Subject: Cyberpoet’s Guide to Virtual Culture – 3.14.94 – p1\/5<\/p>\n
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\n\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ yberpoet’s Guide to \\\/\/irtual \/\/\/\/\/\/\/ulture |
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\nA multipart guide to the electronic frontier. 039414 o<\/p>\n
-=- 01.Introduction
\n——————————————————<\/p>\n
Beyond the hype, behind the glamour, underneath the sea of buzzwords,
\nicons and flames a new subculture is spreading in this petri dish known as
\nthe Internet. Here science and art – media and mind – combine in a cyborg
\nfrenzy to create this replicant cousin to cyberpunk and hacking. It is a
\nsubculture with no name, few labels, but thousands of common attractors,
\nwhich link together before our eyes like digital DNA to create, in the
\nhelix of the autologue, a new frontier for participants in these wide
\nvirtual spaces to explore.<\/p>\n
Any document that attempts to cover an emerging culture is doomed to be
\nincomplete. Even more so if the culture has no overt identity (at least
\nnone outside virtual space). But the other side of that coin presents us
\nwith the oportunity to document the ebb and flow, the moments of growth
\nand defeat, the development of this young culture.<\/p>\n
Although young, there is rich history and varied philosophies for this
\ngroup to draw on. From cyberpunk, the quest for access to information and
\na vision of the future (the cyber) has been exorcised from the
\ndistopic and ‘punk’ish views of the monster the media has made of
\ncyberpunk. From the Hacker ethic, we get the rally cry that “infomation
\nwants to be free.” From the workings of the Internet, we see the desire
\nfor universal access and the pursuit of Jeffersonian Democracy (kapor)
\nthat is manifested itself partially through the anarchy inherent in the
\nsystem and partially through the efforts of many net.users.<\/p>\n
This document, although significantly different, attempts to pick up where
\nthe FutureCulture FAQ (by andy hawks) left off. It should act as a
\nstarting point for those new to the net, as one avenue to reach a level
\nof net.literacy, and as a handy reference point for those already
\ncomfortable in this pocket of the net.<\/p>\n
It is a road map to the interesting viewpoints, hot dog stands, museums,
\nflora and fauna that dots this constantly changing landscape of virtual
\nspace. Explore these sites. Dig in the cyborganic gardens. Report back
\nyour findings, so that others may follow. And they will.<\/p>\n
-oO -==- Oo-<\/p>\n
[Cyberpoet] Cyber-, having to do with information flow, human and
\ncomputer use\/combinations, computer mediated communication. -Poet, one who
\nmakes art with words, an artist, a renaissance trait. A cyberpoet is one
\nwho strives to be artful in their use of virtual space. Someone who makes
\nfrequent trips to the edge of technology\/culture\/society and then reports
\nback to anyone who will listen. The avant-guard of virtual culture.
\nSomeone who, like a renaissance man, has their eye on the future and their
\nnose in its knowledge, technologies and politics.<\/p>\n
-oO -==- Oo-<\/p>\n
-=- 01.2.Contents |
\n————————-<\/p>\n
Part I<\/p>\n
-=- 01.Introduction
\n o preface
\n o contents -=>what you are reading>From A to Z
\n ==================
\n ================
\n ================
\n ==========<\/p>\n
-=- 01.Lexicon of Virtual Culture
\n——————————————————
\n-=- 01.3.The dictionary |
\n—————————<\/p>\n
Virtual Culture — >>From A to Z<\/p>\n
ADSL (Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Loop) – The transmission method
\nlikely to be used to send movies, tv shows and sports – at the viewers
\nrequest – over existing telephone lines right to your television. Look for
\nthis to be available and affordable in the next two years. This is the
\nmain contender to ISDN, the winner will provide the link between 50
\nchannels and 500 channels, 50,000 channels or (hopefully) more.<\/p>\n
Agrippa: A Book of the Dead – A collaboration between author William
\nGibson, publisher Kevin Begos Jr., and artist Dennis Ashbaugh. This
\nart-work contains engravings by Ashbaugh which appear or disappear in
\nlight and an on-disk semi-autobiographical poem by William Gibson which
