"The Avatar Syndrome" follows Anne from childhood to womanhood; from a troubled, taciturn youth, to a world-renowned violinist; from misunderstood recluse, to messiah of a higher truth and beauty. From 5 Stars Reviews: "The author is an enlightened being and it is very evident in this masterpiece"" (Michael P.Tinsley, Amazon.com) "If you love art, music, philosophy, beauty, and... science, then read this book". (Adam Kerry, Smashwords)
The Avatar Faculty creatively examines the parallels between spiritual and digital activities to explore the roles that symbolic second selves—avatars—can play in our lives. The use of avatars can allow for what anthropologists call ecstasy, from the Greek ekstasis, meaning "standing outside oneself." The archaic techniques of promoting spiritual ecstasy, which remain central to religious healing traditions around the world, now also have contemporary analogues in virtual worlds found on the internet. In this innovative book, Jeffrey G. Snodgrass argues that avatars allow for the ecstatic projection of consciousness into alternate realities, potentially providing both the spiritually possessed and gamers access to superior secondary identities with elevated social standing. Even if only temporary, self-transformations of these kinds can help reduce psychosocial stress and positively improve health and well-being.
This book examines opportunities and obstacles in achieving the digital inclusion of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It addresses basic requirements of the digital society and the concepts of digital inclusion (and exclusion), digital participation, and the disability digital divide as well as support for individuals with autism in co-creating digital devices. The book discusses the application of digital technologies across different contexts, including education, leisure activities, community life, daily living skills, and employment of individuals with autism. Featured areas of coverage include: Computer-based interventions for speech development, social communication, executive functions, and other skills in children with autism. Digital health intervention for persons with ASD. Risks for persons with ASD on the Internet (e.g., excessive use, addictive behavior, and cyberbullying). Digital technology use in simulating job interviews, and teaching work skills. Digital technology use in self-advocacy activities of individuals with autism. Digital Inclusion of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder is an essential reference for researchers, professors, graduate students, clinicians and related therapists and professionals in clinical child and school psychology, social work, behavioral therapy/rehabilitation, pediatrics, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, neurology, special education, child and adolescent psychiatry, and developmental psychology.
The book seeks to analyse the faultlines and subversion in the ancient history of India in the praxis of social domination and systematic marginalization and obliteration of traditional political elites or traditional Kshatriya that social elites (Priestly class or caste) of ancient India achieved, just to maintain their socio-political domination and hegemony. This rather myopic act led to the balkanization of socio-political scape of mediaeval Indiaresulting into subjugation, plunder and foreign invasions and rule for one thousand years. Through the case study of Krishna and Mahabharata period, the book tries to illuminate the so called Dark Age of the Indian history. Despite the numerous archaeological proves found in the form of Painted Grey Ware (PGW) associated with Mahabharata period and Black Red Ware (BRW) with different shades, associated with Krishna and Yadavas which tally with details of different scriptures and epic, nothing seems to be happening in this regard. This very fact seems to underline the continued saga of subversion and domination that seemed to have been ingrained in the post-Krishna-and-Mahabharata period. Once the deification and mystification of great historical personality and period such as Krishna and Mahabharata was started just to negate the socio-political revolutions ushered into, it seems to have continued and institutionalized.
Visual Diagnosis and Care of the Patient with Special Needs provides a thorough review of the eye and vision care needs of patients with special needs. This book gives you a better understanding of the most frequently encountered developmental and acquired disabilities seen in the eye care practitioner's office. These disabilities include patients with autism, brain injury, Fragile X syndrome and Down syndrome, as well as those with psychiatric illness, dual diagnosis, and more. The text discusses, in great detail, the visual issues inherent in these populations and their possible treatment. A group of authors with approximately 500 years of experience in the field of eye care and special populations have been brought together to develop this comprehensive reference. It may appear that this book is written primarily for eye care practitioners such as optometrists and ophthalmologists, while vision is the overriding topic, this book serves as an excellent resource for a multitude of professions including those engaged in occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language therapy, physiatry, social work, pediatric medicine, and special education.
