Becoming virtual
Subtitle: reality in the Digital Age
By: Pierre Lévy ; translated from the French by Robert Bononno.
Publisher: Plenum Trade
Published: 1998
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 207
Subjects: Human-computer interaction; Virtual reality
Description: Examining the cultural and social impact of new digital technologies, Levy tackles the concept of "the virtual," clearly defining it alongside "the real," "the actual," and "the possible." He shows how the body, the text, and the economy, are made virtual. He then reveals how the Internet and web sites are now transforming the virtual into a "collective intelligence" linked to digital communication.

Though Levy agrees with many contemporary philosophers of science that these changes are producing a cultural revolution, he is uniquely optimistic. Allaying the fears of those who think technology will dehumanize society, he demonstrates how the virtual has always been an enduring component of the human mind.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 191-198) and index.