Friday, January 14, 2022

Does Metaverse Future Sometimes Make You Feel Stupid?

In 1992, when the Internet was still new, American novelist Neil Stevenson spoke about virtual reality, a virtual world where people would use digital avatars to live, work, and play online. He called it the Meta. The word meta means beyond and verse is taken from the word universe. He said this world, the Meta Verse would be the successor of the Internet, an escape of sorts from a Dystopian reality.



What kind of Dystopian reality? i.e.the global economy has collapsed, federal governments have lost their power, and a handful of giant corporations controlled the world. That was his projection three decades ago.

Today, big tech is working on building the same future minus the Dystopia. As we speak tech giants like Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Facebook are racing to claim the metaverse— a virtual universe that will co-exist with a physical one. Facebook has even changed its name to Meta to stay on top of the curve. To a lot of their users, metaverse may sound like an idyllic place to spend time, especially now when the pandemic has locked us down. For two years now, human contact has been the casualty. Enter Metaverse with a promise to revolutionize our lives, to become an extension of the physical world. But the question is, do we really need it? Do we really need an imaginary world controlled by tech Giants? Will it really make our lives better on the Internet? or will it manipulate our perception of reality?

Tuesday, January 4, 2022

Summary Report 2021; Pakistan

 What Pakistan went through in 2021

How fast time passes can be gauged from the fact that just yesterday we were celebrating the arrival of 2021 and praying for deliverance and blessings from pandemics like Corona this year. Now saying goodbye to 2021. With this feeling, many memories, events, and happenings are circulating in the mind. In terms of the Corona epidemic, this year has been much better, at least in Pakistan. Though not completely, but somehow controlled as compared to 2020. In addition to being very good, there have been many incidents and accidents which have called into question the security of the country.



January:
At the beginning of the year, there was a tragic accident in which 22-year-old Osama Nadeem Satti was killed by the Islamabad police on the basis of baseless suspicion. The question arose as to whether our police officers had the power to kill anyone they wanted, accusing them of terrorism. The following passage reflects on the situation in the heart.

“I am a citizen of a free country,

But I am not free at all,

If I am weak and helpless,

Then consider me a terrorist.”

February:
In February 2021, the Pakistan Navy held a six-day international peacekeeping exercise in which representatives from more than 40 countries, including China, the United States, and Iran, participated, which was certainly a proud initiative.

March:
The issue of women's rights and women's march in Pakistan remained the same. Despite thousands of efforts and women's march, women could not be satisfied with their rights and status in society. However, the women's march became even more controversial when a few videos surfaced after the march, which was accused of blasphemy. Thus, this controversial women's march ended without any logical conclusion.

April-June:
On April 21, a loud explosion took place in the parking lot of Serena Hotel, the only five-star hotel in Quetta. The hotel was located in a sensitive area. It is also a hub for foreign tourists. For a long time after the arrival of the British, train travel was considered the safest. But a series of train accidents made it unsafe. On June 7, 2021, a similar accident took place near the Ghotki district of Sindh. The accident took place between Millat and Sir Syed Express in which at least 65 people were killed on the spot and about 150 were injured.



July:
Be it domestic incompetence or lust for wealth, failure in love or betrayal or murder in the name of friendship, it is becoming a common practice in our society. In the society in which we live, the victims are found, the killers are not found and even if they are found, they do not come under the clutches of law easily. A similar tragedy took place in Islamabad. On July 20, Noor Muqaddam from Islamabad was killed by cutting her throat with a sharp instrument. It was the culmination of brutality when human rights groups raised their voices against it, and the case gained prominence on social media.



August:
On the occasion of Independence Day, what happened in Minar-e-Pakistan at Park made the whole nation bow its heads in shame. Was it the fault of the girl or the mob, was it a conspiracy to spoil the joys of Independence Day or an accident? The question is, where are our social attitudes going?


In 2021, the politics of sit-ins continued in full swing in the country's politics. Activists started protesting against the decision to ban Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) and then the arrest of its Amir Saad Hussain Rizvi (son of late Khadim Hussain Rizvi). Violent demonstrations were followed by the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan.