Winner of the 2018 Wilbur Award There are more than one billion Hindus in the world, but for those who don’t practice the faith, very little seems to be understood about it. Followers have not only built and sustained the world’s largest democracy but have also sustained one of the greatest philosophical streams in the world for more than three thousand years. So, what makes a Hindu? Why is so little heard from the real practitioners of the everyday faith? Why does information never go beyond clichés? Being Hindu is a practitioner’s guide that takes the reader on a journey to very simply understand what the Hindu message is, where it stands in the clash of civilizations between Islam and Christianity, and why the Hindu way could yet be the path for plurality and progress in the twenty-first century.
Social institutions emerge from social practices which coordinate activities by the explicit statement of rules, goals, and values. When artificial social actors are introduced into the physical and symbolic space of institutions, will this affect or transform institutional structures and practices, and how can social robotics as an interdisciplinary endeavor contribute to the ability of our institutions to perform their functions in society? This book presents the proceedings of Robophilosophy 2022, the 5th in the biennial Robophilosophy conference series, held in Helsinki, Finland, from 16 to 19 August 2022. The theme of this edition of the conference was Social Robots in Social Institutions, and it featured international multidisciplinary research from the humanities and social sciences concerning social robotics. The 63 papers, 41 workshop papers and 5 posters included in this book are divided into 4 sections: plenaries, sessions, workshops and posters, with the 41 papers in the ‘Sessions’ section grouped into 13 subdivisions including elderly care, healthcare, law, education and art, as well as ethics and religion. These papers explore the anticipated conceptual and practical changes which will come about from the introduction of social robotics into public and private institutions, such as public services, legal systems, social and healthcare services or educational institutions. Offering an exploration of the societal significance of social robots for the future of social institutions, the book will be of interest to both researchers in robotics and to those working in social institutions and enterprises.
Join Anne (heroine of The Avatar Syndrome); her husband, Peter; Sir Ian, the affable maestro; Gabriel, the mystical butler; and their new friend, Gio, the quirky but powerful Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church as they unravel the most sinister bid for power the world has ever seen. THE HEADLESS WORLD pits the traditions and beauty of the Vatican against the cold mechanical might of the American War Machine. The whole world is the playing field. What some readers said: I loved the characters. I loved the action. I was amazed at the resolution. Read it! Now! (B. Happach, publisher, Montreal, QC) Don't miss this exciting thriller. It'll keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish! (M. Whitthoeft, Point Claire, Canada) The Pentagon's most diabolical plot for world domination. (Bryn Symonds, writer, Montreal) The Amnesia Machine... As deadly as it is cathartic. Amazing! (J.F. Johnson, Vancouver, BC) Stan Law never ceases to astonish me by the breadth and depth of his erudition, the reach of his vocabulary, and the boldness of his ideas and plot. With this book he's outdone yourself again. (Kate Jones, Pasadena, USA)
A science fiction fantasy short story collection by award-winning and New York Times–bestselling authors featuring the adventures of human avatars. The development of “Avatar” technology—the fusion of human awareness consciousness with remote robotic bodies—offers breathtaking advances in medicine, culture, work, transportation, education and imagination. The Avatar project is designed to drive the exponential innovations needed to make General Purpose Avatars an everyday reality. The transformational potential of avatars is endless—and who better to illustrate the possibilities than some of the most insightful science fiction writers working in the field today? The collection, edited by New York Times–bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson and award-winning author Mike Resnick, with scientific editor Dr. Harry Kloor, one of the foremost visionaries in avatar technology, showcases the amazing possibilities of avatars. In these fourteen stories, imagine a group of remote spectators traveling remotely during a rigorous mountain climbing expedition, or a severely injured athlete able to play his favorite sport vicariously through another body, or a comatose woman using an avatar to interact with her family and the outside world even though her body is failing, or a skilled operative using an avatar on a dangerous search-and-rescue operation, or medical specialists using avatar bodies to enter hot zones that no vulnerable human can breach. These provocative journeys written by premiere science fiction authors explore the wondrous possibilities of avatar technology—and they still only scratch the surface.
Immediately following the Avatar's adventures chronicled in The Promise, this remarkable omnibus that collects parts 1-3 of The Search, from Airbender creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko! For years, fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra have burned with one question--what happened to Fire Lord Zuko's mother? Finding a clue at last, Zuko enlists the aid of Team Avatar--and the most unlikely ally of all--to help uncover the biggest secret of his life.
