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Infinite Reality: Avatars, Eternal Life, New Worlds, and the Dawn of the Virtual Revolution Audiobook
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(2.99) - 84 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
“Enough with speculation about our digital future. Infinite Reality is the straight dope on what is and isn’t happening to us right now, from two of the only scientists working on the boundaries between real life and its virtual extensions.”
—Douglas Rushkoff, author of Program or Be Programmed
Can our brains recognize where ""reality"" ends and ""virtual"" begins? Where will technology lead us in five, fifty, or five hundred years? An unrivaled guide to our digital future that has been cited by the Supreme Court, Infinite Reality is a mind-bending ""journey through the virtual universe"" (Wall Street Journal). Jim Blascovich and Jeremy Bailenson, two pioneering authorities, explore the profound potential of emerging technologies and reveal how our brains behave in digital worlds.
Along the way, Bailenson and Blascovich examine the timeless philosophical questions of the self and ""reality"" that arise through the digital experience; explain how virtual reality's latest and future forms—including immersive video games and social-networking sites—will soon be seamlessly integrated into our lives; show the many surprising practical applications of virtual reality, from education and medicine to sex and warfare; and probe further-off possibilities like ""total personality downloads"" that would allow your great-great-grandchildren to have a conversation with ""you"" a century or more after your death.
Equally fascinating, farsighted, and profound, Infinite Reality is an essential guide to our virtual future, where the experience of being human will be deeply transformed.
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"Good introduction showing the effect and the potential of virtual reality."
— Daron (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“An exhilarating book…Blascovich and Bailenson are ideally situated to write this guide to the new world…Infinite Reality a must-read for anyone who wants to prepare for the coming revolution.”
— Los Angeles Times -
“Read this book if you want to understand the future.”
— Jaron Lanier, author of You Are Not a Gadget -
“Brilliant, farsighted, and fascinating, Infinite Reality is an essential guide to our futures.”
— Philip Zimbardo, professor emeritus of psychology, Stanford University, and author of The Lucifer Effect -
“Infinite Reality sends chills down the spine.”
— Michael S. Gazzaniga, director of the SAGE Center for the Study of the Mind at the University of California, Santa Barbara
Infinite Reality Listener Reviews
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" It was an interesting overview of virtual reality. As a generalist, and not a hardcore VR person (never been on Second Life, for example), I learned some things. Too much of it read like a laundry list of experiments past, however, and I would have enjoyed more synthesis and prediction. "
— Bing, 5/24/2013 -
" Nothing too much new to me here. Talks about how what we perceive is what is real to us... even if it's all virtual. He goes on to say that more of our interactions with the world will become 'virtualized' over time. Interesting point, but not the most interesting read. "
— Eric, 4/28/2013 -
" Good reading - especially to those interesting in the digital revolution "
— Edwin, 4/5/2013 -
" Good introduction to the science and uses of virtual reality. "
— Frank, 3/2/2013 -
" Listened to the audiobook and went to a talk by the author (Bailenson). Very interesting studies and anecdotes, generally takes a forward-looking perspective. "
— David, 2/10/2013 -
" Didn't really have anything original to say "
— David, 11/11/2012 -
" He says that more of our interactions with the world will become 'virtualized' over time. Id I personally consider it a very Interesting point. Tis is about how what we perceive is what is real to us... even if it's all virtual. "
— Tary, 10/22/2012 -
" Like a primer about virtual reality for people who've had their head in a virtual bucket for the last twenty five years. ( But some useful info toward the end ) "
— BAKU, 9/26/2011
About the Authors
Jim Blascovich is the director and cofounder of the Research Center for Virtual Environments at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he is distinguished professor of psychology. Professor Blascovich has served as the president of international scientific societies, including the Society for Personality and Social Psychology and the Society for Experimental Social Psychology, and he has been invited to lecture on social neuroscience and virtual reality topics worldwide.
Jeremy Bailenson is the founding director of Stanford University’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab. Professor Bailenson has been featured on Frontline, All Things Considered, and Today as well as in Time, Discover, the New York Times and New York Times Magazine, and the Chronicle of Higher Education. He lives in Redwood City, California.
About John Pruden
John Pruden is an Earphones Award–winning audiobook narrator. His exposure to many people, places, and experiences throughout his life provides a deep creative well from which he draws his narrative and vocal characterizations. His narration of The Killing of Crazy Horse by Thomas Powers was chosen by the Washington Post as a Best Audiobook of 2010.