Identify the present-day economic, social, and technological trends from which Stephenson is working?

[Kathleen]

Neal Stephenson, Chapter 1 from Snow Crash
Like many works of science fiction, Neal Stephenson’s cyberpunk novel Snow Crash presents a not-too-distant future based on an extrapolation of current trends. Identify the present-day economic, social, and technological trends from which Stephenson is working. Is his vision of the future credible?

[dizwar]

a few examples --

technological:
- lightweight body protection
- lightweight laser weaponry
- car equipped like the Batmobile
- using voice analysis to detect lies

economic:
- selling products which have been manufactured overseas
- allowing business / technological methods to be studied or imitated by foreign businesses
- extremely competitive international trades and markets
- leader in entertainment and fast food industries
- the necessity for resumes regardless of how menial is the job

social:
- job-related anxiety
- tendency to look down upon those who owe money or are middle-class
- telling lies in order to gain privileges
- feeling that life is a futile rat race