virtual

being actually such in almost every respect

"a practical failure"

"the once elegant temple lay in virtual ruin" existing in essence or effect though not in actual fact

"a virtual dependence on charity"

"a virtual revolution"

"virtual reality"

The virtual is a concept applied in many fields with somewhat differing connotations, and also denotations. Colloquially, 'virtual' has a similar meaning to 'quasi-' or 'pseudo-' (prefixes which themselves have quite different meanings), meaning something that is almost something else, particularly when used in the adverbial form, e.g. "He's virtually almost my boyfriend."

Physics - In physics, one may speak of theoretical physicstheoretical virtual particlevirtual particles, - particles which exist for period of time which is not enough to mathematically define their energy. Due to wave nature of all particles their energy and time of existence (as well as position and momentum) are entangled by mathematical definition called Fourier transform. This entanglement results in Heisenberg uncertainty principle - central principle of quantum mechanics. Virtual particles (photons, electrons, positrons, mesons, protons, etc) must be included in calculations in order to accurately model and predict interaction of real particles (see Feynman diagram). Before such an account quantum mechanics suffered serious unaccuracies, while after inclusion of virtual interactions it became most accurate theory ever created (it is called quantum electrodynamics ). Predictions of quantum electrodynamics agree with observations to errors of measurement - currently to one part in 10^12-10^13.

Computing - In computing virtual is what does not physically exist, but is made to appear to by software: examples this usage can clearly be seen in virtual memory and, although somewhat differently, in the popular sci-fi/IT concept of 'virtual reality'.

Philosophy - Numerous philosophers have advanced conceptions of the virtual.The current definition, that can hardly be distinguished from "potential", originates in medieval Scolastics and the pseudo-Latin "virtualis".Most prominent of these in contemporary philosophy has been Gilles Deleuze, who uses the term virtual to refer to something that every object carries with it, which is neither its reality nor merely what it could have been, but rather what it is imagined to be. "Virtual" is therefore taken to mean a potential state that could become actual. "Virtual" is not opposed to "real" but to "actual", whereas "real" is opposed to "possible".Recently this conception of the virtual has been challenged and another core meaning has been elicited (Denis Berthier, "Meditations on the real and the virtual" - in French). It is based both upon science (virtual image), technology (virtual world) and etymology (derivation from virtue - Latin virtus). At the same ontological level as "possible", "real" or "potential", "virtual" is defined as that which is not real but displays the full qualities of the real - in a plainly actual - i.e. not potential - way.The prototypical case is a reflection in a mirror: it is already there, whether I am here or not to see it; it is not waiting for any kind of actualization.This definition allows one to understand that real effects can be issued from a virtual object, so that our perception of it and our whole relation to it are fully real. It explains that virtual reality can be used to cure phobies - which remains contradictory in any conception for which the virtual is a kind of potential.

Work Teams - Internet technology fostered the environment for virtual work in teams, with members who may never meet each other in person. Communicating by phone and email, with workproducts shared electronically, virtual teams produce results without being co-located.physics-stub compu-stub philo-stub Category:Quantum field !theoryde:Virtuellfr:Virtuel

Broadway NYC Virtual Office
Broadway Virtual Office Service in New York including a Manhattan business address, mail forwarding, meeting rooms, phone, fax, support services, and corporation formations.
http://www.BroadwayVirtualOffice.com/

Hayat Information Technologies
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http://www.hayatbilgi.com/

Beneinvista Virtual Tour
Visite virtuali immersive con panorami sferici in alberghi, fiere, mostre proprietà immobiliari di ogni tipo, tour virtuali.
http://www.beneinvista.it/

Interface Web Design Site Design Hosting Services Search Engine Optomization
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http://www.interfacewebdesign.com/

Fleet Hampshire
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http://www.fleethampshire.com/

MediaServe
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http://www.mediaserve.nl/

Campos & Pradel, Arquitectura y Diseño
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http://www.campospradel.com/

a r t l e r i e ____ (© Daniel Goeres )
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http://artlerie.com/

Hawaiian Airbrush
Custom Paint and Artwork from Hawaii
http://www.hawaiianairbrush.com/

VPMA Virtuelle Projektmanagement-Akademie
Cooperative self qualification of the project management by the VPMA virtual Project management academy
http://www.vpma.de/

Charakteranimation and Animation-Art, 3D Galleries by CORPORATEARTS.de & 3rdART.de
3D-Art, Charakter-Animation and AnimationArt. Charakter-Animation with real looking Persons and Figures. Photorealistic presentation of Humans and Animals as virtual digital 3D Figures.
http://www.3rdart.de/

Virtual Homes
Directory of virtual community web sites providing virtual visits, tours of cities and towns. Real estate, demographic, school and relocation inoformation as well as MLS searches are provided.
http://www.virtualhomes.com

On-Line Gamers Anonymous
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http://www.olganon.org/

Virtual Tours for Real Estate in Hudson, Columbia County, Upstate New York
Virtual Tours for Real Estate in Hudson, Columbia County, Upstate New York
http://www.hudsonhometours.com/

Educated Health Professionals
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http://www.ehp.cc/

C u t e f u n p a g e s . c o m
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http://www.cutefunpages.com

CanadianMusclecar
The number one online resource for information on Performance MuscleCars
http://www.canadianmusclecar.com

WWW Virtual Library
An expert-run catalog of sections of the web.
http://www.vlib.org/

Virtual Hospital
A digital health sciences library at the University of Iowa for health care providers and patients.
http://www.vh.org

My Virtual Reference Desk
A one-stop site for all things Internet: news, weather, sports, reference, encyclopedia (50 areas), facts on file, FAQs, tutorials, search engines, Win95, free stuff, games
http://www.refdesk.com/

The Virtual Tourist
Interactive site aimed at learning from other travelers and sharing your travel knowledge. Includes chat, forums, travelogues, photos and maps.
http://www.vtourist.com