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Library Avatars

Tech Talks Presentation by Shaun Seibel, May 21, 2008

What is an Avatar

Definition - an icon or representation of a user in a shared virtual reality. A digital form better suited to an online environment and one that our friends will learn to recognize us as. That form is an avatar. An avatar is a computer user's representation of himself or herself, whether in the form of a three-dimensional model used in computer games, a two-dimensional icon (picture) used on Internet forums and other communities, or a text construct found on early systems such as MUDs. The term "avatar" can also refer to the personality connected with the screen name, or handle, of an Internet use. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar_(computing)

Why an Avatar

Anonymity
Personal expression/Personality
Website Association
Trademark

Types of Avatars

Smileys/Emoticons (Emotional Icons)
http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/
sDefinition/0,,sid40_gci212057,00.html

http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/
sDefinition/0,,sid40_gci212056,00.html

Buddy Icons (Chat/IM)
Gravatars (Globally Recognized Avatar)

http://site.gravatar.com/
http://www.globalavatars.com/

Pavatars (Personal Avatar)

http://pavatar.com/

Favatars/Favicons (Favorites Icon)

http://www.favicon.com/
http://www.peej.co.uk/projects/favatars.html

Userpic - video or animation.

History of Avatars

http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/6165.asp

Examples/Uses

Second Life

http://secondlife.com/whatis/avatar.php

Forums
Video Games - The in-game character or avatar is the virtual representation of the player.
Blogs
Web sites
Chat
IM
Skype
Lillian -
http://www.daden.co.uk/pages/000394.html
http://www.daden.co.uk/chatbots/livebots/lillian/