Редактирование: Accelerando (раздел)

==Vocabulary==
The book uses a vocabulary for discussing life in the virtual universes that run on advanced computational substrates. Some of the common terms are:

“meat space” – the physical world

“state vectors” – the string of digits which completely specify the connectome and synaptic weights of a person’s brain.

“ghosts” – temporary instantiations of self which are created to carry out a specific task and report back. They can be manipulated, for instance, a ghost may intentionally be made autistic to assist in performing a particular task. Ghosts usually have a temporary lifespan but if they become substantially different may take on a life of their own, and even download into a separate meatspace body.

“somatotype” – the bodily form that one takes on. In cyberspace, one may become a dragon or any other creature. The same term is used for downloading into a different meatspace body.

“Cartesian theatre” – also called the “sensorium”, the field of conscious perception. People may enhance their sensorium to see radio waves or other types of radiation, or to block out certain senses.

“metacortex” – the cloud computational resources which lay outside seat of consciousness. They may be considered as members of the “society of mind” which can take on certain tasks.

“forking” – the splitting of oneself.

“merging” – the merging of two selves into one (mutual consent is required).

“ackles” – (Transliteration of the pronunciation of “ACL”, an initialism for “Access Control List”) refers to the amount of control one has over the virtual environment. Amber has ‘management grade’ ackles in the spacecraft Field Circus, which allow her to control the laws of physics and other core features of the environment.