: Inhabitants must endlessly pedal stationary bikes to generate electricity. This physical toil earns them "merits," a digital currency used for every necessity, from food to skipping intrusive advertisements.

: Those unable to bike are relegated to "yellow-garbed" service roles, where they are often ridiculed or used as fodder in mindless video games played by the biking class. The Illusion of Escape

In this society, citizens are divided into strict hierarchical classes, often denoted by the color of their clothing.

: Screens dominate every waking moment. If a person tries to look away from an advertisement, the screens emit a piercing alarm until they resume watching.

The ultimate hope for citizens is the talent show Hot Shot , which promises a way out of the cubicles and into a life of celebrity—for the steep price of fifteen million merits.