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Comparing Avatar and Video Representations

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Reinventing Ourselves: Contemporary Concepts of Identity in Virtual Worlds

Part of the book series: Springer Series in Immersive Environments ((SSIE))

Abstract

The key to collaboration and enjoyment in virtual worlds is interpersonal interaction, which in turn depends to a large extent on bodily representations of users – or their avatar appearance. Videoconferencing is also becoming more ­popular, and people also increasingly represent themselves online via photographs on social networking sites. Thus we confront a world in which avatar and photo-realistic (video) identities present a fundamental choice for users in mediated interactions. What difference does it make whether a person is represented by an avatar – as against a video-realistic presentation – of themselves? And what are the implications for how people interact with each other in spaces for collaboration, learning, socialising and play? This chapter examines the range of avatar representations and representations in video-mediated communication and discusses the various findings related to both. It also draws out the implications of video-realistic versus computer-generated user representations for the future of mediated interaction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3JS, UK

    Ralph Schroeder

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  1. Ralph Schroeder
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Correspondence to Ralph Schroeder .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Eygus Ltd, 69A, North Street, Devon, TQ13 7QH, United Kingdom

    Anna Peachey

  2. Coventry University, Priory Street, Coventry, CV1 5FB, United Kingdom

    Mark Childs

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Schroeder, R. (2011). Comparing Avatar and Video Representations. In: Peachey, A., Childs, M. (eds) Reinventing Ourselves: Contemporary Concepts of Identity in Virtual Worlds. Springer Series in Immersive Environments. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-361-9_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-361-9_12

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-85729-360-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-85729-361-9

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

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