Introduction|AnnotatedGlossary|Lainlinks|

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Infomania:WhatistherelationshipbetweenAppleandlain?(AppleComputerreferencesinserialexperimentslain)

By:LawrenceEng
email:leng@cjas.org
URL:http://www.cjas.org/~leng/lain.htm
PersonalPageURL:http://www.cjas.org/~leng
Firstdraft:July14th,1999
BetaTester:AnthonyYan
Openedtothepublicon:August4th,1999
OriginallybasedonserialexperimentslaintranslationVer1.1byKeisukeShindo
Introduction|AnnotatedGlossary|Lainlinks|

Introduction
(below:fanartbyJanice)
serialexperimentslainisananimewhichbegstobeinterpreted(readmyreviewfora
basicdescriptionoftheshow).Whilethestorygivesusalotofhintsastowhatmightbe
goingon,nothingiseverexplicitlyexplained.Evenwhenthingsareexplainedintheformof
commentaryand"speeches"throughouttheshow,weareshownthattheviewsputforthin
thosespeeches(suchasgivenbyEiriMasami)arenotnecessarilycorrectandtruthful.
Whendealingwithpropheticspeechorpropheticanime,itisourresponsibilitytobe
skepticalandquestioningjustlikeLainwas,eventhoughtheuncertaintycanbepainfulat
times.
Yet,itwasn'tsopainful.serialexperimentslaincouldhaveeasilyfallenintothesametrap
thatsomanyother"meaningful"animefallinto,thatis:takeitselftooseriously.Byrefusingto
explainitselfanymorethanitdid,serialexperimentslainavoidsthattrap.Ifanything,it
explicitlyshowed(throughreferences)thatthereisalotmoreouttherebeyondthescopeof
what13episodesofanimecanexplain,thattheseideasarenotbrandnew,thatother
peoplehavealottosayaboutallofthis,andthosesourcesareavailabletoanyonewith
morethanapassinginterestinwhatserialexperimentslainisallabout.Althoughserial
experimentslaindoesnotattempt(orpretend)toofferatotallynewvision,itsucceeds
wildlyasanewandwonderfullyconstructedsynthesisofolderelements.Inthatsense,lain
theanimehasadistinctpostmodernidentity,thetypeofidentitythatLainthecharacteris
searchingfor.
Thecreatorsoflainhavemadeaprogressivecyberpunkanimewhichishighlyinformedand
operativeonmultiplelayers,bothfigurativelyandliterally.Nosingleexplanationorspeech
oressaycanhopetoencompassallthatisserialexperimentslain.Assuch,lainwill
alwaysbeopentointerpretationandalwaysencourageustodoourownresearch,ourown
experiments,whichiswhyIcallthisdocumentthoughtexperimentslain.
Initially,IwrotethesenotesasareferencetohelpmeinapaperIamwriting.However,asIresearchedandwrote,Irealizedthatsuchareferencecould
beusefultootherfansoflain,oratleastprovokesomeinterestingconversation.Theinterpretationsofferedbelowarepersonalopinionsandtheresultof
multiple(andcontinuing)iterationsofwatchingandthinkingabouttheseries.Theyarenotrigidbeliefs,andshouldnotbetakenoverlyseriously.Ihave
triedtoseparatewhatismoreorlessfactualfromwhatislessclearandmoreinterpretive.Ifthereareobviousfactualerrors,Iwillbeappreciativeifyou
bringthemtomyattention.Finally,ifyouhavedifferenttheories(youprobablydo)orsomethingtoaddtomine(alsolikely),let'stalk.Feelfreetoemail
meprivately.Iamalsosubscribedtothevariouslainmailinglists.

Formylatestthoughtsandlainnews,besuretocheckoutmyblog:

(Newversion!Updatesnolongerlistedhere)

OldVersion
(Finalupdate:4/26/05)
Alsosee:

layer:14SIMULACRA
(aserialexperimentslainfanartcontest)
(Thisendedon3/1/03,butcheckoutthegalleryandresults)
Mythanksto:
AnthonyYan,whowasaninvaluablesoundingboardovertheWired(IRC)andputupwithmywildlatenightspeculations.
JohnGarzaforlayoutadvice.
JerryHsuforthescreencaptures.
Janice(whoseartIdiscoveredonJoysuke'spage)forthebeautifulfanart.BesuretovisitJanice'swebpage.
Thepeopleonthelainmailinglistforbeingsogenerouswiththeirresources.
Everybodywhohasmadealainwebpage,thanksforthegoodreading!
ThisoneI'lldedicatetomyabsentfriend,Daisuke"kaie"Chew,whoknowswhatitmeanstobeWired.
Introduction|AnnotatedGlossary|Lainlinks|

WARNING:SPOILERSAHEAD
AnnotatedGlossary
Wired

RealWorld

Protocols

Protocol7

NAVI

Devices

SchumannResonance

Accela

Infornography

Cyberia

DouglasRushkoff

JohnLilly

ECCO

RoswellAlien(s)

MJ12

VannevarBush

Memex

TedNelson

Psyche

KIDS

Knights

PK

Taro

MyuMyu

TachibanaLab

MIBs

Homunculus

ThinkBuleCountOneTow

YomodaChisa

IwakuraYasuo

Madeleines

IwakuraMika

MizukiAlice

EiriMasami

IwakuraLain

Wired
Network/Internet.
Interpretation:
ArealitythatisonacontinuumwithRealWorld.
Stimulated,asin"ThisAccelamakesmeWired".
Thestateofbeingconnected(suchastoanetwork).
Aconsensualhallucination(asinWilliamGibson'sdescriptionoftheMatrixinNeuromancer).Weallagree(moreorless)toshare(moreorless)
thehallucinationthatistheWired.Meaning,howmucheachpersonagreestohallucinatetheWiredwillvary,andfurthermore,eachperson's
hallucinationwillvary(moreorless)fromthestatisticalaverage"consensusWired."

RealWorld
Everydayhumanexistence.
Interpretation:
Aconsensualhallucination.Weallagree(moreorless)toshare(moreorless)thehallucinationthatisRealWorld.Meaning,howmucheach
personagreestohallucinateRealWorldwillvary,andfurthermore,eachperson'shallucinationwillvary(moreorless)fromthestatisticalaverage
"consensusRealWorld."

Protocols
Internetprotocols.
Interpretation:
Aprotocolisasetofrulesorproceduresthatpeopleagreetouse.
Therefore,protocolimpliesconsent,anagreementtobelieveinsomethinganduseit.

Protocol7
TheprotocolthatfullylinkstheWiredandRealWorldtogether.DevisedbyEiriMasamiwhilehewasaTachibanaLabemployee.Againstthe

wishesofTachibanaLab,EiriMasamidesignedProtocol7toutilizeSchumannResonancetoconnecteverybodytotheWired(andthereforeeach
other)withoutdevices.
Interpretation:
Astheseriesprogresses,Protocol7seemstobecomemoreandmorepervasiveintheworldofserialexperimentslainasevidencedbythe
progressive"blurring"ofRealWorldandtheWired,whichappearstobecorrelatedwithLain'sincreasingpowerandawareness.

Protocol7makesthecollectiveunconscious(asdescribedbyJung)becomethecollectiveconsciousness.Assuch,itmayalsobeinreferenceto
theLeary/Wilson7thCircuitofthenervoussystem/consciousness,akatheCollectiveNeurogeneticCircuit.Onthatnote,itisinterestingthat
TachibanaLabalso"succeededinanalyzingthemolecularstructureofthegenomeofhuman"(quotedfromShindo'stranslatedscript,layer:11
"INFORNOGRAPHY").ThatTachibanaLabwasabletodothismayhaveprovidedthemeansforEiriMasamitocreateProtocol7.Learyand
WilsondescribeCircuit7astheDNAmemory/geneticarchiveswhosetotalcollectiveinformation(beyondtheindividual,genepool,andspecies
levels)istheconsciousnessofGaia,thelivingglobalbrain.Sotheevolutionofthe7thcircuitistheevolutionofGaia.Thosewhodevelop7th
circuitconsciousnessgainawarenessoftheDNAmemory/geneticarchiveandofGaia.
ThebiosphereGaiatheDNAscriptismoreintelligentthanallindividuals,genepoolsandspecies.Ithassurvivedeverything
thrownatitfornearly4billionyears,andisgettingsmarterallthetime.Itisontheedgeofachievingimmortality.fromPrometheus
RisingbyRobertAntonWilson.
Note:OurcurrentInternetProtocolisIPv4andweareintheprocessoftransitioningtoIPv6.Thenumber5issomeothernonIPprotocol.If
Protocol7hasanythingtodowithourcurrentnumberingsystem,itisunclear.
Relatedlinks:
TheEightCircuitsofConsciousnessAmodelproposedbyDr.TimothyLearyandRobertAntonWilson
Amultipleperspectiveviewofthesamemodel
RobertAntonWilsonpageondeoxy.org
TimothyLearypageondeoxy.org
RobertAntonWilson'sofficialwebpage
TimothyLeary'sofficialwebpage
CarlJungAnexcellentsummaryofhisideas

NAVI
NAVIarethepersonalcomputersthatpeopleuseintheworldofserialexperimentslain.Theyincludebothdesktopandhandheldmodels
(HandyNAVI).NAVIcomputersarelinkedtotheWired.
Interpretation:
"NAVI"ismostlikelyacontractedformof"KnowledgeNavigator."JohnSculley,theCEOofApplefrom1983to1993,describedthe
KnowledgeNavigatorinhisbooktitledOdyssey(1987).TheKnowledgeNavigatorwashisvisionofApplecomputersinthe21stCentury.
AccuratelypredictingmanyofthechangeseventuallybroughtaboutbytheWorldWideWeb,thehypotheticalKnowledgeNavigatorwouldallow
peopletocommunicatewitheachotherfromanywhereintheworld,wouldbeconnectedtoavastsharedhypertextual(SculleycitesTedNelson
inreferencetohypertext)databaseofinformation(liketheWebortheWired),andwouldalsoutilizeintelligentagentsorartificialintelligencesto
activelysearchoutinformationofinterest.
TheKnowledgeNavigatorSculleyenvisionedin1987wouldbesuitedformultimediaapplications,utilizinglarge,highdefinition,flatdisplay
screenstosupporttext,fullcolor,graphics,andcomputergeneratedanimations.Itwouldalsofeaturehighfidelitysound,speechsynthesis,and
speechrecognition.SculleyemphasizedthattheKnowledgeNavigatorwouldnotneedtotakeanyspecificformitcouldbeadesktopcomputer,
ahandheld,orevenbuiltintoone'sclothing.
Eventually,SculleywouldimplementsomeofhisKnowledgeNavigatorideasintotheNewton,Apple'smoreorlessunsuccessfulPDA(personal
digitalassistant).TheKnowledgeNavigatorconceptwaspromotedinavideocalled"TheKnowledgeNavigator:TechnologiestoGetUsThere
andBeyond"aswellasashortercommercialforgeneralconsumption.
JohnSculley'svisionoftheKnowledgeNavigator,evenifnotfullyrealized,wasimportantforthetechnologiesitinspiredaswellaspredictingthe
changeofthepersonalcomputer'sroleasaproductivitytooltoonewhichisusedtomediateinformationexchangeandtransfer.
OtherAppleComputerreferencesinserialexperimentslainincludeCopland,Lain'soldNAVI,Alice'siMac,BeOS,Openstep,nExt,and"think
different".

