Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Digital or virtual?

It suddenly just popped into mind: how can we distinguish between the virtual (less with regard to its philosophical background) and the digital (referring to technological codes?). - when f.e. would we speak of a digital identity (someone surfing the web?) and when of a virtual identity (someone playing online games?)?
It would be great if we could address this probably very basic question next time.

2 comments:

  1. Mei- your question reminded me of Lucas Hilderbrand's recent piece (7/09) on the "semiotics of the digital" found on Flowtv: http://flowtv.org/?p=4126
    I think Lucas brings up an interesting point in regard to how we utilize these words (digital, digitally, etc.) and how, like code, they become not just ubiquitous, but also imbued with a certain aesthetic or affective quality. I don't think this essay necessarily answers your question, rather I think it may push us to ask it differently. Perhaps.

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