The author, known as the "philosopher of cyberspace," asks how people will perceive their world change when they can immerse themselves in computer simulations of any imagined world. He discusses such topics as the effect of word-processing on the English language, the new kind of literacy promised by Hypertext, how computers have altered people's thought habits, how people will distinguish between virtual and real reality, and the appearance of virtual reality in popular culture. A glossary of terms is included. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR