2008
Sonvilla-Weiss Stefan
(IN)VISIBLE – Learning to Act in the Metaverse
Publisher: Springer Wien/New York, 168 p. 19 illus., Softcover
ISBN: 978-3-211-78538-6
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About this book: Now that humans seem to have arrived at the end of their campaigns of discovery, conquest, and exploitation, the virtual, infinite, digital spaces are being conquered. It was only a matter of time before the technical possibilities permitted people to construct parallel worlds in the digital universe. A 'Second Life' as virtual existence (Avatar) in the virtual spaces of data exerts a seductive pull on ever more people. By taking possession of the internet as a creative medium, an entirely new, globally networked culture of participation has emerged. Multiple person-computer interfaces far exceed their complexity and lack of overview of the current discussion about possible social, aesthetic, legal, and political effects on individuals and communities. In(visible) engages with the cognitive, social, technological, and aesthetic dimensions of a data culture which, in the highly charged dichotomies of private/public, visibility/invisibility, individual/community, autonomy/control, attempts to mark out new routes to communicate the practices and strategies of artistic and scientific engagement.

Roy Ascott about this book: "It's timely! "
netfilmmakers.dk "…great book by Sonvilla-Weiss: (In)Visible. Learning to Act in the Metaverse"
Leonardo Review of this book