9-15: Questions on Cyberspace: Part I

Woolley states that "perhaps cyberspace...is-literally-where the money is." While he explains the following quote in terms of economic impact, the quote illuminates Woolley's true definition of cyberspace. Cyberspace contains the money because it is part of a vast, new frontier; it is its own city where millions interact with each other. In terms of cyberspace's defining features, the fronteir metaphor coincides with the rules governing it. Laws and regulations have not been established. Also, cyberspace is fast when compared with other forms of communication and it connects everyone associated with their respective projects. However, it is different from the real world. First, it helps to deconstruct barriers that the physical world may place. Also, while time and space are precious in the real world, they are "annihilated" in cyberspace (when comparing the physical limitations of real world vs. cyberspace). A "new reality" rests in cyberspace.

The idea of the global village is that cyberspace is, in fact, its own city. People connect from all over the world and join one another in this virtual city. Many for business ventures yet others for entertainment purposes. This is like a real city. To illustrate his concept of the global village, he brings real life issues, such as genes and viruses, for use as evidence. He relates computer viruses to biological viruses. Each are "replicators;" that is they reproduce in a host. Just like real viruses, computer viruses evolve and learn to copy "more efficiently." In the global village, these viruses can be harmful like biological ones. The comparison juxtaposes biological and computer viruses calling on the reader to make a statement about cyberspace from his example. Woolley uses those examples to show that cyberspace is a global village with its own economy and problems (ei: viruses).


...to be continued