mediated-reality
The phenomenon where television and other media shape and often replace direct experience, leading to a distorted perception of time and identity.
1 chapter across 1 book
Stand on Zanzibar (1968)John Brunner
The chapter explores the pervasive influence of advanced technology on human perception and communication, focusing on the personalized television service 'Mr. and Mrs. Everywhere' that immerses viewers in idealized, fabricated realities. It also discusses the challenges of keeping pace with rapid information processing by computers like Shalmaneser, the social and political implications of genetic advancements in Yatakang, and the resulting societal tensions around eugenics and identity. The narrative highlights the disconnection between actual experience and mediated reality, as well as the pressures governments face in responding to revolutionary biotechnological claims.