Becoming virtual: reality in the digital age

From Publisher: Examining cultural and social impact of new digital technologies, Levy tackles concept of the virtual, clearly defining it alongside the real, the actual, and the possible. He shows how body, text, and economy, are made virtual. He then reveals how Internet and web sites are now transforming 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 fears of those who think technology will dehumanize society, he demonstrates how virtual has always been an enduring component of human mind.