ABSTRACT
In Neal Stephenson’s science-fiction novel, The Diamond Age (1995), a poverty-stricken girl named Nell finds a seemingly ordinary electronic book titled The Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer. In fact, the primer is the outcome of a secret project, a tool for lifelong learning designed by a renegade nanotechnology engineer named John Percival Hackworth. A database of archetypal folk tales drives the primer’s story, but the narrative adapts itself automatically to mirror events in Nell’s life. The primer also connects to remote mentors who add a human touch to the learning experience. It instructs her daily in traditional subjects such as reading, writing, mathematics, and science but also helps her develop confidence and leadership skills.
