Being Virtual (PDF)

Thanks to the Internet, it has never been so easy to become the
person of your wildest dreams. Immersive 3D worlds such as Second
Life and THERE.com provide an escape route from the ordinary, into
a virtual world where you have the power to mould your life in any
way you please. Forget about walking, wheelchair users can fly.
Pensioners wipe away the pains of age, discovering youthful
exuberance and making young friends once more. No wonder it has
become harder than ever to honestly answer the question: who am I?

In Being Virtual, Davey Winder looks at how an increasing number
of us are living part-real, part-virtual lives, and how it affects
who we are. He looks at the opportunities and dangers that a
virtual identity offers us, how we juggle our real and online
lives, 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 and
testimony from the experts. Along the way, he looks at some
fascinating 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 to
work?

* Why do so many middle-aged men transform into teenage girls
online?

* Is it possible to have any secrets in such a connected
world?

Being Virtual gives a glimpse into the future of human identity,
and is a must-read for anyone who uses the Internet to enhance - or
escape from - their 'ordinary' life.

About the author

Davey Winder has been a freelance journalist for 16 years, and
is Contributing Editor of the best-selling IT magazine, PC
Pro. He has picked up many awards including Technology
Journalist of the Year and IT Security Journalist of the Year. A
founder member of the Internet Society of England and author of
more than 20 books, his blog can be found at:



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