The One Sci‑Fi Novel That Predicted Today’s Technology 

William Gibson’s **Neuromancer** debuted cyberspace, hacking, and VR long before they existed. Let’s explore how his vision maps onto today’s tech world.  

1

Gibson’s Vision: Cyberspace

Gibson coined “cyberspace” to describe a consensual hallucination of data—decades ahead of the internet’s social and immersive web. 

2

Virtual Reality & the Matrix 

The novel’s “Matrix” virtual reality resembles today’s VR headsets and online worlds, where users interact in fully simulated environments.

3

Portable Comms: SimStim & Smartphones

Gibson’s characters use “SimStim” rigs for remote sensory sharing—echoed now by smartphones, social media, and AR face filters.

4

Data Clouds & Decks

“Decks” in Neuromancer link users to a vast data matrix—anticipating modern laptops, cloud storage, and edge computing devices. 

5

Cybersecurity & Hacking Culture

The novel’s elite hackers mirror today’s cybersecurity experts and cybercriminals, spawning real-world hacking communities and countermeasures.

6

Cultural Impact & Modern Tech

Neuromancer inspired tech innovators—from VR pioneers to cybersecurity firms—shaping products and concepts we use every day.