To be continued....

So, you’ve touched upon some of what we know about the manner in which fairly recent technological developments….the advent of the personal computer and the internet….have affected and continue to change our lives. In even such a short time, our concept of self, consciousness, morality, the way we communicate, work, socialize, play, and even fall in love has undergone a pretty radical transformation. As we (officially) close our conversations on cyberpsychology for this season (although you’re more than welcome to add stuff that you stumble across in the future; your membership in the community is permanent and I still add stuff), I thought I’d end with a few choice words from a quite brilliant article on “Human Beings: Organisms, Computers or Both?” http://www.thoughtdynasty.com/?p=7 It tackles the potential future impact of computer technology on human existence. (It doesn’t hurt that it contains my favourite ever quote on the subject from Asimov’s “I, Robot”.) J

As the modern world takes shape, constantly evolving and adapting to create new relationships between the individual and society, it becomes necessary to consider the very definition of our species: what qualities and features do humans possess that make us unique? What similarities and differences emerge between ourselves, and the technology we are creating. More and more, the goal of science is to make a cybernetic creation in the image of humans. It is impossible to overstate the impact of this goal.”…..Rapid advances in science have been made over the last few decades, and more developments look to be on the horizon…….

Isaac Asimov, a noted science fiction author, was already asking many questions about the future of humanity, especially as it relates to computers:

"There have always been ghosts in the machine. Random segments of code, that have grouped together to form unexpected protocols. Unanticipated, these free radicals engender questions of free will. Creativity. And even the nature of what we might call the soul. Why is it that when some robots are left in darkness, they will seek out the light? Why is it that when robots are stored in an empty space, they will group together, rather than stand alone? How do we explain this behaviour? Random segments of code? Or is it something more? When does a perceptual schematic become consciousness? When does a difference engine become the search for truth? When does a personality simulation become the bitter mote… of a soul?“

Personally, as exciting and seductive as all this technology can be, I hope that, “I, Avatar” never comes true. Maybe the above is inevitable or maybe….just maybe....the paradigm shift won’t be a mass migration to a virtual world but, instead, an epiphany moment where we realize that enough is enough and there’s really no need….no real evolutionary benefit….in letting the technological tail wag the physical dog…that, like Dorothy in the ‘Wizard of Oz’ found, there’s really “No place like home”.

It's been a pleasure sharing the possibilities with you this semester.

Something for the summer (maybe)

I know (hope!) you're all too busy preparing for the exams, etc, to play around with these YouTube videos but, I thought that maybe one or two of you may have some spare time over the summer and might like to get to know more about SL. So here's a massive series of video tutorials created by one of the 'Lindens' (the 'family' employed as researchers and admin in SL). They were created by Torley Linden over a period of a couple of years and teach you EVERYTHING you could ever want to know from how to change clothes and fill in your profile to embedding animations you've created into your SL 'home'. Enjoy :) Who knows? I may see you in there someday. (Remember, I'm Hetty Harlequin) ;)

Here's the URL: http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Video_Tutorials

Who's that girl (or boy)?

I'm ParkedUpDoodette, young, free but never single, love nothing more than cruising with some friends. Always looking for my next fix... speed or moddin' - i'm easy on that. Fancy a ride?

Whoozat? And which aspects of self are revealed? If any?

Hazewater

Hi, let me introduce myself, im Hazel im 23 years old and currently living in London. My job as a health and safety rep for a holiday firm takes me all over the world. I just love all the sights and sounds of different places. Im a very bubbly and friendly individual that loves a good natter, anyone will do all shapes and sizes, we all have something to say! Pop by and say hello, promise I wont bite, unless your gorgeous that is! Cheerio :)

Frank(?)

Gender: Male Age: 28 Hometown: Los Angeles Country: United States School/Job Info: Waiter at Diner
About Me: Hi I'm Frank and I work at a diner. I'm a big music fan with an eclectic taste but my favourites are 1950s rock and roll and Psychobilly. I love working on my old vintage cars and hot rods in my spare time.
What My Meez Sez About Me: Entertaining my friends with my upright bass skills at my favourite hang spot

Name that Toon

So who's the biker dude? Are they being true to themselves? At any level?
Here’s what they say about themselves:

Gender: male
Age: 25
Hometown: Bolton
Country: United Kingdom
School/Job Info: student
About Me: Jake here 25 from East Bolton my band rules! we're heavy metal mixed with
rock SABBOTAGE I.M me if your interested and ill send you our myspace URL off for a
ride now im up for a chat and like meeting new people
What My Meez Sez About Me: I (L) my bike !!!!

Friday will be the 'reveal' day.:)

Friends, Boltonians and cybermen.....Send me your Meez!!
(If you don't want to upload it here, create it, write some text about your Meezerly self and email it to me. I'll upload it). Here's the URL again: http://www.meez.com/

It's all about me, me, meez.

Yes, I know you know who's posting this. :) Meet 'Mia'. A bit of a hybrid, is Mia. Eclectic Goth girl with an overriding need for comfort and not too great a drive to spend her limited money on clothes. The Anthrax t-shirt? There weren't any Sisters of Mercy/Rammstein/ Manson ones in the shop so she opted for the nearest thing available in her signature red and black. Paradoxes abound. Her affinity with things (truly) gothic and occult lie, very comfortably at odds with the candy necklace and casual, colourful Nikes. Big hair and red lipstick make her happy....a lot of things do; as long as 'it's all about me, me, me'. Centre of attention is her natural place in the universe. Question is....is Mia an actual me, an actual me from the past, a true me, an opposite me or a facet of wish-fulfillment, or a combination of some of all of these?

"Which I is I?"

Trawling the web for interesting stuff on cyberspace deception, I hit what appears to be a bit of a goldmine :) This site: http://deception.crimepsychblog.com/?p=242

which is run by a group of people who collate information on psychological studies of deception (per se) has a wealth of links to research on cyber-crimes and personal deception on the internet.

Of particular interest, I thought, (given that last week we were dsicussing whether 'online personae' that differ, often quite radically, from our offline self were always fraudulent or were, sometimes, valid representations of aspects of 'true' self) was the article on the front page. It seems that when we're wearing an avatar, deception is less 'painful' i.e. induces less guilt.

Makes you think about the extent of deception in the 3D graphical wrolds, like SL, eh?

It also makes you think, though, about the nature of (menchanisms of effect or psychological process involved in) online persona creation; the results of the 'avatar and guilt over deception' study seem, to me, to suggest that whether the virtual you represents facets of 'actual' / 'true' / 'aspirational' self ...or whatever!....there is an element of dissociation associated with 'being' online. A superficial fragmentation of 'self' and dissociation into 'me' (here) and 'that online person' (there). It certainly helps explain the more toxic behaviours that our online selves commit...fairly guilt-free.