Infinite Reality: The Hidden Blueprint of Our Virtual Lives

by Jim Blascovich

One project they describe is run by a Canadian mother and her son for a Zambian service organization whose mission is improving the lives of homeless children. Volunteering from home, mom and son use the Internet to identify, contact, and arrange logistics for potential donors anywhere in the world seeking to help the African children. True, volunteering isn’t anything new, and the Internet is just one more tool to make volunteering easier and more effective. However, this case is especially noteworthy because the son has cerebral palsy with spastic quadriplegia and is confined to a wheelchair. But he still can access the Internet and give of his time, illustrating that people with special needs can volunteer via the Internet in ways they would be unable to do offline. In virtual reality, the son could even play soccer with those children.