Nigel stared at the login screen of the Collective Systems exam portal, apprehensive about taking the challenge. The test was designed to be taken only once. To prevent exam question leakage, each applicant was filmed during each exam. The test proctor was a live person that instructed the candidates on how to set up the room for the exam so no intellectual property could escape.
The proctors often asked candidates to move the camera around the room before the exam began. The proctors were given strict instructions. If the exam room preparation took longer than fifteen minutes, then the candidate was automatically disqualified.
As Nigel entered his username and password that was supplied by the corporation, the Collective Systems logo appeared on screen in a three-dimensional font. After a few seconds, the exam proctor appeared. She is beautiful, Nigel thought. She had blonde hair that was tied up so he could see her bare neck. For a brief moment, Nigel's thoughts started to wander. She was in her late twenties and had smooth skin and emerald eyes. Is this part of the test? Trying to forget about a beautiful woman was not easy for a sexually aware seventeen-year-old.
“I'm Natasha, your exam proctor for this session. Before we begin, I will record the standard legal requirement for this exam session. Are you ready?” Natasha asked.
“Yes!”
“Please read the text as you see it on the screen. I'm going to start recording, okay?” Natasha asked.
“Okay.”
“Great! Now please give your legal statement. Read the text as you see it, no deviations.”
Nigel took a small sip of water, then proceeded to read the text. Pretty standard legal stuff.
“Now position the enhancement camera we sent you in the line of sight of the camera on the computer.”
Nigel fiddled with the camera until Natasha was satisfied with its positioning. He put sensors on his right hand and chest as instructed by Natasha. He was specifically told to place the sensors on his chest in such a way as to not reveal his bare skin. He could hear the shutter on the camera and additional motors while the exam proctor moved the camera around the room to find any blind spots.
“Stay still and look forward at the computer while I get a calibration.”
Nigel felt a tingling sensation through the sensors which quickly changed into a slight burning sensation. Nigel immediately reached for the sensor on his left breast.
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“Stop!” Natasha screamed into the microphone.
Nigel froze.
“Endure the minor discomfort,” Natasha said.
Nigel's face contorted into a mask of pain; sweat began to pour into his eyes, blurring his vision. After what seemed like an eternity, all sensation ceased, and the monitors turned the darkest ebony. After a few moments, all screens came to life, and Nigel immediately saw a close-up of Natasha.
“Calibration complete. Are you ready to begin?” Natasha asked.
“Err, wait a moment,” Nigel said as he put on his augmented reality glasses.
“Ready!”
Nigel felt his chest and groin areas tighten simultaneously. His head was spinning, giving him the strangest combination of feelings he had ever experienced.
As the sensation continued, he thought he was experiencing vertigo or having a panic attack. He lost track of this thought when his vision briefly blurred. The next thing he remembered was Natasha asking if he was ready. He answered, “Yes,” but could not remember doing so; it was like watching a movie of someone else.
“Great! Let's proceed with the first challenge,” Natasha said.
After a few minutes, Nigel began to feel like himself again.
“The first test is spatial integrity, which tests your ability to process three-dimensional shapes,” Natasha said.
The screen briefly went blank, then a number of three-dimensional shapes appeared on the screen. Some of the shapes were standard geometrical shapes; others weren't.
“Now, reach out and attempt to interact with the shapes.”
Nigel raised his right hand. Just as he did, he saw a hand appear on screen. He flexed his fingers and the three-dimensional hand on the screen followed. Nigel attempted to manipulate some of the shapes by trying to turn them left or right or flick them up and down. The exercise reminded him of one of the games he played as a kid. As each shape touched another, they appeared to stick. He tried to pull apart the shapes but couldn't. He realized that when the shapes finally touched, they would stick together like glue. He grabbed a couple of square blocks and banged them together; they repelled and started soaring fast through the air. When they touched other shapes, like triangles, they would slow; when the same types touched, they sped up. Nigel noticed a pattern. He tried to group the shapes so only the different shapes would be together. When he grouped some cylinders and circles together, an explosion happened and both shapes disappeared.
He continued to group the shapes together until only a few shapes remained.
“Good job,” Natasha said. “The next test will allow you to demonstrate your cognitive abilities. Test continues in thirty seconds.”
Several shapes rapidly displayed, and Nigel was given a few seconds to match each pair. Other small tests measured numerical patterns, memory, and attention to detail.
“Excellent! You have done well on all of my tests so far,” Natasha said. “The final test measures your ability to think critically.”
“I’m ready to begin,” Nigel said.
After another twenty seconds, all screens in front of Nigel went dark, then the next test screen appeared.
“Try to capture the largest numbers possible within the shape in the time provided. Test begins in ten seconds.”
After the countdown, a group of numbers appeared in a nine-by-eight grid. Nigel did his best to capture as many large numbers in that grid within the given time limit. The frustrating experience lasted for several minutes.
“Final results will be available within a few days.”
“How did I do?” Nigel asked.
“I can only say that preliminary results look promising. Thank you for your time.”