About this blog
If, as predicted by Ray Kurzweil and others, most interpersonal interactions will by mid-century occur in virtual environments, we need to understand the psychological and cultural implications for education, business, governance, and for society overall.Taking its title from the J.G. Ballard novel of that name, the Unlimited Dream Company is an in-world research and discussion group for those interested in the ways in which technology shapes psychology in virtual worlds--and, in particular, those who believe that immersive 3D worlds have become a medium par excellence for thought experiment and personal transformation, whether intended by its 'residents' or not.
You are encouraged to read the introductory statement and About page before reading individual articles.
This blog was launched on 28th December 2010.
Category Archives: Role-play
WORDS AND MEMORIES: HOW THEY ELEVATE THE QUALITIES OF SL SEX.
WORDS AND MEMORIES: HOW THEY ELEVATE THE QUALITIES OF SL SEX. In the first article I wrote for this blog (Virtual Sex and the Gorilla), I tried to find answers to the following question: Why is it that sex in … Continue reading
MANY ME
MANY ME. During a Thinkers discussion on Google+’s stance on psuedonymity, Laborious Aftermath raised an interesting point several times. “You end up with the same problem of others ending up trying to use the same psuedo”. In real life nobody … Continue reading
My avatar, my ‘imaginary friend’: the importance of play in social virtual worlds
“Imaginary friends”, writes Suzanne Hall, are a happy, if mysterious, part of childhood. You may have trouble remembering the names of your grandchildren’s imaginary pals, or exactly what species they are, but you needn’t worry that their existence is a … Continue reading
BOTGIRL: (UN)REAL
BOTGIRL: (UN)REAL. Botgirl Questi has a post on her blog called “For Those Who Say Avatar Identity Isn’t Real”. What could possibly be meant by a statement like ‘Botgirl isn’t real’? If we equate reality with existence, then the statement … Continue reading
LOVEGAME PART 3
LOVEGAME PART 3. In the previous instalment we began with a cliché from science fiction dramas. The most famous cliché of all may well be the one that comes at the end of most fairytales: ‘And they lived happily ever … Continue reading
FACEBOOK FAKE? OR FACEBOOK FICTION?
According to Wagner James Au, Facebook has deleted hundreds of his friends’ accounts. What all these deleted accounts have in common, apparently, is that they are Facebook accounts of avatars, rather than human beings. I say ‘apparently’ because Au wrote … Continue reading
What is a ‘Digital Person’?
Late last night I had the beginnings of a conversation with Extropia: Extropia DaSilva: Your being here gives me an excuse to air something I find vaguely bothering. Khoisan Fisher: Go ahead Extropia DaSilva: Ok. When I explain what a … Continue reading
LOVEGAME: WHY DO FOOLS FALL IN LOVE?
LOVEGAME: WHY DO FOOLS FALL IN LOVE? In the previous essay, I said that this one would go back to the beginning. But where might we look for this beginning? Scientists who study human nature have asked a similar question … Continue reading
Virtual Sex and the Gorilla
This blog post is not about people who make their avatars resemble apes and have sex swinging from virtual chandeliers, which probably goes on in at least one adult sim. Rather, it is an attempt to explain how sex in … Continue reading
Voice morphing and identity: deception? or the right of the digital person?
Voice morphing was officially introduced into Second Life a year ago with the appearance of Viewer 2, with monthly renewable voice modulation packages purchasable on Voice Island. I’ll return to the issue of voice modulation in a future blog once … Continue reading
