Davos Open Forum 2008 - Virtual Worlds - Fiction or Reality?

http://www.weforum.org/openforum/ 26.01.2008
Open Forum - Virtual Worlds - Fiction or Reality?
Second Life is one of the new ways of extending life to the virtual space, for example, allowing us to attend Wimbledon while standing next to one of the players or living out our social desires anonymously without restraints or risk of sanctions. More and more people are turning to virtual reality to establish who they are, what they know, who they interact with and how. This will influence how society is structured in the future and how real or fictive this virtual world will be.

1) In the context of the virtual worlds we are creating, what is the difference between fiction and reality?
2) With the ease of access to these virtual worlds, how do different generations react?
3) How does this world of immediate access, limitless social skills and unrestrained behaviour influence our moral framework?
4) Should the focus be on the technological or human side of progress?

Philip Rosedale, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Linden Lab, USA
Florence Develey, Pastor, Switzerland
Rafael Capurro, Professor, Information Management and Information Ethics, Stuttgart Media University, Germany
Joseph Weizenbaum, Former Professor of Computer Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
Reid Hoffman, Chairman and President, LinkedIn Corporation, USA
Moderator
Loïc Le Meur, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Seesmic, USA; Young Global Leader

Category:

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[hopecapital]

I find Loïc Le Meur to be very rude and disrespectful towards professor Joseph Weizenbaum by interrupting the professor multiple times and through his condescending body language towards the professor while he was talking. The professor raises serious concerns and risks associated with the increase in user to user electronic communication and it is important for leaders of industry to consider these factors and how their business and its products and services can limit or minimize these risks.

[maperez324]

Dr. Capurro participation was extraordinary. The moderator has no idea about information ethics.

[Miyuki93]

How dare the moderator ridicule Professor Joseph's speech. So much of energy and passion for the subject. I agree the moderator needs to have ethics.

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[McGravity1]

I think these people would be better to read my essay "Virtual Space - the future of movies and video games" I can't give the address here but do a search on YouTube.

[jerk0009]

Rosedale is a bimbo. So is the moderator.

[FinalParadise]

What we feel right has been created by the tough evolution: it is the optimised way to arrange the whole. So even though virtual worlds create possibilities for joining the parts in new ways, that is not beneficial, but just as harmful as our feelings tell when we use a holistic view of the world. Just say aloud the philosophical considerations that cause you to feel the way that you do, and you are a part of the intellectual communication. Use a long time scale to see all the concequencies.

[Jknasse2]

the guy from second life is completely out of the loop

secondlife is a garbage vitual world with horrible graphics this doesnt constitute a big cyberworld

all it is a waste of time

[patsch]

this may very well be the document of the last public appearance of joseph weizenbaum. he died on wednesday, march 5 2008, in Berlin. see heise . de / newsticker / meldung / 104672

[piechulla1966]

Weizenbaum seemingly alive and kicking, this is unbelievable! Do you know how much time doctors give him? Hats off!