Devices
Allandanytechnologies.
Toolswhichallowinterface.
Interpretation:
Alldevicesextendandamputateusatthesametime(seeMcLuhanlinkbelow).AccordingtoEiriMasami,Protocol7allowhumanstoconnectto
theWiredwithoutdevices.Withdevices,weextendintotheWired,butcannotfullyenterit.Assuch,wearebothenabledandhandicappedby
devices.IfweentertheWiredwithoutdevices,wepotentiallyloseoursenseofself.Goodorbad,totalconnectednessalsoimpliestotallossof
egoandidentity.
Forfurtherdiscussion,seemyExplanation:"device"sequencesinlain
Relatedlinks:
TheOfficialSiteofMarshallMcLuhan

SchumannResonance
Putverysimply,theresonancefrequenciesoftheEarth'selectromagneticfieldasmeasuredbyW.O.Schumann.7.83Hz(whichisanaverageof
severalmeasurements)isthefiguremostoftencitedasthefundamental(base)SchumannResonancefrequency,inthatelectromagneticwavesof
thatfrequencycanpropagateextremelyquicklywithlittleattenuationaroundtheplanetwithinwhatisknownastheSchumannCavity(athin
membraneofnonconductiveairbetweenthesurfaceoftheplanetandtheionosphere).SchumannResonancefrequenciesfallintherangeof650
Hz.
Interpretation:
ItmaybeofparticularinteresttonotethatNikolaTesla,whofirstobservedtheexistenceofwhatwouldlaterbecalledSchumannResonance,
theorizedthatitcouldbeusedfor"...powertransmissionandtransmissionofintelligiblemessagestoanypointontheglobe."Inotherwords,a
wirelesssystemofenergytransmission.
"Soastoundingarethefactsinthisconnection,thatitwouldseemasthoughtheCreator,himselfhadelectricallydesignedthis
planet...."NikolaTesladescribingwhatisnowknownasSchumannResonance(7.8Hz)in"TheTransmissionofElectricalEnergy
WithoutWiresAsAMeansOfFurtheringWorldPeace",ElectricalWorldAndEngineer,January7,1905,PP2124.
Relatedlinks:
SchumannResonanceAtextbookexplanation
TeslaMemorialSocietyofNewYork
NikolaTeslaAnotherinterestingTeslapage

Accela
A"smartdrug."Uponingestion,itoscillatesataparticularfrequencywhichcausesthesecretionofahormone(neurotransmitter?)whichinfluences
theuser'ssenseoftime,causestheusertofeelasifhisconsciousnessisaccelerated,andalsoimprovesthebrain'sspeedofcalculation.Thedrug
disappearsfromthebodyafteroneday.
Interpretation:
"Machine"as"drug."Suggeststhatmachinescanproducealtered/expandedstatesofconsciousness.
"Drug"as"Machine."Suggeststhat"drugs"aretechnology.
Logical/rationalthoughtisafunctionofthe3rdCircuit(LearyandWilson).Computingisahighly3rdCircuitintensiveactivity.Therefore,
stimulantsarethemostobviousdrugsofchoicefortheWiredgeneration.OnAccela,onecanmoveclosertothespeedoftheWired,soReal
Worldseemsslower.AccelamightfunctionbytemporarilybringingtheuserclosertoSchumannResonancefrequencies,andthereforecloserto
theWiredevenwithouttheuseofaNAVI.AccelapossiblyactsonCircuits3and7atthesametime.
Relatedlinks:
SeeProtocol7:Relatedlinks

Infornography
Thetitleoflayer:11
Interpretation:
"Infornography"seemstobeamadeupwordcombininginformationandpornography,theideabeingthatintheworldoflainandincreasingly
soinourownworld,informationisbeingconsiderednotjustavaluablecommodityfromapracticalpointofview,butsomethingthatgeneratesan
almostsexualthrill,somethingthatwelustafterandenjoyhuntingbecauseitisspecialandgivesuspower.
SomeoftheKnightsportrayedinlainplayedtheironlineinformationpowergames,notwithcolddetachment,butwithanillicitthrill.The
temptationandprospectoffindingnewinformationcompletelydominatedthelifeofNezumi(thehackerwiththeVRriginlayer:07"SOCIETY").
It"turnedhimon"sotospeak.Theconceptofthesexualturnongetsconfusedandcombinedwiththeideaofturningonone'scomputerand
gettinginformationontheWired.
Relatedlinks:
InfornographicDesign

Cyberia
Clubwherekidsgotohangoutand"havefun."
Also,thetitleofabookbyDouglasRushkoff(1994),describingvariouscyberculturesandtheirphilosophies,aswellasdiscussingnotionsofan
evolvingGlobal/GaianBrain(suchasdescribedbyJamesLovelockandPeterRussell),ofwhichhumansaretheneurons.
Interpretation:
Forthosewhoareunawareofconnection,orwhoareforcedtoconnectagainsttheirwill:Cyberia>Siberia>feelingsofcoldness,isolation,being
lost.
Inserialexperimentslain,peoplegotoCyberiatobewithothers,butthe"connection"canbeimpersonal,distant,or"cold,"aswellas
disorienting.Cyberiaequalsconditionofcyberequalsstateofcommunicationbetweentechnologyandhuman(whichcanbelackinginwarmth).
Ontheotherhand,thosewhowillinglygotoCyberiaandareawareoftheirconnectednessaremorelikleytobewelladjustedCyberians.
Relatedlinks:
SeeDouglasRushkoff:Relatedlinks

DouglasRushkoff
Author,professor,consultant,radiocommentator.AfriendofLeary.Lecturesonandwritesaboutmedia,society,technology,computers,
cyberculture,etc.Asalludedtoinlayer:09"PROTOCOL",hediscussesthenotionoftheGlobalBrain(orGaia)inhisbook,Cyberia:
Thepeopleyouareabouttomeetinterpretthedevelopmentofthedatasphereasthehardwiringofaglobalbrain.Thisistobethe
finalstageinthedevelopmentof"Gaia,"thelivingbeingthatistheEarth,forwhichhumansserveastheneurons.Ascomputer
programmersandpsychedelicwarriorstogetherrealizethat``allisone,''acommonbeliefemergesthattheevolutionofhumanityhas
beenawillfulprogressiontowardtheconstructionofthenextdimensionalhomeforconsciousness...
Evolutionisseenmoreasagropingtowardthanarandomseriesofnaturalselections.Gaiaisbecomingconscious.Radzikandothers
haveinferredthathumanbeingsserveasGaia'sbraincells.Eachhumanbeingisanindividualneuron,butunawareofhisconnection
totheglobalorganismasawhole.Evolution,then,dependsonhumanity'sabilitytolinkuptooneanotherandbecomeaglobal
consciousness.quotedfromCyberia(1994)
Interpretation:
ItseemsthatEiriMasamisuccessfully"hardwiredtheglobalbrain"viaProtocol7.
Relatedlinks:
DouglasRushkoff'sofficialwebpage
CyberiaAdirectlinktoRushkoff'sCyberia,whereyoucanfindthefulltextonline!
TowardsaGlobalBrainAchapterfromPeterRussell'sTheGlobalBrainAwakens(1983)

JohnC.Lilly
Scientist.Interestedinhumanconsciousnessexpansion.AfriendofWilson/Leary.Didisolationtankanddrugexperimentstostudyeffectson
consciousness.Famousforworkondolphinintelligenceandlongdistanceunderwatercommunication.ProposedECCO.
Relatedlinks:
JohnC.Lillypageondeoxy.org
JohnC.Lilly'sofficialwebpage
E.C.C.O.JohnC.Lilly'sexplanationoftheEarthCoincidenceControlOffice
JohnLilly,KetamineandTheEntitiesFromECCO

ECCO
EarthCoincidenceControlOffice.JohnC.Lilly'smodel/metaphordescribinganextraterrestrial/higherintelligencewhichdeterminesour
coincidences.
Relatedlinks:
SeeJohnC.Lilly:Relatedlinks

RoswellAlien(s)
AppearstoLainbrieflyinlayer:09"PROTOCOL".
Interpretation:
Suggeststhathumanitywascontactedbyahigherintelligencewhichprovideduswiththeability/inspirationtocreatewhatwouldeventually
becometheWired.Eitherthereisanalieninfluencethatcontactedus,orthe"alien"wasamanifestationofourcollectiveunconsciouspreparingus
forfutureevolution.Thealienisthetricksterfigureasiscommonlyfoundinvariousreligions.Thetricksterappears,butitisneverclearifitisreal
orapartofourmind.Peopleinalteredstatesofconsciousnesshavesometimesreportedencounterswithalienintelligences(seeECCO).
Also,inlayer:11"INFORNOGRAPHY",whensheisinthedoorwayspeakingtoAlice,Lainhasgreylegsandhandsandisdressedlikethealien
inlayer:09"PROTOCOL"(theybothweara"greenandredstripedsweater").ThisscenemaybehintingthatLainisofalienorigin,orwascreated
directlyorindirectly(viatheWired)byanonhumanhigherintelligence...orthat,likethe"aliens",Lainisaproductofourcollectiveunconscious.
Relatedlinks:
UFOCrashatRoswellOneofthemanyRoswellsitesontheweb

MJ12
akaMajestic12.Supposedly,theorganizationformedbyPresidentTrumantoinvestigatedownedUFOsandthepossibilityofalienlifecontacting
Earth.AllegedlyformedinresponsetotheRoswellIncident.EvenwithintheUFOtheoristcommunity,theexistenceofMJ12ishighlyuncertain
basedonthequestionableauthenticityofthe"MJ12Documents"madepublicin1987byWilliamMooreandStantonFriedman(UFOanalysts)
alongwithJaimeShandera(TVproducer)whoreceivedthematerialsfromananonymoussourcein1984.Specifically,thesignatureofPresident
TrumanonAttachmentAoftheMJ12Documentswasshowntohavebeencopiedfromadifferentdocument.
Relatedlinks:
TheMajestic12,Members,DocumentsScannedimagesoftheMajestic12Documents
TheMajestic12Historyandimages
RevelationsConcerningMJ12

OfficialFBIdocumentontheMajestic12

VannevarBush
Engineer,scientist,allegedmemberofMJ12.Truman'sscientificadvisor.OrganizedtheNationalDefenseResourcesCouncilin1941andthe
OfficeofScientificResearchandDevelopmentin1943(whichhelpedcreatetheManhattanProject).Consideredthemajorplayerinthefounding
oftheNationalScienceFoundation.InventedtheDifferentialAnalyzer,anearlyanalogcomputer.ProposedMemexinhislandmarkarticle,"As
WeMayThink,"publishedintheAtlanticMonthlyin1945.
Formoredetailedinformation,seemysummaryofEndlessFrontier,G.PascalZachary'sbiographyofVannevarBush.
Relatedlinks:
VannevarBushabriefdescription
VannevarBushamoredetailedsummaryofhiswork
AsWeMayThinkThefulltextofVannevarBush'slandmarkarticle
TheGodfatherAWiredmagazinearticlediscussingVannevarBushandhiscontributionstoscienceandinformationtechnology
VannevarBushpagewithMemexconceptualdrawings.

Memex
Asystemofarchivingandretrievinginformationthatisanalogoustohumanmemoryandthereforedesignedtoaidit.
Interpretation:
Inotherwords,Memexisamethodbywhichthecollectivelibrary(unconscious?)canbetappedintoandanyinfocanbedrawnfromitefficiently.
Relatedlinks:
SeeVannevarBush:Relatedlinks

TedNelson
Outspokenmemberofthecomputerindustry.InspiredbyVannevarBush,heexpandedupontheMemexconceptandproposedtheXanadu
system,wheretherewillbeagloballyaccessibleelectronicarchiveofalltheworld'stext,possiblyimplementedbyputtingitinasatelliteinspace
(thoughthislatterideahasbeenmoreorlessdismissed).AccordingtoProfessorNelson,thecoreXanaduconceptis"aspecificfamilyofdata
structures".Nelson'svisionofXanaduhasneverfullycomeintofruition,thoughmanyofhisconceptshaveinfluencedandbeenincorporatedinto
othertechnologiessuchastheWorldWideWeb.TedNelsoncoinedtheterm"hypertext"andiscurrentlyaprofessoratKeioUniversityinJapan.
OnMarch13th,2002,IreceivedanemailmessagefromProf.Nelson.IthoughtourbriefcorrespondencemightbeofinteresttoreadersofTEL
andwouldpossiblyhelpProf.Nelsonclarifysomeoftmisunderstooddetailsofhisworkandpersonalhistory.Assuch,I'veobtainedhis
permissiontopublishouremailshere.
Relatedlinks:
TEDNELSONHOMEPAGE

Psyche
AddonchipwhichenhancesthepowerofnormalNAVIcomputers,especiallythenewermodels.Thischipisnotreadilyavailabletothepublic.It
isbelievedtohavecomefromTaiwan(sortalikeSMCDs,^_^).MayhaveoriginatedfromtheKnights.Usingthepsychechip,onecanconnect
andinterfacewithouttheuseofdevicessuchaskeyboardsandmiceorevenvoicecontrol.Instead,itallows"fullmotionandfullrange"(quoted
fromShindo'stranslatedscript,layer:04"RELIGION").
Interpretation:
PsychechipseemstoallowonetoaccesstheWiredcompletely(byusingProtocol7?).ThroughPsyche,useofthecomputerbecomesanalogous
tohumanthoughtprocesses.PerhapsthisisthetrueanalogMemexthatVannevarBushenvisioned?

KIDS
akaKIDSystem.PartoftheKensingtonExperiment,theresearchworkofProfessorHodgson15yearsbeforethestoryofserialexperiments
lain.AmethodofcollectingandjoiningthePSIpower(Psychicpower,asinESPortelekinesis)ofchildrenviaadevicecalledan"outer
receptor."Thechildrenexperimenteduponwere"killed"(ormadeunabletoreturntoRealWorld)bytheexperiment.
Interpretation:
TheKIDStechnologywaseventuallyresurrected,possiblybyEiriMasamitobeincorporatedintoProtocol7.Also,possiblythroughEiri,the
Knightshadaccesstothetechnologyanduseditfortheirownpurposesviaa"game"ontheWiredcalledPHANTOMa,whichblurredtheborder
betweenRealWorldandtheWired.

Knights
ApowerfulsecretsocietyontheWired.akaKnightsofEasternCalculus
Interpretation:

Consistsmostlyofcomputerotakuandsomepeoplewholikebeinginsecretorganizations.TheKnightsarehackers/manipulators/crackers.
"KnightsofEasternCalculus"evokestheimageofthePythagoreanmystics/mathematicians.TheKnightspossiblyoriginatedfromtheKnights
Templar(ortheKnightsofMalta,even?)whowerehermeticists/alchemists.TheKnights'goalmightbetounitehumanconsciousnesswiththe
"divine""true"consciousness.
"KnightsofEasternCalculus"alsoseemssynonymouswith"KnightsoftheLambdaCalculus".
KnightsoftheLambdaCalculusn.
AsemimythicalorganizationofwizardlyLISPandSchemehackers.Thenamereferstoamathematicalformalisminventedby
AlonzoChurch,withwhichLISPisintimatelyconnected.Thereisnoenrollmentlistandthecriteriaforinductionareunclear,butone
wellknownLISPerhasbeenknowntogiveoutbuttonsand,ingeneral,themembersknowwhotheyare....fromTheJargon
File
"(Woman'smouth)Knightsdoesn'texist.It'sjustajokebyanAmericanstudent."(quotedfromShindo'stranslatedscript,layer:08"RUMORS").
AlonzoChurch,in1930,introducedlambdacalculusasamodelofcomputation.InTheJargonFileentryfor"canonical,"
Thejargonmeaning[ofcanonical],arelaxationofthetechnicalmeaning,acquireditspresentloadingincomputerscienceculture
largelythroughitsprominenceinAlonzoChurch'sworkincomputationtheoryandmathematicallogic(seeKnightsoftheLambda
Calculus).fromTheJargonFile
ItseemsthattheKnightsofLambdaCalculus,iftheyreallyexist,areinterestedin"truth"and"canon,"whichsoundssimilartoTaro'sdescriptionof
theKnightsofEasternCalculus."Knightsfightsinordertomakeonlyonetruthreal...Truthisstrongbecauseitistrue...Truthisjusticebecauseitis
true...Don'tyouthinkitisverypersuasive?"(quotedfromShindo'stranslatedscript,layer:09"PROTOCOL").
Inserialexperimentslain,theKnightswereusedbyEiriMasami,whoneededthemtobelieveinhimsohewouldbeperceivedasa"God."
Therefore:Religion,likeRealWorldandtheWired,isaconsensualhallucination.TheflawoftheKnightsisthattheythoughttheyknewwhatwas
reallygoingon,butEirimanipulatedthemsothey'dbelievehewasaGod.
AlsoseemyanalysisoftheKnightssymbol
Relatedlinks:
JargonFileResources
TheOriginalHacker'sDictionary
AHistoryandMythosoftheKnightsTemplar

