Theories and Metaphors of Cyberspace- Abstracts Theories and Metaphors of Cyberspace- Abstracts By Charles Ostman
Abstract:
The article is actually an edited section of a much larger paper on the topic of the organic properties of the global internet system, the human/internet symbiosis, the potential threshold boundaries of sentience as it would propogate on the global network, and related topics. This is actually part of a book which I am currently authoring, titled (at least at this moment) the Age of Convergence.
Somewhat in the same fashion that James Burke has crafted his "Connections" series and book, in outlining the convergence of seemingly unrelated events, political and social trends of the moment, and enabling technologies into a contiguous technology development stream, I have assembled a series of highly detailed examinations into a diverse, but very much interconnected series of technology developments which form the "existance matrix" of the new realm.
Although my background is primarily scientific and technical development oriented, this has not restricted my ability and desire to convey to the general public a direct and understandable view into topics ranging from nanotechnology to artifical organisms, mind/machine interface to the organic symbiotic properties of the internet.
For many, the line between fact or "near future" technology developments, and wild speculation designed to sell theater tickets and video rentals, is difficult at best to decipher. I tend to believe that fact is indeed more fascinating than fiction, and to this end, I render the highly researched writings on the topics which are the significant milestones of the new "Cyber Revolution".
It is this fabric of interconnectivity, as well as the technologies themselves, which are of interest.
The submitted paper, "The Internet as an Organism", contains the following contents: