The "San Junipero" episode of "Black Mirror" draws inspiration from several existing and speculative technological concepts: 1. **Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)**: The core technology in "San Junipero" is a form of virtual reality that is far more advanced than what we have today. Current VR technology immerses users in digital environments through headsets and motion tracking, while AR overlays digital information onto the real world. The VR in "San Junipero" involves full sensory immersion, allowing users to live in a digital world indistinguishable from reality. 2. **Brain-Computer Interface (BCI)**: For the level of immersion depicted in the episode, a technology that directly interfaces with the brain is necessary. BCIs are devices that enable communication between the brain and an external device. While present-day BCIs are primarily used for medical purposes, such as restoring motor skills or communication in people with disabilities, the concept of BCIs in the episode is much more advanced, facilitating a complete transfer of consciousness. 3. **Digital Consciousness and Mind Uploading**: "San Junipero" explores the idea of uploading one's consciousness to a digital platform. This concept builds on theories and ongoing research about consciousness and whether it can be separated from the biological substrate of the brain. While this remains a purely theoretical and highly controversial idea, "San Junipero" takes it as a given that consciousness can be digitized and uploaded. 4. **Cloud Computing and Big Data**: The virtual world of "San Junipero" would require vast amounts of data storage and processing power, which could be provided by future advancements in cloud computing technology. Cloud storage and servers could host the virtual world and the consciousnesses of its inhabitants, keeping "San Junipero" persistent and ever-evolving. 5. **Artificial Intelligence (AI)**: The seamless operation of a virtual environment like "San Junipero" would likely depend on AI to manage the experiences, personalities, and interactions within it. AI would be responsible for maintaining the integrity of the world and possibly even simulating non-player characters (NPCs) within it. While "San Junipero" remains a work of science fiction, it takes these existing ideas to their theoretical extremes, envisioning a future where technology allows for existence beyond the physical body. It's important to note that some of these technologies, particularly consciousness uploading, remain speculative and face not only technological hurdles but also profound philosophical, ethical, and existential questions. The episode serves to challenge viewers' perceptions of life, death, and what it means to be human in an increasingly digital world.