this week's topic is Beyond the Computer Screen

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The pervasiveness of digital technology has a profound effect on the way we live. Our economic system, social interactions and perception of the world are increasingly mediated by technology. In a sense, everything can be translated into digital code. Much online work is about representing the physical world as a digital landscape - accessed via a PC and the Net. The development of portable appliances, with accessible wireless networks, extends online experiences beyond the confines of the mouse, keyboard and monitor.

How can mobile and pervasive technology enhance the ways we experience and interact with our physical environment and each other? Does technology inhibit or expand our sense of 'being there'? How real is virtual reality?