Joanne E. Gray - Böcker

In this ground-breaking book, we navigate the uncharted terrain of social virtual reality (VR), a technology that, while offering unprecedented immersive experiences, brings forth significant governance challenges.

In this ground-breaking book, we navigate the uncharted terrain of social virtual reality (VR), a technology that, while offering unprecedented immersive experiences, brings forth significant governance challenges. By merging theoretical insights with practical examples, the book examines the risks of harm in social VR environments, including both content and conduct issues. It charts a course for developing inclusive and safe social VR spaces that are respectful of diverse users’ rights and needs, laying out essential principles for policymakers, developers and regulators. The book is an urgent call to proactively shape the burgeoning field of VR for the betterment of all.

Big Tech Dynasties is an up-to-date review of the business practices, strategies, and investments of the five American Big Tech companies - Google, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, and Meta - providing a clear mapping of the sociolegal and political environments in which they exist.This book focuses on the economic systems, structures, contexts, and vulnerabilities of the big five US technology companies to determine whether they have become so powerful that they compete only amongst themselves with the potential to rule over our digital and social lives for generations. It looks at the future visions of each company, as publicly stated by company executives to shareholders, media, policymakers, and other stakeholders. Ultimately, the book is a call to action for policymakers, technologists, and citizens to re-think big tech power and to work towards a more equitable and democratic future. Combining insights from the fields of political economy, critical platform studies, and media and communications, the book offers readers a comprehensive and future-oriented perspective of the big tech economy. As public scrutiny of digital platforms continues to intensify, Big Tech Dynasties presents a timely examination of their current power dynamics and potential future impacts while demystifying complex concepts in an engaging, reader-friendly format.