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The Reality Web augments our environment with a highly flexible
and controllable, seamless 'fabric' of merged and unified
technologies. This book gives a taste of what it will be like
to live in such a world, where the technology of the Reality
Web is pervasive and ubiquitous. Duncan Cragg explores how an
open and free Reality Web will enhance our personal lives,
education and work lives.
However, like any technology, the Reality Web may be used for
good or for harm, and this book covers some of the social,
legal, political and commercial implications of its adoption,
including the need to maintain the rights we in the Western
world take for granted: freedom, privacy and anonymity..
Who programs the Reality Web? What is an appropriate balance
between the interests of the major corporate and government
players and the interests of the individual? New business
models for media generation will be needed in an environment
where experiencing what your friend is experiencing 'comes with
the package'. The place of open standards, open source
programs, copyrights and patents in the Reality Web is examined.
'The Reality Web' is essential reading for anyone interested
in where the globally-interconnected, pervasive computing of
the new millennium could go, and where it may need pointing...
Part I of this compelling and entertaining book covers
the elements that make up this Reality Web, including existing
work in virtual worlds, virtual and augmented reality,
cyberspace, metaverses, multiplayer online games, work in
pervasive, ubiquitous and grid computing, logics, programming
languages and various Internet technologies, including
peer-to-peer file sharing and encryption.
Duncan Cragg has been designing and prototyping Reality Web
technology throughout his career, culminating in a set of
technological proposals that are included in Part II
of this book. These form a unique approach to implementing
free, ubiquitous, programmable, engineered realities.
Duncan Cragg received his MSc from Imperial College London,
where he specialised in automated logic systems. Amongst other
research and development posts, he has worked for British
Telecommunications in their research division and a number of
City of London investment banks. He currently works for an
international software consultancy called ThoughtWorks, living
near London with his family.
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