Being Virtual

Thanks to the Internet, it has never been so easy to become theperson of your wildest dreams. Immersive 3D worlds such as SecondLife and THERE.com provide an escape route from the ordinary, intoa virtual world where you have the power to mould your life in anyway you please. Forget about walking, wheelchair users can fly.Pensioners wipe away the pains of age, discovering youthfulexuberance and making young friends once more. No wonder it hasbecome harder than ever to honestly answer the question: who am I?
In Being Virtual, Davey Winder looks at how an increasing numberof us are living part-real, part-virtual lives, and how it affectswho we are. He looks at the opportunities and dangers that avirtual identity offers us, how we juggle our real and onlinelives, and what happens when one spills over into the other...He uses his own personal experiences to bring the issues to life,and backs them up with the real-life stories of others andtestimony from the experts. Along the way, he looks at somefascinating questions such as:
* Are you a virtual liar?
* What happens when our virtual and real worlds collide?
* Why will you talk to anyone online, but nobody on the train towork?
* Why do so many middle-aged men transform into teenage girlsonline?
* Is it possible to have any secrets in such a connectedworld?
Being Virtual gives a glimpse into the future of human identity,and is a must-read for anyone who uses the Internet to enhance - orescape from - their 'ordinary' life.
About the author
Davey Winder has been a freelance journalist for 16 years, andis Contributing Editor of the best-selling IT magazine, PCPro. He has picked up many awards including TechnologyJournalist of the Year and IT Security Journalist of the Year. Afounder member of the Internet Society of England and author ofmore than 20 books, his blog can be found at:
http://happygeeknewmedia.blogspot.com/