Enormous increases in processing power and bandwidth are blurring the lines between the real world and the virtual one. As work, education, government, and entertainment have moved on-line, the barriers of space and time that formerly marked different parts of people¡¯s lives have disappeared. Virtual work teams, telecommuting, long-distance learning, and electronic shopping for many have resulted in an ¡°anything, anywhere, anytime¡± lifestyle, in which formerly distinct areas of people¡¯s lives are now intertwined in cyberspace. People¡¯s lives and their relationships with others are increasingly taking place in this electronic reality. As a result, digital technology has transformed the personal and public lives of most Americans over the past 15 years. |