About the Book

PROLOGUE: WHO ARE YOU?

We live in a hyperconnected world. The devices we surround ourselves with and utilize everyday have changed the way we send and receive information and interact with others. For human beings that are literally wired for a physical world and physical connections, the immersion into virtual and artificial worlds represents a profound shift that is transforming our daily lives, our view of others and our sense of self. How does one’s view of identity shift in a hyper-connected world and what role does technology play in augmenting our relationships with others and our perception of ourselves?

We visited 30 homes across the United States and observed subjects from across the life stages as they went about their day and used the technologies that surround them. We probed to understand why they do what they do when it comes to revealing or concealing intimate details about themselves or their loved ones. We sought for the emotional triggers that confound and perplex them as they attempt to maneuver in a virtual world. And, we documented the experience with hundreds of hours of behavioral and interview footage to support our conclusions.

We followed this exercise with a quantitatively based study to over 5,000 consumers across the United States. What emerges is a fascinating portrait of how the technology and connections we rely on everyday are changing the way we view ourselves and others.