Source: New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/24/arts/television/24itzk.html?pagewanted=1&ref=arts
Author: DAVE ITZKOFF
Date of Publication: June 24, 2007.

 Summary:

The article explains in detail what Virtual Reality is and how it works. Virtual Worlds are virtual places in the Net where people who share certain tastes get together and interact. The main characteristics of these sites -sponsored by big firms which audience target is from 6 to 3o years old- is that real people can actually do what they do in real life but online and without leaving their rooms. Statistics say that users now spend more time in virtual spaces than in front of the TV, and this fact helps sponsors to have a closer view to the kind of audience-consumers they have. Social features are being questioned too, such as what is the cause for people to spend 30 hours per week in a world that does not exist. Despite this worrying fact, the whole article embeds a crucial statement: “You want to be in this because you know, as a content provider, that this is where the future is going,” says Quincy Smith, the president of CBS Interactive. “I don’t look at it as science fiction. I look at it as the future of communication.”
Personal reaction:
It is not surprising that in this point where global society stands-which it seems to be a point of no return- people need more and more stimuli in their everyday life. We, here in Argentina, though we have access to technology, are not yet so familiarized with this kind of “amusement”. I do think that it is a very profitable business for brands and for companies. But the social factor is still my concern; the so called interaction between real persons is being minimized. For me, these sites offer no interaction at all, but only a kind of utopia which I do not think can last long.

Vocabulary:

Shaggy
adjective
having or covered with long, rough and untidy hair, or (of hair) long, rough and untidy.
a shaggy dog/pony
the shaggy coat of a sheep
a shaggy rug

Attire
noun [U] FORMAL
clothes, especially of a particular or formal type:
I hardly think jeans are appropriate attire for a wedding

Pin sb down phrasal verb [M]
to make someone provide details about something or make a decision about something:
I’ve tried asking Stephanie, but she’s proving difficult to pin down to a particular date.

Shaft (PASSAGE)
noun [C]
a long, either vertical or sloping, passage through a building or through the ground:
a UK lift/US elevator shaft
a ventilation/air shaft

Outlet (SHOP)
noun [C]
a shop that is one of many owned by a particular company and that sells the goods which the company has produced:
a fast-food outlet
a retail outlet

Ubiquitous
adjective FORMAL OR HUMOROUS
seeming to be in all places:
Leather is very much in fashion this season, as of course is the ubiquitous denim.

Float (VEHICLE)
noun [C]
a large vehicle with a flat surface which is decorated and used in festivals:
carnival floats

Slime
noun [U]
a sticky liquid substance which is unpleasant to touch, such as the liquid produced by fish and snails and the greenish brown substance found near water

Douse (MAKE WET),
verb [T]
to make something or someone wet by throwing a lot of liquid over them:
We watched as demonstrators doused a car in/with petrol and set it alight.

Derby (SPORTING EVENT) noun [C]
1 a sports event between teams in the same area:
a local derby between Manchester United and Manchester City

2 MAINLY US a sports event in which any competitor can take part:
the annual New Hampshire fishing derby
Accost
verb [T often passive] FORMAL
to approach or stop and speak to someone in a threatening way:
I’m usually accosted by beggars and drunks as I walk to the station.

Excruciating
adjective
1 extremely painful:
an excruciating pain in the lower back

2 extremely boring or embarrassing:
excruciating boredom
His confession, when it came, was excruciating.

Excruciatingly
Adverb.

Surpass
verb [T] FORMAL
to do or be better than:
His time for the 100 metres surpassed the previous world record by one hundredth of a second.
The book’s success has surpassed everyone’s expectations.
[R] The director has
Discretionary
adjective FORMAL
decided by officials and not fixed by rules:
a discretionary grant
Judges have great discretionary powers.

Air (MAKE KNOWN)
verb [T]
to make opinions or complaints known to other people:
Putting a complaint in the suggestions box is one way of airing your grievances.
He’ll air his views on the war whether people want to listen or not.
Adjunct
noun [C] FORMAL
something added or connected to a larger or more important thing:
I hoped I would find the computer course a useful adjunct to my other studies.
Constrained
adjective
1 constrained to do sth forced to do something against your will:
Don’t feel constrained to do what he says – he’s got no authority.

2 describes behaviour that is forced and unnatural:
a constrained voice/manner

Monolithic
adjective DISAPPROVING
too large, too regular or without interesting differences, and unwilling or unable to be changed: