Hyper-Realism

Hyperreality is used in semiotics and postmodern philosophy to describe a hypothetical inability of consciousness to distinguish reality from a simulation of reality, especially in technologically advanced post-modern societies. Hyperreality is a way of characterizing what our consciousness defines as "real" in a world where a multitude of media can radically shape and filter an original event or experience.

(wiki defininition)

Essay direction

I have decided to focus on 'Hyper-realism' in context to the internet and certain interactivity forms such as 'Second life' and 'Facebook' as well as the vast substitutes and voyeuristic needs we use the internet as a means to satisfy our human impulses. Also I will explore possible directions interactive technologies will lead us toward and how it has changed us socially and culturally.

Molten- Typography Scene

Second Life

http://secondlife.com/whatis/?lang=en-US

May I just add how sinisterly scary I find the mustic behind the video on this page...

Second Life-Launched June 23 2003 is an interactive community in which certain game elements such as objectives do not exist, it is basically described in its title. Second life is famous for its reputation for addiction from infatuated customers, often trying to live their perfect lives.

Internet addiction disorder

IAD was originally proposed as a disorder in a satirical hoax by Ivan Goldberg, M.D., in 1995. He took pathological gambling as diagnosed by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) as his model for the description of IAD. It is not, however, included in the current DSM as of 2009. IAD receives coverage in the press, and possible future classification as a psychological disorder continues to be debated and researched.

Online activities which, if done in person, would normally be considered troublesome, such as compulsive gambling or shopping, are sometimes called net compulsions. Others, such as reading or playing computer games, are troubling only to the extent that these activities interfere with normal life. Supporters of disorder classification often divide IAD into subtypes by activity, such as excessive, overwhelming, or inappropriate pornography use, gaming, online social networking, blogging, email, or Internet shopping. Opponents note that compulsive behaviors may not themselves be addictive.

ASIMO

Stellarc

Stelarc (Stelios Arkadiou) is a Cypriot-Australian performance artist whose works focuses heavily on extending the capabilities of the human body. As such, most of his pieces are centred around his concept that the human body is obsolete. Until 2007 he held the position of Principal Research Fellow in the Performance Arts Digital Research Unit at Nottingham Trent University in Nottingham, England. He is currently a visiting Professor in the School of Arts at Brunel University, West London.