Virtual America: Sleepwalking through Paradise

摘要: Virtual America traces the complex relationship between Americans, technology, and their environment as it has unfolded over past several centuries. Throughout history Americans have constructed mental pictures of unique places, such American West, that taken on more authority than actual gritty landscapes. This disconnect from reality is magnified by new world virtual realities computer screen, where personal immersion in interactive simulations becomes "default" environment. identifies connections (or lack thereof) our individual selves, an identity, geography "out there." John Opie examines what he calls First Nature (the natural world), Second (metropolitan infrastructure/built environment), Third (virtual cyberspace). He also explores how historically dreamed about a better life daily, ordinary existence then fulfilled through Engineered built environment, Consumer material well-being, Triumphal conviction we are world's exceptional model. But these dream worlds encouraged placelessness thus indifference to dwelling home ground. Finally, Last (a sense place) argues when identify authentic place, can locate authenticity self-a reification place self-by connectedness.