A computer avatar can be a graphic file or rendering used to represent a user on websites or in virtual worlds. Web avatars are often creative alter egos, while virtual world avatars are interactive characters with customizable features and inventories. The uniqueness of an avatar reflects the experience of the user controlling it.
A computer avatar is a custom graphic file or rendering that represents a computer user. There are basically two types: those used in websites, such as web trading cards, and those used in games and virtual worlds.
The simplest type of avatar is a small graphic file used on websites. Websites that offer chat boards often allow members to upload an image to represent themselves. The avatar can be an actual digital photo of the person using it, but is more often an image intended as a creative alter ego. This could be a game snapshot of a beast, hero, or heroine; a funny picture of a pet or cartoon character; or a design that makes a statement. The image appears alongside user posts, easily identifying the author for others at a glance.
Sometimes, a website offers a generic pool of avatars for those who haven’t created their own yet. Commonly, the user replaces the generic image as soon as they learn how to create their own. Many websites that offer services that use avatars provide instructions on how to create and upload them.
While web users have static graphics files as avatars, in virtual worlds, the avatar is a fully rendered interactive character. In many cases, all aspects of the character can be customized using a slider interface to change characteristics such as body type, hair, skin, and clothing. The avatar in a virtual world walks within the computerized landscape for the user, manipulating the environment. Mouse and keyboard strokes move the character and cause him to perform a series of actions. He could walk, run, jump, fight, fly, shoot, dance, scream, pick up items, open doors, or even create items.
In virtual worlds like SecondLife.com, the degree of uniqueness the avatar reflects says something about the experience of the user controlling it. There’s no clearer way to advertise yourself as a newbie than trotting around a virtual world using a generic avatar when customization options exist.
The virtual world avatar also has an inventory, unlike web-based ones. The inventory includes items that the character has collected, earned, or purchased. In games, these might include things like tools, weapons, ammo, and food. The non-game avatar may collect clothing, accessories, club memberships within the virtual world, pets, vehicles, virtual currency, and many other items. The virtual world software remembers your character’s most recent appearance and inventory and restores them with each session.
In Hindu mythology, an avatar is a deity who has assumed an earthly form, most often that of a human, in order to bring higher consciousness to the earth created by the Hindu gods. Since humans create virtual worlds, the computer version could be said to represent the human embodiment in its own creation. Religious affiliations aside, the computer avatar has a rich and conceptually provocative namesake.
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