If you are active on online media or have a techy group, you might have come across the word cyberdeck and how Gen Z is all about making cyberdecks now. Are you Gen Z or Gen Alpha and wondering what even is a cyberdeck? Fear not, you’ve reached the right page.
Did you know?
The cyberdeck movement became quite popular on social media through female creators on social media, turning tech into a hobby that mixes science fiction fantasies with practical skills. It also got popularised as aesthetic, retro-futuristic, or specialised “focus” workstations away from distracting smartphones.
A cyberdeck. | Photo Credit: via @morphstudioshd
Well, a cyberdeck is a custom-built and portable computer often made by people who are interested in the field, usually for a particular purpose. These are usually individually crafted, powered by single-board computers (SBCs) like Raspberry Pis, and include a display and keyboard. It can be as simple or as complex as the individual building it wants it to be or as skilled as the person making it is.
Representative picture. | Photo Credit: Flickr
Where did it all start?
It all started back in 1984 when William Gibson published his cyberpunk novel, Neuromancer. The novel used the word cyberspace deck, which referred to a portable computer console used by hackers — known as “deckers” or “console cowboys”—to directly interface with a neural network known as the Matrix.
Representative picture | Photo Credit: Flickr
Since the word appeared in The Sprawl trilogy — William Gibson’s first set of novels comprising Neuromancer, Count Zero, and Mona Lisa Overdrive — it has become popular in media and techie circles as cyberdeck. The shorthand version has also become popular across multiple forms of cyberpunk media for a personal mobile computing device used to enter cyberspace in some form or fashion.
Why is Gen Z obsessed with it?
Gen Z, or the younger generation, being born in an era of technological revolution and a fast-paced world in general, has been more tech-savvy than previous generations. Through trends like cyberdecks, Gen Z is getting more space to explore and create technology according to their wants and needs. But is that it, though? Is exploration the only reason behind the cuberdeck trend? Definitely not!
Through trends like these, Gen Z is getting more space to explore and create technology according to their wants and needs. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
In an age where the invasion of (digital and otherwise) privacy through algorithms, surveillance and whatnot is an unfortunate part of our everyday life, cyberdecks help us regain control over our digital presence and technology. Moreover, it is often seen as a revolt against the corporates, mass production and capitalism in itself to some extent.
Depending on the kind of cyberdeck, people often use cyberdecks for cybersecurity and hacking, radio communication, a survival computer to store essential data during disaster preparedness, and for simpler things like retro gaming emulation and managing smart home devices.
Another simple reason is the aesthetic value of the device to simply mirror the appearance of devices often seen in the sci-fi genre of books and movies — often part of Y2K fashion. It also highlights a trend where imperfect analogue hardware is being preferred over sleek minimalism. Now, what are you waiting for? Just like pink became the new black at some point, cyberdecks are the new tech you need to explore in this era!