network-failure
A sudden and severe breakdown in the network causes latency, certificate failures, and loss of location services, disrupting both virtual and physical operations.
1 chapter across 1 book
Rainbows End (2007)Vernor Vinge
The chapter depicts the aftermath of a contested event between the Hacekeans and the Scooch-a-mout faction, culminating in a reluctant concession by the Hacekeans. As the celebrations and negotiations wind down, a critical failure in the network infrastructure causes widespread disruptions, leading to the collapse of augmented realities and the malfunction of robotic systems, including a forklift accident that traps a woman. The library building itself begins to destabilize as its intelligent systems lose location data, symbolizing the fragility of the technological environment.