Cyberspace as an Internet metaphor Cyberspace

while cyberspace should not confused internet, term used refer objects , identities exist largely within communication network itself, website, example, might metaphorically said exist in cyberspace . according interpretation, events taking place on internet not happening in locations participants or servers physically located, in cyberspace . philosopher michel foucault used term heterotopias, describe such spaces simultaneously physical , mental.

firstly, cyberspace describes flow of digital data through network of interconnected computers: @ once not real , since 1 not spatially locate tangible object, , real in effects. secondly, cyberspace site of computer-mediated communication (cmc), in online relationships , alternative forms of online identity enacted, raising important questions social psychology of internet use, relationship between online , offline forms of life , interaction, , relationship between real , virtual. cyberspace draws attention remediation of culture through new media technologies: not communication tool social destination, , culturally significant in own right. finally, cyberspace can seen providing new opportunities reshape society , culture through hidden identities, or can seen borderless communication , culture.

cyberspace place telephone conversation appears occur. not inside actual phone, plastic device on desk. not inside other person s phone, in other city. place between phones. [...] in past twenty years, electrical space, once thin , dark , one-dimensional—little more narrow speaking-tube, stretching phone phone—has flung open gigantic jack-in-the-box. light has flooded upon it, eerie light of glowing computer screen. dark electric netherworld has become vast flowering electronic landscape. since 1960s, world of telephone has cross-bred computers , television, , though there still no substance cyberspace, nothing can handle, has strange kind of physicality now. makes sense today talk of cyberspace place own.

the space in cyberspace has more in common abstract, mathematical meanings of term (see space) physical space. not have duality of positive , negative volume (while in physical space example room has negative volume of usable space delineated positive volume of walls, internet users cannot enter screen , explore unknown part of internet extension of space in), spatial meaning can attributed relationship between different pages (of books webservers), considering unturned pages somewhere out there. concept of cyberspace therefore refers not content being presented surfer, rather possibility of surfing among different sites, feedback loops between user , rest of system creating potential encounter unknown or unexpected.

videogames differ text-based communication in on-screen images meant figures occupy space , animation shows movement of figures. images supposed form positive volume delineates empty space. game adopts cyberspace metaphor engaging more players in game, , figuratively representing them on screen avatars. games not have stop @ avatar-player level, current implementations aiming more immersive playing space (i.e. laser tag) take form of augmented reality rather cyberspace, immersive virtual realities remaining impractical.

although more radical consequences of global communication network predicted cyberspace proponents (i.e. diminishing of state influence envisioned john perry barlow) failed materialize , word lost of novelty appeal, remains current of 2006.

some virtual communities explicitly refer concept of cyberspace, example linden lab calling customers residents of second life, while such communities can positioned in cyberspace explanatory , comparative purposes (as did sterling in hacker crackdown, followed many journalists), integrating metaphor wider cyber-culture.

the metaphor has been useful in helping new generation of thought leaders reason through new military strategies around world, led largely department of defense (dod). use of cyberspace metaphor has had limits, however, in areas metaphor becomes confused physical infrastructure. has been critiqued being unhelpful falsely employing spatial metaphor describe inherently network.