Impact of Technology in Neuromancer

	Neuromancer is a science fiction novel written by William Gibson as the first part of the Sprawl Trilogy in addition to being a noteworthy piece of literature for the cyberpunk genre. The novel takes place in the near future and recounts the story of a hacker or “console cowboy” named Case who, after being maimed, finds himself down on his luck and on a job given to him by a mysterious employer to combat an artificial intelligence (Gibson, Neuromancer). As a story that takes place in a futuristic setting may imply, elements of technology are commonplace throughout, some of which already exist right now. This raises the question of how much does the technology described in Gibson’s Neuromancer reflect the technology of the present day?
	In the novel, complex technology is widespread and seen as ordinary, such as how holographic projections are so common that they are used in advertisements and arcades (Gibson, Neuromancer, 4). Although holograms don’t exist in the present day, the omnipresence of advertisements is something which can be seen in any large city. A technology called Simstim is also commonplace, which allows the viewer to gain the full sensory experience of another person. Like the use of holograms, Simstim is also used for entertainment with stars of its own including Tally Isham (Gibson, Neuromancer, 36) which has some interesting parallels with the recent significant advancements in virtual reality technologies such as the PSVR and HTC Vive (Statt).
However, the application of technology extends far beyond simple entertainment; it is also a necessary component of people’s jobs and livelihoods. Case being an example of such a person (Gibson, Neuromancer, 3). In addition, this same dependence on technology can also be seen with the character of Molly, a woman surgically modified to give her increased reflexes, heightened senses, and blades implemented into her fingertips, all of which allowing her to perform her job as hired muscle. (Neuromancer, Gibson, 96). This parallels our own world where in 2017 alone there were nearly 200,000 jobs created in the technology industry just in the United States (Business Facilities).
The darker side of this dependence on technology can also be seen in the novel. At the start of the novel, case has had his dependence on technology forcibly cut after being chemically maimed via a mycotoxin which took away his ability to interface with the matrix (Neuromancer, Gibson, 3). Later in the story, Cases’ ability to interact with the Matrix is restored by his employer and regaining his abilities once more brings Case great joy and while not directly responsible for a shift in his mental health, it does lay the groundwork for such a change to occur. While this does reflect how technology in the present day is being used to combat depression and issues with mental healt.
However, the novel also depicts how physical care has improved significantly, thanks to new scientific and medical advancement which has led to the creation and application of new surgical techniques. Throughout the book, there are multiple characters, such as Molly, with prosthetics, implants, or other modifications such as Molly’s improved eyesight and enhanced reflexes (Gibson, Neuromancer, 35). However, the majority surgeries described in Neuromancer are cosmetic, altering the outward appearance of the story’s characters, such as  the leader of a gang called the “Panther Moderns,” who is described to have extensive plastic surgery, possibly in order to conceal their identity as the group’s leader (Gibson, Neuromancer, 39). While the full extent of this technology hasn’t been reached in our own society just yet, we are certainly getting close with operations such as plastic surgery, prosthetics, and more importantly, organ transplants becoming more common, safer, and financially accessible for those who are less fortunate (Sullivan).
The world as described in Gibson’s Neuromancer is a far cry from the present day, though there are some startling similarities between the two. Gibson’s Neuromancer examines the logical conclusion of several areas of technology that we may reach one day, but it always provides drawbacks to each area. Where virtual reality has reached the point of living in someone else’s reality, an air of voyeurism slips in. Where technology has allowed people to do their jobs easier, it has also reduced how much there is left of the person using the technology. Where technology improves life for those who use it, it degrades it for those who have stopped using it. And where technology has helped save and improve lives, it has also become more of a fashion statement for the people who can afford the luxury.