

There's quite a few different types of technology (and computers) referenced
in the world of Serial Experiments Lain, while some of them are easily
matched, some of them aren't. In addition, some of the technologies weren't
available at time of production (for example: speech recognition).


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serial-experiments-lain
Are the technologies in Serial Experiments Lain based on real world technologies?


# Familiar technologies:

* * *

# The Wired

The Wired is similar to [The Internet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet)
and runs on IPv4.

# Tachibana Industries

Based on their naming schemes and designs, they're most likely a reference to
[Apple Inc.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Inc.)

# Alice's Navi:

Alice's Navi looks like the _bubble_ [iMac
G3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMac_G3):

![](https://lain.wiki/images/thumb/a/a8/Dolphins.jpg/180px-Dolphins.jpg)
![](https://www.wired.com/images_blogs/gadgetlab/imac-bondi.jpg)

# Lain's original Navi

Lain's original Navi is based off the [20th Anniversary
Macintosh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twentieth_Anniversary_Macintosh):

![](https://i.stack.imgur.com/taVaP.jpg)
![](https://i.stack.imgur.com/611ZT.jpg)

# C Language

The Navi systems run
[C](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_\(programming_language\)):

![](https://i.stack.imgur.com/UOtlb.jpg)

# Common Lisp Language:

The Navi systems also run [Common
Lisp](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Lisp) (A dialect of Lisp):

![](https://s2.narvii.com/image/i7znfaly2lrxodxnxsqnss5cee6x57d2_hq.jpg)

# MIPS-ASM

During one of the scenes where Lain is on her Navi, [Assembly
code](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assembly_language) identified to be [MIPS-
ASM](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIPS_instruction_set) flashes across the
screen.

# Copland OS:

The OS that the Navis run, _Copland OS_ is based on a [failed Apple
project](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copland_\(operating_system\)) from two
years prior.

# PHANTOMa

PHANTOMa is similar to dungeon games like [_Might and
Magic_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Might_and_Magic) and [_Dungeon
Master_.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeon_Master_\(video_game\))

![](https://myswordisunbelievablydull.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/coalgirls_serial_experiments_lain_04_1008x720_blu-
ray_flac_260d7cf9-mkv_snapshot_12-05_2011-08-17_06-54-30.jpg?w=584)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c7/Dungeon_Master_Box_Art.jpg/250px-
Dungeon_Master_Box_Art.jpg)

# HandiNAVI

The HandiNAVI is similar to the [Apple Newton
line](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Newton).

![](https://i.stack.imgur.com/AjY3n.jpg)
![](https://i.stack.imgur.com/xbJ6P.jpg)

# Protocol Seven

Protocol Seven is [Internet Protocol version
7](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-iab-ipversion7-00) (drafted in
1993) an RFC that was never implemented in favour of [Internet Protocol
version 6](https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2460), whose RFC was drafted in
December 1998, after the series had finished.

* * *

# Unfamiliar:

# Psyche chip

In Layer 02, Lain gets a chip that lets her interact with the Wired without
standard input devices. This is similar to the concept of [Virtual
Reality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_reality), yet is beyond today's
technology.

![](https://lain.wiki/images/b/ba/Psyche_chip.jpeg)

* * *

# Unavailable at time of production:

# CU Mail

In Layer 11, Alice is in a video call with Juri. This is similar to today's
video calling services like [Skype](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype) and
[Google Hangouts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Hangouts).

# Navi's speech recognition:

Lain is seen controlling her Navi via speech recognition. This is similar to
today's [Cortana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortana_\(software\)) and
[Siri](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siri).


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Maybe too late but I'd be willing to chime in and note that Mac OS had speech
recognition with assignable actions (Speakable Items) back in Mac OS 9 if not
even earlier, and, though a bit limited, it could not only wait for a
keypress, but constantly listen for a keyword that designates a command will
be said after it.

So, in fact, this was, not as idealistic, but a reality of that time.

And for video chat there was a program called iVisit also in the times of Mac
OS 9 which was a bit limited yet could provide some entertainment :-)


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