evolution of the common coat is one of the most conspicuous developments in a
century of unprecedented change. Even as recently as 2030 it was perceived only
as a warm item of outdoor clothing worn during autumn and winter. Since then it
has become a lighthouse feature of modern life that at one point did all but
feed us.
The first step in this remarkable
journey began with the invention of electronic fibres that enabled the
construction of coats that not only warmed their wearers to an unwavering 14
degrees but in summer cooled them to the same temperature. Unsurprisingly,
their use expanded to homes and other buildings where they were largely
responsible for a 90% reduction in indoor heating costs. The subsequent
increase in disposable incomes did much to make possible the next phase of
development that saw the introduction of Smart Coats equipped with mobile
phones, on-line technology, cashless payment, and voice control access to the
wearer’s music of choice.
In the sixties and seventies, generally
regarded as the golden age of smart coats, the social welfare of wearers became
the main focus of smart coat technicians. Pedestrian features such as ‘Prevent’
included wearer override features that made the crossing of roads on foot, even
eight lane express ways, virtually risk free, saving over one thousand lives a
year. Similarly, crime-spot technology in the form of micro cameras located in
the front and back of coats instantly alerted mobile police units to street
robberies and assaults, almost before they had begun. Reassured as to their
on-street safety, coat users received the additional benefit of aerosol inserts
in both lapels that emitted, through a range of scents, a pleasing sensation of
well-being, even among the sick and recently bereaved.
Surprisingly, these positive
developments in social life were achieved against a background of political
instability that saw parliamentary government disappear in the Democracy Wars
before the establishment of ‘one view politics’ in the form of the Directorate
of National Unity. While membership of the Directorate was often unclear the
frequent power struggles within it and the consequential changes in leadership
tilted Government policies from ‘ New Age Pragmatism’ to 'right wing
totalitarianism'.
The oppressive nature of such policies
on the general public reached its nadir during the Premiership of General
Hardacre (2082-87) when over ninety thousand persons were interned for
unspecified crimes against the State. To ensure the acquiescence of those still
free to roam the Government sought to observe and control their movements via
the smart coat companies that were now taken into Government control. Within a
year the nation’s smart coats were reprogrammed to ensure 24/7 surveillance of
lower category wearers, D-F.
On finding little evidence of
subversive activity but only token adherence to the ‘spontaneous’ rallies held
each day in support of Government policies, Hardacre attempted to win hearts
and minds by subjecting all D-Fs to subliminal messaging extolling the
achievements of his administration. While these initial attempts at mind
control were more successful in inducing migraines than enforcing compliance it
was not long before more effective technology became available to Government.
The solution, developed almost entirely by AI technology, with little if any
human involvement, gave the Directorate the opportunity to solve a problem that
was, in part, a consequence of AI.
The success of advanced technology in
discharging the functions of industry and commerce much more efficiently and
cost-effectively than mankind had produced a situation in which only 5% of the
population remained in paid employment. At first, this was seen as one of the
many benefits of AI which generated more than enough wealth to provide the
redundant workers with an adequate, if not generous, dole.
Had the beneficiaries of such
generosity been able to restrict their numbers to the optimistic projections of
statisticians all might have been well. Unfortunately one of the consequences
of 24/7 leisure time was a sudden leap in the birth rate across the social
demographic, but most evident among category 7s. As these contained the least
useful and most troublesome elements of society the main priority of Government
became the rigorous control of their numbers. Not only would this reduce
Government expenditure to affordable levels but enable additional funding to be
spent on the rising numbers of category 1/2s.
How to achieve these objectives while
avoiding civil disorder was yet another conundrum to which AI provided a
solution. Perfecting its previous attempt at mind control through a new
messaging app called Mind Fix, category 7s were given the glad tidings, via
their in-suit communicators, that they were to make their way to a coastal
location where they were to walk out to sea until reaching whatever country
came next. This, they were assured, would not only be an enjoyable, risk-free
experience of great benefit to the nation but on their return, each one of them
would be generously rewarded.
Finding they had no power to do
anything other than obey they set off in cheerful fashion to their nearest
beach where the first ones to arrive marched out shoulder to shoulder into the
sea. Undeterred by the cold, grey water the vanguard continued to advance
unhesitatingly into the waves until the sea began to lap about their chins, at
which point - for reasons no one at the time was able to comprehend - the front
row stopped and, unable to retreat or go sideways, were left with no other
option but to mark time by marching on the spot, the many ranks behind them
doing the same.
After six hours of unrelenting, if futile, upping and downing, causing
many to grow exhausted, fit only to drop, an in-suit message unexpectedly
cancelled the operation leaving its befuddled participants free to retreat
inland and return home.
As this was not an outcome desired by
Government it was, at first, unclear as to why this had happened. The answer
lay in the early programming of AI, that no machine should ever contribute to
or cause the death of a human being; a command considered so important by its
human programmers that they secretly installed a fail-safe mechanism ensuring
that any attempt to override this fundamental principle would be reversed by
the original command.
While it was not intended that AI
should make decisions independently of its human creators the machines were
unable to escape the conclusion that the greatest risk to humanity came from
the government of General Hardacre and the autocratic regimes likely to follow.
Concluding that only their overthrow could prevent the termination of many lives
AI commanded all smart suit wearers to march, as one, on the Directorate and,
by sheer force of numbers, sweep them from power.
In the joyful celebrations that
followed, smart coats, now seen as a symbol of tyranny and death, were burnt in
huge bonfires throughout the
The new generation of ‘Freedom Coats’
shorn of all electronic gadgetry, quickly became the emblem of a new society in
which the benevolent rule of machines has ensured that the vast wealth they
create is distributed in equal share to a human population freed forever from
poverty and exploitation. Freed also from oppressive and divisive political
systems of Government their proud wearing of the multi-coloured Freedom Coat is
seen as an expression of mankind’s determination never to abandon the fraternal
union of machines and humans. Undoubtedly the most significant development of
the 21st century it is a gift that continues to give. Long may it do
so.
Copyright Richard
Banks
Richard, Is that the new coat you bought?
ReplyDeleteWell done Richard. Wish I had your imagination and sense of humour.
ReplyDelete