0087 Step one concerns virtual semiosis.

Virtual semiosis contains an immediate vehicle, an immediate object and an immediate interpretant.

Yet, it is not a sign-relation.

So, “virtual” means “in simulation”.

Or does it mean “in virtue”?

0088 Perhaps, the category-based nested form can assist. 

If the term is not familiar, then see A Primer on the Category-based Nested Form and A Primer on Sensible and Social Construction, by Razie Mah.  These e-works are available at smashwords, as well as other e-book venues.  They are brief and informative.

0089 Can the category-based nested form assist in appreciating the nature of virtual semiosis?

Well, what is an immediate interpretant?

Does an immediate interpretant describe ‘what is happening’₃?

If so, then the immediate interpretant serves as a normal context₃.

A normal context₃ arises from an actuality₂ and a potential₁.  If the immediate interpretant₃ arises from an immediate object₂ and an immediate vehicle₁, then the immediate vehicle₁ is the potential of ‘something’ happening₁.

Also, the immediate object₂ is a thing or event₂.  This immediate object₂ will then serve as a sign-vehicle in a true semiotic act.

0090 Here is a picture of the immediate vehicle₁, object₂ and interpretant₃.

0091 A landslide is a good example of virtual semiosis.

The landslide is a content-level actuality₂ with a hylomorphic structure, composed of two contiguous real elements (which is how Peirce defines the category of secondness).  The two real elements are heavy wet earth and landslide.  The contiguity is placed in brackets.  [Gives way] sounds like formal causality.

The hylomorphe, heavy wet earth [gives way] landslide_2a, is an immediate object that exists independently from what we think about it.

0092 The normal context_3a, stormy weather_3a, is also mind-independent and aids understanding when a mind recognizes that heavy rain is a normal context for certain types of landslides.   So, stormy weather_3a serves as an immediate interpretant.

Similarly, the potential of ‘rainwater’_1a is mind-independent and aids in understanding when a mind recognizes landslides as consequences of rainwater.  So, rainwater serves as an immediate vehicle.

0093 Here is a diagram.