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surveillance-and-computation

The omnipresent computer Shalmaneser processes all news and participant interactions, symbolizing advanced surveillance and data processing.

1 chapter across 1 book

Stand on Zanzibar (1968)John Brunner

Chapter 6

This chapter presents a fragmented, multimedia-style broadcast called SCANALYZER, which offers a rapid-fire, multi-perspective overview of the socio-political and technological landscape of 2010. It interweaves news snippets, advertisements, personal profiles, and social commentary to depict a densely populated, technologically advanced, and socially complex world grappling with issues such as eugenics, political unrest, environmental sabotage, and pervasive surveillance. The narrative style mimics a futuristic newsfeed, emphasizing the overwhelming flow of information and the interplay between individual lives and global events.