In a cyber-café or cyber-pub, you may take refreshments while accessing the Internet; a cyber-nightclub is also designed for enjoyment, but it’s a virtual space you connect to using the Internet.

The concept of cyber-feminism recognises the non-discriminatory advantages of cyber-space to women. Cyber-hippies, also known as Cyberians, are a high-tech development of the 1960s hippie culture, embracing technology rather than shunning it.

A cyber-lawyer is either an expert on law relating to online communications (cyber-law), or who studies the implications of computers and communications for the practice of law.

A cyber-surfer surfs the Internet in search of interesting things, perhaps cyber-sex, either explicit sexual material transmitted by electronic means or simulated sex using virtual techniques.

The word cyber appears alone as an adjective and verb, relating generally to computer-mediated communications or virtual sensations (I’ve had reports of cyber as a noun, but haven’t found an exam-ple); the adjective cyberish is sometimes found, as the adverb cyberly.

After this relentless barrage of neologisms and cyber-hype you might be forgiven if you discovered you were suffering from cyber-phobia, a fear of electronic communications or its technology, but then you wouldn’t be reading this, would you?

<B>Ashveen kUTOWAROO

<I> [email protected])</I>