\nis unreadable after having been read once. Agrippa is notable because in
\nmany respects it blurs the lines concerning what art is, and adds fuel to
\nthe fire on issues of property rights and intellectual property. A
\nhighlight of 1992 was the release of Gibson’s poem on to the net.<\/p>\n
Artificial Life – man-made systems that exhibit characteristics associated
\nwith the concept of “life”.<\/p>\n
Artificial Reality – similar to virtual reality, but more interactive,
\nwith the participant being part of, not just experiencing, the artificial
\nenvironment.<\/p>\n
Barlow, John Perry – A drummer for the Grateful Dead and co-founder of the
\nEFF. Now a net.denizen who speaks often on virtual culture and cyberspace
\nsociology and technology.<\/p>\n
BBSes – electronic Bulletin Board Systems. Begun in the late 70’s, a form
\nof virtual community existing in cyberspace where participants (usually
\nusing aliases) may send and receive public and private messages to each
\nother on any topic imaginable, transfer software (copyrighted and\/or
\npublic domain), play on-line games, etc. There is the “over-ground” BBS
\nworld where aliases are less common and illegal activities are avoided in
\ndiscussion, and the computer underground where illegal activities and
\ndiscussions are very common, members use aliases, and illegal information
\nand\/or software is exchanged.<\/p>\n
Boxing – A variety of electronic devices used to aid in phreaking. The
\noriginal was the blue box, used from the mid 60’s to the mid 80’s, which
\nallowed long distance phone calls to be made for free. A variety of other
\nsimilar instruments accomplishing different tasks have been developed,
\nsome purely comical, some quite practical.<\/p>\n
Chaos – Chaos is a state that garners a lot of respect in cyberculture, to
\nthe point of being a techno-pagan religion. Many people are self-described
\nChaoticians.<\/p>\n
Chaos Theory – A field of science revolving around simplistic equations
\ninvolving a large number of variables. Gave rise to fractals, a form of
\ncyberdelic art. For further info on the subject, James Gleick’s “Chaos:
\nMaking a New Science” is suggested.<\/p>\n
C0dez Doodz – Essentially a phreaker’s version of pirates. People who seek
\nout telco codes to be used to gain long distance (ld) telephone calls
\nwithout paying for them. Scourge of the computer underground.<\/p>\n
Communitek – an informational technology that provides the potential for a
\ncommunity to develop in cyberspace. For example, within the net, IRC and
\nelists are two communiteks.<\/p>\n
Computer Underground – “A group organized in secrecy, hidden behind
\naliases, to promote the free exchange of information regarding anything
\nand everything including, but not limited to: computers, telephones,
\nradios, chemicals, and ideas.” (Thanx to The Butler for this definition)
\nThe mainstay of communication for the computer underground is cyberspace,
\nmore specifically BBSes. The computer underground is composed of hackers,
\nphreakers, pirates, anarchists, and other cyberpunks.<\/p>\n
Cyber- – A prefix taken from cybernetics generally used in popular culture
\nto mean anything that is technologically oriented.<\/p>\n
Cyberculture – Often used in the media to denote aspects of “life as a
\ncyberpunk.” Yet if we are to follow strict meaning, cyberculture is more
\naccurately defined as an information-based culture.<\/p>\n
Cyberdeck – Term originated by William Gibson to refer to a computer used
\nby deck cowboys that can connect to the matrix.<\/p>\n
Cyberdelic – “Cyber-art”. Examples include fractals, computer-generated
\npictures and\/or music, virtual worlds, etc. (sidebar – fractal pict)<\/p>\n
Cybernetics – The study of communication systems in living organisms and
\nmachines, the mathematical analysis of the flow of information.<\/p>\n
Cyberpunk – Begun as a literary movement in the 80’s, an off-shoot of
\nnormal science fiction. Unique in that it generally occurs in the present
\nor not so distant future, the characters are often considered “punks”
\n(social deviants) and technology, (the cyber aspect), is prominent.
\n“Neuromancer” by William Gibson, published in 1984, is considered by most
\nto be the “bible” of cyberpunk. Another prominent author is Bruce
\nSterling, editor of another worthy cyberpunk collection, “Mirrorshades”.
\nOther examples of cyberpunk include Max Headroom (TV show) and BladeRunner
\n(movie). Cyberpunk is special in that it has evolved from a purely
\nliterary movement to a realistic subculture. Many “techno-punks” (i.e.,
\nhackers) are considered cyberpunks. Other contributing factors to the
\ncyberpunk subculture include: virtual reality, hallucinogenic and
\nnootropic drugs, and industrial and punk music. For an in-depth, detailed
\nlook at cyberpunk fiction and cyberpunk culture, “Storming the Reality
\nStudio,” ed. by Larry McCaffery is suggested.<\/p>\n
Cyberspace – “The electronic frontier.” A completely virtual environment:
\nthe sum of all BBSes, computer networks, and other virtual communities.
\nUnique in that it is constantly being changed, exists only virtually, can
\nbe practically infinite in “size”, communication occurs instantaneously
\nworld-wide – physical location is completely irrelevant most of the time.
\nSome include video and telephone transmissions as part of cyberspace.<\/p>\n
Cypherpunks – net.folks who have evolved from hacking to encryption and
\nconcern with creating multiple anonymous identities.<\/p>\n
Deck Cowboys – Futuristic, some say fantasy, version of a computer hacker
\nor a modern-day cyberpunk.<\/p>\n
Electronic Frontier Foundation – (EFF). Organization founded by Mitch
\nKapor (of Lotus fame) and John Perry Barlow (writer and Grateful Dead
\nsongwriter) to establish laws for cyberspace and apply the constitution to
\nvirtual communities. The EFF has recently morphed into a strong lobbying
\nforce in Washington D.C..<\/p>\n
Elist (email-lists) – An electronic discussion group that anyone with an
\nemail address can subscribe to. Email addresses for the elist members are
\nstored on a single computer. When you send email to that machine, it will
\nautomatically bounce your letter to every other subscriber. Thousands of
\nthese elists, covering almost every topic, exist on the Internet for your
\nreading pleasure and more are materializing weekly.<\/p>\n
Ezine – An net version of the small press magazine (known as a zine)
\nculture. Usually ezines exist only on the net, but more and more
\npaper-zines are distributing an electronic version as well. (sidebar, some
\nzines to watch for)<\/p>\n
F2F – face to face meeting (also FTF)<\/p>\n
Flame – Disagreement (hell, full fledged war sometimes) occurring in
\ncyberspace. Common on Usenet.<\/p>\n
Fleshmeet – a F2F meeting. Often a party of some sort where people who
\nhave met previously on the net get together.<\/p>\n
Fractals – Images created using chaos theory. A mish-mash of colors
\npresented in a pattern that repeats itself many times over. A popular
\ntype of fractal image is one created using the “Mandlebrot set”. Fractals
\nare considered cyberdelic art.<\/p>\n
Gibson, William – Considered by most to be the “father” of cyberpunk,
\nalong with Bruce Sterling. His works include the infamous “Neuromancer”,
\n“Count Zero”, “Mona Lisa Overdrive” (these 3 works are known as the sprawl
\nseries), “The Difference Engine” with which he was co-author with Bruce
\nSterling, and “Burning Chrome” a collection of short stories. A recent
\nwork of his is a poem in “Agrippa: A Book of the Dead”. Gibson says he
\nwill no longer be writing the “classic” cyberpunk novels he is famous
\nfor. His latest work is entitled “Virtual Light” is futuristic fiction
\nwas released in August.<\/p>\n
Global Village – Famous term coined by Marshall McLuhan, exemplified by
\nthe net.<\/p>\n
Gopher – A menu driven service useful for grep’ing info off the net. You
\nforgot your friend’s email address, look here. Need to read the latest
\nissue of “Voices from the net” (An electronic text based zine or ezine),
\nlook here. Searching for a file to read or software to download, use
\nGopher. Over 1200 individual gopher sites exist and the number is growing
\nweekly.<\/p>\n
Grep – search, or scan.<\/p>\n
Grok – Word with roots in Shamanism that is akin to gnow. and implies a
\nthorough and complete holistic understanding. Popularized in Robert A.
