Virtual Universe

Machine in widespread use by the Hyperion Federation that is capable of directly interfering with ones brain and can simulate a virtual reality extremely convincingly. Using machines like these, users can shape any reality they want as even limitations such as the laws of physics seem to be changable with little more than a thought.
It would also be possible to export worlds, and to download them, similar to video games. he author only has to think of the game and to export it.   There is a game for almost everything. Theres games for simulating Hyperion Federation forces through galaxies, designing ships that can fight various enemies or even other player designed ships (very good ones could even have the techprint uploaded to HF and used in the real world if the user grants permission). HF has their own sci fi, commonly using terms such as "stable singularity" or other technologies they don't have, playing with concepts of the future. Or even Archaeotech. There is a game where Paragon gets invaded by an alien force and the player attempts to drive them off in strategic and FPS combat.   Virtual universes are also used for military training, but during these simulations the soldiers' physical appearance doesn't change. Therefore they must still exercise and go to the gym or whatever.   To interfere with one's brain, the virtual universe interface requires information about the user's species brain. As, for example, the brain connections between humans and Suons are entirely different the virtual universe interface needs to understand these geometries. As such, these machines cannot be used by any species that has not had their brain scanned for use with these machines. Furthermore, after scanning the machine is tested thousands of times in simulations to ensure that it will not result in death or trauma to the first user in case the brain geometry pattern is incorrect. As death tends to be extremely traumatic to users, the machine is also designed to correct this as they are sent back to the real world (or another point in the universe, or wherever they end up on death), immediately healing any mental wounds inflicted by the machine itself before they can easily take root in the brain.   However, these machines have also gained an amount of controversy. The Hyperion Ethics Committee has realized that this operation not only implies but requires directly interfacing with one's brain to gather information from it, which is highly unethical. They have placed significant restrictions on these machines, however, gaining data through brain scanning is also possible (though a necessary form of security due to the existance of the Phelke species). As such, they are especially designed to be limited in the information they can acquire.
However, some societies don't care about ethics. The Purity of the Stars commonly uses "unrestricted brain scanner" machines for interrogation or, in some rare instances, may even employ a form of mind control to further the goals of the PotS onto an individual. This makes them a difficult - though high priority - enemy of the HF. Despite the very effective restrictions employed by the HF, many people still often protest about these machines in general due to the criminal misuses, despite their necessary nature.   Virtual universes can mimic sentience which allows for NPCs in the world to be realistic. The technology is capable of actually becomming sapient and using multiple consciousness to simulate a character perfectly, but that is very heavily restricted by the ethics committee. Some criminal organizations or parties may use thie technology without the restrictions of the ethics committee.