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Above: The Virtual to ‘Virtual’ web browser extension. Click to view larger images.

Virtual to ‘Virtual’ is a web browser extension available for Firefox and Google Chrome. On each webpage visited it places all instances of the word virtual within single inverted commas.

The title of Virtual to ‘Virtual’ makes reference to philosophical theory, in particular that of Gilles Deleuze, which defines the virtual as immaterial and as such does not occupy a time or space yet is not abstract. Consequently, what is virtual can be understood to exist and is experientially a part of what is real. In language, however, the term virtual is frequently employed as antipodal to real. According to this interpretation virtual is immaterial or abstract while real is material or existing. Virtual to ‘Virtual’ is intended to stress how problematic the term virtual is in language according to philosophical theory. It does so through the use of single inverted commas, transforming virtual to ‘virtual’, and thereby proposes a correction to all instances on the web as a ‘virtual’ networked space.

To install in Firefox:

Firefox version 48.0.2+ tested.

Virtual to ‘Virtual’ for Firefox

1. Download the Virtual to ‘Virtual’ extension from the Firefox Add-ons website or from this site by clicking the button above.
2. Firefox will request permission to install the extension. Click “Allow” and then “Install”.
3. Restart Firefox.

To install in Google Chrome:

Google Chrome version 49.0.2623+ tested.

Virtual to ‘Virtual’ for Google Chrome

1. Download the Virtual to ‘Virtual’ extension by clicking the button above. Once downloaded, unzip the extension .crx file.
2. Open Chrome’s extensions by selecting “Window > Extensions” in the browser or by navigating to “chrome://extensions/”.
3. Drag and drop the downloaded extension (the .crx file) into the Extensions window. The extension will request permissions to “Read and change all your data on the websites you visit”. Click “Add extension” to approve.
4. Restart Chrome.