Exploring Cyberspace

Essay # 58015

Computer and Technology

A look at the challenge of defining virtuality and cyberspace.

1,350 words () | 6 sources | MLA | 2003

Paper Summary:

This paper provides a critical analysis of the different definitions of cyberspace offered by Elmer Dewitt and Michael E. Doherty and shows that both offer accurate definitions. It also examines how, when these definitions are added together and compared with others, they give a complete picture of the term denoting a virtual world, which imitates the activities and features of the real world.

From the Paper:

"Elmer Dewitt's definition of cyberspace is wider than Doherty's because it stresses that cyberspace is not just "the land of knowledge," (par. 6) but also a world that is created by human experiences. These experiences might be business, social or politics ones. My experience in the CNN.com chat room is just one side of cyberspace, a businessman's financial experiences are another side of it, and a student's experiences are even a third side. Cyberspace can be about information, economics, academic research or just social conversation. In other words, cyberspace has different definitions for different people. And, this is the justification for Dewitt's definition of cyberspace as "an experience, not a wiring system" (par. 6)."