Supreme Court orders the removal of encroachments in Karachi. The order to demolish the multi-story race tower was hotly debated. The question was, where do those who have invested their lives here go? Why doesn't the government take notice when constructing such buildings that it is illegal? Consideration is being given to compensating them.

The slogan "Haq Do Gwadar Ko" was also on the political horizon of Pakistan. The people of Gwadar started a movement against the trawler mafia and for basic rights in which women continued to play a significant role.

Last Months of 2021:
At the end of the year, an embarrassing accident took place in Iqbal City, Sialkot. The unnecessarily enraged mob killed a Sri Lankan man
Priyantha Kumara Diyawadana, accused of blasphemy, and then set his body on fire. While this tarnished the national identity at the international level, the incident was a clear manifestation of growing sentimentality, ignorance, and violence in the society.



In that year there were many ups and downs in the country along with inflation, disease, poverty, and unemployment but at the same time, this year swallowed many precious diamonds with it. Apart from Dr. Tariq Aziz and Waheed-ud-Din Khan, the directors of masterpieces such as "Andhira Ajala" related to science and literature, many shining stars of the showbiz industry, comedy King Omar Sharif, Dardana Butt, Hasina Moin, Farooq Qaiser alias Uncle Sargam, Anwar. Artists like Iqbal Baloch, Sanbal Shahid, Ejaz Durrani, Naila Jafri, and Sohail Asghar, and the hero of the nation Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan left fans in mourning. Let us pray that the coming New Year will bring goodness and security to the country.

5 WAYS TO BOOST YOUR BRAIN POWER

We live in an age of information overload. And, at times, it can feel as if our brains just can’t keep up. But, there are some things you can do to unlock the true potential of your brain.

Human Brain


1.    1. Trust your gut!
Did you know that your brain consumes 20-25 percent of your energy? All that thinking requires a lot of fuel. So, make sure you stock up on good “brain food,” like citrus fruits, berries and even chocolate!
An examination that zeroed in on the effect of eating nuts on the cerebrum found that standard nut utilization fortifies brainwave frequencies that are identified with cognizance, learning, memory, recuperating, and other fundamental mind capacities. Pistachios appeared to create the most noteworthy gamma wave reaction, while peanuts delivered the most critical delta reaction. Gamma wave reaction is attached to data maintenance, learning, psychological preparing, and discernment, and delta wave reaction is connected to regular mending and solid resistance.

2.    2. Get more exercise
Regular exercise can improve memory and learning, and reduce stress. Exercise has been exhibited to improve memory and thinking capacity among more established grown-ups with gentle intellectual disability. Oxygen consuming activity, specifically, was appeared to expand mind volume in most dark issue locales, including those that help transient memory and improve psychological capacity. Researchers have demonstrated that even short episodes of physical movement may positively affect the cerebrum.
Participating quickly of high-force span preparing for about a month and a half has been related with enhancements in high-obstruction memory, which permits us to separate between our vehicle and one of a similar make, model, and shading, for instance.

3.    3. Practice mindfulness.
When you get stressed, use breathing and thought exercises to restore calm. This will help your concentration and decision-making skills, even when you feel under pressure.
Individuals with typical memory skills used a strategic memory improvement technique, known as memory of loci training, for 30 minutes each day for 40 days.
The participants went from recalling around 26 words from a list of 72 to remembering 62 words, so the training more than doubled their memory capacity. Improvements in the recall were observed for at least 4 months after training.

4.    4. Challenge your brain
Your brain has the ability to adapt and change. But only when it stays challenged. So, keep it stimulated by taking up a hobby
or learning a new skill.
In addition to brain training, another method you can use to give your brain a workout is to learn a new skill. Learning a new skill 
ignites cognitive abilities in infants and young, benefit the aging brain, and sharpen their mind.

5.     5. Get a good night’s sleep.
A sound sleep routine can help you to stay refreshed and invigorated. Avoid unnatural light from devices like mobile phones before bedtime and wake up naturally with the morning light or a sunrise lamp.
Follow an ordinary rest plan. Rest and get up simultaneously every day, even on ends of the week or when you are voyaging.
Abstain from snoozing in the late evening or night, on the off chance that you can. Snoozes may keep you alert around evening time.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

PAKISTAN: A Peaceful Country


Introduction:

The name Pakistan means "land of the pure" in Urdu and Persian. It alludes to the word (pak) meaning "pure" in Persian and Pashto. The suffix (-stan) is a Persian suffix meaning the place of.

