Posts Are avatars only pictorial representations of your self online?
Not necessarily, according to Susan Wu in her post about a panel session at SXSW – SXSW:Virtual worlds and avatars.
… But the truth is that everyone who uses any web site today already has an avatar – we just aren’t using the graphical metaphor of a virtual character to represent them.
So when I post a cutesy “unavailable” message on my google talk, or blog here, or twit way too much from my twitter account, or send an email, I’m creating an online identity which may or may not have the same characteristics as my offline personality.
Let’s presume we can call this online presence an avatar. If so, then it would be interesting to see how research done on avatars in 3D environments can be applied to this creation. For example, this paper about The Proteus Effect: The Effect of Transformed Self-Representation on Behavior , where the authors found that:
…participants assigned more attractive avatars in immersive virtual environments were more intimate with confederates in a self-disclosure and interpersonal distance task than participants assigned to less attractive avatars. In our second study, participants assigned taller avatars behaved more confidently in a negotiation task than participants assigned shorter avatars.
Makes me wonder what an equivalent to physical attractiveness would be in a non-pictorial avatar. Collegiality? Friendliness? Ability to make sharp and intelligent observations? Supportiveness? Adhering to the conventions of the online “place” and not seeming totally newb?
I also wonder whether the avatar I create with words is closer to the first or second image below. Or something completely different – a pink bunny or a talking spotty teapot maybe.
I thought you might be interested in this SecondLife article, Kathryn. Have you read it? (reference below)
I found it whilst doing a literature search for a paper on Library/Web 2.0. The course (awful, but my last) is in “strategic management”, and I’m writing about the strategic implications of Web 2.0 for library management. I think it is a ‘strategic’ issue, because Web2.0 enables (or demands) some big-picture re-thinking about what a public library does and how it does it.
Cheers,
Matthew
Title: Stumbling, bumbling, teleporting and flying … librarian avatars in Second Life
Author(s): Esther Grassian, Rhonda B. Trueman
Journal: Reference Services Review
ISSN: 0090-7324
Year: 2007 Volume: 35 Issue: 1 Page: 84 – 89
DOI: 10.1108/00907320710729373
Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of issues related to library involvement in a popular virtual world, the massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORG) Second Life.
Design/methodology/approach – Interviews with librarians participating in Second Life expand on the rationale for participating in this 3-D virtual world as well as various uses of Second Life and other new technologies for all types of libraries and librarians.
Findings – Benefits to both libraries and librarians from participating in a virtual world like Second Life include opportunities for collaboration, creativity, learning, and global networking with other librarians, educators, and technologists.
Originality/value – Virtual worlds are new to most libraries, librarians, and administrators. This interview will be of interest and value to all those interested in extending their reach in reference, collections, and information literacy by pushing out to new technological frontiers and exploring and taking risks in virtual areas where users are going.
Keywords: Internet, Librarians, Libraries
Article Type: General review
Article URL: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/00907320710729373
Thanks Matthew.
Proquest doesn’t have full text of this journal for a year after publication, so I can’t immediately access it unless I get it on Inter Library Loan.
Unless, of course, someone who had access to it accidentally put my email address in the “To:” field when they meant to email a copy to themselves.