Virt mining is the process of using drones controlled by the minds of humans for the purpose of completing difficult tasks that are too complex to be completely automated. The most common use is for asteroid mining, but there are other uses for the process as well.
Example of a virt mining interface. Artwork by Embreate.
Using human workers put in years-long comas, virt mining allows workers to control an almost limitless number of drones that can mine every corner of our galaxy, and beyond. The advanced tech allows for human operators to control drones from millions of miles away.
An individual using Virt equipment. Artwork by Embreate.
The operators are placed in long-term comas so as to assure they have no other focus and are committing maximum brain-power. While in these induced comas, the virt miners live in a virtual world, even when not mining. Their brains are fed "stims:" stimulants that make them believe they are having fantastic adventures. Operators are highly paid and the jobs can change a family’s fortunes for generations. Aside from money, living a fantasy is also part of the motive behind becoming a virt miner for many who choose to do so. However, the operators also lose use of their bodies and most die within five to ten years of becoming a miner. There are also the psychological and moral implications about both mental and bodily autonomy. Even worse are illegal virt mining operations that dispense with the pay, instead preying on the desperate and poor and working their captives till their brains are dry. Some countries also employ prison labour to carry out virt mining operations.
Only 10% of those who participate in the colonization of space actually aid the mining industry from space. The remaining 90% are located around the Earth and participate remotely at mass virt mining facilities. There is no one virt mining rig and no single company responsible for virt operations or the production of virt rigs. Rather, virt rigs' immersive systems that allow someone to take control of a swarm of drones for a variety of purposes. Literal asteroid mining is the main usage, but the term "mining" is something of a catch-all generally used to refer to the process of using technology used to immerse someone in a digital world and to mine capital from it. So the term could reference actions as broadly different as using virt drones to build a skyscraper to someone mining capital from virtual world that provides an exact map of a factory located on the moon.
Humans do not possess the skill to out maneuver swarms of security drones or the accuracy of an asteroid drone drill. Instead of being tasked with controlling a difficult interface and attempting to navigate a treacherous asteroid belt, the controls are modified to make the miner appear that they are in some sort of game or fantasy world completing a quest. Their actions in moving forward in the "game" stimulate their brain power and allows for the drone to be powered and automatically do its job of mining and drilling.
A drone at work. Artwork by Embreate.
That said, it is possible for humans to take control of any drone under their command and operate it directly. This gives the human the ability to learn a new skill, to carve art out of asteroids, to explore space, and to build anything they want. These experiences are not typical of your average virt miner and free time with drones such as this comes to those with disposable income and time.
The group that makes up the majority of the work force, these are people who go in to comas so as to control the mining drones. The more elite miners control more and more drones and have more customization options for their in-world experiences.
Overseers are the Off-Earth management staff that keep watch over the operations while living on the company space station. The main task is figuring out resource allocation, on-site logistics, and making sure that operations run smoothly. They often command fleets of upwards of 10,000 drones controlled by On-Earth virt miners. An overseer is a lonely job involving years-long tours to space, but it is also one of the highest paying jobs in the organization.
An isolated space station. Artwork by Simone Rizzo.