Avatars

Avatars provide a representation of a user within a digital environment. There are two types of avatar: static and active. A static avatar (an icon or a picture of the user) is used in applications such as Twitter or Facebook next to a posting by that person in the online space. Active avatars used in virtual worlds, such as Second Life or massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) such as World of Warcraft, are not only a representation of the person in a virtual space but also provide a way for the person to act within a virtual environment and interact with others in that space. This entry focuses on the practical implications of researching with and through active avatars (henceforth referred to simply as ...