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/

http://www.msdewey.com/

• javascript:popUpAnna(http://193.108.42.79/ikea-us/cgi-bin/ikea-us.cgi); Ikea's Anna
• Web Comics

http://penny-arcade.com

 

Creating an Avatar

 

• http://www.iconator.com/
• http://www.iconizeme.com/
• http://www.vectorials.com/tutorials/When-Vector-Meets-Photo-00892.html
• https://login.yahoo.com/config/
  login_verify2?.intl=us&.src=avt&.done=http%3A%2F%2Favatars.yahoo.com

 

The Future

 

• From Library 2.0 (Products) to Library 3D (Services)

http://laurenpressley.com/library/?p=156

 

Additional Resources

 

• http://librarystream.wordpress.com/2007/10/29/learn-more-avatars/
• http://statelibrary.dcr.state.nc.us/ce/techterms.pdf
• http://www.gameology.org/blog/ibm_and_universal_avatars
• http://users.rider.edu/~suler/psycyber/psyav.html
• http://www.hecateschild.com/page12.html
• http://www.sitepal.com/pdf/TechnologyNews_05092006.pdf
• http://www.stanfordalumni.org/news/magazine/2008/janfeb/features/virtual.html

Full Presentation

Click here to view the full presentation:

Library Avatars (PDF)

Updated information is available to Libraries employees via the Wiki: Library_Avatars

 

    

Some file types require special programs to use or view.  Here are links to several of the most common programs: Adobe Acrobat Reader Microsoft Word Viewer Microsoft Excel Viewer Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer

 

About the Author:  Shaun Seibel works as a Library Specialist at UNT's Research Park Library.