Cyberspace. A consensual hallucination experienced daily by billions of legitimate operators, in every nation, by children begin taught mathematical concepts. . . . A graphic representation of data abstracted from the banks of every computer in the human system. Unthinkable complexity. Lines of light ranged in the nonspace of the mind, clusters and constellations of data. Like city lights, receding..." William Gibson

Reading: Chapter One - Using technology to communicate in new ways

We examine Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) to understand the experience of online interaction. Naturally, this requires an overview of just what CMC is, and how it fits within the field of communication studies and popular culture. Following this discussion, we examine CMC as a blurring between immediate and mediated communication. As we'll see, this process of blurring holds important implications for our conceptions of self and society. The question remains, though: how do we communicate differently in this medium than through other traditional modes of interaction? Answering that, we explore popular components of online communication, including electronic mail, bulletin board systems, internet relay chat, multi-user domains, and the World Wide Web. Following this discussion, we explore cyberspace as a metaphoric means to understanding CMC. To that end, we explore the meaning of the word and the location of the "cyberspace" experience before extending our study the alternative metaphors for our online interactions. We conclude with a reminder that dominant spatial metaphors for CMC may limit our understanding of this environment.

Off-campus webpages

Atlas of Cyberspaces - "These maps of Cyberspaces - cybermaps - help us visualise and comprehend the new digital landscapes beyond our computer screen, in the wires of the global communications networks and vast online information resources. The cybermaps, like maps of the real-world, help us navigate the new information landscapes, as well being objects of aesthetic interest. They have been created by 'cyber-explorers' of many different disciplines, and from all corners of the world."

Metaphors We Compute By - John M. Lawler - "Computers are the subject of plenty of myths. They are new and therefore scary. Scary things need explanations; when we have an explanation, a label, we can put the scariness into a box and feel in control of it."

Stanford HCI Design Learning Space - Metaphor: "The idea of user interface metaphors became popular with the advent of the graphical user interface of the Xerox Star, with its metaphorical use of desktop items, such as folders, documents, and in and out boxes. In the following years, there were many copies of the desktop interface, and a number of attempts to use other metaphors, such as notebooks, buildings and cities, card racks, and others. There are simplistic statements about both the need to use a familiar metaphor for usability, and the dangers and problems of using metaphors."

Note: These pages exist outside of San Jose State University servers and their content is not endorsed by the page maintainer or any other university entity. These pages have been selected because they may provide some guidance or insight into the issues discussed in class. Because one can never step into the same electronic river twice, the pages may or may not be available when you request them. If you have any questions or suggestions, please email Dr. Andrew Wood.