\nHeinlein’s _Stranger in a Strange Land_.<\/p>\n
Hacker – 60’s (1st) generation (orig. MIT): one who tinkers with
\nsoftware, electronics, computer hardware, etc. 80’s (2nd) WarGames
\ngeneration: one who enters computer systems without permission with
\neither malicious or non-malicious intent, to gain, alter, or destroy
\ninformation (labeled as crackers by the 60’s generation). 90’s (3rd)
\ngeneration: often called cyberpunks, mostly non-malicious crackers
\ninterested in information for the sake of information, and not hacking for
\nthe sake of the hack – sometimes calling themselves “information
\nliberators”, they have re-adopted more of the original hacker ethic of the
\n60’s that mainly states “all information should be free”, “access to
\ncomputers should be unlimited and total” and “promote decentralization”.
\nThis new, 3rd generation is commonly associated with the computer
\nunderground, despite its mostly non-malicious intent.<\/p>\n
Identity Hacking – The use of pseudo-anonymity or false accounts to
\nput ones self off as another person on the Internet. Not nice.<\/p>\n
Infonomics – The idea of an economy based on information, which obviously
\nholds many different properties from our current state of the world.<\/p>\n
Internet – A large and very popular world-wide computer network begun by
\nthe Department of Defense in the 60’s that connects educational
\ninstitutions, corporations, organizations, and military and government
\ninstallations around the globe. Some organizations exist that offer
\nInternet access to the general public for an hourly,monthly or yearly fee.
\nSuggested are places like the WELL, MindVox, Nyx (which is free of cost),
\nNetcom, etc. Many Internet users partake in reading and contributing to
\nUsenet, playing MUDs, FTPing text files and programs free of charge at the
\nvarious FTP sites, and ‘telnet’ing to other Internet sites. Because of its
\naccessibility at a relatively low cost, size (the largest computer network
\nin the world), connectivity, and infinite amounts of information, many
\nnetwork users prefer the Internet to such services as CompuServe (often
\ncalled Compu$erve on the Internet) or Prodigy (which is more restricting
\nin its content). The Internet has something to offer for everyone. There
\nare many helpful books published about how to use the Internet, some are
\navailable right on-line. Once you gain access to the Internet, it is
\nsuggested that you read the ‘news.announce.newusers’ and
\n‘news.newusers.questions’ and ‘news.answers’ newsgroups on Usenet.<\/p>\n
IRC – Internet Relay Chat. Realtime communication forums between Internet
\nusers all over the world.<\/p>\n
ISDN – Integrated Services Digital Network. A communitek hopefully coming
\nsoon to a house near you, basically it will greatly expand the potential
\nfor information coming into your house, such as having 700 cable TV
\nchannels, interactive realtime video-phones, and far off in the future
\npossible even realtime networked interactive 3d virtual reality.<\/p>\n
Kapor, Mitch – One of EFF’s founders (along with John Perry Barlow). He
\nstarted the Lotus software company and built it into one of the top 5
\nsoftware companies in the world, then left to start the EFF. In addition
\nto working at the top of EFF ladder, he frequently writes stories for
\nmagazines and newspapers, interviews on the TV and is often called to
\ntestify before congressional hearings.<\/p>\n
Knowbot – provides a uniform user interface to heterogeneous remote
\ninformation services. A predecesor to the Intelligent Agent.<\/p>\n
Legion of Doom – (LoD). A legendary group of hackers from the computer
\nunderground. When they disbanded, some members went on to form a computer
\nsecurity firm (ComSec), Loyd Blankenship wrote GURPS Cyberpunk for Steve
\nJackson Games and some ended up in jail from Operation Sundevil.<\/p>\n
Matrix – Term coined by William Gibson that refers to the consensual
\nhallucination of cyberspace.<\/p>\n
Meme – An “agent of communicative resonance,” or more simply, “an
\ninformation virus.” Memetics is the study and theories behind the root
\nstructures of information itself.<\/p>\n
MindVox – A virtual community in cyberspace, also a BBS connected to the
\nInternet. A nexus of the computer underground and cyberpunk and virtual
\nreality began by Phantom Access Technologies, former members of the Legion
\nof Doom. See also the WELL.<\/p>\n
Mirrorshades – A very important collection of cyberpunk fiction by various
\nauthors, most of whom are labeled as the mirrorshades group. This book is
\nedited by Bruce Sterling and should be available in most bookstores.<\/p>\n
Mirrorshades Group – Original collection of cyberpunk authors which
\nincludes William Gibson, Bruce Sterling, Tom Maddox, Lewis Shiner, John
\nShirley, SF Eye magazine editor Steve Brown, Rudy Rucker, Pat Cadigan, and
\nothers.<\/p>\n
Mondo 2000 – Very popular cyberpunk and new edge magazine. Recently
\nchallenged by a new magazine, WIRED.<\/p>\n
MUD – Multi-User Domain, Multi-User Dungeon, or Multi-User Dimension. MUDs
\nare multi-user role-playing-games of sorts that exist on the Internet for
\nentertainment purposes. MUDs are essentially text-based virtual worlds
\nwhich players (participants) may explore, change, or add on to. In most
\ncases, the MUD is actually a “game” with scores, player attributes,
\nlevels, etc., but some MUDs are with more social goals in mind. MUDs tend
\nto be based around different science fiction genres such as fantasy,
\nspace, or even cyberpunk.