PK
TheboyplayingPhantomAyellsout:"Areyoualsoa"PK"?Helpme!"(quotedfromShindo'stranslatedscript,layer:04"RELIGION").
"(Lain(wired))Whyareyouinterestedinkillingotherplayerssomuch?
(Taro)Nobodyknowswhatisfunandwhyitisfunforme."(quotedfromShindo'stranslatedscript,layer:08"RUMORS")
PKisshortfor"PlayerKiller",apersonwhokillsotherplayersinonlinegames,thoughthetermismostoftenreservedforsuchplayersingames
whichareatleastpartiallysocialinnature.Peoplewhoplayfirstpersonperspectiveshooters,forexample,arenotusuallycalledPKs.The
terminologymayhaveoriginatedfromtheearlydaysoftextbasedonlineMUDs("multiuserdungeons").Thetermisstillusedtodayinthemore
modern(fullygraphical)onlinegamingenvironmentsinwhichplayerscansocialize,killmonsters,or(inthecaseofPKs)killothercharacters.For
onlinegamingworldswhichallowcharacterstogrowovertime,PKsarecontroversialinthattheyaddanelementofrisktothegame,where
playerswhohavedevelopedattachmentstolongtermcharactersmustconstantlybeonthelookoutfordangerousPKs.Assuch,manypeople
wanttobanPKs,oratleastweakentheireffectonthegames.PKs,ontheotherhand,considertheriskofcombatathrillingandvitalpartofthe
onlineexperience.
Interpretation:
Laindoesnotunderstandtheappealof"killing"ontheWired,evenifit'sonlyotherplayersinagame,whereasTaroconsidersPKingcompletely
natural.ThisdifferenceinattitudereflectstwodifferentapproachestointerpersonalrelationshipsontheInternet/Wired.TheKnightsareconcerned
withstatusandpoweroverothersontheWired,whereasLainismoreinterestedinrelatingtoothers.It'sthedifferencebetweencutthroat
competitivenessononehandversussympathyandcompassionontheother.Perhapsserialexperimentslainiscommentingonthecurrent
predominanceoftheformeroverthelatter.
Relatedlinks:
PlayerKillersExposed

Taro
InformalmemberoftheKnightswhobecomesLain'sfriend.
Interpretation:
Taroseemstobearelativelywelladjustedotakutype.SincehehasnotbeenfullyindoctrinatedbytheKnights,hedoesn'tsuffertheirflaw.He
hangsoutwithMyuMyuandMasayuki,andisintriguedbyLain.

MyuMyu
Taro's"girlfriend."HangsoutatCyberiawithTaro.

Interpretation:
MyuMyuisverygoodwithcomputersdespitebeingveryyoung.Sheisanexampleofhowchildrenoftenadapttonewtechnologiesbetterthan
adultsdo.SheisahappycitizenofCyberia.
Relatedlinks:
TheChildrenofChaosAnexcerptfromPlayingtheFuture:WhatWeCanLearnfromDigitalKidsbyDouglasRushkoff

TachibanaLab
CompanythatmanufacturesNAVIcomputersandCoplandOS.
Interpretation:
TheformeremployersofEiriMasami.TheydonotseemtoapproveofEiri'sProtocol7,andaretryingtostopcompaniesfromimplementingit.
TheyalsoseemcuriousaboutLain.

MIBs
MeninBlackwhowatchLain.
Interpretation:
ThetwoMIBs(apparently)workedforTachibanaLab,ShinbashiOffice,orsotheythought.ItseemsthattheTachibanaLab,ShinbashiOffice
andit's"boss"wereeitherafalsefrontconstructedbytheKnightsand/orEiriMasami,ortheofficewasrealbutthe"boss"wasactuallyworking
for(orcontrolledby)theKnightsand/orEiriMasami.TheMIBsdidn'trealizetheywerebeingmanipulateduntilitwastoolate...

