COPING WITH CYBERSPACE
G. J. Marshall · Cybernetics & Systems · 1998
We cope with cyberspace by behaving as if we were in the real world, that is, by appealing to metaphor. There are metaphors both for the landscape of cyberspace and for maneuvering within it. These metaphors are described, and ways in which they can be extended to create a richer version of cyberspace are presented. Examination of the metaphors shows that they imply a virtual world that is based on well-known cybernetic models. The reasons for the success of the metaphors, therefore, rest not only in allowing us to bring our knowledge of the real world to cyberspace but also in allowing us to bring to bear our knowledge of systems and cybernetics.