\nMore recently MUDs have SIDEBAR – MU*’s have a somewhat unfortunate
\ndeveloped new uses. Research, SIDEBAR – of being addicting. I attribute
\nconferencing, and more SIDEBAR – this to the strong feeling of
\nacademic MUDs are popping SIDEBAR – community one gets from mudding.
\nup like wildflowers these SIDEBAR – Students have been known to drop
\ndays and indicate a possible SIDEBAR – out of school just to MUD. Others
\ntrend in the Internet, that SIDEBAR – have fallen in love over a mu*
\nbeing integration of services. SIDEBAR – only to later realize the other
\n SIDEBAR – player doesn’t feel the same.
\nNanotechnology – the science SIDEBAR – I recommend going cold turkey as
\nof “micro-machines”. Small SIDEBAR – the only solution to the MUDding
\ngears or other machines seen SIDEBAR – addiction. =)
\nonly by a microscope, that
\ncan be used in areas such as medicine and health, art, and other
\ntechnologies.<\/p>\n
Net – A computer network. Often used to mean the Internet when referred to
\nas “the net”.<\/p>\n
Netrip – Many similarities exist in some people’s minds between
\npsychedelic drugs and the net, and a netrip is the state of literally
\ngetting “high” off the net, accompanied by distortions in space and time,
\na gnowledge of the net itself, an intense desire to communicate your
\nsubconscious to the rest of the net, etc.<\/p>\n
New Edge – Fringe culture and fringe science, mostly techno-oriented, and
\nvery popular in Southern California. Mondo 2000 is a magazine devoted to
\nthe new edge.<\/p>\n
Nexus – The dictionary defines a “nexus” as a “a connection, tie, or link
\nbetween individuals of a group, members of a series, etc.” When applied to
\nvirtual cultures and the networked humans which comprise them, a NEXUS is
\nbasically a domicile\/workspace\/cultural-center formed in real-life by
\npeople who have met and established relationships over the Net. They
\npurchase and secure group Internet access, and thus control their own
\nnode, living in close proximity, since creativity blossoms in people when
\nsurrounded with creativity; since similar approaches to work and life can
\nre-inforce each other. We have seen this happen on the Net; the NEXUS
\ncommunity intends to manifest it in reality, to integrate it into our
\nlifestyle.<\/p>\n
Nootropics – A new science revolving around drugs used to increase
\nintelligence, aid in memory, enhance brain activity, etc. Touted as a fad
\nby some, others claim that use of nootropics actually work. See also
\nSmartDrinks.<\/p>\n
Operation Sundevil – Secret Service operation begun in 1990 intended to
\ndestroy the computer underground by confiscating BBSes and detaining
\nhackers.<\/p>\n
Paste Bomb – Sometimes a litteral core dump. Via the Mac’s Cut and Paste
\ncapability, take random bits of data from one’s hard drive and paste it
\ninto an online conversation, email, mud, whatever. Eris Lives. Sci-fi
\nauthor Bruce Sterling is a notorious paste bomber. Get in the habit<\/p>\n
Phrack – An important magazine existing only in cyberspace, of interest to
\nthe computer underground. It’s founder, Craig Neidorf, now works for the
\nElectronic Frontier Foundation.<\/p>\n
Phreaker – Hacking the phone system. Usually meaning to get phone calls
\nfor free, whether by boxing or calling card fraud. Individual phreakers
\nare called phreaks.<\/p>\n
Pirate – One who copies software illegally. Commonly associated with the
\ncomputer underground. Although commonplace, pirates are looked down upon
\nas with codez d00dz . (sidebar SPA and the big corporation pirates)<\/p>\n
Post-industrial – The state of the world, including megacorp zaibatsus, an
\nevolving infonomics, etc.<\/p>\n
Post-modern – Literary, artistic, cultural, and philosophical movement
\nrevolving around the post-industrial world in which we live, and the
\nunique aspects of the trends of modern society.<\/p>\n
Raves – A ‘dying’ subculture revolving around all-night dance parties.
