metaphor-shift
The transition from viewing computers as 'electronic brains' to perceiving them as tools that reveal and illuminate reality, like crystal balls or telescopes.
1 chapter across 1 book
Mirror Worlds (1991)David Gelernter
The 'Preamble' chapter of 'Mirror Worlds' introduces the concept of mirror worlds as digital representations of real-world institutions and environments, visualized through computer screens as vivid, interactive, and data-rich models. It emphasizes the transformative potential of these mirror worlds to change how people perceive and interact with computers, shifting from the outdated metaphor of 'electronic brains' to more vivid, perceptual metaphors like crystal balls or stained glass windows. The chapter invites readers to embrace this technological evolution as an inevitable and profound shift in human-computer interaction.