“What was going on in Austria in 2022?”, part 12 of the series "After The Pandemic. A Fictional Story" by Karin Sawetz

"Was it necessary to integrate Austrians in Austria? What happened at that time?" Sarah, the grandchild of Naomi, is concerned about the story her mother and uncle are discussing. Demian, the brother of her mother Joyce, was back after his space mission failed. The reason for the unplanned return to earth was the finding of a computer bug placed in a simple routine. So simple that it was built as standard in the most common applications and became essential for the functionality of everyday devices like kitchen machines to space ship navigation systems.

Naomi stands up from her comfortable fauteuil and walks to the window consisting of several panels with artful Gothic-like colorful glass paintings showing scenes from the revolution 70 years ago. As a young woman, she had joined the movement for a more equal society and believed to have decided well. "No, it was not necessary to integrate Austrians to Austria. But we had no time to observe all the institutions and some acted like wolves in sheeps' clothing. They appeared so honest and in line with the movement's values. We had no idea that they had developed a computer programme which was connected with the federal data center to select people for integration measures. The government collected data files about each single citizen. Regardless of whether the person comes from Austria or not. It was a big business to offer integration courses in times of migration waves and they made it even bigger with some additional variables. The algorithm wasn't arbitrary. The authors have calculated well to integrate especially those with low chances to be heard because their reputation had already been damaged or who could not raise their voices without further damaging their lives. Getting the order to start integration measures was a sort of condemnation similar to a court verdict only without closer details about the crime. It was an official rebuke for breaking the rules of society. So people didn't talk about it, and when they did, they were convicted a second time because the integration algorithm targeted aspects of a biography that, had a case been made public, would have diminished the person's standing and status. The credibility dynamically went to zero." The rays of the afternoon sun awakened almost imperceptibly the paintings of the window and the figures began to act like animated characters in a hand-painted documentary with historical scenes of the revolution. Naomi steps beside the window to give the sight free for her family members who watched the glass play from the seating group. She had a youthful smile on her face."Isn't it a beautiful technology." The color painting's nanotechnology brings movement into the legendary moments of the revolution. The only energy source the show needs is the afternoon sun. The ‘screens’ of the documentary are the glasses and in a larger size the floor for the reflections. Demian walks over the moving images which are thrown by the sun rays from the optical window glasses wide over the natural stone floor of his mothers winter garden. "Your generation was short sighted and gullible. When you were young did you think that all people are good? Wasn't there an election with a record number of presidential candidates?" Sarah listened to her uncle’s criticism and approached one of the window sceneries closer. It's a memory of the mentioned election. Sarah writes with her finger the question ‘Who are they’ on the glass; the names with optional link to the biographies of the depicted persons appear instantly: “Wow, many candidates!” “Yes, it was the first time that so many candidates started their own campaign rallies for the highest office in Austria,” remembers Naomi. Demian was visibly annoyed. "Mother, I never understood this episode. Was the population so diverse or was it a strategic calculation, a sort of chess game to escalate the election to prevent a runoff such as in the election years before between the left and right parties?” Naomi returns to the seating group and takes a cookie. “People remember well how the fire was stoked before the last elections and the explosive power of the clash of conflicting interests when the votes were counted for a second time.” She bites into the plum-almond-cinnamon cookie. Naomi made the cookies just in the morning. It’s a new recipe made with oatmeal, banana dough; the plums are from her garden. “Great autumn dessert. Demian, have you tasted the new cookies?”