Urban Vancouver

Speak Up: Social Impacts of Our Virtual World

By Richard Eriksson on February 13, 2008 - 12:54pm

Speakers:

• Calvin Helin, President, Native Investment and Trade Association
• Dr. Gerri Sinclair, Executive Director, Masters of Digital Media Program, Great Northern Way Campus
• Dr. Richard Smith, Associate Director, School of Communication, Simon Fraser University

Moderated by Brian Campbell, retired senior manager, Vancouver Public Library.

From the Speak Up 2008 pamphlet [PDF]:

The possibilities of the virtual world seem endless and technology is constantly providing us with tools that touch every aspect of our lives. To some, this is a blessing while others wonder what all the fuss is about. Are we becoming irreversibly dependent on the web and is this a good or bad thing? increasingly, our virtual lives are intersecting with our real lives, which some fear causes isolation where others see freedom and community building. is virtual communication making us better global and local citizens or are we sacrificing face-to-face encounters for virtual networking? do we know if virtual relationships last? And for those less economically and socially advantaged, does the internet provide them with a vehicle and voice or result in further exclusion? Join the final discussion of Speak Up 2008 to explore your place in the virtual world.

From the Speak Up 2008: My Virtual World listing:

During this intriguing four-part series, expert panelists representing a broad range of perspectives on technology in the virtual and real worlds will address four key aspects of e-activity: Online Privacy, Gaming, Information Online and the Social Impacts of Our Virtual World. Participants are invited to share their thoughts about the role of technology in our world and how the rapidly advancing virtual world is increasingly intersecting with our daily lives.