\nTypically, the parties are generally illegal and thus a complex process is
\ninvolved to find out where they are located. Rave music is generally
\ntechno or house , the parties usually include 1 or more DJs. Also present
\nin many cases are “chill out rooms” which feature more ambient music.
\nLasers, blaring music, cyberdelic images, SmartDrinks and drugs most often
\nMDMA {X, XTC, Ecstasy, E}, LSD {acid}, ketamine, or nootropics) are all
\ngeneral contributors to the rave experience. Raves are usually held in
\nwarehouses, and last until the next morning. Another large part of rave
\nculture is the flyers – used to find out where your next party will be.
\nRaves are meant to be very happy events, everyone ideally should be open
\nand free, laying aggressions and inhibitions aside for the night. Some
\nhave likened the rave experience to “a weekly roving techno-woodstock for
\nthe 90’s.” Rave fashion includes over-sized baggy t-shirts and pants,
\nhooded sweat-shirts, ski caps, and usually bright colors, as well as
\naccessories such as whistles, Cat In The Hat hats, “doctor” masks,
\nVapoRub, etc. Many factors have led to an often heard questions these
\ndays, “where have all the ravers gone?” (one answer is… they’ve gone Retro)<\/p>\n
RTFM – Read The Fucking Manual. An abbreviation used when clueless
\nquestions are asked about subjects that are answered in the manual or FAQ.<\/p>\n
Shaman – An overused word that in ancient and modern cultures implies one
\nwho is a wise medicine man or healer, with a keen understanding of the
\nways of things. Used increasingly in modern culture, especially in
\nconjunction with techno-paganism.<\/p>\n
Slipstream – Term used to denote cyberpunk fiction, particularly pre-1984
\nfictional works that have been influential to the mirrorshades group or
\nthat closely resemble cyberpunk, but are sometimes outside of the sf
\ngenre. An example would be William S. Burroughs.<\/p>\n
SmartDrugs – nootropics.<\/p>\n
SmartDrinks – Similar to SmartDrugs, or nootropics, the intent of these
\nsubstances, loaded with vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other healthy
\nsubstances, is to aid in brain functioning. Smart Drinks are most often
\nconsumed at raves, thus, the purpose of some smart drinks is to “energize”
\nthe drinker, not to make them smarter.<\/p>\n
Sprawl – Word used by William Gibson to mean large mega-cities, and places
\nwhere different cities collide. Southern California and New York City
\nmight be early examples of the sprawl. This word is used often in modern
\ntimes as “urban sprawl”.<\/p>\n
Steve Jackson Games – RPG manufacturers that have played a key role in the
\nevolution of cyberpunk and the computer underground. Operators of the
\nIlluminati BBS and makers of GURPS Cyberpunk, an RPG guide written by Loyd
\nBlankenship, a member of the Legion of Doom.<\/p>\n
Sterling, Bruce – considered by most to be the “co-founder” of cyberpunk
\nalong with William Gibson. He is the editor of “Mirrorshades: A cyberpunk
\nanthology,” which is considered the quintessential collection of cyberpunk
\nworks by the mirrorshades group. Some of his other works include “Islands
\nin the Net”, “Schismatrix”, “Involution Ocean”, “The Artificial Kid”, “The
\nDifference Engine” which he co-authored with Gibson and “The Hacker
\nCrackdown” a non-fiction account of the computer underground and Operation
\nSundevil, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Phrack, the Legion
\nof Doom, Steve Jackson Games, etc. Sterling has also been a vocal member
\nof the net. Keep your eyes open, you never know where he will surface next.<\/p>\n
Social Engineering – Technique by which hackers or crackers acquire
\ninformation, such as names and passwords. Essentially a modern-day con,
\noften conducted via phone conversations, such as portraying oneself as a
\ntelco employee.<\/p>\n
TBT – Talking by Typing.<\/p>\n
Techno- – prefix similar to cyber-, referring to anything which has its
\nroots in current or futuristic technology.<\/p>\n
Techno – type of music made almost entirely with the help of computers,
\nrevolving around a fast-paced drum beat (as high as 160 BPM), sampling,
\nand synthesizers.<\/p>\n
Technoculture – The idea of a culture with a strong foundation rooted in
\ntechnology. Often used loosely in association with cyberculture and new edge.<\/p>\n
Techno-paganism – Literally the worshipping of technology. Many people
\n*believe* that, for example, the net has some magic or is a sentient
\nentity in itself, or that technology can be an agent of evolution.