Homunculus
EiriMasamicallsLaina"homunculusbyartificialribosome"(quotedfromShindo'stranslatedscript,layer:10"LOVE").
Interpretation:
"aminiatureadultthatinthetheoryofpreformationisheldtoinhabitthegermcellandtoproduceamatureindividualmerelybyanincreasein
size."(quotedfromMerriamWebsterDictionaryOnline).
EiriMasamicallsLainahomunculustosuggesttoherthathecreatedher.Inancientalchemy,ahomunculusisanartificialhumancreatedbythe
alchemistusingonlyhisownsperm.Thecreationofahomunculusisconsideredagreatalchemicalsecret,butthe"secret"methodofcreatinga
homunculusmightbeacoverupofthetruesecret.Theactualsecretmaybethatit'simpossibletocreateahumanwithonlysperm,andtheeggof
afemaleisalsonecessary(notafantasticnotionnowadays,butreproductivesciencehasnotalwaysbeensowellinformed).Thus,thefemalerole
inreproductionwasdeemphasized(whichwouldbethecoverup)aswouldbebefittingthetimes,andtheactualsecretofalchemywasthatamale
andfemaleisnecessarytoproduceahuman.
Accordingtosome,Frankenstein'smonsterwasahomunculushecreated.Sointhecontextofserialexperimentslain,EiriMasamiiscallingLain
a"monster"hecreated.
Relatedlinks:
HomunculusWikipediaencyclopediaarticle

ThinkBuleCountOneTow
IwakuraYasuo'spasswordsequence.
Interpretation:
Thisappearstobeaplayonthewords"ThinkBlue,CountTwo,"thetitleofashortstorybysciencefictionauthorCordwainerSmith(realname:
PaulMyronAnthonyLinebarger,Jr.)"ThinkBlue,CountTwo"ispartofSmith'sseries:TheInstrumentalityOfMankind(thistermalso
featuresprominentlyinGainax'sNeonGenesisEvangelion).In"ThinkBlue,CountTwo",agirlnamedVeesey(themaincharacter)usesthe
"password"tosavetheday.IwakuraYasuomayhaveintentionallyusedmisspelledwordsinhispasswordtopreventitfrombeingcrackedbya
bruteforcedictionarysearch.
Relatedlinks:
Passwordscreenshot(courtesyofPerHedbor)
Cats,crueltyandchildrenAdetailedessayaboutthewritingsofCordwainerSmith.ThedescriptionofSmiths'prototypicalinnocentbutwisegirl
childcharactersisofparticularinterest.
No,No,NotRogov!AshortsummaryofCordwainerSmith
PaulMyronAnthonyLinebarger,Jr.,Colonel,UnitedStatesArmyAshortbiographyattheArlingtonNationalCemeteryWebsite
CordwainerSmithandHisRemarkableScienceFictionAcomprehensiveCordwainerSmithinformationalwebsitemaintainedbyRosanaHart,his
daughter

YomodaChisa
Lain'sclassmatewhocommitssuicide.
Interpretation:
Chisarepresentsoneextremeviewpointinserialexperimentslain,whichisthattheWiredismore"real"thanRealWorld,asopposedto
Tachibana'sviewthatRealWorldismore"real"thantheWired.Chisa,foronereasonoranother,believedthosewhosaidthatone'sbodyisnot

necessary.Lain,insteadofblindlyandeasilyfollowingChisa'ssuggestiontoleaveherbody,takesthemoredifficultrouteandgoesonaquestto
findinformation,whichturnsouttobemorethansheexpected.LaindiscoversthattheWiredisnotmore"real"thanRealWorld.Atthesame
time,Laindiscoversthattheotherextremeviewpoint,thatRealWorldismore"real"thantheWired,isalsoincorrect.

IwakuraYasuo
AnactorpretendingtobeLain'sfather.
Interpretation:
PossiblyworkingforEiriMasami.Heseemsprettygoodwithcomputers,butLainturnsouttobebetter(ofcourse^_^).Possiblymeanttoguide
Lainalonguntilshestartedfindingoutaboutherself,atwhichpointEiriMasamiappearedtoher.Appearsattheendoftheseriesasafatherfigure,
furtherreinforcingtheimageofLainasaJesusfigureinthepresenceofherFather=God.IfthisFather/GodisrealoraproductofLain's
imaginationisunclear.PerhapstheFather/GodsequenceisthefinalmanifestationofLain'sfantasythatshehasarealfather,anormalRealWorld
existence,andisnotalone.
Icanthinkofseveralpossibilitiesregardingtheidentityofthe"father"attheendoftheseries:
1.HeisreallyIwakuraYasuo,Lain'sfather.(Judgingfromthechangeindemeanor,Ihaveahardtimebelievingthatthe"father"whoappearsat
theendisthesamefatherfromearlierintheseries)
2.HeistheChristianGod.(IfyoutaketheLain/Jesusmetaphorseriously,thisisnotanunreasonableguess.However,thereisnorealevidence
anywhereelseintheseriesthatwouldindicatethatthe"father"isaChristianGodortheGodofanyotherspecificreligion,sotolabelhimas
Christian,Buddhist,etc.wouldbepremature)
3.Heissomesortofnonhumanhigherintelligence.(Thisisanintriguingpossibility,especiallyconsideringthehintswearegiventhroughoutthe
seriesregardingtheexistenceofanalienintelligenceatwork.Ifthereisanalienhigherintelligence,we'reconfrontedwiththequestion:Wasthis
intelligenceresponsible(eitherdirectlyorindirectly)forcreatingLain?
AnotherpossibilityisthatthishigherintelligencehadnothingtodowithcreatingLain,butissimplysomeextraterrestrial/extradimensionalbeingthat
hascontactedthenewlyawakened/selfawareLain.ThisisreminiscentofthescenarioinWilliamGibson'scyberpunknovels,wherethemerged
andfullyconsciousWintermute/NeuromancerAIcomesincontactwithanothersimiliarintelligenceintheCentaurisystem)
4.HeisaproductofLain'simagination.Fortheunusual"teaparty",Laintemporarilycreatedher"father"(inafinalactofselfdelusion)toeaseher
lonelinessbeforeaccepting(notwithoutsomeregret)herroleandresponsibilityastheGoddessoftheWired.(ThisisthetheoryItendtobelieve,
butI'mwillingtoentertaintheothertheories,especiallynumber3.)

