io9 master control program, brain implant, definition, explanations, io9, science fiction

What Is an io9?

io9s were marketed as cheap time machines in the 2070s. They were actually just low-grade input/output devices for the brain that tuned tachyon waves and gave users vivid images of possible futures. The things were so addictive, and drove so many people insane, that io9s were eventually outlawed. Today the word is just slang. io9ers are the early implanters who obsessively upgrade themselves with beta tech. People who tweak out on buggy brainware are sometimes said to have "gone io9." Science fiction writer Ken MacLeod has another term for io9ers. He calls them rapture fuckers.

6:00 AM on Wed Jan 2 2008
By Annalee Newitz
5,188 views
36 comments

Comments

Liz Henry at 08:37 PM on 01/01/08
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It's good that you get the word "fuckers" in there as soon as possible just to establish the right atmosphere.
lustylady at 08:58 PM on 01/01/08
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Connectedness Index: 135

Hi Annalee and Charlie - just wanted to congratulate you on the launch of the site! (And am I the first commenter? If so, that's awesome.) I know, um, next to nothing about science fiction, but plan to read and learn.
Ray Wert at 09:04 PM on 01/01/08
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I totally remember getting my io9 out. Damn buggy piece o' crap implant. Better off without it...but it hasn't stopped me from obsessing over it...
Charlie Jane Anders at 09:20 PM on 01/01/08
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Ray, I hear ya. I totally have phantom io9 pain sometimes.
Annalee Newitz at 09:22 PM on 01/01/08
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I still touch my implant sometimes.
TonyTriple at 12:59 AM on 01/02/08
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pics or its not true...
SpiBoy a.k.a Duane Brown at 01:46 AM on 01/02/08
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Awesome idea for the blog. I usually comment over on Kotaku, but looks like I've another blog on this network to track.
tokiwartooth at 01:52 AM on 01/02/08
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@Ray Wert: I downgraded to a aptch, just some time release Modafinil, filled the hole (literally)... but now I can't stop picking at it.

Have to keep topping up with oxytetracycline. Enough now to wipe a field full of cattle clean.
Luke Plunkett at 02:50 AM on 01/02/08
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welcome, welcome, welcome!
Kevin Pratt at 03:20 AM on 01/02/08
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Just spent the time going all the way back to April on this site. Except for the huge number of must see's in September, it's well worth the time. I'm really excited about this blog and you've definitely got a place in my feed reader.
Joel Johnson at 04:24 AM on 01/02/08
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Fuckin' finally!
strider_mt2k at 04:30 AM on 01/02/08
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Better than the bad time I had with my TVC-15!

:D
Windhawk at 05:43 AM on 01/02/08
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Speaking of "rapture fuckers" don't forget about Wire Heading. This was Larry Niven's concept of having a wire embedded into the pleasure center of the brain and using a low current to self-stimulate. It ends badly though, horribly addictive.
Bob Bruhin at 05:58 AM on 01/02/08
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Those Boston rapture fuckers over at mc.lcs were the worst. Used to jack in series and surf parallel futures simultaneously.

Most of them are totally fried, now -- or they found real neuro gigs and cleaned up their acts. I hear tell a handful of them are still at it, though.
radink at 06:03 AM on 01/02/08
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Very cool! Im definitely a fan!
strider_mt2k at 06:09 AM on 01/02/08
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@Windhawk: I am a long time Niven fan (reading Fleet of Worlds) and appreciate the reference sir.
Big Dumb Object at 06:18 AM on 01/02/08
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Welcome to the SF blogopolisality
Lock at 07:28 AM on 01/02/08
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Congrats!
kildavimes at 07:30 AM on 01/02/08
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Being almost too geek to function as a kid (though i did manage to avoid SOME pitfalls such as embarrassing snorts and braces) i am now a proud geek with a taste for all things sci-fi,fantasy and Terry Pratchett (you can't really place him in either category, can you?) so i'm psyched to to find this blog. can't wait to read more!
Adarael at 08:06 AM on 01/02/08
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Congrats, indeed. Kotaku gets itself a brand new friend in my daily "ways to waste time at work" blogs!

(Also, nice Newton's Wake nod.)
cmdrfire at 08:37 AM on 01/02/08
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Pointed this way by Boingboing and Los Jalops, had a look around and now it looks like I'm here to stay.
Would comment more but my boss glares malevolently.
*hangs up hat
mat-honan at 09:08 AM on 01/02/08
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Congrats on the launch!
currerbell at 09:12 AM on 01/02/08
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These days, I just keep a daisy or two in the empty hole wherein my shunt used to be housed. No constant datasphere access for me anymore, just nosphere.

Holy crap - I just geeked myself into a life-threatening case of hiccups...
Pop Socket at 09:29 AM on 01/02/08
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Any truth to the rumor that io9s were powered by ice-9 which resulted in the most tragic recall notice of all time?
SciFiCowboy at 09:44 AM on 01/02/08
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Io9's were outlawed? Crap! Mine still functions like a charm, a few minor mods from HD Shack Channel 2 and your own programming, bam! No more government interference from the wire. I've been wire free for years, it's great.
dead_red_eyes at 10:29 AM on 01/02/08
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Congrats!
Binja-man at 11:06 AM on 01/02/08
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Welcome! Now let's get the show on the road with some BSG final season speculation...
kanzure at 01:40 PM on 01/02/08
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Interesting. I think I have been an io9er for quite a while now, not even knowing it. For example, see: [heybryan.org] - I might go update the tag to reference io9 just for kicks. :)

- Bryan
etorsten at 02:17 PM on 01/02/08
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You´re welcome. I wrote a Blog-Post in German about your launch: [scififans.blogspot.com]
You have a new reader here :-)
$Image of Evil Tortie\'s Mom$ Evil Tortie's Mom at 03:07 PM on 01/02/08
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oh, sweet...

I am geeking out here. Been a science fiction fan since original Trek, been a Gawker Media fan since... whenever they started.

Both together! It's like a transporter mishap gone GOOD!
Jamie Faye Fenton at 03:53 PM on 01/02/08
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Congratulations on going live! It looks like a good launch, too.

Heck - I might even write a little article about my grandma's SciFi book.

-- Jamie Faye Fenton
readhead at 05:15 PM on 01/02/08
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You got it right! We early-adopters of io9s are also known as Boomers.
Gansura at 07:09 PM on 01/02/08
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Congrats on the launch! I've been looking for a (good) new sci-fi blog.
Notorious216 at 10:29 AM on 01/05/08
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Thanks for the new vocab. I'm going to use io9 10x a day now.
cybergrunt at 03:46 PM on 01/05/08
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i'm addicted already, nice one
freznel at 10:47 PM on 01/05/08
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Whew.. i finally threw away the io7.5 :)