\n(sidebar Aleph spew)<\/p>\n
Teledildonics – Virtual sex in a virtual environment. Term often used by
\nthe new edge community. (sidebar: from new CD to magazine to etc)<\/p>\n
Toasternet – Putting together a LAN, WAN or Internet hook up with the
\ncheapest of technology. Read up on Toasternets on the Wells Gopher.<\/p>\n
Usenet – A collection of “newsgroups” on the Internet, in which Internet
\nusers may post or read messages on almost any subject imaginable. The
\ntopics of discussion are divided up into the individual newsgroups, which
\ntotal about 2000 on average. Usenet is divided into various large
\nsections, including the ‘alt’ernative newsgroups, the ‘comp’uter
\nnewsgroups, the ‘sci’ence newsgroups and the ‘talk’ newsgroups, among
\nothers. Some groups are moderated, while most remain completely
\nuncensored. Usenet is often referred to as Abusenet for its all-too
\nfamiliar flames and appearance of perpetual chaos.<\/p>\n
Virtual Community – any group or gathering that exists in cyberspace. This
\ncould be a BBS, a hacking group, a net, or even a zaibatsu.<\/p>\n
Virtual Culture – the collection of virtual communities, and the cultural
\naspects unique to those communities.<\/p>\n
Virtual Reality – a consentual hallucination of a world existing only in
\ncyberspace. Modern day virtual reality uses helmets, gloves, and body
\nsuits to create such a world, which is first created on a computer and
\nconnected to the vr devices. A goal of some virtual reality researchers is
\nto generate a completely alternate reality. Research in vr includes
\nnetworking people, so spatial limitations are meaningless. The
\npossibilities of vr-generated environments are as limitless as the
\nimagination.<\/p>\n
Virtual World – a world existing in cyberspace created and used with
\nvirtual reality technologies.<\/p>\n
WELL – The Whole Earth ‘Lectronic Link. An important gridpoint in the
\nmatrix, a virtual community in cyberspace, also a BBS connected to the
\nInternet. A group concerned mostly with cyberpunk, virtual reality,
\nnootropics, and other aspects of the new edge. Many celebreties have an
\naccount on the Well.<\/p>\n
WIRED – A new magazine devoted to exploring virtualspace and new
\ntechnologies. Wired is not as new edge as Mondo 2000 and seemingly gives
\noff a more corporate news oriented format. However, it is a refreshing
\nview and perhaps infonomics first steps into the public realm. (The TIME
\nmagazine of virtual culture.)<\/p>\n
Wirehead – a hardware hacker.<\/p>\n
Zaibatsu – Japanese term used a lot by William Gibson that means a large
\nmega-corporation, such as Sony for example.<\/p>\n
______ _____ __ __ ______
\n\/ ___ \/ __ \/ “-. \/__ _
\n ____ \/ \\ -. \\\/_\/ \/ __
\n _____\\ _____\\ _\\”_ _ \/_
\n \/_____\/ \/____ \/ \/_\/ \/_\/ \/_\/ \/_\/ In Part 2 of 5
\n copyright 1994 John Frost<\/p>\n