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a country located in South Asia, came into being on 14th August 1947. Being 1947, it was merged with India and was known as ‘Bar e Sagheer Pak o Hind’. Islamabad is the capital city of Pakistan. The traditional conflict with India has led to several military confrontations, with wars fought in 1947, 1965, and 1971. Geographically, Pakistan covers the area from Himalaya (mountain name) down to the Arabian Sea. India, China, Afghanistan and Iran are the neighbor countries of Pakistan.

Urdu is the national language of Pakistan. Pakistan has five provinces named as ‘Khyber Pakhtoon Khwa, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Gilgit Baltistan’. Northern areas are the most beautiful places in Pakistan. Some of the facts about Pakistan have been mentioned here.




1. Pakistani Cultures:

Our beautiful country Pakistan has a unique and rich culture that upholds conventions and traditions. Pakistani culture is rich in a variety of dresses; these dresses are very colorful and prominent and give attractive look during national fairs and festivals.

Pakistan's culture is very diverse. There are 15 major ethnic groups in Pakistan, which differ not only in their culture but also in many different aspects. Especially five provinces of Pakistan have unique cultures. Like Pathan culture (Culture of people living in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa), Punjab Culture (Culture of people living in Punjab), Sindh culture (Culture of people living in Sindh), Baloch culture (Culture of people living in Balochistan), Gilgit Baltistan culture (Culture of people living in Gilgit). These cultures are uniquely different from each other in different aspects like historical bloodlines, customs, dress, food, and music. Pathans have been noted as fierce fighters, and throughout history, they have offered strong resistance to invaders. Most of them wear a Chitrali cap. According to the population, Punjab is the biggest province of Pakistan with 56% of the total population of the country.

Pakistan's Culture




2. Sports in Pakistan:

Pakistani people are great lovers of games and sports. A variety of Sports is being played in Pakistan but cricket seems to be the most popular sport in Pakistan. Pakistan also has won the cricket world cup 1992 in the supervision of team Captain Imran Khan (currently, president of Pakistan) and ICC World Twenty20 as well as being runner-ups in the cricket world cup 1999. Games such as soccer, tennis, badminton, hockey and table tennis are some of the other famous games played in Pakistan. Pakistan has produced great sportsmanship in the past.

Pakistan as a Winner;
  •  1992 Cricket World Cup Winner

  •  2009 T20 World Cup Winner

  •  Three gold medals at the Olympics in Field Hockey.

  •  Hockey Champions Trophy winners (1978, 1980, 1994).

Pakistani Top Athletes;
  •  Imran Khan (cricket)

  •  Javed Miandad (cricket)

  •  Waseem Akram (cricket)

  •  Carla Khan (squash)

  •  Jahangir Khan (squash)

  •  Arshad Khan (hockey)




3. Peshawar; The city of flower:

Peshawar is the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. It is located near the eastern end of historical Khyber Pass, close to the border with Afghanistan. Peshawar is one of the most ancient cities. It existed as a small village in the 5th century BCE. It is also a cultural and economic hub of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The city is famous for its food and tourism as it is one of the oldest city of Pakistan with recorded history dates back to 539 BC.

99% of the people live in Peshawar are Pathan. The Pashto language is spoken in Peshawar. Peshawar is also known for its hospitality. The people are very hospitable. Because of a lot of flowers, Peshawar was known as ‘The city of flowers’. However, as terrorist attacks often occur, therefore Peshawar is now called ‘city of war’, ’city of Bombing’. Due to the recent attack on Army Public School, Peshawar in December 2014, it was considered as the center for terrorists. People in Peshawar believe that the city will have a lot of flowers and many tourists from all over the world visit to enjoy good and old townscape and Pashtun culture again in the near future.

Islamia College, Peshawar Museum, Muhabat Khan Mosque, Bala Hisar Fort, Jamrud Fort, Qissa Khwani Bazar, The Cunningham Clock Tower and Chowk Yadgar are some of the most famous historical places in Peshawar. Qissa Khawa bazar is the oldest of all these. It was a strange concoction of architectural and cultural influences of different eras. Like everywhere else in Pakistan, little efforts have been made to preserve the heritage here. Storytellers are gone leaving behind just the stories of their storytelling.

Islamia College Peshawar





4. Islamabad; the Capital:

Peaceful, quiet, calm, green; these describe the essential makeup of Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan. Islamabad is located in the northwest of the country on Potohar Plateau. The whole population of Islamabad consists of people from different religions. Sects and provinces. As compared to the other cities of Pakistan, the weather mostly remains normal due to the mountains located in Islamabad capital territory. Before Islamabad, Karachi (Capital of Sindh Province) was the capital of Pakistan. In order to replace it, Islamabad was built in 1960. Islamabad and Rawalpindi are two close cities with separation by a road, therefore these are called twin cities. As it is the seat of government in Pakistan, the city by default is a focal point of excellent security and law and order facilities.

Margalla Hills, Shah Faisal Mosque, F9 Park, Rawal Dam, Daman Koh, Shikar Panyan, Monal, and Lake View Park are some of the beautiful places of Islamabad which attract the tourists from all over the world. Finally, I would like to specially mention Centaurus Mall which is one of the big trade centers in Islamabad.







5. Languages in Pakistan:

Urdu is the national language of Pakistan. It is the world's first language spoken by nearly 70 million people and as a second language by more than 100 million people, predominantly in Pakistan and India. Other than Urdu, the native languages spoken in Pakistan are Pashto, Punjabi, Sindhi, Balochi, Gilgiti, Gujrati, Saraiki, Hindko, etc.

Pashto and Hindko are spoken in Khyber Pakhtoon Khwa, Punjabi and Saraiki are spoken in Punjab, Sindhi and in some parts Saraiki is spoken in Sindh, Gilgit is spoken is Gilgit Baltistan. Arabic, Persian, and English are some of the minority languages spoken in Pakistan.






6. Lahore; the Heart of Pakistan:

It is the second-largest city in Pakistan. Lahore is the capital of Punjab. It is also one of the old city of Pakistan having an ancient history of Iranians, Mongols, and Firangi. Lahore has always been a seat of learning and knowledge having ‘The University of Punjab’, which is the oldest university in Pakistan. It includes engineering universities i.e UET Lahore, medical college’s i.e Edwards Medical College, business platforms, software houses, and other educational institutes.

One of the most famous architectures of the city is known as the Lahore Fort which was built during Mughal Rule by Akbar the Great. The architecture, beautiful history and the mixed culture of the city make it a dynamic and vibrant city, one not to miss a visit to if given the chance.

Some of the historical places include Lahore Fort, Badshahi Mosque (Where poet of East Dr. Allama Iqbal is buried; 21st April 1938), Minar-e-Pakistan (Where Pakistan Resolution was passed on 23rd March 1940).

Because of its unique culture due to history, it is known as ‘The Heart of Pakistan’.


Minar e Pakistan



7. Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan:

Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan is known as the national hero of Pakistan. He was born on 1st April 1936 in India. He is one of the key figures in the Pakistan Nuclear Weapons program. In 1974, Pakistan Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto met him and encouraged him to do everything whatever he can do for Pakistan to be the atomic power. In 1975, Dr. Abdul Qadeer stole drawings of centrifuges and assembled a list of mainly European suppliers where parts could be procured. In December 1975, he left Netherland for Pakistan and brought his blueprint copies and suppliers list to Pakistan. Thus, he is the originator of the Pakistan Atomic Bomb. He has his own laboratory named ‘Khan Research Laboratory (KRL)’ in Pakistan.

Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan




8. Religion in Pakistan:

Pakistan is an Islamic country located in South Asia. 97% of Pakistani are Muslim while the remaining 3% include Hindu, Christians, etc. Out of these 97% Muslims, 77% are Sunni Muslims and 20% are Shia Muslims. Pakistan is the world’s second-most populous Muslim-Majority after Iran with 97% of the Muslim population.

Here is the chart of the Pakistan population according to religious beliefs and freedom in Pakistan.




9. Noble Prizes in Pakistan:

Just two people from Pakistan have won the noble prizes.

a. Malala Yousafzai for peace in 2014;
        She defeated Taliban in Swat, Pakistan and demanded that girls be allowed to receive an education. Though she was by one of the Talib in the head but she survived and went on to receive the noble prize.


b. Dr. Abdus Salam for Physics in 1979;
        Because of his contribution to the theory of unified weak and electromagnetic interaction between elementary particles and the prediction of the weak neutral current.




10. Parachinar Gallery:

The old name of Parachinar is “Totkai”. Parachinar is one of the most beautiful places in the Federal Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) and capital of district Kurram surrounded by Afghan areas on three sides. It is located in the north-east of Pakistan. Afghanistan province Nangarhar is in the north-east of Parachinar. The popularity of Parachinar increases due to the Tora Bora and Koh e Sufaid of Afghanistan.

District Kurram (Parachinar) is leading all districts in FATA in the field of education. Due to the government’s lack of attention, the whole districts and cities, including Parachinar, are deprived of various facilities. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto approved a medical college at Parachinar, which General Ziaul Haq later moved to Abbottabad. A cadet college has been established in the subdivision of district South Waziristan but even though district Kurram has a significant position in the educational field, Cadet College has still not been established.
Parachinar City in Winter


The people of district Kurram are very friendly and hospitable. They feel happy by inviting friends to their home and visit the different beautiful places in Parachinar. The ‘Kurrami rice’ is extremely delicious and cooked often once a day in the homes. Various dry fruits of Parachinar are very famous. Similarly, Parachinar is known for its peanuts in Pakistan.

Author: AAMIR ABBAS
Email: aamirsea110@gmail.com
PIEAS, Islamabad

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Sindh News about Vaccinations




Sindh: A baby bitten by a dog has died in the lap of the mother due to the lack of vaccine




In Sindh, a 10-year-old boy lost his life after missing dog vaccination. A family from Shikarpur went under these circumstances when their 10-year-old child, Mir Hassan was bitten by a dog and was taken to the district's public and private medical centers for treatment. Despite hospital rotations, their parents could not get vaccines to treat their son. So, the parents reached the Commissioner's Office to get an anti-rabies vaccine. However, the doctors there also refused to treat the child and declared him inoperable.


In this regard, local people said that Shikarpur has a lack of vaccine, people from this district and Jacobabad come to us for vaccination but we have a shortage of vaccines. They said that when rabies becomes positive it is not cured anywhere in the world.
Later on, the baby’s mother kept crying for not getting the vaccine, meanwhile, the 10-year-old baby was distressed in her mother's lap.
The grieving father said that we continued to visit the hospital in various areas for treatment, where doctors injected and when the child got a fever, he was taken to Sultan Kot where he was dripped. He said that then we had come home with and the child had eaten a swallow which he vomited.
Talking about the baby, the helpless father said that the dog had been bitten by the child two days before Eid-ul-Adha, for which we went to different hospitals for vaccination but the vaccine was not provided.




Author:
Aamir Abbas
Parachinar, District Kurram
aamirsea110@gmail.com

Monday, September 2, 2019

80% STUDENTS FAILED MEDICAL COLLEGES ENTRANCE TEST


80% STUDENTS FAILED MEDICAL COLLEGES ENTRANCE TEST

·         Whether there are teachers fault?
·         Whether there are students fault?
·         Whether there is education system fault?
·         Whether there is examination system fault?

Entrance test for admission in different medical and dental colleges all over Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa held on 25th August 2019. The result was declared on 26th August 2019 and it was found that 82% of students have failed entrance test. ETEA(Educational Testing and Evaluation Agency) conducts this test every year. This year, a total of 44,000 students sat the test. Out of these 44,000 students, only 8,000 of them passed it putting the pass rate of 18.4%.
                The students study in Peshawar and in their corresponding villages for the preparation of the ETEA test. 20% of the students clear the ETEA medical test in 3rd attempt. 30% clear in the 2nd attempt. They study the whole year so as to get a name as ‘Dr’.

                It is obviously a very low percentage and this has put a huge stress on the mass’s mind. Most of the people blame the poor performance of the student s whereas most of them are against the teaching methodology. The whole student's mind becomes descriptive on the intermediate level where each paper was 85% descriptive having long questions, while the result comprised short questions. Secondly, here a concept of students has been developed that only those students pass the ETEA test who get admissions in coaching academies and have high marks in intermediate. In my opinion, the only solution is, ETEA test method and pattern should be in such a way that it correlates with the intermediate examination procedure.


