Avatar

In 2117 Avatars would randomly appear throughout the United States and offer Real to surprised individuals. The offer was the same every time and became a catchphrase: "Wanna . . . get Real". If the individual accepted, they were handed a small, colorful square of cardboard like material and the avatar disappeared. If s/he refused, the avatar disappeared after mocking them.

Avatars appeared to be attractive individuals but were three dimensional projections using metareality technology and controlled remotely by an operator. In addition to appearance, an avatar stimulated the other senses, invariably in a way delightful to the subject. U.S. science and technology had no concept as to how the Chinese technology worked and could not block or detain avatars.