Do we consciously cause our actions, or do they happen to us? Philosophers, psychologists, neuroscientists, theologians, and lawyers have long debated the existence of free will versus determinism. This BIT, excerpted from an influential book by the late Daniel Wegner, offers an innovative view of one aspect of free will. Wegner argues that when people project action to imaginary agents, they create virtual agents, apparent sources of their own volition.

Annotation Twenty essays present current research on knowledge management as related to effective design of new organization forms. The first section of the book covers frameworks, models, analyses, case studies and research on the integration of knowledge management within virtual organizations, virtual teams and virtual communities of practice. Themes covered in this section include business model innovation; design of virtual organization forms; net-based models; techniques for enabling knowledge capture, sharing and transfer; and collaboration and competition at intra- and inter-organizational levels. The focus of the second half is on key success factors that are important for realizing virtual models of business transformation. Topics include the role of organizational control systems, the role of internal and external employees and customers in creation of organizational knowledge, and information quality issues. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com).

In this BIT, André Nusselder uses the core psychoanalytic notion of fantasy to examine our relationship to computers and digital technology. Lacanian psychoanalysis considers fantasy to be an indispensable “screen” for our interaction with the outside world; Nusselder argues that, at the mental level, computer screens and other human-computer interfaces incorporate this function of fantasy: they mediate the real and the virtual.

Virtual Humans provides a much-needed definition of what constitutes a ‘virtual human’ and places virtual humans within the wider context of Artificial Intelligence development. It explores the technical approaches to creating a virtual human, as well as emergent issues such as embodiment, identity, agency and digital immortality, and the resulting ethical challenges. The book presents an overview of current research and practice in this area, and outlines the major challenges faced by today’s developers and researchers. The book examines the possibility for using virtual humans in a variety of roles, from personal assistants to teaching, coaching and knowledge management, and the book situates these discussions around familiar applications (e.g. Siri, Cortana, Alexa) and the portrayal of virtual humans within Science Fiction. Features Presents a comprehensive overview of this rapidly developing field Provides an array of relevant, real-life examples from expert practitioners and researchers from around the globe in how to create the avatar body, mind, senses and ability to communicate Intends to be broad in scope yet practical in approach, so that it can serve the needs of several different audiences, including researchers, teachers, developers and anyone with an interest in where these technologies might take us Covers a wide variety of issues which have been neglected in other research texts; for example, definitions and taxonomies, the ethical challenges of virtual humans and issues around digital immortality Includes numerous examples and extensive references

Unlock the Secrets to Building a Thriving Digital Agency in the Age of AI Are you a digital agency owner or entrepreneur struggling to keep up with the demands of the modern marketing landscape? Do you dream of scaling your business, delivering exceptional value to clients, and dominating your niche? Look no further than "The Virtual Digital Agency Playbook" by Raissa Gomez. In this comprehensive guide, you'll discover how to harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to transform your agency into a lean, efficient, and highly profitable machine. Gomez, a seasoned digital marketing expert, reveals the proven strategies and tactics she's used to build and scale her own successful virtual agency. Inside, you'll learn how to: Identify and capitalize on profitable niches using AI-powered market research and competitor analysis. Craft irresistible service offerings that attract and retain high-value clients. Automate repetitive tasks and streamline workflows to maximize efficiency and productivity. Leverage AI tools and technologies to deliver exceptional results and exceed client expectations. Build and manage a high-performing virtual team of experts from around the globe. Navigate the legal and ethical considerations of AI implementation in your agency. Develop a future-proof strategy for scaling your business and achieving long-term success. Whether you're a seasoned agency owner or just starting out, "The Virtual Digital Agency Playbook" is your roadmap to unlocking the full potential of AI in your business. Don't get left behind in the digital age – embrace the power of AI and transform your agency into a thriving virtual powerhouse.

The “virtual community” of online networking is as real as any physical community. In this BIT, “First Citizen of the Internet” Howard Rheingold offers an account of the people who made this networked world possible—“stubborn visionaries who insisted that computers could be used by people other than specialists”—describing pioneers of citizen tool-making that range from a former radar operator who had an epiphany on the way to work in 1950 to crusading programmers, clever MIT hackers, and the creators of Usenet, MUD, and the WELL.

"Changing the way people think about accounting." In Digital Dollars and Cents: A Virtual CFO's Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success, Jody Grunden helps startup founders and company owners dive deep into the financial side of the business. What is forecasting and why do you need to do it? Learn the importance of using a forecast as a guide for every decision you make -- i.e. expansion, acquisition, buyout, retirement. What if you could pull a lever to improve your company's performance? You can! Discover the four levers (Utilization, Weekly Expectation, Standard Bill Rate and Average Bill Rate) and how they all lead to your company's Effective Rate. How do you determine and measure your pipeline? Your pipeline metric (what you currently have under contract and what you have "in the works") should not be forgotten as it can have a drastic impact on your revenue. Jody Grunden pulls from over 20 years of both public and corporate accounting experience to provide this tremendous resource for business owners. He is the co-founder and CEO at Summit CPA Group, a Virtual CFO firm that helps clients maximize profits, minimize taxes, and increase cash flow. His personable style makes it easy for readers to understand and apply the concepts to their own company, regardless of their current comfort level with the finances. About the Summit CPA Group Summit CPA Group operates under a profit-focused model, using dynamic forecasting models and key performance indicators with their clients to help them transcend their focus from simply "being in the black" to longer-term financial health and wealth. Building on their foundation, Summit CPA Group started another line of business in 2010 doing 401K Audits. Since then, the Audit team has grown to be recognized as one of the top 5% of all firms performing that type of audit (based on quantity of audits). With the mission statement, "Changing the way people think about accounting," the next big step for the Summit CPA Group will be helping make this level of service a norm rather than an exception within other accounting firms.