In virtual reality, traditional philosophical questions are no longer hypothetical. What is existence? How do we know? What is reality? Who am I?

Despite the seductions of a futurist utopian vision, we should not be tempted to relinquish our primary world (the physical world) to the possibilities presented by virtual worlds.

Our technologies are the vehicles for our metaphors, dreams and nightmares. The question I would like to propose is, "Where do we want these technological vehicles to take us, and why?" Our vision for the future or the lack thereof will have profound consequences for the quality of human and other forms of life on this planet. Our challenge for the present and the future is to develop a vision which can be shared by diverse global cultures.