According to dictionary.com, an avatar is “a graphical image that represents a person, as on the Internet” (Lexico Publishing Group, LLC., 2008). It’s hard to pinpoint the birth of avatars into the internet, but it is roughly estimated that on April 19, 2000 an avatar by the name of Ananova made her appearance as the first virtual newscaster. She was 28, had green hair and a British accent. She was created with many facial expressions and the ability to speak multiple languages. Nowadays, avatars can be used for numerous things. I personally had a Yahoo! instant messenger account which let me design an avatar that looked like I do. It is primarily used to convey who you are, what you look like and how you feel. So what are avatars being used for? They have come to be used for many different things from online dating to basic instant messaging. Also, avatars are now being used for help in both the gaming world as well as the educational world. Gaming is obvious since you are taking on the role of a character in the game and can control what they do and where they go. The only way this isn’t fully an avatar is because you are not able to change anything about them. The one game that I can think of that would permit you to do that is The Sims which allows you to create a character that looks like you in every way. Avatars in the educational world are the next developing area that they plan on going into next. The best way to describe it is a place “where a beautiful avatar named Lucy helps Chinese-speaking people practice their English. She asks you questions, which you answer by typing and, hopefully, also speaking, for the practice” (Egen, S., 2005). This hopefully will be a way that could eventually lead to something that could be useful in the educational world in more than one area. Students could feel like they had their own private tutor and could easily relate since they are looking at an actual “person”.
References
Egen, S. (2005). The history of avatars. Retrieved on August 1, 2008 from
http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/6165.asp.
Lexico Publishing Group, LLC. (2008). Dictionary.com. Retrieved on August 2, 2008
from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/avatar.
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There are actually many different online games that allow you to use completely self-designed avatars in playing. The Sims is one example, but with the rise of role-playing games such as World of Warcraft (currently hosting 16 million subscribers, according to Wikipedia) and many others, games in which you can literally "become someone else" are becoming a major part of our media culture. These games are popular and entertaining for many, but for some people they truly become an escape that drastically alters the way people go about their daily lives. Rehab centers have begun opening around the country for video-gaming detox, as well as support groups for people who feel they are losing touch with reality by being sucked into these games. Using an avatar to have fun is fine, but some people are taking it too far- suffering because they can't seem to stop the gaming.
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