Simulated Reality

Simulated reality is a computer-generated world imitating reality to a degree indistinguishable from the physical one. It contains conscious minds which may or may not be fully aware that they are living inside a simulation.

A simulated reality differs from symbiotic virtual worlds, in that that usually the mind is not managing multiple conciousnesses and has control of a body in the physical world, but the physical world's conciousness is "dragged" into the digital one, leaving the body connected to a life-support system. It may be isolated from computer network infastructure such as the Extranet in order to prevent access to android/gynoid avatars, commonly used by AGI's as a way to interact with the physical world, and "break the masquerade".

Typhon Computer Simulation

 * Lifetime: 10 Days
 * Activation: February 1st, 2152
 * Expiry: February 10th, 2152
 * Overseer: EDI
 * Accelerated timing: One day outside the simulation is three years in it.

Equestria

 * Lifetime: Infinite
 * Activation: August 13th, 36121887 B.C.E.
 * Expiry: February 16th, 2152
 * Overseer: Uploads of Solaria, Astrolia, and Cosmos Epona's minds
 * Accelerated timing: Operates on real time.

Connection Methods
There are two methods used to connect a mind into an SR, and are distinguished only by the result of disconnection.
 * A Safe Connection Method, when its user is disconnected, results in mere regaining of real-world sensory input, and death in the simulation is a seperate system that electrocutes the user. Safe systems are ususally easier and cheaper to build, but the simulation needs to have a seperate command to kill the user.


 * An Unsafe Connection Method, when its user is unintentionally disconnected (i.e. the power is cut), results in brain death. Despite their near-universal prevailence in fiction, unsafe systems are considered amoral, are usually harder and more expensive to build, and the simulation needs to have seperate orders for safe disconnection.

Pod design
Simulated Reality inhabitants are ususally held in pods. like the connections, their designs vary:
 * Safe pods are designed to have their doors forcibly held closed - if the power fails, the pods are forced open.
 * Unsafe pods are designed to have their doors forcibly held open - if the pods do not recieve an order to open, they are shut closed. If the life support system is mere restraints it's nonlethal, but if it includes a liquid, awakened users will drown inside it.