BY LETTER
Cliology
Historical analysis using surveillance records | |
 Image from Steve Bowers | |
| Metaphorical image showing the constant observation and recording of Terragen civilisation. Using data from recording devices and long-distance telescopic observations, historians can analyse past events in great detail, wherever reliable records are available. | |
Cliology is the study of history taken to the next level. With the coming of advanced information technology it became possible for the first time to truly monitor an entire populace and to store all the data gathered permanently. Public reaction and, in most jurisdictions, resulting legislation, kept this from becoming a ubiquitous practice until the Technocalypse. In the wake of those events constant surveillance was a vital requirement for survival in the various refuges round the Solar System, where a tiny initial incursion of rogue software, biotech, or nanotech outbreak could spell disaster. Even after the crises passed, the fear remained, and constant surveillance in many, most or all public spaces became commonplace throughout the Federation Era and remains the norm in the Current Era (in most polities). In many cases these cameras and other sensors are placed in order to control and monitor the safe operation of vital infrastructure systems, and recording data relevant to cliological studies is not the main objective.
The specialist field of cliology is based on an analysis of these records, which were already being used for forensic purposes and the detection and deterrence of crime. Once data storage for prolonged periods became practical the application of these records to historical studies became apparent. Cliology was developed by modosophonts in the early Federation era, but transapient level analysis is much more comprehensive, since they are able to examine and correlate vast amounts of stored data, rewrite historical conceptions, look for trends and model possible futures with some degree of confidence. Polities and other locations which do not have direct contact with transapients or archai can still take advantage of advanced cliological technology with the assistance of specialised aivisers, usually transvots.
Whereas history derives social trends and events from primary source documents and written diaries, cliology can call upon a vast network of recordings and other data sources and can make detailed reconstructions of events based on both data and metadata. These records do not always exist — many primitive worlds lost the background technology, many particular communities as well as many widespread groups such as Deletionists, certain libertarians and some sects in the Universal Church disapprove of it.
An important tool in cliology is long-distance observation by advanced telescope, or cliotelescopy as it is known. This allows past events in a distant system to be observed when the light from that system reaches a suitable telescope array. Sometimes thiese observations (which can include resolution down to the sub-metre level) can supply data which effectively contradicts the local historical narrative, and allows alternative interpretations of the facts.
As well as surveillance by sensors placed and controlled by official entities, another important source of data is sousveillance, sensors controlled and operated by individuals and by independent groups. Often this data is freely given in order to increase the accuracy of cliological studies. However, analysing such independent sources of data is sometimes complicated by the ease with which images and sounds can be synthesised by AI-powered media-creation programs, so it has become general practice to cross-check all such data against other nearby sources. This cross-checking, between all forms of sousveillance and surveillance, has the consequence that almost all forms of fakery and hoaxing have been effectively eliminated (in most cases). In general, cliology has transformed how people view their pasts.
In locations where active Angel Net or Guardweb systems are operating, the amount of data available for analysis is very large indeed, but access to this data by modosophonts is only possible if the controlling transingular entity or entities are willing to release it.
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Development Notes
Text by Michael Beck
revised by Stephen Inniss and Steve Bowers
Initially published on 09 October 2026.
Revised 23/4/2026 by Steve Bowers
revised by Stephen Inniss and Steve Bowers
Initially published on 09 October 2026.
Revised 23/4/2026 by Steve Bowers
Additional Information
Cityscape image made using free CC-copyrighted (highly-modified) cityscape by Pasha at Sketchfab
https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/city-pack-3-f4c5a825a88b487c99877e803ba5c786
https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/city-pack-3-f4c5a825a88b487c99877e803ba5c786
