"This better not be a scam app.," Carol said before touching the screen.
Once it was activated, she could see a somewhat standard login screen. The background showed images of DNA strands, dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals. She waited a moment to see if anything malicious would happen, such as phony virus protection pop-ups or forced downloads, but nothing did.
"Feeew," Carol sighed in relief. "Well, this thing seems to be clean. But it looks like I need to make an account for some reason. Is this a game or something?"
Before she pressed the sign up button, she first looked up the description of the strange app. "Devolve version 1.0 by U-Shift."
"Welcome to Devolve, the app that allows you to experience first hand what it was like to be an earlier version of yourself! This software is meant for your research and information purposes only. This user license is for one user (hereafter referred to as "user") at a time. However, you can use this app on willing participants (See "Rules" and "Instructions" below). By creating your account and logging in, the user agrees to the terms of use and service provided herein..."
She skimmed through the standard legalese to get to the heart of what the app does. "After years of development and testing, we have finally made an app that can transform the user into any species that is part of the human ancestry through a smart phone device. This app will also allow you to virtually go back in time and experience both historic and prehistoric eras.
Carol raised a eyebrow. So far, there is nothing that indicates the app is just some game or simulation of some sort. "Can this really change me into some prehistoric animal? That can't be possible. This has to be some sort of joke. "
She continued scanning down until she got to the "Options" part of the description.
"TIME PERIOD/SPECIES: Choose ancestral species and time period. From one year back to the first forms of life over 3 billion years ago.
FORM OF TRANSFORMATION: Choose between "Time-travel" or "Quick TF" (should define what TF is)
TRANSFORMATION SPEED: If you choose the "Time-travel" option, you can set the speed from 1 year to 5 million years per second.
MENTAL SETTINGS: Toggle between Physical Only, Physical/Mental, or Instinct mode. (It is recommended for first-time users to choose instinct mode to prevent injury and/or damage to property.)
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSFORMATION: Choose if you want the environment to match your transformation. (If you choose this option, and go back past 2007, you cannot operate your smart device until the timer is up, see TIMER below.)
TIMER: Set up the length of time that you will be in the transformed state from 1 min. to 12 hours. There is also a Permanency option. (In order use the Permanency option or to have the effect last more than 12 hours, you must acquire a qualification password from the producer. The request can be denied. You can only be in a changed environment for 5 min. at a time.)"
"Permanency?" said Carol, shocked. "It's a good thing it needs a 'special password' to unlock that. But why would someone add such a thing on this?
She continued reading down to the rules. Some seemed very standard, but others made her raise an eyebrow.
"Due to the nature of this app, it is advised that you use this at home and not in public. Under no circumstances are you to use this app on unwilling persons. Violators will lose their access to all U-Shift products. We are not liable for any injuries and/or damages you do while using this app."
"Damages or injuries?!" she almost shouted. "Why does this app keep mentioning this stuff?"
She then saw another rule that caught her eye.
"Due to the controversial nature of this app, we are not allowed to explain how this program works to a user."
"What does that mean? Controversial nature?"
Carol pondered for a moment what to do with the app. After a few moments of thinking, she made her decision. She created an account, took pictures of her face and body, closed the blinds, then started selecting her options.