Madeleines
"Lain,Iwillpreparegoodteanexttime...andamadeleine.Certainly.Theywouldtastegood."(quotedfromShindo'stranslatedscript,layer:13
"EGO").
Interpretation:
Neartheendoftheseries,theentitythatappearsasLain's"father"saysthistoLain.MadeleinesareakindofFrenchcake.MarcelProust,the
famousFrenchauthor,usedthemadeleinesoakedinteaasametaphorformemory,oftenhiddenbutinvoluntarilytriggeredbyobjects.Atthe
beginningofSwann'sWay,theexperienceofeatingamadeleinetriggersProust'smemory,whichhethenrecountsfortherestofthebook.
Relatedlinks:
TheWaytheCookieCrumblesAdeeperlookatProustandmadeleines

IwakuraMika
Lain's"oldersister."
Interpretation:
Heroriginisunclear.MikaispartofLain'sfakefamily.Shewas"replaced"(figurativelyorliterally?)byanotherMikaearlyintheseries,
representingafracturing/lossofegoandalsoofsanity.HerbreakdownseemsatleastpartlycausedbytheactionsoftheKnights(?)messing
aroundwithherrealityandtellingherto"FulfilltheProphecy."Mikaistherepresentativeexampleofwhathappenswhenyourrealitycrumbles
aroundyouandyou'recompletelyunpreparedtodealwithit.

MizukiAlice
Lain'sclosestfriendfromschool.
Interpretation:
AlicerepresentsbasichumanityandLain'sattempttounderstandit.AliceisshockedandscaredbywhatLainseemstobeinvolvedin.Lainspares
herintheendbytakingawayherbadmemories.
AccordingtoChiakiKonaka,theuseofthe"Alice"characterwasinspiredbythe"Alice"fromLewisCarroll'sAliceinWonderlandandThrough
theLookingGlass.The"Alice"metaphorispresentinseveralofChiakiKonaka'sworks.
Mythoughtsonthespellingdebate:"Alice"vs."Arisu":ThroughtheLookingGlass

EiriMasami
FormermemberofTachibanaLabwhodevisedProtocol7andutilizedhisnewpowertobecomea"GodoftheWired,"akaDeus.When
TachibanaLabfoundoutthatheadded(withoutpermission)theSchumannResonancerelatedfunctiontoProtocol7,theydismissedhimandhe
wasfounddeadaweeklater.
Interpretation:
Eirirepresentsthefalsegod,themalemaguswhooverstepshisboundsandhaspeopleworshiphimasatrueGod.HethinksheunderstandsLain,
butLainismorepowerfulandbeyondhim.InadditiontoSchumannResonance,EirimayhaveutilizedtechnologydevisedbyProfessorHodgson
(KensingtonExperiment/KIDSproject)andmolecularbiology(?)tocreateProtocol7.Eiriisinterestedinhumanevolutionbeyondtheconstraints
oftheflesh.Howmuchhetrulybelievesinhisown"Godhood"(hisselfdefineddivinity)isunclear,buthewantspeople(especiallyLain)to
believe.

IwakuraLain
Themaincharacter(^_^)
Interpretation:
PossiblyaproductofProtocol7,orrather,"Awakened"bytheeffectsofProtocol7.Heroriginsareunclear,butsheseemstorepresentthe
femalesidetobalance/opposethemale.SheistheGoddess(Eris?)orHermanifestationwhowillputthefalseGodinhisplace,butittakestime
forhertofindoutandacceptwhosheis(anddiscoverherpowers).ShealsorepresentstheJesusfigure(orJoanofArc,perhaps?),inthatshe
sacrificesherRealWorldexistenceforeveryoneelse.SinceProtocol7utilizesEarth'snaturalresonance,perhapsLainrepresentstheGlobal
Brain/Gaia,thepaganGoddessthatisEarthitself(thebiosphere,andthecollectiveunconscious)whois/wasomnipresentbutwas"awakened"and
givenanewform(teenagegirl)whenEiri(themagusturnedfalseGod)usedProtocol7toconnecttheWiredtothecollective(un)conscious(and
therefore)toRealWorld.Uponhisascensionto"Godhood"(circuit7consciousness?),perhapsEiridiscoveredthenewlyawakenedLain/Gaia
andarrangedthefakefamilyinordertocontrolherbeforeshegottoopowerful,pretendingtobeherequalandtohavecreatedher,butLain
eventuallydiscoversthatEiriisonlyafalseGod.ThiswouldexplainwhyLainhasnoapparentmemoryofherpastwithher"family"(suchapast
doesn'texist).Onatleastonelevel,then,serialexperimentslainmightbedescribedasthestoryoftheGoddessdiscoveringwhosheis(hence,
themultiplepersonalityLainmotif).
Miscellaneousinformation:ThemeaningofLain'sname

"Beethovensaid...'Anybodywhounderstandsmymusicwillneverbeunhappyagain.'ThatisbecausehismusicisthesongofGaia,theLifeSpirit,
becomingconsciousofHerself,ofHerpowers,ofHerowncapacitiesforinfiniteprogress."RobertAntonWilsondiscussingtheCollective
NeurogeneticcircuitofconsciousnessinPrometheusRising.

WARNING:SPOILERSABOVE
Introduction|AnnotatedGlossary|Lainlinks|

Lainlinks
Mylinksarenowonaseparatepage.

Lawmune'sNetspace
LastupdatedonNovember21st,2009
LawrenceEng
leng@cjas.org