horizons (horizonal structure)

phenomenological: the background framework against which the world stands

interface

computer: the ergonomic structures that enable interaction with the virtual through a computer

internet

a network of network that connects technological devices enabling information sharing

Merleau-Ponty, Maurice

20th century French philosopher and writer of Phenomenology of Perception

mutual agreement of trust

phenomenological: when individual consciousnesses are to commit to a shared project, they must make space in their own intersubjectivity to acknowledge another conscious being

Phenomenology of Perception

a groundbreaking phenomenological text with perception as the center of a complete ontology, written by Merleau-Ponty in 1945

physical

occurring in the physical world

physical world

the material, spatial world that our bodies inhabit and share with other bodies

problem of other minds

the philosophical problem whether other minds exist, or if we are the only mind that has ever existed, to which Merleau-Ponty has a strong refutation

screen

computer: the way that information is presented to the user such that it acts as the user's window to the virtualized world

shared projects

phenomenological: projects undertaken by more than one person, and where project success is dependent on individuals entering a mutual agreement of trust

social media

all of the mediums (applications, websites, etc.) which enable users to create profiles with the goal of interacting with other user's profiles

spatial horizons

how the horizons of the physical world present us with an understanding of physical space, by standing our existence and our perception against other spatially oriented objects

virtual

as opposed to the physical; anything that is done through the medium of technology

virtual horizons

as opposed to physical (spatial) horizons; the background structure that informs virtual perception and action; the background structure of the virtual world

virtual space

the area within the virtual world which can be acted in, or acted on

virtual world

the world which is created by constant virtualization

virtualization

the entire system in which the virtual and virtualized occur; the sum of what happens, becomes, and inherently is virtual

virtualized (to virtualize)

when something physical is transformed to be made virtual, usually by some form of computational mediation; the act of transforming the physical to the virtual

zoom

a particularly well-known video conferencing platform in 2020