In his book (2008), Austrian scholar Stefan Sonvilla-Weiss explores the social, cultural, and pedagogical shifts triggered by our increasing immersion in networked digital environments. Though written years before the current mainstream "metaverse" hype, the book remains a prescient analysis of how real and virtual spaces intertwine to create a novel "dataculture". Core Argument and Structure
: Examines the exponential growth of data collection, global mapping (e.g., Google Earth), and privacy implications. (In)visible: Learning to Act in the Metaverse
: Traces the history of information dissemination and early visionaries like Paul Otlet. In his book (2008), Austrian scholar Stefan Sonvilla-Weiss
: Discusses the reversal of traditional surveillance, where individuals record and store their own data, shifting boundaries of privacy. : Traces the history of information dissemination and
: The title "(In)visible" refers to the tension between visibility and invisibility in data culture—how we gain agency through digital presence while simultaneously being tracked and controlled.
Sonvilla-Weiss argues that the Metaverse is not just 3D worlds like Second Life , but the entire digitally networked universe that shapes how we communicate and learn. The book is structured into five thematic chapters: