SherbyNet - /page/wikibook/entry.mu

Micron Document

<!DOCTYPE html>

<title>Avatar (computing)</title>

</head>

Avatar (computing)

</h1>

</header>

In <a href="Computing" title="Computing">computing</a>, an avatar is a <a href="Graphical_representation" class="mw-redirect" title="Graphical representation">graphical representation</a> of a <a href="User_(computing)" title="User (computing)">user</a>, the user's <a href="Player_character" title="Player character">character</a>, or <a href="Persona" title="Persona">persona</a>. Avatars can be two-dimensional <a href="Computer_icon" class="mw-redirect" title="Computer icon">icons</a> in <a href="Internet_forum" title="Internet forum">Internet forums</a> and other online communities, where they are also known as profile pictures, userpics, or formerly picons (personal icons, or possibly "picture icons"). Alternatively, an avatar can take the form of a <a href="Three-dimensional_model" class="mw-redirect" title="Three-dimensional model">three-dimensional model</a>, as used in online worlds and video games, or an imaginary character with no graphical appearance,<a href="#cite_note-:022-1">[1]</a> as in text-based games or worlds such as <a href="Multi-user_dungeon" title="Multi-user dungeon">MUDs</a>.

The term avatāra (/ˈævətɑːr, ˌævəˈtɑːr/) originates from <a href="Sanskrit" title="Sanskrit">Sanskrit</a>, and was adopted by early computer games and science fiction novelists. <a href="Richard_Garriott" title="Richard Garriott">Richard Garriott</a> extended the term to an on-screen user representation in 1985, and the term gained wider adoption in <a href="Internet_forums" class="mw-redirect" title="Internet forums">Internet forums</a> and <a href="Multi-user_dungeon" title="Multi-user dungeon">MUDs</a>. Nowadays, avatars are used in a variety of online settings including <a href="Social_media" title="Social media">social media</a>, <a href="Virtual_assistant" title="Virtual assistant">virtual assistants</a>, <a href="Instant_messaging" title="Instant messaging">instant messaging</a> platforms, and digital worlds such as <a href="World_of_Warcraft" title="World of Warcraft">World of Warcraft</a> and <a href="Second_Life" title="Second Life">Second Life</a>. They can take the form of an image of one's real-life self, as often seen on platforms like <a href="Facebook" title="Facebook">Facebook</a> and <a href="LinkedIn" title="LinkedIn">LinkedIn</a>, or a virtual character that diverges from the real world. Often, these are customised to show support for different causes, or to create a unique online representation.

Academic research has focused on how avatars can influence the outcomes of communication and digital identity. Users can employ avatars with fictional characteristics to gain social acceptance or ease social interaction. However, studies have found that the majority of users choose avatars that resemble their real-world selves.

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Origins">Origins</h2></div>

/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}

/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="Player_character" title="Player character">Player character</a></div>

The word <a href="Avatar" title="Avatar">avatar</a> is ultimately derived from the <a href="Sanskrit" title="Sanskrit">Sanskrit</a> word (avatāra /ˈævətɑːr, ˌævəˈtɑːr/); in <a href="Hinduism" title="Hinduism">Hinduism</a>, it stands for the "descent" of a deity into a terrestrial form.<a href="#cite_note-2">[2]</a><a href="#cite_note-dict-3">[3]</a> It was first used in a <a href="Computer_game" class="mw-redirect" title="Computer game">computer game</a> by the 1979 <a href="PLATO_(computer_system)" title="PLATO (computer system)">PLATO</a> <a href="Role-playing_video_game" title="Role-playing video game">role-playing game</a> <a href="Avatar_(1979_video_game)" title="Avatar (1979 video game)">Avatar</a>. In <a href="Norman_Spinrad" title="Norman Spinrad">Norman Spinrad</a>'s novel <a href="Songs_from_the_Stars" title="Songs from the Stars">Songs from the Stars</a> (1980), the term avatar is used in a description of a computer generated virtual experience. In the story, humans receive messages from an alien galactic network that wishes to share knowledge and experience with other advanced civilizations through "songs". The humans build a "galactic receiver" that allows its users to engage in "artificial realities". One experience is described as such:<a href="#cite_note-4">[4]</a>

/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 32px}.mw-parser-output .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;margin-top:0}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .templatequotecite{padding-left:1.6em}}

/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

</style><blockquote class="templatequote">You stand in a throng of multifleshed being, mind avatared in all its matter, on a broad avenue winding through a city of blue trees with bright red foliage and living buildings growing from the soil in a multitude of forms.</blockquote>

The use of the term avatar for the on-screen representation of the user was coined in 1985 by Richard Garriott for the computer game <a href="Ultima_IV%3A_Quest_of_the_Avatar" title="Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar">Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar</a>. In this game, Garriott desired the player's character to be their Earth self manifested into the virtual world. Due to the ethical content of his story, Garriott wanted the real player to be responsible for their character; he thought only someone playing "themselves" could be properly judged based on their in-game actions. Because of its ethically nuanced narrative approach, he took the Hindu word associated with a deity's manifestation on earth in physical form, and applied it to a player in the game world.<a href="#cite_note-5">[5]</a> Other early uses of the term include <a href="Lucasfilm" title="Lucasfilm">Lucasfilm</a> and <a href="Chip_Morningstar" title="Chip Morningstar">Chip Morningstar</a>'s 1986 <a href="Massively_multiplayer_online_role-playing_game" title="Massively multiplayer online role-playing game">online role-playing</a> game <a href="Habitat_(video_game)" title="Habitat (video game)">Habitat</a>,<a href="#cite_note-Morabito-6">[6]</a> and the 1989 <a href="Pen-and-paper_role-playing_game" class="mw-redirect" title="Pen-and-paper role-playing game">pen and paper</a> role-playing game <a href="Shadowrun" title="Shadowrun">Shadowrun</a>.

The use of avatar to mean online virtual bodies was popularised by <a href="Neal_Stephenson" title="Neal Stephenson">Neal Stephenson</a> in his 1992 <a href="Cyberpunk" title="Cyberpunk">cyberpunk</a> novel <a href="Snow_Crash" title="Snow Crash">Snow Crash</a>.<a href="#cite_note-7">[7]</a> In Snow Crash, the term avatar was used to describe the virtual simulation of the human form in the <a href="Metaverse" title="Metaverse">Metaverse</a>, a fictional virtual-reality application on the <a href="Internet" title="Internet">Internet</a>. <a href="Social_status" title="Social status">Social status</a> within the Metaverse was often based on the quality of a user's avatar, as a highly detailed avatar showed that the user was a skilled <a href="Hacker_(computer_security)" class="mw-redirect" title="Hacker (computer security)">hacker</a> and <a href="Programmer" title="Programmer">programmer</a> while the less talented would buy off-the-shelf models in the same manner a beginner would today. Stephenson wrote in the "Acknowledgments" to Snow Crash:

<blockquote class="templatequote">The idea of a "virtual reality" such as the Metaverse is by now widespread in the computer-graphics community and is being used in a number of different ways. The particular vision of the Metaverse as expressed in this novel originated from idle discussion between me and Jaime (Captain Bandwidth) Taaffe ... The words avatar (in the sense used here) and Metaverse are my inventions, which I came up with when I decided that existing words (such as virtual reality) were simply too awkward to use ... after the first publication of Snow Crash, I learned that the term avatar has actually been in use for a number of years as part of a virtual reality system called Habitat...in addition to avatars, Habitat includes many of the basic features of the Metaverse as described in this book.<a href="#cite_note-8">[8]</a></blockquote>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Types_and_usage">Types and usage</h2></div>

/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

.mw-parser-output .ambox{border:1px solid #a2a9b1;border-left:10px solid #36c;background-color:#fbfbfb;box-sizing:border-box}.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+link+.ambox{margin-top:-1px}html body.mediawiki .mw-parser-output .ambox.mbox-small-left{margin:4px 1em 4px 0;overflow:hidden;width:238px;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em}.mw-parser-output .ambox-speedy{border-left:10px solid #b32424;background-color:#fee7e6}.mw-parser-output .ambox-delete{border-left:10px solid #b32424}.mw-parser-output .ambox-content{border-left:10px solid #f28500}.mw-parser-output .ambox-style{border-left:10px solid #fc3}.mw-parser-output .ambox-move{border-left:10px solid #9932cc}.mw-parser-output .ambox-protection{border-left:10px solid #a2a9b1}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-text{border:none;padding:0.25em 0.5em;width:100%}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image{border:none;padding:2px 0 2px 0.5em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-imageright{border:none;padding:2px 0.5em 2px 0;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-empty-cell{border:none;padding:0;width:1px}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image-div{width:52px}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .ambox{margin:0 10%}}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .ambox{display:none!important}}

/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

</style>

An avatar can be a two-dimensional picture akin to an <a href="Computer_icon" class="mw-redirect" title="Computer icon">icon</a> in online communities.<a href="#cite_note-9">[9]</a><a href="#cite_note-10">[10]</a> This is also known as a profile picture or userpic, or in early Internet parlance, a 'picon' (personal icon).<a href="#cite_note-11">[11]</a> With the advent of social media platforms like <a href="Facebook" title="Facebook">Facebook</a>, where users are not typically anonymous, these pictures often are a photo of the user in real life.<a href="#cite_note-BestProfilePicture-12">[12]</a><a href="#cite_note-13">[13]</a>

Alternatively, avatars can also be <a href="3D_computer_graphics" title="3D computer graphics">three-dimensional</a> digital representations, as in <a href="Video_game" title="Video game">games</a> such as <a href="World_of_Warcraft" title="World of Warcraft">World of Warcraft</a> or <a href="Virtual_world" title="Virtual world">virtual worlds</a> like <a href="Second_Life" title="Second Life">Second Life</a>.<a href="#cite_note-lareview-14">[14]</a><a href="#cite_note-15">[15]</a> In <a href="Multi-user_dungeon" title="Multi-user dungeon">MUDs</a> and other early systems, they were a construct composed of text.<a href="#cite_note-16">[16]</a> The term has been also sometimes extended to the personality connected with the <a href="Screen_name_(computing)" class="mw-redirect" title="Screen name (computing)">screen name</a>, or handle, of an Internet user.<a href="#cite_note-17">[17]</a>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Internet_forums">Internet forums</h3></div>

Despite the widespread use of avatars, it is unknown which <a href="Internet_forums" class="mw-redirect" title="Internet forums">Internet forums</a> were the first to use them; the earliest forums did not include avatars as a default feature, and they were included in unofficial "hacks" before eventually being made standard. Avatars on Internet forums serve the purpose of representing users and their actions, personalizing their contributions to the forum, and may represent different parts of their <a href="Persona" title="Persona">persona</a>, beliefs, interests or social status in the forum.

The traditional avatar system used on most Internet forums is a small (80x80 to 100x100 <a href="Pixel" title="Pixel">pixels</a>, for example) square-shaped area close to the user's forum post, where the avatar is placed in order for other users to easily identify who has written the post without having to read their username. Some forums allow the user to <a href="Upload" title="Upload">upload</a> an avatar image that may have been designed by the user or acquired from elsewhere. Other forums allow the user to select an avatar from a preset list or use an auto-discovery algorithm to extract one from the user's homepage.

Some avatars are <a href="Animation" title="Animation">animated</a>, consisting of a <a href="Sequence" title="Sequence">sequence</a> of multiple images played repeatedly. In such animated avatars, the number of images as well as the time in which they are replayed vary considerably.<a href="#cite_note-Designing_Isometric_Avatars-18">[18]</a>

Other avatar systems exist, such as on <a href="Gaia_Online" title="Gaia Online">Gaia Online</a>, <a href="WeeWorld" title="WeeWorld">WeeWorld</a>, Frenzoo or <a href="Meez" title="Meez">Meez</a>, where a pixelized representation of a person or creature is used, which can then be customized to the user's wishes.<a href="#cite_note-19">[19]</a> There are also avatar systems (e.g. Trutoon) where a representation is created using a person's face with customized characters and backgrounds.

Another avatar-based system is one wherein an image is automatically generated based on the identity of the poster. <a href="Identicon" title="Identicon">Identicons</a> are formed as visually distinct geometric images derived from a digest hash of the poster's <a href="IP_address" title="IP address">IP address</a> or user ID. These serve as a means to associate a particular user with a particular geometric representation. When used with an IP address, a particular anonymous user can be visually identified without the need for registration or authentication. If an account is compromised, a dissimilar identicon will be formed as the attacker is posting from an unfamiliar IP address.<a href="#cite_note-20">[20]</a><a href="#cite_note-21">[21]</a>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Internet_chat_and_messaging">Internet chat and messaging</h3></div>

<a href="GIF" title="GIF">GIF</a> avatars were introduced as early as 1990 in the <a href="ImagiNation_Network" class="mw-redirect" title="ImagiNation Network">ImagiNation Network</a> (also known as Sierra On-Line) game and chat hybrid. In 1994, Virtual Places offered VOIP capabilities which were later abandoned for lack of bandwidth. In 1996 <a href="Microsoft_Comic_Chat" title="Microsoft Comic Chat">Microsoft Comic Chat</a>, an <a href="IRC" title="IRC">IRC</a> client that used cartoon avatars for chatting, was released.

<a href="America_Online" class="mw-redirect" title="America Online">America Online</a> introduced instant messaging for its membership in 1996 and included a limited number of "buddy icons," picking up on the avatar idea from PC games. When AOL later introduced the free version of its messenger, AIM, for use by anyone on the Internet, the number of icons offered grew to be more than 1,000 and the use of them grew exponentially, becoming a hallmark feature of instant messaging. In 2002, AOL introduced "Super Buddies," 3D animated icons that talked to users as they typed messages and read messages. The term Avatar began to replace the moniker of "buddy icon" as 3D customizable icons became known to its users from the mainstream popularity of PC Games. Yahoo's instant messenger was the first to adopt the term "avatar" for its icons. Instant messaging avatars were usually very small; AIM icons have been as small as 16×16 pixels but are used more commonly at the 48×48 pixel size, although many icons can be found online that typically measure anywhere from 50×50 pixels to 100×100 pixels in size.

More recently, services such as <a href="Discord_(software)" class="mw-redirect" title="Discord (software)">Discord</a> have added avatars. With a paid subscription, users can select individual identities for different communities.<a href="#cite_note-22">[22]</a>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Online_assistants">Online assistants</h3></div>

Avatars can be used as virtual embodiments of <a href="Embodied_agent" title="Embodied agent">embodied agents</a>, which are driven more or less by <a href="Artificial_intelligence" title="Artificial intelligence">artificial intelligence</a> rather than real people. <a href="Automated_online_assistant" class="mw-redirect" title="Automated online assistant">Automated online assistants</a> are examples of avatars used in this way.

Such avatars are used by organizations as a part of <a href="Automated_customer_service" class="mw-redirect" title="Automated customer service">automated customer services</a> in order to interact with consumers and users of services. This can avail for enterprises to reduce their operating and training cost.<a href="#cite_note-Kongthon-23">[23]</a> A major underlying technology to such systems is <a href="Natural_language_processing" title="Natural language processing">natural language processing</a>.<a href="#cite_note-Kongthon-23">[23]</a> Some of these avatars are commonly known as "bots". Famous examples include <a href="IKEA" title="IKEA">IKEA</a>'s Anna, an avatar designed to guide users around the IKEA website.

Such avatars can also be powered by a <a href="Digital_conversation" title="Digital conversation">digital conversation</a> which provides a little more structure than those using NLP, offering the user options and clearly defined paths to an outcome. This kind of avatar is known as a Structured Language Processing or SLP Avatar.

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Video_games">Video games</h3></div>

<div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="Player_character" title="Player character">Player character</a></div>

Avatars in <a href="Video_game" title="Video game">video games</a> are the player's representation in the game world. The first video games to include a representation of the player were <a href="List_of_Taito_games" title="List of Taito games">Basketball</a> (1974) which represented players as humans,<a href="#cite_note-24">[24]</a><a href="#cite_note-25">[25]</a> and <a href="Maze_War" class="mw-redirect" title="Maze War">Maze War</a> (1974) which represented players as eyeballs.<a href="#cite_note-26">[26]</a>

In some games, the player's representation is fixed, however many games offer a basic character model, or template, and then allow customization of the physical features as the player sees fit. For example, <a href="Carl_Johnson_(Grand_Theft_Auto)" title="Carl Johnson (Grand Theft Auto)">Carl Johnson</a>, the avatar from <a href="Grand_Theft_Auto%3A_San_Andreas" title="Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas">Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas</a>, can be dressed in a wide range of clothing, can be given <a href="Tattoo" title="Tattoo">tattoos</a> and <a href="Haircut" class="mw-redirect" title="Haircut">haircuts</a>, and can even <a href="Bodybuilding" title="Bodybuilding">body build</a> or become <a href="Obesity" title="Obesity">obese</a> depending upon player actions.<a href="#cite_note-27">[27]</a> One video game in which the avatar and player are two separate entities is the game <a href="Perspective_(video_game)" title="Perspective (video game)">Perspective</a>, where the player controls both themself in a 3-dimensional world and the avatar in a 2-dimensional world.

Aside from an avatar's physical appearance, its dialogue, particularly in <a href="Cutscene" title="Cutscene">cutscenes</a>, may also reveal something of its character. A good example is the crude, <a href="Action_movie" class="mw-redirect" title="Action movie">action hero</a> <a href="Stereotype" title="Stereotype">stereotype</a>, <a href="Duke_Nukem_(character)" title="Duke Nukem (character)">Duke Nukem</a>.<a href="#cite_note-28">[28]</a> Other avatars, such as <a href="Gordon_Freeman" title="Gordon Freeman">Gordon Freeman</a> from <a href="Half-Life_(video_game)" title="Half-Life (video game)">Half-Life</a>, who <a href="Silent_protagonist" title="Silent protagonist">never speaks at all</a>, reveal very little of themselves (the original game never showed the player what he looked like without the use of a console command for third-person view).

Many <a href="Massively_multiplayer_online_game" title="Massively multiplayer online game">Massively multiplayer online games</a> (MMOGs) also include customizable avatars. Customization levels differ between games; for instance, in <a href="EVE_Online" class="mw-redirect" title="EVE Online">EVE Online</a>, players construct a wholly customized portrait, using a software that allows for several changes to facial structure as well as preset hairstyles, skin tones, etc.<a href="#cite_note-Designing_Isometric_Avatars-18">[18]</a> However, these portraits appear only in in-game chats and static information view of other players. Usually, all players appear in gigantic spacecraft that give no view of their pilot, unlike in most other RPGs. Alternatively, <a href="City_of_Heroes" title="City of Heroes">City of Heroes</a> offers one of the most detailed and comprehensive in-game avatar creation processes, allowing players to construct anything from traditional <a href="Superheroes" class="mw-redirect" title="Superheroes">superheroes</a> to aliens, medieval knights, monsters, robots, and many more. <a href="Robbie_Cooper" title="Robbie Cooper">Robbie Cooper</a>'s 2007 book "Alter Ego, Avatars and their creators" pairs photographs of players of a variety of MMO's with images of their in-game avatars and profiles; recording the player's motivations and intentions in designing and using their avatars. The survey reveals wide variation in the ways in which players of MMO's use avatars.<a href="#cite_note-29">[29]</a> <a href="Felicia_Day" title="Felicia Day">Felicia Day</a>, creator and star of <a href="The_Guild_(web_series)" title="The Guild (web series)">The Guild</a> <a href="Web_series" title="Web series">web series</a>, created a song called "<a href="(Do_You_Wanna_Date_My)_Avatar" title="(Do You Wanna Date My) Avatar">(Do You Wanna Date My) Avatar</a>" which satirizes avatars and <a href="Virtual_dating" class="mw-redirect" title="Virtual dating">virtual dating</a>.

/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

.mw-parser-output .tmulti .multiimageinner{display:flex;flex-direction:column}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .trow{display:flex;flex-direction:row;clear:left;flex-wrap:wrap;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .tsingle{margin:1px;float:left}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .theader{clear:both;font-weight:bold;text-align:center;align-self:center;background-color:transparent;width:100%}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .thumbcaption{background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .text-align-left{text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .text-align-right{text-align:right}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .text-align-center{text-align:center}@media all and (max-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .tmulti .thumbinner{width:100%!important;box-sizing:border-box;max-width:none!important;align-items:center}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .trow{justify-content:center}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .tsingle{float:none!important;max-width:100%!important;box-sizing:border-box;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .tsingle .thumbcaption{text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .trow>.thumbcaption{text-align:center}}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .tmulti .multiimageinner span:not(.skin-invert-image):not(.skin-invert):not(.bg-transparent) img{background-color:white}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .tmulti .multiimageinner span:not(.skin-invert-image):not(.skin-invert):not(.bg-transparent) img{background-color:white}}

/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

</style><div class="thumb tmulti tright"><div class="thumbinner multiimageinner" style="width:242px;max-width:242px"><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:80px;max-width:80px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:155px;overflow:hidden"></div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:158px;max-width:158px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:155px;overflow:hidden"></div></div></div><div class="trow" style="display:flex"><div class="thumbcaption">Universal animated avatars from the <a href="Xbox_360" title="Xbox 360">Xbox 360</a> (shown left) and <a href="Nintendo_Wii" class="mw-redirect" title="Nintendo Wii">Nintendo Wii</a> (shown right)</div></div></div></div>

<a href="Nintendo" title="Nintendo">Nintendo</a>'s <a href="Wii" title="Wii">Wii</a>, <a href="Nintendo_3DS" title="Nintendo 3DS">3DS</a> and <a href="Nintendo_Switch" title="Nintendo Switch">Switch</a> consoles allow for the creation of avatars called "<a href="Mii" title="Mii">Miis</a>" that take the form of stylized, cartoonish people and can be used in some games as avatars for players, as in <a href="Wii_Sports" title="Wii Sports">Wii Sports</a>.<a href="#cite_note-30">[30]</a><a href="#cite_note-ign-31">[31]</a> In some games, the ability to use a Mii as an avatar must be unlocked, such as in <a href="Mario_Kart_8" title="Mario Kart 8">Mario Kart 8</a>.<a href="#cite_note-32">[32]</a>

In late 2008, <a href="Microsoft" title="Microsoft">Microsoft</a> released an <a href="Xbox_360" title="Xbox 360">Xbox 360</a> Dashboard update which featured the introduction of <a href="Avatar_(Xbox_360)" class="mw-redirect" title="Avatar (Xbox 360)">Avatars</a> as part of the console's <a href="New_Xbox_Experience" class="mw-redirect" title="New Xbox Experience">New Xbox Experience</a>.<a href="#cite_note-gamefest08-33">[33]</a> With the update installed users can personalize the look of their Avatars by choosing from a range of clothing and facial features. In October 2018, Microsoft launched a new version of their Xbox avatars for Xbox One and Xbox on <a href="Windows_10" title="Windows 10">Windows 10</a>, featuring increased detail and having a focus on inclusivity.<a href="#cite_note-34">[34]</a> <a href="PlayStation_Home" title="PlayStation Home">PlayStation Home</a> for <a href="Sony" title="Sony">Sony</a>'s <a href="PlayStation_3" title="PlayStation 3">PlayStation 3</a> console also featured the use of avatars, but with a more realistic style than Nintendo's Miis or Microsoft's Avatars.<a href="#cite_note-35">[35]</a>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Non-gaming_online_worlds">Non-gaming online worlds</h3></div>

Avatars in non-gaming <a href="Online_world" class="mw-redirect" title="Online world">online worlds</a> are used as two- or three-<a href="Dimension" title="Dimension">dimensional</a> human or <a href="Fantastique" title="Fantastique">fantastic</a> <a href="Representations" title="Representations">representations</a> of a person's inworld self. Such representations are a tool which facilitates the exploration of the virtual universe, or acts as a focal point in conversations with other users, and can be customized by the user. Usually, the purpose and appeal of such universes is to provide a large enhancement to common online conversation capabilities, and to allow the user to peacefully develop a portion of a non-gaming universe without being forced to strive towards a pre-defined goal.<a href="#cite_note-36">[36]</a>

The earliest avatars of this form were text-based descriptions employed by players within <a href="Multi-user_dungeon" title="Multi-user dungeon">MUDs</a>. These often allowed players to express an identity disparate from their public one within an interactive environment. For instance, <a href="LambdaMOO" title="LambdaMOO">LambdaMOO</a> allowed a choice of 11 different <a href="Gender_identity" title="Gender identity">genders</a>, which could be changed at the user's will.<a href="#cite_note-lareview-14">[14]</a> The visually-based game <a href="Habitat_(video_game)" title="Habitat (video game)">Habitat</a> also used the term to refer to players within the game world. A later example is Linden Lab's <a href="Second_Life" title="Second Life">Second Life</a>, which has the player use a custom avatar to interact in a virtual 3D world; after peaking in 2007, its user count declined due to the encroachment of more traditional platforms such as <a href="Facebook" title="Facebook">Facebook</a>. More recently, the concept has been combined with <a href="Virtual_reality" title="Virtual reality">virtual reality</a>; <a href="VRChat" title="VRChat">VRChat</a> allows the user to interact with other avatars in custom environments, and <a href="Mark_Zuckerberg" title="Mark Zuckerberg">Mark Zuckerberg</a>'s <a href="Meta_Platforms" title="Meta Platforms">Meta Platforms</a> has promoted it as part of his vision of a <a href="Metaverse" title="Metaverse">metaverse</a>.<a href="#cite_note-metaverse-37">[37]</a><a href="#cite_note-38">[38]</a>

Many modern virtual worlds provide users with advanced tools to customize their representations, allowing them to change shapes, hair, skins and also genre. Moreover, there is a secondary industry devoted to the creations of products and items for the avatars. Some companies have also launched social networks<a href="#cite_note-39">[39]</a> and other websites for avatars such as <a href="Koinup" title="Koinup">Koinup</a>, Myrl, and <a href="Avatars_United" title="Avatars United">Avatars United</a>.

Lisa Nakamura has suggested that customizable avatars in non-gaming worlds tend to be biased towards lighter skin colors and against darker skin colors, especially in those of the male gender.<a href="#cite_note-40">[40]</a> In <a href="Second_Life" title="Second Life">Second Life</a> avatars are created by residents and take any form, and range from lifelike <a href="Human" title="Human">humans</a> to robots, <a href="Animal" title="Animal">animals</a>, <a href="Plant" title="Plant">plants</a> and <a href="Legendary_creature" title="Legendary creature">legendary creatures</a>. <a href="Customization_of_Avatars_(Computing)" class="mw-redirect" title="Customization of Avatars (Computing)">Avatar customization</a> is one of the most important entertainment aspects in non gaming virtual worlds, such as <a href="Second_Life" title="Second Life">Second Life</a>, <a href="IMVU" title="IMVU">IMVU</a>, and <a href="Active_Worlds" title="Active Worlds">Active Worlds</a>.<a href="#cite_note-41">[41]</a> Some evidence suggests that avatars that are more anthropomorphic are perceived to be less credible and likeable than images that are less anthropomorphic.<a href="#cite_note-42">[j 1]</a> Social scientists at <a href="Stanford" class="mw-redirect" title="Stanford">Stanford</a>'s Virtual Human Interaction Lab<a href="#cite_note-43">[42]</a> examine the implications, possibilities, and <a href="Transformed_social_interaction" title="Transformed social interaction">transformed social interaction</a> that occur when people interact via avatars.

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Social_media">Social media</h3></div>

Another use of the avatar has emerged with the widespread use of <a href="Social_media" title="Social media">social media</a> platforms. There is a practice in social media sites: uploading avatars in place of real profile image. Profile picture is a distinct graphics that represent the identity of profile holder. It is usually the portrait of an individual, logo of an organization, organizational building or distinctive character of book, cover page etc. Using avatars as profile pictures can increase users' perceived level of <a href="Social_presence" class="mw-redirect" title="Social presence">social presence</a> which in turn fosters reciprocity and sharing behavior in online environments.<a href="#cite_note-44">[43]</a> According to MIT professor <a href="Sherry_Turkle" title="Sherry Turkle">Sherry Turkle</a>: "... we think we will be presenting ourselves, but our profile ends up as somebody else – often the fantasy of who we want to be".<a href="#cite_note-45">[44]</a>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Motion_capture">Motion capture</h3></div>

Another form of use for avatars is for video chats/calls. Some services, such as Skype (through some external plugins) allow users to use <a href="Interactive_online_characters" class="mw-redirect" title="Interactive online characters">talking avatars</a> during video calls, replacing the image from the user's camera with an animated, talking avatar.<a href="#cite_note-46">[45]</a> Through the use of <a href="Facial_motion_capture" title="Facial motion capture">facial motion capture</a> and a <a href="Webcam" title="Webcam">webcam</a>, an avatar can be configured to mimic the motions and expressions of the user. This can be integrated directly into games, such as <a href="Star_Citizen" title="Star Citizen">Star Citizen</a>, and via standalone software such as FaceRig.<a href="#cite_note-47">[46]</a><a href="#cite_note-48">[47]</a>

Both 3D and 2D avatars have been used in <a href="Training_and_development" title="Training and development">Learning and Development</a> content for education, onboarding, employee training and more. Photorealistic 3D AI avatars have been used as stand-ins for real actors via video editing tools like those made by <a href="Synthesia_(company)" title="Synthesia (company)">Synthesia</a> among others.<a href="#cite_note-49">[48]</a>

<a href="Virtual_YouTubers" class="mw-redirect" title="Virtual YouTubers">Virtual YouTubers</a> use animated avatars designed in software such as <a href="Live2D" title="Live2D">Live2D</a>, which often resemble <a href="Anime" title="Anime">anime</a> characters.<a href="#cite_note-50">[49]</a> A whole ecosystem of talent agencies and investors exists to manage these online personalities, which often differ from the creator's real-life persona.<a href="#cite_note-BBC-51">[50]</a> YouTube's 2020 Culture and Trends report highlighted VTubers as one of the notable trends of that year, with 1.5 billion views per month by October,<a href="#cite_note-52">[51]</a> and in May 2021, <a href="Twitch.tv" class="mw-redirect" title="Twitch.tv">Twitch</a> added a VTuber tag for streams as part of a wider expansion of its tag system.<a href="#cite_note-53">[52]</a>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="After_death">After death</h3></div>

With the rise of <a href="Artificial_intelligence" title="Artificial intelligence">artificial intelligence</a> in the mid-2020s, companies began offering to create 3D avatars of individuals, particularly those near death.<a href="#cite_note-54">[53]</a>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Miscellaneous">Miscellaneous</h3></div>

Samsung's <a href="AR_Emoji" class="mw-redirect" title="AR Emoji">AR Emoji</a> which comes on <a href="Samsung_Galaxy" title="Samsung Galaxy">Samsung Galaxy</a> smartphones lets users create animated avatars of themselves.<a href="#cite_note-55">[54]</a><a href="#cite_note-56">[55]</a>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="In_popular_culture">In popular culture</h3></div>

Cartoons and stories sometimes have a character based on their creator, either a fictionalised version (e.g. the <a href="Matt_Groening" title="Matt Groening">Matt Groening</a> character in some episodes of <a href="The_Simpsons" title="The Simpsons">The Simpsons</a>) or an entirely fictional character (e.g. <a href="Hermione_Granger" title="Hermione Granger">Hermione Granger</a> in the <a href="Harry_Potter" title="Harry Potter">Harry Potter series</a> has been said<a href="#cite_note-57">[56]</a> by <a href="J._K._Rowling" title="J. K. Rowling">J. K. Rowling</a> to be based upon herself). Such characters are sometimes known as "<a href="Author_surrogate" title="Author surrogate">author surrogates</a>", "author avatars" or Self Inserts.<a href="#cite_note-58">[57]</a>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Customization">Customization</h2></div>

Early examples of customizable avatars include multi-user systems, including <a href="Multi-user_dungeon" title="Multi-user dungeon">MUDs</a>.<a href="#cite_note-bear-59">[58]</a> <a href="Gaia_Online" title="Gaia Online">Gaia Online</a> has a customizable avatar where users can dress it up as desired.<a href="#cite_note-60">[59]</a> Users may earn credits for completing sponsored surveys or certain tasks to purchase items and upgrades to customize their avatar.<a href="#cite_note-61">[60]</a> <a href="Linden_Lab" title="Linden Lab">Linden Lab</a>'s Second Life creates a <a href="Virtual_world" title="Virtual world">virtual world</a> in which avatars, homes, decorations, buildings and land are for sale.<a href="#cite_note-62">[61]</a> Less-common items may be designed to appear better than common items, and an experienced player may be identified from a group of new characters before in-game statistics are seen.<a href="#cite_note-bear-59">[58]</a>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Avatar_Generators">Avatar Generators</h3></div>

To meet the demand for millions of unique, customized avatars, generator tools and services have been created.<a href="#cite_note-63">[62]</a> Many of them, such as the website <a href="Picrew" title="Picrew">Picrew</a>, are based around works by original artists.<a href="#cite_note-64">[63]</a> The 2021 <a href="Electronic_Entertainment_Expo" class="mw-redirect" title="Electronic Entertainment Expo">Electronic Entertainment Expo</a> featured an avatar creator, to align with its new all-digital nature.<a href="#cite_note-65">[64]</a>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Awareness_avatars">Awareness avatars</h3></div>

Some people add visual details or effects to their avatars to show support for a movement or issue, in a similar way to a physical <a href="Awareness_ribbon" title="Awareness ribbon">awareness ribbon</a>.

The awareness avatar may have first been used in the <a href="New_Zealand_Internet_Blackout" title="New Zealand Internet Blackout">New Zealand Internet Blackout</a>, to protest copyright law changes in New Zealand. Globally, protesters replaced their icons with black squares to show solidarity. The protest was successful and proved the method effective at both raising awareness and effecting change. Campaigns have used this method include:

<ul><li>Black avatar: February 16–23, 2009 <a href="New_Zealand_Internet_Blackout" title="New Zealand Internet Blackout">New Zealand Internet Blackout</a> protesting copyright law changes in New Zealand.<a href="#cite_note-66">[65]</a></li>

<li>Yellow tint: Beginning June 17, 2009, to protest the increasing size and role of the United States government.<a href="#cite_note-67">[66]</a></li>

<li>Green tint: Beginning June 18, 2009 support for <a href="Iran_election_protests" class="mw-redirect" title="Iran election protests">Iran election protests</a>.<a href="#cite_note-68">[67]</a></li>

<li>French flag tint: Beginning November 13, 2015 to show support for France after the <a href="November_2015_Paris_attacks" title="November 2015 Paris attacks">November 2015 Paris attacks</a>.<a href="#cite_note-69">[68]</a></li>

<li>During the <a href="COVID-19_pandemic" title="COVID-19 pandemic">COVID-19 pandemic</a>, users added <a href="Surgical_mask" title="Surgical mask">surgical masks</a> and <a href="Respirator" title="Respirator">respirators</a> on the faces of characters and avatars. Websites such as <a href="Facebook" title="Facebook">Facebook</a> officially supported these efforts by adding the option for several frames supporting the <a href="COVID-19_vaccine" title="COVID-19 vaccine">COVID-19 vaccine</a>.<a href="#cite_note-70">[69]</a> Conversely, <a href="Anti-vaccine" class="mw-redirect" title="Anti-vaccine">anti-vaccine</a> advocates have used profile frames to state their opposition to it.<a href="#cite_note-71">[70]</a></li>

<li>Rainbow patterns to represent membership or solidarity with the <a href="LGBT_community" class="mw-redirect" title="LGBT community">LGBT community</a>.<a href="#cite_note-Rainbow-72">[71]</a></li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Academic_study">Academic study</h2></div>

Avatars have become an area of study in the world of academics. According to psychiatrist David Brunski, the emergence of online avatars have implications for domains of scholarly research such as <a href="Technoself" class="mw-redirect" title="Technoself">technoself</a> studies, which is concerned with all aspects of identity in a technological society.<a href="#cite_note-73">[j 2]</a>

Across the literature, scholars have focused on three overlapping aspects that influence users' perceptions of the social potential of avatars: agency, anthropomorphism, and realism.<a href="#cite_note-74">[j 3]</a> According to researchers K. L. Novak and J. Fox, researchers must differentiate perceived agency (whether an entity is perceived to be human), <a href="Anthropomorphism" title="Anthropomorphism">anthropomorphism</a> (having human form or behavior), identomorphism<a href="#cite_note-75">[72]</a> (how much the form of the avatar resembles the player), and realism (the perceived viability of something realistically existing). Perceived agency influences people's responses in the interaction regardless of who or what is actually controlling the representation. An earlier meta-analysis of studies comparing agents and avatars found that both agency and perceived agency mattered: representations controlled by humans were more persuasive than those controlled by bots, and representations believed to be controlled by humans were more persuasive than those believed to be controlled by bots.<a href="#cite_note-76">[j 4]</a>

Additionally, researchers have investigated how anthropomorphic representations influence communicative outcomes and found that more human-like representations are judged more favorably; people consider them more attractive, credible, and competent.<a href="#cite_note-77">[j 5]</a> Higher levels of anthropomorphism also lead to higher involvement, social presence, and communication satisfaction.<a href="#cite_note-78">[j 6]</a> Moreover, people communicate more naturally with more anthropomorphic avatars.<a href="#cite_note-79">[j 7]</a> Anthropomorphism is also tied to social influence, as more human-like representations can be more persuasive.<a href="#cite_note-80">[j 8]</a>

For the <a href="Harvard_Business_Review" title="Harvard Business Review">Harvard Business Review</a>, Paul Hemp analysed the effects of avatars on real-world business. He focuses on the game "Second Life", demonstrating that the creators of virtual avatars are willing to spend real money to purchase goods marketed solely to their virtual selves.<a href="#cite_note-81">[73]</a> In addition, research in <a href="Survey_data_collection" class="mw-redirect" title="Survey data collection">data collection</a> via Second Life avatars suggested important considerations related to research participant engagement, burden, and retention, as well as accuracy of the data collected.<a href="#cite_note-82">[74]</a>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Representation_of_identity">Representation of identity</h3></div>

The Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication published a study of the reactions to certain types of avatars by a sample group of human users. The results showed that users commonly chose avatars which were humanoid and matched their gender. The conclusion was that in order to make users feel more "at home" in their avatars, designers should maximise the customizability of visual criteria common to humans, such as skin and hair color, age, gender, hair styles and height.<a href="#cite_note-83">[j 9]</a> Researchers at York University studied whether avatars reflected a user's real-life personality.<a href="#cite_note-Post_2015-84">[75]</a> Student test groups were able to infer upon extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism, but could not infer upon openness and conscientiousness.<a href="#cite_note-Post_2015-84">[75]</a>