BY: AAMIR ABBAS
Parachinar, District Kurram

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

HUM TV Drama "Inkaar" by Humna Zaidi, Sami Khan and Imran Ashraf

                        HUM TV Drama "Inkaar"

This drama shows the devastation of sexual violence but also provides a lesson on how to overcome it.

HUM TV Drama Inkaar


As it is clear from the name of the drama "Inkaar" which means "Not accepted", therefore the 'no means no' is the most repeated dialogue in this drama. The story mainly revolves around the following char
acters.


1. The first character is Hajra played by Yumna Zaidi, an actor who excels at playing young women without losing the charm of innocence when bucking tradition. Hajra is a simple, hardworking and courageous girl.
Hajra and her father Hafiz sahib

2. The second character is Hafiz Sahib played by Rehan Sheikh, playing the role of a well-respected sweet maker. He is known for his honesty and piety in the neighborhood. Being men as narrow-minded, conservative and oblivious to the happiness of his children, he is shown as a loving friend to his daughter. He provides strength to her daughter and supports her in every situation.
Hajra and Shayan in the Mosque

Detail:
It is clear from the very first episode of Inkaar drama that Hajra is a bird with a broken wing. She starts working as a teacher in a private school after the loss of her hard-earned place at university due to suffering some trauma. One of the genius girl, Hajra is not the kind to garner too much attention yet fate makes her focus of obsession for two men.
Shayan and Rehan

Unfold of Story:
We find out she has been betrayed by one of his university fellow: Rehan Chaudhry(Imran Ashraf), who built up a relationship with her which ended when he tried to rape her. The victim of a frightening sexual assault, she escapes his clutches only to sink into depression, bitterly dissecting the past as she works to understand what happened to her. Soon she receives a traditional proposal from another young man who claims to know her, but she scarcely remembers. whose name is Shayan Malik(Sami Khan), the son of a government officer. Shayan was easy to miss, shy, lacking in confidence, he never had the courage to make a deep connection with Hajra even when her consciousness was not overwhelmed by the self-assured Rehan Chaudhry. Oblivious to any connection Hajra refuses Shayan's proposal because her faith in men and love has been shattered but he works hard at the winning her over, till he slowly gains her trust.
Hajra and Rehan in the court

Rehan Chaudhry Life:
Rehan is a victim of his father's ambition and neglect, wrenched from his uneducated birth mother at a young age and placed under the tutelage of his father's manipulative city wife. Blinded by wealth and power, drunk on entitlement, Rehan Chaudhry is the distillation of an amoral, politically connected elite class. 
Sensitivity and empathy of Shayan:
The audience shows the sensitivity and empathy that defines Shayan's characters the opposite of toxic masculinity that Rehan represents. Shayan has spent a lifetime being overshadowed by his swaggering, audacious friend Rehan, but his love for Hajra allows him to grow, and mature into someone much more powerful than Rehan Chaudhry.

Conclusion:
This drama gives us a clear picture of the different standards for men and women; men make mistakes, women commit sins. As a girl, Hajra feels too embarrassed to tell her parents about the sexual harassment by one of her professors. This lack of communication makes her easy prey for Rehan who pretends to be her savior and then her assault at his hands is another source of fear and shame. Then the Rehan family gets to know about him that he is a rapist and murderer but their sympathies and protections are immediately there to support him. Despite being an innocent victim, Hajra is left begging for her father's forgiveness as she lies in pain on a hospital bed. Respect is the most important thing in life. Once a person loss respect, he/she can never regain that respect whole life.
Finally, I would like to say that, very beautiful thoughts have been explained in this serial. Hope you would like to watch it.



Author: AAMIR ABBAS
Address: Zeran, city Parachinar, District Kurram, KP
Email: aamirsea110@gmail.com

Does Metaverse Future Sometimes Make You Feel Stupid?

In 1992, when the Internet was still new, American novelist Neil Stevenson spoke about virtual reality, a virtual world where people would...