Cyberspace can be described in terms of three layers:
The part of cyberspace most people experience. It consists of
representations of people and organisations through a virtual identity
in a shared virtual space. Virtual representations could be an email
address, user identification, a social media account or an alias.
One person or one organisation can have multiple identities online.
Conversely, multiple people or organisations could also create just a
single, shared identity.
Logical
The part of cyberspace made up of code or data, such as
operating systems, protocols, applications and other software.
The logical layer cannot function without the physical layer and
information flows through wired networks or the electromagnetic
spectrum. The logical layer, along with the physical layer, allows
virtual identities to communicate and act.
Physical
The physical layer of cyberspace includes all the hardware on which
data is transmitted, from the routers, wires and hubs that you have in
your home, to large complex telecommunications systems operated
by big tech companies. As well as physical infrastructure it includes
the electromagnetic spectrum on which data is transmitted, such as
WiFi and radio.
THE EXPERIENCE OF CYBERSPACE
Virtual
19
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents