In fact, so many people prefer the fantasy! I think about how many people cannot accept aging or imperfections (with an ever-changing definition of perfection) and avatars and virtual lives will fill that void. It will present an interesting challenge for psychologists!

Perhaps people will chose avatars as a rite of passage.

Over at Blogspoke I’ve been talking a little bit about why and how blog ‘conversations’ can reach a depth of relationship and focus that face-to-face interaction often can’t reach. ‘Blogging sure beats talking to your face.’

http://www.blogspoke.com/page/blogspoke?entry=blogging_sure_beats_talking_to

It’s funny that you ask this question because it realtes to what I was planning on writing about next. Many people think that the next step in evolution for humanity as a community is to take the 3-D virtual world like in ‘Second Life’, and integrate it fully into everyday ‘real life’.

Communication, work, business, shopping, meeting people…emails, instant messenger, webcam, podcasts, avatars, blogs, forums, photos, bookmarking: One day it could all be done in one space that becomes so ‘real’ that it’s no longer deemed ‘virtual’.

My grandparents would argue that children are better off playing with other kids out in the fresh air, rather than spending their whole existence on a computer. I think kids are growing into a more integrated reality composed of multiple avenues for growth, and most probably they’re unaware of their programming. The key is to find a balance of these two aspects of modern life…the future depends on it.

As well as ‘real’ vs. ‘virtual’ world integration, we also have to ask about the integration of science and spirituality, looking outside ourselves, and looking within, if we want our future generations to evolve into a society that relates positively to both the world it comes from, as well as it’s fellow citizens in a peaceful and respectful manner.

I have slowly allowed much of my private information to be available online. When ATMs first came out, I didn’t use them. I was uncomfortable with not dealing with a person. But the busier my life became, the more convenient ATMs were. Ditto online banking. I travel so much I may not be home in time to pay bills.

Many businesses are trying to move as many services online as they can. There is also the fact that you can save money by buying things online and business encourage this by offering free shipping.

The Personal Portal will be difficult to avoid – people are pushing for it and marketers will seduce us with its convenience.

Word processing programs often keep records of every change made to a document. JPG pictures contain the serial number of the camera that took the picture.

I have heard that Google keeps every search you ever made on their site. Just like your credit card statement, a list of your searches is a reflection of you. Those searches reflect your hobbies, finances, medical conditions, travel plans, etc. Creepy? Yes!