Virtual Human

Creativity does not emerge in isolation — it is deeply shaped by the environments we inhabit. The Architecture of Awe is a thought-provoking exploration of how physical spaces, natural elements, and digital environments influence the brain, expand perception, and unlock sustained creative flow. Blending environmental psychology, neuroscience, design theory, and real-world observation, this book reveals how subtle design choices — ceiling height, light, texture, sound, spatial layout, and digital interfaces — quietly guide cognition, emotional states, and imaginative capacity.

Herman Narula argues that it is all of these things. His vision of the metaverse, deeply rooted in history and psychology, looks to the Egyptians, whose conception of death inspired them to build the pyramids, to modern-day sports fans whose fantasy leagues are as competitive as the real thing, and finds that humanity has always sought to supplement our day-to-day lives with a rich diversity of alternative immersive experiences.

A Wired senior editor and virtual reality expert presents a captivating, candid glimpse into the future "realities" of this emerging technology: how we will use it to form previously impossible relationships, explore new frontiers of intimacy, and how it will forever change human connection...

In a world where billions now live, work, play, and build relationships in immersive digital realms, the law has been left behind. Virtual worlds—metaverses, persistent online universes, and augmented realities—have become vibrant economies, social spaces, and new frontiers of human experience. Yet today, users often possess no meaningful rights: platforms can delete avatars, seize virtual property, harvest biometric data, or silence dissent at will, while monopolistic giants dominate the landscape and unchecked harms flourish in a digital Wild West.

“A fascinating, provocative case that the metaverse will not merely transform our virtual experience—it may actually enrich the quality of our lives” (Adam Grant)—from the visionary co-founder of one of today’s most innovative technology companies “This important book offers a highly...