Program Title: Social Impacts of the Virtual World - Gerri Sinclair
Description: The possibilities of the virtual world seem endless and technology is constantly providing us with tools that touch every aspect of our lives. To some, this is a blessing while others wonder what all the fuss is about. Are we becoming irreversibly dependent on the web and is this a good or bad thing? Increasingly, our virtual lives are intersecting with our real lives, which some fear causes isolation where others see freedom and community building. Is virtual communication making us better global and local citizens or are we sacrificing face-to-face encounters for virtual networking? Do we know if virtual relationships last? And for those less economically and socially advantaged, does the internet provide them with a vehicle and voice or result in further exclusion?

Host(s):
Featured Speakers/Guests: Dr. Gerri Sinclair
Executive Director, Masters of Digital Media Program
Great Northern Way Campus

Dr. Sinclair’s experience is in digital media technology, entrepreneurial business, academic research and government policy. The Great northern Way Campus is a unique, collaborative university environment that combines the strengths of four leading academic institutions, the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, Emily Carr institute of Art + Design and the British Columbia Institute of Technology, to encompass arts, technology and the environment and bridge academia with industry, artists with technology and innovation with development. Dr. Sinclair was formerly the General Manager of MSN Canada and CEO of nCompass, an internet start-up acquired by Microsoft.

Credits: Recorded and edited by Hoon

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