Researchers have also studied avatars that differ from real-life identity. <a href="Sherry_Turkle" title="Sherry Turkle">Sherry Turkle</a> described a middle-aged man who played an aggressive, confrontational female character in his online communities, displaying personality traits he was embarrassed to display in the offline world.<a href="#cite_note-turkle-85">[76]</a> Research by Nick Yee of the Daedelus Project demonstrates that an avatar may differ considerably from a player's offline identity, based on gender.<a href="#cite_note-yee-86">[77]</a> However, most players will make an avatar that is (proportionately) equal to their height (or slightly taller).<a href="#cite_note-yee-86">[77]</a> Turkle has observed that some players seek an emotional connection they cannot establish in the real world. She described a case in which a man with a serious heart condition preventing him from ordinary socializing found acceptance and friendship through his online identity.<a href="#cite_note-turkle-85">[76]</a> Others have pointed out similar findings in those with <a href="Mental_disorders" class="mw-redirect" title="Mental disorders">mental disorders</a> making <a href="Social_interaction" class="mw-redirect" title="Social interaction">social interaction</a> difficult, such as those with <a href="Autism" title="Autism">autism</a> or similar disabilities.<a href="#cite_note-87">[78]</a>

<ul><li><a href="Artificial_intelligence_and_elections" title="Artificial intelligence and elections">Artificial intelligence and elections</a> – Use and impact of AI on political elections</li>

<li><a href="Michaelmas_(novel)" title="Michaelmas (novel)">Michaelmas (novel)</a> – 1977 novel by Algis Budrys</li>

<li><a href="Microsoft_Agent" title="Microsoft Agent">Microsoft Agent</a> – Software avatar toolkit</li>

<li><a href="NECA_Project" title="NECA Project">NECA Project</a></li>

<li><a href="Online_identity" title="Online identity">Online identity</a> – Social identity that an Internet user establishes in online communities and website</li>

<li><a href="Persona_(user_experience)" title="Persona (user experience)">Persona (user experience)</a> – Personalized fictional characters representing a consumer or user category</li>

<li><a href="Player_character" title="Player character">Player character</a> – Character controlled by a game player</li>

<li><a href="Pointman_(user_interface)" title="Pointman (user interface)">Pointman (user interface)</a> – User interface used in a 3D environment</li>

<li><a href="Proteus_effect" title="Proteus effect">Proteus effect</a> – Behavioral effect in virtual worlds</li>

<li><a href="Ready_Player_One" title="Ready Player One">Ready Player One</a> – 2011 science fiction novel by Ernest Cline

<ul><li><a href="Ready_Player_One_(film)" title="Ready Player One (film)">Ready Player One (film)</a> – 2018 film by Steven Spielberg</li></ul></li>

<li><a href="Thumbnail" title="Thumbnail">Thumbnail</a> – Reduced-size versions of images or videos</li>

<li><a href="Viverse" title="Viverse">Viverse</a> – Virtual reality platform</li>

<li><a href="VTuber" title="VTuber">VTuber</a> – Streamers that use virtual avatars</li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2></div>

/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}

/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

</style><div class="reflist reflist-columns references-column-width reflist-columns-2">

/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("./mw/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("./mw/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("./mw/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("./mw/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}

/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

</style><cite id="CITEREFSalamone2004" class="citation book cs1">Salamone, Frank A. (2004). Levinson, David (ed.). Encyclopedia of Religious Rites, Rituals, and Festivals. New York: <a href="Routledge" title="Routledge">Routledge</a>. p. 300. <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>0-415-94180-6</bdi>.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-2"><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFPaez2020" class="citation web cs1">Paez, Danny (August 24, 2020). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.inverse.com/gaming/avatar-meaning-origins-video-games">"How gaming turned a Hindu concept into the internet's most common feature"</a>. Inverse. Retrieved November 5, 2021.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-dict-3"><a href="#cite_ref-dict_3-0">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/avatar">"avatar"</a>. <a href="Random_House_Webster's_Unabridged_Dictionary" title="Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary">Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary</a>.

</li>

<li id="cite_note-4"><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a> Spinrad, Norman. <a href="Songs_from_the_Stars" title="Songs from the Stars">Songs from the Stars</a>. New York: Pocket Books, 1981. p. 218.

</li>

<li id="cite_note-5"><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a> <cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.criticalpathproject.com/video/coining-term-avatar/">"Coining Term "Avatar""</a>. insights from the greatest minds in video games. Retrieved December 15, 2017.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-Morabito-6"><a href="#cite_ref-Morabito_6-0">^</a> Morabito, Margaret. "Enter the Online World of LucasFilm." Run Aug. 1986: 24–28

</li>

<li id="cite_note-7"><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFGerhardMooreHobbs2004" class="citation journal cs1">Gerhard, Michael; Moore, David; Hobbs, Dave (2004). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1071581904000126">"Embodiment and copresence in collaborative interfaces"</a>. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies. 61 (4): 453–480. <a href="Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.ijhcs.2003.12.014">10.1016/j.ijhcs.2003.12.014</a>. <a href="ISSN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISSN (identifier)">ISSN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1071-5819">1071-5819</a>. <q>It was first used in the context of virtual worlds in the pioneering Habitat system of the mid 1980s (Morningstar and Farmer, 1991) and popularized by Stephenson's (1992) science-fiction novel Snow Crash.</q></cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-8"><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a> Stephenson, Neal. Snow Crash. New York: Bantam, 2003 (reissue). pp. 469–70.

</li>

<li id="cite_note-9"><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a> Fink, Jeri. Cyberseduction: Reality in the Age of Psychotechnology. Prometheus Books, 1999. <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>1-57392-743-0</bdi>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-10"><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a> Blackwood, Kevin. Casino Gambling For Dummies. For Dummies, 2006. p.284. <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>0-471-75286-X</bdi>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-11"><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFKinzler" class="citation web cs1">Kinzler, Steve. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://kinzler.com/picons/ftp/faq.html">"Picons"</a>. Picons Archive. Retrieved May 24, 2014.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-BestProfilePicture-12"><a href="#cite_ref-BestProfilePicture_12-0">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFLee2015" class="citation news cs1">Lee, Kevan (March 25, 2015). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://buffer.com/library/best-profile-picture-science-research-psychology">"What Research Says About the Best Profile Picture | Buffer"</a>. Buffer Marketing Library. Retrieved May 11, 2020.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-13"><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFGolby2016" class="citation news cs1">Golby, Joel (July 9, 2016). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/what-your-facebook-profile-photo-says-about-you/">"What Your Facebook Profile Photo Says About You"</a>. Vice. Retrieved May 11, 2020.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-lareview-14">^ <a href="#cite_ref-lareview_14-0">a</a> <a href="#cite_ref-lareview_14-1">b</a> <cite id="CITEREFEvans2019" class="citation web cs1">Evans, Claire L. (September 16, 2019). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/quest-of-the-avatars/">"Quest of the Avatars"</a>. LA Review of Books. Retrieved November 5, 2021.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-15"><a href="#cite_ref-15">^</a> <a href="Lawrence_Lessig" title="Lawrence Lessig">Lessig, Lawrence</a>. Code and Other Laws of Cyberspace. Basic Books, 2000. <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>0-465-03913-8</bdi>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-16"><a href="#cite_ref-16">^</a> In <cite id="CITEREFMulliganPatrovsky2003" class="citation book cs1">Mulligan, Jessica; Patrovsky, Bridgette (2003). Developing online games: an insider's guide. New Riders.</cite>, Randy Farmer is quoted (p.454): "It is important to realize that the term 'avatar' was used in another game later [??] in that period (Ultima IV) and that the concept of an 'avatar' was in several works of fiction prior to the development of Habitat including <a href="Vernor_Vinge" title="Vernor Vinge">Vernor Vinge</a>'s <a href="True_Names" title="True Names">True Names</a> and <a href="John_Brunner_(novelist)" class="mw-redirect" title="John Brunner (novelist)">John Brunner</a>'s <a href="The_Shockwave_Rider" title="The Shockwave Rider">Shockwave Rider</a>."

</li>

<li id="cite_note-17"><a href="#cite_ref-17">^</a> Jordan, Tim. Cyberpower: The Culture and Politics of Cyberspace and the Internet. Routledge, 1999. <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>0-415-17078-8</bdi>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-Designing_Isometric_Avatars-18">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Designing_Isometric_Avatars_18-0">a</a> <a href="#cite_ref-Designing_Isometric_Avatars_18-1">b</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://herbert.gandraxa.com/herbert/dia.asp">Designing Isometric Avatars</a>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-19"><a href="#cite_ref-19">^</a> <cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://socialnewsdaily.com/findmesimilar/2014/05/games-like-ourworld.html/">"Virtual World Games Like OurWorld - Find Me Similar"</a>. May 15, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2023.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-20"><a href="#cite_ref-20">^</a> <cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://github.blog/2013-08-14-identicons/">"Identicons!"</a>. August 15, 2013.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-21"><a href="#cite_ref-21">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFDon_Park" class="citation web cs1">Don Park. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080703155519/http://www.docuverse.com/blog/donpark/2007/01/18/visual-security-9-block-ip-identification">"Visual Security: 9-block IP Identification"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.docuverse.com/blog/donpark/2007/01/18/visual-security-9-block-ip-identification">the original</a> on July 3, 2008.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-22"><a href="#cite_ref-22">^</a> <cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/4409388345495-Server-Avatars">"Server Avatars - Discord Help"</a>. Discord Help. October 16, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-Kongthon-23">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Kongthon_23-0">a</a> <a href="#cite_ref-Kongthon_23-1">b</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=1643823.1643908">Implementing an online help desk system based on conversational agent</a> Authors: Alisa Kongthon, Chatchawal Sangkeettrakarn, Sarawoot Kongyoung and Choochart Haruechaiyasak. Published by ACM 2009 Article, Bibliometrics Data Bibliometrics. Published in: Proceeding, MEDES '09 Proceedings of the International Conference on Management of Emergent Digital EcoSystems, ACM New York, NY, USA. <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>978-1-60558-829-2</bdi>, <a href="Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1145%2F1643823.1643908">10.1145/1643823.1643908</a>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-24"><a href="#cite_ref-24">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://allincolorforaquarter.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/video-game-firsts.html">Video Game Firsts</a>, The Golden Age Arcade Historian (November 22, 2013)

</li>

<li id="cite_note-25"><a href="#cite_ref-25">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?page=wide-flyer&db=videodb&id=4036&image=2">Basketball Flyer</a> (1974), Arcade Flyer Museum

</li>

<li id="cite_note-26"><a href="#cite_ref-26">^</a> Damer, B. F. Avatars! Exploring and Building Virtual Worlds on the Internet. Berkeley: Peach Pit Press, 1997.

