Avatars
Definition - What does Avatar mean?
An avatar is a personalized graphical illustration that represents a computer user, or a character or alter ego that represents that user. An avatar can be represented either in three-dimensional form (for example, in games or virtual worlds) or in two-dimensional form as an icon in Internet forums.
Avatars are used widely on websites and in gaming. They are an integral part of Internet chat, Internet messaging systems, blogs and artificial intelligence
Techopedia explains Avatar
The term avatar as it relates to computer user identification was first coined by Chip Morningstar and Joseph Romero in 1985, when they were designing LucasFilm's online role-playing game "Habitat".
The simplest avatars are small graphic files used on websites. For instance, members using chat boards can upload an avatar to represent themselves. The images may be humorous or serious, and often show a b**st or hero. They normally appear attached to user posts alongside the username. Some websites provide users with a pool of avatars from which to choose.
Avatars in a virtual world are interactive characters, which may be customized by the user. These avatars walk within the computerized landscape, manipulating the surrounding environment. Avatars can be moved and acted upon using the keyboard and mouse. Virtual world avatars also have an associated inventory of objects such as tools, weapons, clothing, vehicles, virtual currency, etc.
You might know this word from video games, where you create an avatar to represent you on screen. An avatar is something that embodies something else.
In Hinduism the different gods can take many different forms, and when they took human forms, the human was their avatar. Eventually, the word avatar came to mean the embodiment not just of a god, but also of any abstract idea. If you have a cool head, you might see yourself as the avatar of reasonableness in a fight. Video game avatars are sort of a reverse of the first meaning––a physical entity (you) form becomes something abstract (a video game guy).
An avatar is a personalized graphical illustration that represents a computer user, or a character or alter ego that represents that user. An avatar can be represented either in three-dimensional form (for example, in games or virtual worlds) or in two-dimensional form as an icon in Internet forums.
Avatars are used widely on websites and in gaming. They are an integral part of Internet chat, Internet messaging systems, blogs and artificial intelligence
Techopedia explains Avatar
The term avatar as it relates to computer user identification was first coined by Chip Morningstar and Joseph Romero in 1985, when they were designing LucasFilm's online role-playing game "Habitat".
The simplest avatars are small graphic files used on websites. For instance, members using chat boards can upload an avatar to represent themselves. The images may be humorous or serious, and often show a b**st or hero. They normally appear attached to user posts alongside the username. Some websites provide users with a pool of avatars from which to choose.
Avatars in a virtual world are interactive characters, which may be customized by the user. These avatars walk within the computerized landscape, manipulating the surrounding environment. Avatars can be moved and acted upon using the keyboard and mouse. Virtual world avatars also have an associated inventory of objects such as tools, weapons, clothing, vehicles, virtual currency, etc.
You might know this word from video games, where you create an avatar to represent you on screen. An avatar is something that embodies something else.
In Hinduism the different gods can take many different forms, and when they took human forms, the human was their avatar. Eventually, the word avatar came to mean the embodiment not just of a god, but also of any abstract idea. If you have a cool head, you might see yourself as the avatar of reasonableness in a fight. Video game avatars are sort of a reverse of the first meaning––a physical entity (you) form becomes something abstract (a video game guy).
10 years ago