| Avatar as
Content Delivery Platform
Typically, Avatars are humanoid
representations endowed with gestural expression. The primary advantage
of this approach is that it is easily interpreted. The reproduction
of the human body into virtual space sets in motion a chain of design
decisions that reinforce the mirroring of the real world in virtual
space.
This approach fails to account for the following:a virtual world
is accessed by a mouse, is seen through a screen and lacks physical
substance.
If we assume that the ability to experience a "Star Trek"
Holodeck, will become commonplace in the near future then the addressing
of the issues above is moot.
The truth is that glove and goggle technology have major technical
challenges facing them. we believe that the Holodeck is not going
to materialize in the near future. Therefore, a new proposition
on the nature of how we exist within virtual space is required.
In terms of programming, an Avatar can be viewed as a four dimensional
point for data exchange. As this point must represent an individual
and do so with appeal to our humanity, the humanoid form will remain
necessary. Over time that appeal may evolve, as all design does,
and the form may one day be shed. For now, we will augment the form
with an eye for the inherent difficulties of collaboration in screen-
based mouse-driven worlds.
Expression is limited and users do not experience synchronous time.
In non-graphical chat environments, this often causes annoying problems.
Adding awkward movement and the user's need to quickly interpret
and act on world object information, it becomes clear that communication
itself needs to adapt.
If the Avatar is a point for data exchange, it is possible for the
Avatar to take the shape of visual information in support of communication.
The Avatar does not tell a story, it becomes it. It changes shape
like a slide show, becoming objects, environments that immerse the
other viewers. The changing avatar allows us to dole out interactivity
in manageable pieces. It requires less of the viewer while delivering
more. Practical application has already been proven as this new
view of the Avatar is utilized in education.
Single-user
Demo /SIGGRAPH 04 Lecture
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