</li>

<li id="cite_note-27"><a href="#cite_ref-27">^</a> <cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130620152954/http://www.ign.com/games/grand-theft-auto-san-andreas/ps2-611957">"IGN: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://ps2.ign.com/objects/611/611957.html">the original</a> on June 20, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2007.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-28"><a href="#cite_ref-28">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.thecomputershow.com/computershow/reviews/dukenukem3d.htm">Duke Nukem 3D</a>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-29"><a href="#cite_ref-29">^</a> <a href="Maria_Popova" title="Maria Popova">Maria Popova</a>, Brain Pickings, December 14, 2011, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/12/14/alter-ego-robbie-cooper/">"Alter Ego, Portraits of Gamers next to their Avatars"</a>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-30"><a href="#cite_ref-30">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFZell-Briefer2021" class="citation web cs1">Zell-Briefer, Sam (June 7, 2021). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.looper.com/430412/the-true-origin-of-nintendo-miis-may-surprise-you/">"The True Origin Of Nintendo Miis May Surprise You"</a>. Looper. Retrieved November 5, 2021.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-ign-31"><a href="#cite_ref-ign_31-0">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFCasamassina2006" class="citation web cs1"><a href="Matt_Casamassina" title="Matt Casamassina">Casamassina, Matt</a> (November 13, 2006). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20071012231243/http://wii.ign.com/articles/745/745708p1.html">"Wii Sports Review"</a>. IGN. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://wii.ign.com/articles/745/745708p1.html">the original</a> on October 12, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-32"><a href="#cite_ref-32">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFParkin2017" class="citation web cs1">Parkin, Jeffrey (May 3, 2017). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.polygon.com/mario-kart-8-deluxe-guide/2017/4/27/15445610/unlockables-gold-kart">"Mario Kart 8 Deluxe unlockables"</a>. Polygon. Retrieved November 5, 2021.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-gamefest08-33"><a href="#cite_ref-gamefest08_33-0">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFChristian_Nutt2008" class="citation web cs1">Christian Nutt (July 22, 2008). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/gamefest-inside-avatars-for-the-xbox-360">"GameFest: Inside Avatars For The Xbox 360"</a>. <a href="Gamasutra" class="mw-redirect" title="Gamasutra">Gamasutra</a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080726074506/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=19519">Archived</a> from the original on July 26, 2008. Retrieved July 23, 2008.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-34"><a href="#cite_ref-34">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFWarren2018" class="citation web cs1">Warren, Tom (June 19, 2018). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.theverge.com/2018/6/19/17365914/microsoft-xbox-live-avatars-launch-features">"Microsoft starts testing new diverse Xbox Live avatars"</a>. The Verge. Retrieved November 5, 2021.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-35"><a href="#cite_ref-35">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFAgnello2015" class="citation web cs1">Agnello, A (April 4, 2015). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.engadget.com/2015-04-04-rip-playstation-home.html">"There's no longer a place like PlayStation Home"</a>. Engadget. Retrieved November 5, 2021.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-36"><a href="#cite_ref-36">^</a> Damer, Bruce. Avatars: Exploring and Building Virtual Worlds on the Internet. Peachpit Press, 1997. <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>0-201-68840-9</bdi>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-metaverse-37"><a href="#cite_ref-metaverse_37-0">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFBrown2021" class="citation web cs1">Brown, Abram (November 3, 2021). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/abrambrown/2021/11/03/zuckerberg-facebook-metaverse-meta-virtual-reality-oculus/?sh=5cd5cac66b69">"What Is The Metaverse—And Why Does Mark Zuckerberg Care So Much About It?"</a>. Forbes. Retrieved November 5, 2021.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-38"><a href="#cite_ref-38">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFSung2021" class="citation web cs1">Sung, Morgan (October 8, 2021). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://mashable.com/article/virtual-reality-strip-clubs-vrchat">"What it's like to dance at a VR strip club"</a>. Mashable. Retrieved November 5, 2021.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-39"><a href="#cite_ref-39">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFSterling,_Bruce2007" class="citation magazine cs1">Sterling, Bruce (September 28, 2007). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://blog.wired.com/sterling/2007/09/get-a-first-lif.html/">"Get a First Life"</a>. <a href="Wired_(magazine)" title="Wired (magazine)">Wired</a>.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-40"><a href="#cite_ref-40">^</a> Nakamura, Lisa. Cybertypes: Race, Ethnicity, and Identity on the Internet. Routledge, 2002. <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>0-415-93836-8</bdi>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-41"><a href="#cite_ref-41">^</a> Meadows, Mark Stephen (2008). I, Avatar: The Culture and Consequences of Having a Second Life, New Riders, <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>0-321-53339-9</bdi>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-43"><a href="#cite_ref-43">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://vhil.stanford.edu">VHIL: Virtual Human Interaction Lab - Stanford University</a>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-44"><a href="#cite_ref-44">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFTeubner,_T.Adam,_M.Camacho_SHassanein_K.2014" class="citation conference cs1">Teubner, T.; Adam, M.; Camacho S; Hassanein K. (2014). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20161027083304/https://aut.researchgateway.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10292/8101/acis20140_submission_352.pdf">Understanding Resource Sharing in C2C Platforms: The Role of Picture Humanization</a> (PDF). <a href="Australasian_Conference_on_Information_Systems" title="Australasian Conference on Information Systems">Australasian Conference on Information Systems</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://aut.researchgateway.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10292/8101/acis20140_submission_352.pdf">the original</a> (PDF) on October 27, 2016. Retrieved March 22, 2015.</cite> Retrieved 23 March 2015.

</li>

<li id="cite_note-45"><a href="#cite_ref-45">^</a> Turkle, Sherry. "Alone Together: Why we expect more from technology and less from each other" Basic Books (2011): 153.

</li>

<li id="cite_note-46"><a href="#cite_ref-46">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://extras.skype.com/72/view">Skype Extras</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20061024194129/https://extras.skype.com/72/view">Archived</a> October 24, 2006, at the <a href="Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-47"><a href="#cite_ref-47">^</a> <cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.romania-insider.com/facerig-usd-2-million-expansion">"U.S fund invests USD 2 mln in Romanian animation software developer"</a>. Romania Insider. January 8, 2018. Retrieved September 1, 2021.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-48"><a href="#cite_ref-48">^</a> <cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.vg247.com/octodad-dadliest-catch-facerig-animation-demo">"This is the easiest way to pretend to be an octopus pretending to be a human"</a>. VG247. July 1, 2014. Retrieved September 1, 2021.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-49"><a href="#cite_ref-49">^</a> <cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.synthesia.io/features/avatars">"Create professional videos with 140+ diverse AI avatars"</a>. October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-50"><a href="#cite_ref-50">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFNagata2018" class="citation web cs1">Nagata, Kazuaki (July 17, 2018). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/07/17/national/japans-latest-big-thing-virtual-youtubers/">"Japan's latest big thing: 'virtual YouTubers'"</a>. The Japan Times. Retrieved December 14, 2020.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-BBC-51"><a href="#cite_ref-BBC_51-0">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFLufkin2018" class="citation news cs1">Lufkin, Bryan (October 2, 2018). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20181002-the-virtual-vloggers-taking-over-youtube">"The virtual vloggers taking over YouTube"</a>. <a href="BBC" title="BBC">BBC</a>. Retrieved February 14, 2018.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-52"><a href="#cite_ref-52">^</a> <cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/trends/articles/report-sources/">"YouTube Culture & Trends – Data and Cultural Analysis for You"</a>. YouTube Culture & Trends. December 15, 2020. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20201218081931/https://www.youtube.com/trends/articles/report-sources/">Archived</a> from the original on December 18, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2020.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-53"><a href="#cite_ref-53">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFMarshall2021" class="citation web cs1">Marshall, Cass (May 27, 2021). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.polygon.com/22456783/twitch-new-streamer-tags-vtuber-transgender-queer-trans-community">"Twitch introduces more than 350 new streamer tags, including Vtuber, transgender, queer"</a>. Polygon. Retrieved September 1, 2021.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-54"><a href="#cite_ref-54">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFDominus2025" class="citation news cs1">Dominus, Susan (June 13, 2025). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/06/13/magazine/ai-avatar-life-death.html">"He Has Months Left. His Son Hopes an A.I. Version of Him Can Live On"</a>. The New York Times. Retrieved June 24, 2025.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-55"><a href="#cite_ref-55">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFCarman2018" class="citation web cs1">Carman, Ashley (March 26, 2018). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2018/3/26/17156360/digital-emoji-ar-bitmoji-animoji-samsung-apple-snapchat">"Everyone's making digital avatars, and none of them are great"</a>. The Verge. Retrieved October 18, 2023.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-56"><a href="#cite_ref-56">^</a> <cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://developer.samsung.com/galaxy-ar-emoji/overview.html">"Galaxy AR Emoji SDK for Unity"</a>. Samsung Developers. Retrieved October 18, 2023.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-57"><a href="#cite_ref-57">^</a> <cite class="citation magazine cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100228031300/http://www.time.com/time/pacific/magazine/20001030/potter.html">"A Good Scare"</a>. Time. October 30, 2000. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.time.com/time/pacific/magazine/20001030/potter.html">the original</a> on February 28, 2010. Retrieved December 5, 2010.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-58"><a href="#cite_ref-58">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFAhmed2024" class="citation web cs1">Ahmed, Nazeefa (June 22, 2024). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://thegauntlet.ca/2024/06/22/the-fall-guy-and-the-self-insert-character/">"The Fall Guy and the self insert character"</a>. The Gauntlet. Retrieved April 14, 2025.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-bear-59">^ <a href="#cite_ref-bear_59-0">a</a> <a href="#cite_ref-bear_59-1">b</a> <cite id="CITEREFBear2010" class="citation web cs1">Bear, Amy (April 27, 2010). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120727210310/http://networkconference.netstudies.org/2010/04/me-my-self-my-character-and-i/">"Me, My Self, My Character, and I: Role-playing Identities in Ludic Space"</a>. Online Conference on Networks and Communities. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://networkconference.netstudies.org/2010/04/me-my-self-my-character-and-i/">the original</a> on July 27, 2012. Retrieved December 15, 2012.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-60"><a href="#cite_ref-60">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFAu2007" class="citation web cs1">Au, Wagner James (April 22, 2007). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111128232541/http://gigaom.com/2007/04/22/move-over-myspace-gaia-online-is-here/comment-page-2/">"Move over MySpace, Gaia Online is here"</a>. GigaOm. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://gigaom.com/2007/04/22/move-over-myspace-gaia-online-is-here/comment-page-2/">the original</a> on November 28, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2012.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-61"><a href="#cite_ref-61">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFMorgan2010" class="citation web cs1">Morgan, KC (March 10, 2010). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190203043152/http://tools.devshed.com/c/a/Website-Marketing/Whats-So-Great-About-IMVU/">"What's So Great About IMVU?"</a>. Website Marketing. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://tools.devshed.com/c/a/Website-Marketing/Whats-So-Great-About-IMVU/">the original</a> on February 3, 2019. Retrieved December 15, 2012.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-62"><a href="#cite_ref-62">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFHopkins2010" class="citation web cs1">Hopkins, Curt (April 28, 2010). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://readwrite.com/2010/04/28/second_life_economy_at_record_high">"Second Life Economy At Record High"</a>. ReadWritePlay. SAY Media, Inc. Retrieved December 15, 2012.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-63"><a href="#cite_ref-63">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFPariah_S._Burke,_Macworld.com2009" class="citation web cs1">Pariah S. Burke, Macworld.com (September 21, 2009). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100221110659/https://www.pcworld.com/article/172320/cartoon_you_creating_easy_avatars.html">"Cartoon You: Creating Easy Avatars"</a>. PC World. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/172320/cartoon_you_creating_easy_avatars.html">the original</a> on February 21, 2010.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-64"><a href="#cite_ref-64">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFLeishman2020" class="citation web cs1">Leishman, Rachel (May 27, 2020). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.themarysue.com/avatar-trend-twitter/">"What Is This New Picrew Avatar Trend?"</a>. The Mary Sue. Retrieved November 5, 2021.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-65"><a href="#cite_ref-65">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFParrish2021" class="citation web cs1">Parrish, Ash (July 6, 2021). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://kotaku.com/e3-avatar-creator-the-kotaku-review-1847049829">"E3 Avatar Creator: The Kotaku Review"</a>. Kotaku. Retrieved November 5, 2021.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-66"><a href="#cite_ref-66">^</a> <cite class="citation web cs1 cs1-prop-unfit"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090429074200/http://creativefreedom.org.nz/blackout.html">"Join the Internet Blackout - Protest Against Guilt Upon Accusation Laws in NZ — Creative Freedom Foundation (Creativefreedom.org.nz)"</a>. Archived from the original on April 29, 2009. Retrieved June 27, 2009.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-67"><a href="#cite_ref-67">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFMenendez2009" class="citation web cs1">Menendez, Ed (June 29, 2009). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100330012406/http://menendez.com/blog/bush-obama-debt-slavery/">"Ed Menendez Blog - Bush + Obama Debt = Slavery"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://menendez.com/blog/bush-obama-debt-slavery/">the original</a> on March 30, 2010. Retrieved November 5, 2021.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-68"><a href="#cite_ref-68">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFKraskin" class="citation web cs1">Kraskin, Michael. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090620234907/http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/06/18/going-green-for-iran/">"Going Green for Iran"</a>. Politics Daily. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/06/18/going-green-for-iran/">the original</a> on June 20, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2021.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-69"><a href="#cite_ref-69">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFSandersMutnick2015" class="citation news cs1">Sanders, Sam; Mutnick, Ally (November 21, 2015). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.npr.org/2015/11/21/456820583/-memeoftheweek-french-flags-on-facebook">"#MemeOfTheWeek: French Flags On Facebook"</a>. NPR. Retrieved February 1, 2022.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-70"><a href="#cite_ref-70">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFGuynn2021" class="citation web cs1">Guynn, Jessica (April 1, 2021). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2021/04/01/facebook-covid-vaccine-profile-frames/4829274001/">"How to add 'I got my COVID vaccine' frame to your Facebook profile"</a>. USA Today. Retrieved November 5, 2021.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-71"><a href="#cite_ref-71">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFFiener2021" class="citation web cs1">Fiener, Lauren (May 14, 2021). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/14/facebook-races-to-remove-anti-vaccine-profile-picture-frames.html">"Facebook races to remove anti-vaccine profile picture frames"</a>. CNBC. Retrieved November 5, 2021.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-Rainbow-72"><a href="#cite_ref-Rainbow_72-0">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFDewey2015" class="citation news cs1">Dewey, Caitlin (June 29, 2015). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2015/06/29/more-than-26-million-people-have-changed-their-facebook-picture-to-a-rainbow-flag-heres-why-that-matters/">"More than 26 million people have changed their Facebook picture to a rainbow flag. Here's why that matters"</a>. Washington Post. Retrieved May 11, 2020.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-75"><a href="#cite_ref-75">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFVirk2022" class="citation web cs1">Virk, Riz (August 18, 2022). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://rizstanford.medium.com/threads-of-the-metaverse-a-comparative-framework-a4ec6800b483">"Threads of the Metaverse — A Comparative Framework"</a>. Medium. Retrieved August 21, 2022.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-81"><a href="#cite_ref-81">^</a> Hemp, Paul. "Avatar-based marketing." Harvard Business Review 84.6 (2006): 48–57.

</li>

<li id="cite_note-82"><a href="#cite_ref-82">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFCookSha2016" class="citation journal cs1">Cook, Sarah L.; Sha, Mandy (March 15, 2016). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.rti.org/rti-press-publication/technology-options-engaging-respondents-self-administered-questionnaires-and-remote-interviewing">"Technology options for engaging respondents in self-administered questionnaires and remote interviewing"</a>. RTI Press. <a href="Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.3768%2Frtipress.2016.op.0026.1603">10.3768/rtipress.2016.op.0026.1603</a>.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-Post_2015-84">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Post_2015_84-0">a</a> <a href="#cite_ref-Post_2015_84-1">b</a> <cite id="CITEREFGregoire2015" class="citation web cs1">Gregoire, Carolyn (January 14, 2015). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/14/online-avatar-personality_n_6463484.html">"People Can Predict Your Personality From Your Online Avatar"</a>. The Huffington Post. Retrieved January 17, 2015.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-turkle-85">^ <a href="#cite_ref-turkle_85-0">a</a> <a href="#cite_ref-turkle_85-1">b</a> <cite id="CITEREFMcCorduck" class="citation magazine cs1">McCorduck, Pamela. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/4.04/turkle_pr.html">"Sex, Lies and Avatars"</a>. Wired. Retrieved December 15, 2012.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-yee-86">^ <a href="#cite_ref-yee_86-0">a</a> <a href="#cite_ref-yee_86-1">b</a> <cite id="CITEREFYee2008" class="citation web cs1">Yee, Nick (February 17, 2008). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.nickyee.com/daedalus/archives/001613.php?page=1">"Our Virtual Bodies, Ourselves?"</a>. The Daedalus Project. Retrieved December 15, 2012.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-87"><a href="#cite_ref-87">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFHarris2010" class="citation web cs1">Harris, Stephen (April 23, 2010). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120320224257/http://networkconference.netstudies.org/2010/04/working-through-personal-identity-issues-using-virtual-communities-and-networks/">"Working Through Personal Identity Issues Using Virtual Communities and Networks"</a>. Online Conference on Networks and Communities. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://networkconference.netstudies.org/2010/04/working-through-personal-identity-issues-using-virtual-communities-and-networks/">the original</a> on March 20, 2012. Retrieved December 15, 2012.</cite>

</li>

</ol></div>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Academic_sources">Academic sources</h3></div>

<li id="cite_note-42"><a href="#cite_ref-42">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFNowak2004" class="citation journal cs1">Nowak, Kristine L. (2004). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol9/issue2/nowak.html">"The Influence of Anthropomorphism and Agency on Social Judgment in Virtual Environments"</a>. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication. 9 (2): n.p. <a href="Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1083-6101.2004.tb00284.x">10.1111/j.1083-6101.2004.tb00284.x</a>.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-73"><a href="#cite_ref-73">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFBrunskill2013" class="citation journal cs1">Brunskill, David (December 2013). "Social media, social avatars and the psyche: is Facebook good for us?". Australasian Psychiatry. 21 (6): 527–532. <a href="Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1039856213509289">10.1177/1039856213509289</a>. <a href="PMID_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="PMID (identifier)">PMID</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24159052">24159052</a>. <a href="S2CID_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="S2CID (identifier)">S2CID</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:7526092">7526092</a>.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-74"><a href="#cite_ref-74">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFNowakFox2018" class="citation journal cs1">Nowak, K. L.; Fox, J. (2018). "Avatars and Computer-Mediated Communication: A Review of the Definitions, Uses, and Effects of Digital Representations". Review of Communication Research. 6: 30–53. <a href="Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.12840%2Fissn.2255-4165.2018.06.01.015">10.12840/issn.2255-4165.2018.06.01.015</a> (inactive July 11, 2025).</cite><code class="cs1-code">{{cite journal}}</code>: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link)

</li>

<li id="cite_note-76"><a href="#cite_ref-76">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFFoxAhnJanssenYeykelis2015" class="citation journal cs1">Fox, J.; Ahn, S. J.; Janssen, J. H.; Yeykelis, L.; Segovia, K. Y.; Bailenson, J. N. (2015). "Avatars versus agents: A metaanalysis quantifying the effects of agency on social influence". Human-Computer Interaction. 30 (5): 401–432. <a href="Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1080%2F07370024.2014.921494">10.1080/07370024.2014.921494</a>. <a href="S2CID_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="S2CID (identifier)">S2CID</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:21235038">21235038</a>.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-77"><a href="#cite_ref-77">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFWestermanTamboriniBowman2015" class="citation journal cs1">Westerman, D.; Tamborini, R.; Bowman, N. D. (2015). "The effects of static avatars on impression formation across different contexts on social networking sites". Computers in Human Behavior. 53: 111–117. <a href="Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.chb.2015.06.026">10.1016/j.chb.2015.06.026</a>. <a href="S2CID_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="S2CID (identifier)">S2CID</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:43018984">43018984</a>.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-78"><a href="#cite_ref-78">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFKangWatt2013" class="citation journal cs1">Kang, S. H.; Watt, J. H. (2013). "The Impact of Avatar Realism and Anonymity on Effective Communication via Mobile Devices". Computers in Human Behavior. 29 (3): 1169–1181. <a href="Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.chb.2012.10.010">10.1016/j.chb.2012.10.010</a>.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-79"><a href="#cite_ref-79">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFHeyselaarHagoortSegaert2017" class="citation journal cs1">Heyselaar, E.; Hagoort, P.; Segaert, K. (2017). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5352801">"In dialogue with an avatar, language behavior is identical to dialogue with a human partner"</a>. Behavior Research Methods. 49 (1): 46–60. <a href="Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.3758%2Fs13428-015-0688-7">10.3758/s13428-015-0688-7</a>. <a href="PMC_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="PMC (identifier)">PMC</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5352801">5352801</a>. <a href="PMID_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="PMID (identifier)">PMID</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26676949">26676949</a>.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-80"><a href="#cite_ref-80">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFGong2008" class="citation journal cs1">Gong, L (2008). "How social is social responses to computers? The function of the degree of anthropomorphism in computer representations". Computers in Human Behavior. 24 (4): 1494–1509. <a href="Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.chb.2007.05.007">10.1016/j.chb.2007.05.007</a>.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-83"><a href="#cite_ref-83">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFNowakRauh2005" class="citation journal cs1">Nowak, K. L.; Rauh, C. (2005). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1083-6101.2006.tb00308.x">"The Influence of the Avatar on Online Perceptions of Anthropomorphism, Androgyny, Credibility, Homophily, and Attraction"</a>. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication. 11 (1): 153–178. <a href="Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1083-6101.2006.tb00308.x">10.1111/j.1083-6101.2006.tb00308.x</a>.</cite>

</li>

</ol></div></div>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Further_reading">Further reading</h2></div>

<ul><li>Cooper, Robbie 2007. Alter Ego: Avatars and Their Creators. London: Chris Boot. <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>978-1-905712-02-1</bdi>.</li>

<li><cite id="CITEREFHolzwarthJaniszewskiNeumann2006" class="citation journal cs1">Holzwarth, Martin; Janiszewski, Chris; Neumann, Marcus (2006). "The Influence of Avatars on Online Consumer Shopping Behavior". Journal of Marketing. 70 (4): 19–36. <a href="Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1509%2Fjmkg.70.4.19">10.1509/jmkg.70.4.19</a>.</cite></li>

<li><cite id="CITEREFNowakFox2018" class="citation journal cs1">Nowak, K. L.; Fox, J. (2018). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.ssoar.info/ssoar/handle/document/55777?locale-attribute=en">"Avatars and Computer-Mediated Communication: A Review of the Definitions, Uses, and Effects of Digital Representations"</a>. Review of Communication Research. 6: 30–53. <a href="Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.12840%2Fissn.2255-4165.2018.06.01.015">10.12840/issn.2255-4165.2018.06.01.015</a> (inactive July 11, 2025).</cite><code class="cs1-code">{{cite journal}}</code>: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link)</li>

<li>Sloan, R. J. S., Robinson, B., Cook, M., and Bown, J. (2008). "Dynamic Emotional Expression Choreography: Perception of Naturalistic Facial Expressions". In M. Capey, B. Ip and F. Blastland, editors, SAND Conference Proceedings, Swansea, UK 24–28 November 2008. Swansea Metropolitan University: Swansea.</li>

<li><cite id="CITEREFWoodSolomonEnglis2005" class="citation journal cs1">Wood, Natalie T.; Solomon, Michael R.; Englis, Basil G. (2005). "Personalization of Online Avatars: Is the Messenger as Important as the Message?". International Journal of Internet Marketing and Advertising. 2 (1/2): 143–161. <a href="Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1504%2Fijima.2005.007509">10.1504/ijima.2005.007509</a>.</cite></li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2></div>

/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

.mw-parser-output .side-box{margin:4px 0;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #aaa;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em;background-color:var(--background-color-interactive-subtle,#f8f9fa);display:flow-root}.mw-parser-output .infobox .side-box{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .side-box-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{padding:0.25em 0.9em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-image{padding:2px 0 2px 0.9em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-imageright{padding:2px 0.9em 2px 0;text-align:center}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .side-box-flex{display:flex;align-items:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{flex:1;min-width:0}}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .side-box{width:238px}.mw-parser-output .side-box-right{clear:right;float:right;margin-left:1em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-left{margin-right:1em}}

/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1237033735">

/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox{display:none!important}}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}

/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

</style><div class="side-box side-box-right sistersitebox"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1126788409">

/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}

/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

</style>

<div class="side-box-text plainlist">Look up <a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/avatar" class="extiw external" title="wiktionary:avatar">avatar</a> in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.</div></div>

</div>

/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ul{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist .mw-empty-li{display:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist dt::after{content:": "}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li::after{content:" · ";font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li:last-child::after{content:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li li:first-child::before{content:" (";font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li li:last-child::after{content:")";font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol{counter-reset:listitem}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol>li{counter-increment:listitem}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol>li::before{content:" "counter(listitem)"\a0 "}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd ol>li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt ol>li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li ol>li:first-child::before{content:" ("counter(listitem)"\a0 "}

/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236075235">

/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

.mw-parser-output .navbox{box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #a2a9b1;width:100%;clear:both;font-size:88%;text-align:center;padding:1px;margin:1em auto 0}.mw-parser-output .navbox .navbox{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .navbox+.navbox,.mw-parser-output .navbox+.navbox-styles+.navbox{margin-top:-1px}.mw-parser-output .navbox-inner,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup{width:100%}.mw-parser-output .navbox-group,.mw-parser-output .navbox-title,.mw-parser-output .navbox-abovebelow{padding:0.25em 1em;line-height:1.5em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .navbox-group{white-space:nowrap;text-align:right}.mw-parser-output .navbox,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup{background-color:#fdfdfd}.mw-parser-output .navbox-list{line-height:1.5em;border-color:#fdfdfd}.mw-parser-output .navbox-list-with-group{text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid}.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-group,.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-image,.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-list{border-top:2px solid #fdfdfd}.mw-parser-output .navbox-title{background-color:#ccf}.mw-parser-output .navbox-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output .navbox-group,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup .navbox-title{background-color:#ddf}.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup .navbox-group,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup .navbox-abovebelow{background-color:#e6e6ff}.mw-parser-output .navbox-even{background-color:#f7f7f7}.mw-parser-output .navbox-odd{background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td dl,.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td ol,.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td ul,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist ul{padding:0.125em 0}.mw-parser-output .navbox .navbar{display:block;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .navbox-title .navbar{float:left;text-align:left;margin-right:0.5em}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .navbox-image img{max-width:none!important}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .navbox{display:none!important}}

/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

</style></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Multi-user_dungeons_(MUDs)386" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239400231">

/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:inline;font-size:88%;font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .navbar-collapse{float:left;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .navbar-boxtext{word-spacing:0}.mw-parser-output .navbar ul{display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;line-height:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::before{margin-right:-0.125em;content:"[ "}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::after{margin-left:-0.125em;content:" ]"}.mw-parser-output .navbar li{word-spacing:-0.125em}.mw-parser-output .navbar a>span,.mw-parser-output .navbar a>abbr{text-decoration:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-mini abbr{font-variant:small-caps;border-bottom:none;text-decoration:none;cursor:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-full{font-size:114%;margin:0 7em}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-mini{font-size:114%;margin:0 4em}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}@media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}}@media print{.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:none!important}}

/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

</style><div id="Multi-user_dungeons_(MUDs)386" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="Multi-user_dungeon" title="Multi-user dungeon">Multi-user dungeons</a> (MUDs)</div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Major branches</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="AberMUD" title="AberMUD">AberMUD</a></li>

<li><a href="DikuMUD" title="DikuMUD">DikuMUD</a></li>

<li><a href="LPMud" title="LPMud">LPMud</a></li>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Minor branches, codebases, libraries</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<li><a href="GodWars" title="GodWars">GodWars</a></li>

<li><a href="Talker" title="Talker">Talker</a></li>

<li><a href="TinyMUCK" title="TinyMUCK">TinyMUCK</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Concepts, terminology</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="Alternate_character" title="Alternate character">Alternate character</a></li>

<li><a href="Bartle_taxonomy_of_player_types" title="Bartle taxonomy of player types">Bartle taxonomy of player types</a></li>

<li><a href="Cybersex" title="Cybersex">Cybersex</a></li>

<li><a href="Griefer" title="Griefer">Griefer</a></li>

<li><a href="Grinding_(video_games)" title="Grinding (video games)">Grinding</a></li>

<li><a href="Hack_and_slash" title="Hack and slash">Hack and slash</a></li>

<li><a href="Healer_(video_games)" title="Healer (video games)">Healer</a></li>

<li><a href="Immortal_(MUD)" class="mw-redirect" title="Immortal (MUD)">Immortal</a></li>

<li><a href="Kill_stealing" title="Kill stealing">Kill stealing</a></li>

<li><a href="Mob_(video_games)" title="Mob (video games)">Mob, Monster</a></li>

<li><a href="Non-player_character" title="Non-player character">Non-player character</a></li>

<li><a href="Online_wedding" title="Online wedding">Online wedding</a></li>

<li><a href="Persistent_world" title="Persistent world">Persistent world</a></li>

<li><a href="Player_character" title="Player character">Player character</a></li>

<li><a href="Player_versus_environment" title="Player versus environment">Player versus environment</a></li>

<li><a href="Player_versus_player" title="Player versus player">Player versus player</a>, Playerkilling</li>

<li><a href="Quest_(video_games)" title="Quest (video games)">Quest</a></li>

<li><a href="Spawning_(video_games)" title="Spawning (video games)">Spawning</a></li>

<li><a href="Twinking" title="Twinking">Twinking</a></li>

<li><a href="Virtual_goods" title="Virtual goods">Virtual goods</a></li>

<li><a href="Video_game_bot" title="Video game bot">Video game bot</a></li>

<li><a href="Wizard_(MUD)" class="mw-redirect" title="Wizard (MUD)">Wizard</a></li>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Publications</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="Designing_Virtual_Worlds" title="Designing Virtual Worlds">Designing Virtual Worlds</a></li>

<li>"<a href="A_Rape_in_Cyberspace" title="A Rape in Cyberspace">A Rape in Cyberspace</a>"</li>

<li><a href="Terra_Nova_(blog)" title="Terra Nova (blog)">Terra Nova</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Companies, organizations</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="Areae" title="Areae">Areae</a></li>

<li><a href="Iron_Realms_Entertainment" title="Iron Realms Entertainment">Iron Realms Entertainment</a></li>

<li><a href="Jagex" title="Jagex">Jagex</a></li>

<li><a href="Lysator" title="Lysator">Lysator</a></li>

<li><a href="Kesmai" title="Kesmai">Kesmai</a></li>

<li><a href="The_Mud_Connector" title="The Mud Connector">The Mud Connector</a></li>

<li><a href="Mythic_Entertainment" title="Mythic Entertainment">Mythic Entertainment</a></li>

<li><a href="Plaintext_Players" title="Plaintext Players">Plaintext Players</a></li>

<li><a href="Simutronics" title="Simutronics">Simutronics</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"><div> <a href="List_of_MUDs" title="List of MUDs">List</a> Category</div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>

<div class="navbox-styles"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Extended_reality_(XR)1415" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><div id="Extended_reality_(XR)1415" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="Extended_reality" title="Extended reality">Extended reality (XR)</a></div></th></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"><div>

<ul><li><a href="Reality%E2%80%93virtuality_continuum" title="Reality–virtuality continuum">From least to most virtual:</a> <a href="Augmented_reality" title="Augmented reality">Augmented reality (AR)</a></li>

<li><a href="Mixed_reality" class="mw-redirect" title="Mixed reality">Mixed reality (MR)</a></li>

<li><a href="Virtual_reality" title="Virtual reality">Virtual reality (VR)</a>

<ul><li><a href="Virtuality" class="mw-redirect" title="Virtuality">Virtuality</a></li></ul></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Concepts</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Main</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="Cinematic_virtual_reality" title="Cinematic virtual reality">Cinematic virtual reality</a></li>

<li><a href="Computer-mediated_reality" title="Computer-mediated reality">Computer-mediated reality</a></li>

<li><a href="Immersion_(virtual_reality)" title="Immersion (virtual reality)">Immersion</a></li>

<li><a href="Metaverse" title="Metaverse">Metaverse</a>

<li><a href="Projection_augmented_model" title="Projection augmented model">Projection augmented model</a></li>

<li>"<a href="Room-scale" title="Room-scale">Room-scale</a>"</li>

<li><a href="Six_degrees_of_freedom" title="Six degrees of freedom">Six degrees of freedom (6DoF)</a></li>

<li><a href="Spatial_computing" title="Spatial computing">Spatial computing</a></li>

<li><a href="Telepresence" title="Telepresence">Telepresence</a></li>

<li><a href="Virtual_reality_applications" title="Virtual reality applications">Virtual reality applications</a></li>

<li><a href="Virtual_reality_sickness" title="Virtual reality sickness">Virtual reality sickness</a></li>

<li><a href="Virtual_world" title="Virtual world">Virtual world</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Other</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="Filter_(social_media)" title="Filter (social media)">Camera filter</a></li>

<li><a href="Quantified_self" title="Quantified self">Quantified self</a></li>

<li><a href="Screen-door_effect" title="Screen-door effect">Screen-door effect</a></li>

<li><a href="Simulation_hypothesis" title="Simulation hypothesis">Simulation hypothesis</a></li>

<li><a href="Transhumanism" title="Transhumanism">Transhumanism</a></li>

<li><a href="Vergence-accommodation_conflict" title="Vergence-accommodation conflict">Vergence-accommodation conflict</a></li>

<li><a href="VTuber" title="VTuber">VTuber</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Technologies</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Display</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="EyeTap" title="EyeTap">EyeTap</a></li>

<li><a href="Head-mounted_display" title="Head-mounted display">Head-mounted display</a>

<ul><li><a href="Optical_head-mounted_display" class="mw-redirect" title="Optical head-mounted display">optical</a></li></ul></li>

<li><a href="Head-up_display" title="Head-up display">Head-up display</a></li>

<li><a href="Pancake_lens#Other_uses" title="Pancake lens">Pancake lens</a></li>

<li><a href="Smartglasses" title="Smartglasses">Smartglasses</a></li>

<li><a href="Virtual_reality_headset" title="Virtual reality headset">Virtual reality headset</a>

<li><a href="Virtual_retinal_display" title="Virtual retinal display">Virtual retinal display</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">3D interaction</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="Brain%E2%80%93computer_interface" title="Brain–computer interface">Brain–computer interface</a></li>

<li><a href="Eye_tracking" title="Eye tracking">Eye tracking</a></li>

<li><a href="Facial_motion_capture" title="Facial motion capture">Facial motion capture</a></li>

<li><a href="Finger_tracking" title="Finger tracking">Finger/hand tracking</a></li>

<li><a href="Pose_tracking" title="Pose tracking">Pose tracking</a></li>

<li><a href="Simultaneous_localization_and_mapping" title="Simultaneous localization and mapping">Simultaneous localization and mapping</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Software</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="Asynchronous_reprojection" title="Asynchronous reprojection">Asynchronous reprojection</a></li>

<li><a href="Foveated_rendering" title="Foveated rendering">Foveated rendering</a></li>

<li><a href="Image-based_modeling_and_rendering" title="Image-based modeling and rendering">Image-based modeling and rendering</a></li>

<li><a href="3D_audio_effect" title="3D audio effect">Spatial audio</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Photography</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="360-degree_video" title="360-degree video">360-degree video</a></li>

<li><a href="Free_viewpoint_television" title="Free viewpoint television">Free viewpoint television</a></li>

<li><a href="Omnidirectional_(360-degree)_camera" class="mw-redirect" title="Omnidirectional (360-degree) camera">Omnidirectional (360-degree) camera</a></li>

<li><a href="VR_photography" title="VR photography">VR photography</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Other</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="Haptic_suit" title="Haptic suit">Haptic suit</a></li>

<li><a href="Omnidirectional_treadmill" title="Omnidirectional treadmill">Omnidirectional treadmill</a></li>

<li><a href="Wearable_computer" title="Wearable computer">Wearable computer</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Peripherals</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="Cyberith_Virtualizer" title="Cyberith Virtualizer">Cyberith Virtualizer</a></li>

<li><a href="Leap_Motion" title="Leap Motion">Leap Motion</a></li>

<li><a href="Oculus_Touch" title="Oculus Touch">Oculus Touch</a></li>

<li><a href="PlayStation_Move" title="PlayStation Move">PlayStation Move</a></li>

<li><a href="Razer_Hydra" title="Razer Hydra">Razer Hydra</a></li>

<li><a href="Virtuix_Omni" title="Virtuix Omni">Virtuix Omni</a></li>

<li><a href="Wired_glove" title="Wired glove">Wired glove</a></li>

<li><a href="Wizdish_ROVR" title="Wizdish ROVR">Wizdish ROVR</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Companies</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="Apple_Inc." title="Apple Inc.">Apple Inc.</a></li>

<li><a href="Brilliant_Labs" title="Brilliant Labs">Brilliant Labs</a></li>

<li><a href="ByteDance" title="ByteDance">ByteDance</a></li>

<li><a href="Collabora" title="Collabora">Collabora</a></li>

<li><a href="Google" title="Google">Google</a></li>

<li><a href="Khronos_Group" title="Khronos Group">Khronos Group</a></li>

<li><a href="Liquid_Image" title="Liquid Image">Liquid Image</a></li>

<li><a href="Magic_Leap" title="Magic Leap">Magic Leap</a></li>

<li><a href="Meta_Platforms" title="Meta Platforms">Meta Platforms</a>

<ul><li><a href="Reality_Labs" title="Reality Labs">Reality Labs</a></li></ul></li>

<li><a href="Microsoft" title="Microsoft">Microsoft</a></li>

<li><a href="Niantic%2C_Inc." title="Niantic, Inc.">Niantic, Inc.</a></li>

<li><a href="Pimax" title="Pimax">Pimax</a></li>

<li><a href="Rokoko_(company)" title="Rokoko (company)">Rokoko</a></li>

<li><a href="Samsung_Electronics" title="Samsung Electronics">Samsung Electronics</a></li>

<li><a href="Valve_Corporation" title="Valve Corporation">Valve Corporation</a></li>

<li><a href="Varjo" title="Varjo">Varjo</a></li>

<li><a href="Vuzix" title="Vuzix">Vuzix</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Devices</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Current</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="Apple_Vision_Pro" title="Apple Vision Pro">Apple Vision Pro</a></li>

<li><a href="Bigscreen_Beyond" title="Bigscreen Beyond">Bigscreen Beyond</a></li>

<li><a href="Golden-i" title="Golden-i">Golden-i headsets</a></li>

<li><a href="Magic_Leap" title="Magic Leap">Magic Leap</a></li>

<li><a href="Meta_Quest_3" title="Meta Quest 3">Meta Quest 3</a>

<li><a href="Open_Source_Virtual_Reality" title="Open Source Virtual Reality">Open Source Virtual Reality</a></li>

<li><a href="PICO_4" title="PICO 4">PICO 4 Ultra</a></li>

<li><a href="Pimax" title="Pimax">Pimax</a></li>

<li><a href="PlayStation_VR2" title="PlayStation VR2">PlayStation VR2</a></li>

<li><a href="Valve_Index" title="Valve Index">Valve Index</a></li>

<li><a href="Vuzix" title="Vuzix">Vuzix</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Former</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="AntVR" title="AntVR">AntVR</a></li>

<li><a href="CastAR" title="CastAR">castAR</a></li>

<li><a href="VPL_Research" title="VPL Research">EyePhone</a></li>

<li><a href="Google_Cardboard" title="Google Cardboard">Google Cardboard</a></li>

<li><a href="Google_Daydream" title="Google Daydream">Google Daydream</a></li>

<li><a href="Google_Glass" title="Google Glass">Google Glass</a></li>

<li><a href="Meta_Quest_Pro" title="Meta Quest Pro">Meta Quest Pro</a></li>

<li><a href="Microsoft_HoloLens" title="Microsoft HoloLens">Microsoft HoloLens</a>

<li><a href="Oculus_Go" title="Oculus Go">Oculus Go</a></li>

<li><a href="Oculus_Quest" title="Oculus Quest">Oculus Quest</a></li>

<li><a href="Quest_2" title="Quest 2">Oculus/Meta Quest 2</a></li>

<li><a href="Oculus_Rift" title="Oculus Rift">Oculus Rift</a>

<li><a href="PlayStation_VR" title="PlayStation VR">PlayStation VR</a></li>

<li><a href="Samsung_Gear_VR" title="Samsung Gear VR">Samsung Gear VR</a></li>

<li><a href="Sensorama" title="Sensorama">Sensorama</a></li>

<li><a href="SixthSense" title="SixthSense">SixthSense</a></li>

<li><a href="The_Sword_of_Damocles_(virtual_reality)" title="The Sword of Damocles (virtual reality)">The Sword of Damocles</a></li>

<li><a href="VFX1_Headgear" title="VFX1 Headgear">VFX1 Headgear</a></li>

<li><a href="Virtual_Boy" title="Virtual Boy">Virtual Boy</a></li>

<li><a href="Virtual_fixture" title="Virtual fixture">Virtual fixture</a></li>

<li><a href="Virtuality_(product)" title="Virtuality (product)">Virtuality</a></li>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Unreleased</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="Project_Iris" title="Project Iris">Project Iris</a></li>

</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Software</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">General</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="Interactive_art" title="Interactive art">Interactive art</a>

<ul><li><a href="Virtual_graffiti" title="Virtual graffiti">Virtual graffiti</a></li></ul></li>

<li><a href="Metaverse" title="Metaverse">Metaverse</a></li>

<li><a href="Pervasive_game" title="Pervasive game">Pervasive game</a></li>

<li><a href="List_of_software_related_to_augmented_reality" title="List of software related to augmented reality">Software related to augmented reality</a></li>

<li><a href="Virtual_reality_game" title="Virtual reality game">Virtual reality game</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Operating systems and desktop environments</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="Android_XR" title="Android XR">Android XR</a></li>

<li><a href="Meta_Horizon_OS" title="Meta Horizon OS">Meta Horizon OS</a>

<ul><li><a href="Meta_Horizon_OS_version_history" title="Meta Horizon OS version history">version history</a></li></ul></li>

<li><a href="VisionOS" title="VisionOS">visionOS</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Mixed_Reality" title="Windows Mixed Reality">Windows Mixed Reality</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Development tools and game engines</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="A-Frame_(software)" title="A-Frame (software)">A-Frame</a></li>

<li><a href="ARCore" title="ARCore">ARCore</a></li>

<li><a href="ARKit" title="ARKit">ARKit</a></li>

<li><a href="ARToolKit" title="ARToolKit">ARToolKit</a></li>

<li><a href="Godot_(game_engine)" title="Godot (game engine)">Godot Engine</a></li>

<li><a href="Jetpack_Compose" title="Jetpack Compose">Jetpack Compose XR</a></li>

<li><a href="Meta_Horizon_OS" title="Meta Horizon OS">Meta Spatial SDK</a></li>

<li><a href="OpenVR" title="OpenVR">OpenVR</a></li>

<li><a href="OpenXR" title="OpenXR">OpenXR</a></li>

<li><a href="VisionOS" title="VisionOS">RealityKit</a></li>

<li><a href="VisionOS_2" class="mw-redirect" title="VisionOS 2">TabletopKit</a></li>

<li><a href="Unity_(game_engine)" title="Unity (game engine)">Unity</a></li>

<li><a href="Universal_Scene_Description" title="Universal Scene Description">Universal Scene Description</a></li>

<li><a href="Unreal_Engine" title="Unreal Engine">Unreal Engine</a></li>

<li><a href="Vuforia_Augmented_Reality_SDK" title="Vuforia Augmented Reality SDK">Vuforia Augmented Reality SDK</a></li>

<li><a href="WebXR" title="WebXR">WebXR</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Games</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="List_of_HTC_Vive_games" title="List of HTC Vive games">List of HTC Vive games</a></li>

<li><a href="List_of_Meta_Quest_games" title="List of Meta Quest games">List of Meta Quest games</a></li>

<li><a href="List_of_Oculus_Rift_games" title="List of Oculus Rift games">List of Oculus Rift games</a></li>

<li><a href="List_of_PlayStation_VR_games" title="List of PlayStation VR games">List of PlayStation VR games</a>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Communities and social networks</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="AltspaceVR" title="AltspaceVR">AltspaceVR</a></li>

<li><a href="FaceTime" title="FaceTime">FaceTime</a> for visionOS</li>

<li><a href="Horizon_Worlds" title="Horizon Worlds">Horizon Worlds</a></li>

<li><a href="NeosVR" title="NeosVR">NeosVR</a></li>

<li><a href="Resonite" title="Resonite">Resonite</a></li>

<li><a href="Sansar_(video_game)" title="Sansar (video game)">Sansar</a></li>

<li><a href="Sensorium_Corporation" title="Sensorium Corporation">Sensorium</a></li>

<li><a href="Sinespace" title="Sinespace">Sinespace</a></li>

<li><a href="VRChat" title="VRChat">VRChat</a></li>

<li><a href="VTime_XR" title="VTime XR">VTime XR</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">People</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="Philippe_Bekaert" title="Philippe Bekaert">Philippe Bekaert</a></li>

<li><a href="Maurice_Benayoun" title="Maurice Benayoun">Maurice Benayoun</a></li>

<li><a href="Simon_Birrell" title="Simon Birrell">Simon Birrell</a></li>

<li><a href="Mark_Bolas" title="Mark Bolas">Mark Bolas</a></li>

<li><a href="Brendan_Bradley_(actor)" title="Brendan Bradley (actor)">Brendan Bradley</a></li>

<li><a href="Fred_Brooks" title="Fred Brooks">Fred Brooks</a></li>

<li><a href="Bo%C5%A1tjan_Burger" title="Boštjan Burger">Boštjan Burger</a></li>

<li><a href="John_Carmack" title="John Carmack">John Carmack</a></li>

<li><a href="Carolina_Cruz-Neira" title="Carolina Cruz-Neira">Carolina Cruz-Neira</a></li>

<li><a href="Ela_Darling" title="Ela Darling">Ela Darling</a></li>

<li><a href="Char_Davies" title="Char Davies">Char Davies</a></li>

<li><a href="Thomas_A._DeFanti" title="Thomas A. DeFanti">Thomas A. DeFanti</a></li>

<li><a href="Steven_K._Feiner" title="Steven K. Feiner">Steven K. Feiner</a></li>

<li><a href="Scott_Fisher_(technologist)" title="Scott Fisher (technologist)">Scott Fisher</a></li>

<li><a href="Jerome_Foster_II" title="Jerome Foster II">Jerome Foster II</a></li>

<li><a href="Henry_Fuchs" title="Henry Fuchs">Henry Fuchs</a></li>

<li><a href="Thomas_A._Furness_III" title="Thomas A. Furness III">Thomas A. Furness III</a></li>

<li><a href="Morton_Heilig" title="Morton Heilig">Morton Heilig</a></li>

<li><a href="Eric_Howlett" title="Eric Howlett">Eric Howlett</a></li>

<li><a href="Brendan_Iribe" title="Brendan Iribe">Brendan Iribe</a></li>

<li><a href="Myron_W._Krueger" title="Myron W. Krueger">Myron W. Krueger</a></li>

<li><a href="Jaron_Lanier" title="Jaron Lanier">Jaron Lanier</a></li>

<li><a href="R._Bowen_Loftin" title="R. Bowen Loftin">R. Bowen Loftin</a></li>

<li><a href="Palmer_Luckey" title="Palmer Luckey">Palmer Luckey</a></li>

<li><a href="Mark_Stephen_Meadows" title="Mark Stephen Meadows">Mark Stephen Meadows</a></li>

<li><a href="Michelle_and_Uri_Kranot" title="Michelle and Uri Kranot">Michelle and Uri Kranot</a></li>

<li><a href="Tony_Parisi_(software_developer)" title="Tony Parisi (software developer)">Tony Parisi</a></li>

<li><a href="Nonny_de_la_Pe%C3%B1a" title="Nonny de la Peña">Nonny de la Peña</a></li>

<li><a href="Elia_Petridis" title="Elia Petridis">Elia Petridis</a></li>

<li><a href="Warren_Robinett" title="Warren Robinett">Warren Robinett</a></li>

<li><a href="Lawrence_J._Rosenblum" title="Lawrence J. Rosenblum">Lawrence J. Rosenblum</a></li>

<li><a href="Daniel_J._Sandin" title="Daniel J. Sandin">Daniel J. Sandin</a></li>

<li><a href="Dieter_Schmalstieg" title="Dieter Schmalstieg">Dieter Schmalstieg</a></li>

<li><a href="Bob_Sproull" title="Bob Sproull">Bob Sproull</a></li>

<li><a href="Nicole_Stenger" title="Nicole Stenger">Nicole Stenger</a></li>

<li><a href="Ivan_Sutherland" title="Ivan Sutherland">Ivan Sutherland</a></li>

<li><a href="Susumu_Tachi" title="Susumu Tachi">Susumu Tachi</a></li>

<li><a href="Gunpei_Yokoi" title="Gunpei Yokoi">Gunpei Yokoi</a></li>

<li><a href="Mark_Zuckerberg" title="Mark Zuckerberg">Mark Zuckerberg</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">In fiction</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="Attack_of_the_Killer_App" title="Attack of the Killer App">Attack of the Killer App (Futurama Episode)</a></li>

<li><a href="Holodeck" title="Holodeck">Holodeck</a> (<a href="Star_Trek" title="Star Trek">Star Trek</a>)</li>

<li><a href="Netrunner" title="Netrunner">Netrunner</a></li>

<li><a href="Neuromancer" title="Neuromancer">Neuromancer</a></li>

<li><a href="Ready_Player_One" title="Ready Player One">Ready Player One</a>

<li><a href="Ready_Player_Two" title="Ready Player Two">Ready Player Two</a></li>

<li><a href="Snow_Crash" title="Snow Crash">Snow Crash</a></li>

<li><a href="Superhot" title="Superhot">Superhot</a></li>

<li><a href="Sword_Art_Online" title="Sword Art Online">Sword Art Online</a></li>

<li><a href="The_Matrix" title="The Matrix">The Matrix</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"><div>

<ul><li> Portals

<ul><li><a href="Portal%3ATechnology" title="Portal:Technology">Technology</a></li></ul></li>

<li> Category

<ul><li>Augmented reality</li>

<li>Mixed reality</li>

<li>Virtual reality</li>

<li>Metaverse</li>

<li>Spatial computing</li></ul></li>

<li> <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Extended_Reality" class="extiw external" title="commons:Category:Extended Reality">Commons</a>

<ul><li><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Augmented_reality" class="extiw external" title="commons:Category:Augmented reality">Augmented reality</a></li>

<li><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Mixed_reality" class="extiw external" title="commons:Category:Mixed reality">Mixed reality</a></li>

<li><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Virtual_reality" class="extiw external" title="commons:Category:Virtual reality">Virtual reality</a></li>

<li><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Metaverse" class="extiw external" title="commons:Category:Metaverse">Metaverse</a></li></ul></li></ul>

</div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>

/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

.mw-parser-output .tooltip-dotted{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}

/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

</style></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox authority-control" aria-labelledby="Authority_control_databases_frameless&#124;text-top&#124;10px&#124;alt=Edit_this_at_Wikidata&#124;link=https&#58;//www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q152402#identifiers&#124;class=noprint&#124;Edit_this_at_Wikidata1137" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><div id="Authority_control_databases_frameless&#124;text-top&#124;10px&#124;alt=Edit_this_at_Wikidata&#124;link=https&#58;//www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q152402#identifiers&#124;class=noprint&#124;Edit_this_at_Wikidata1137" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">Authority control databases </div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">National</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://d-nb.info/gnd/4711803-9">Germany</a></li><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://id.loc.gov/authorities/sh2006004464">United States</a></li><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://aleph.nkp.cz/F/?func=find-c&local_base=aut&ccl_term=ica=ph1016882&CON_LNG=ENG">Czech Republic</a></li><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://kopkatalogs.lv/F?func=direct&local_base=lnc10&doc_number=000348212&P_CON_LNG=ENG">Latvia</a></li><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nli.org.il/en/authorities/987007564181705171">Israel</a></li></ul></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Other</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://lux.collections.yale.edu/view/concept/9ad26d6d-cb97-426f-8696-7b47c150bfdb">Yale LUX</a></li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><div><div class="zim-footer">

This article is issued from <a class="external text" title="Last edited on 2025-08-01" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/?title=Avatar_(computing)&oldid=1303677740">Wikipedia</a>. The text is available under <a class="external text" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en">Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0</a> unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

</div>

</div></div>

</div>

</main>

</div>

</body></html>