Tips About Creating Avatars

All You Need to Know About Avatars and Avatar Creation
By Denise Beresford

The word Avatar is defined by the Oxford dictionary as "An embodiment, as of a quality or concept; an archetype". In terms of computing, in general, and the World Wide Web in particular, an avatar is a digital or graphical representation of the user. The term "Avatar", employed for the onscreen representation of a user, was first coined by game designers Joseph Romero and Chip Morningstar in 1985. Avatars are present in both two and three-dimensional forms and are fast gaining popularity amongst the masses. This boom in the popularity of avatars can be attributed to their sudden emergence in our pop culture, from appearing in consoles such as the Xbox 360, PS3 and the Wii, to being the stars of the renowned and aptly named movie "Avatar"; they have successfully integrated themselves into almost all facets of our digital world.

Avatars provide new and exciting ways to interact over the internet. Services like the "Habbo Hotel", "Second Life" or Sony Playstation's "Home" allow users to create three-dimensional avatars of themselves and interact with like-minded Avatar aficionados in a virtual world. Services like these have essentially changed the way in which users interact with each other, making conventional chat rooms like yahoo and IRC, seem ancient and outdated. As far as the World Wide Web is concerned, avatars are generally two-dimensional "cartoon" representation of the users. The reasons people have for creating avatars are as varied and distinct as the avatars themselves.

With the growing influence of online social networking sites like MySpace, Facebook, Twitter etc. many people feel that their online privacy is constantly invaded. For such people, avatars provide a respite from the constant incursion of their privacy and provide a sliver of anonymity. Moreover, with the availability of some nice avatar generator programs, it has become easier for people to live their dreams. Many people indulge in their wildest whims and fantasies during the creation of their avatars. Ever dreamed of sporting a Mohawk but couldn't? Ever had the wish to be 7 feet tall and wear stilettos at the same time? All of these and much more can be accomplished with the use of avatars.

There are a number of sites which allow the user to create an avatar. The customisation options available differ from site to site. These sites feature a robust set of tools for the character creation. They also have an option of directly emailing the created avatars to friends or family members.

In short, Avatars have firmly integrated themselves into the digital lives of millions of people. It is difficult to pinpoint the exact reason for their gaining popularity, but it can safely be assumed that they are here to say. Therefore, if you haven't dabbled in the quirky and unique world of avatars, you should consider giving it a shot to see for yourself what the commotion is all about. Happy avatar making everyone.

A simple to use avatar generator can be found at http://www.planetcreation.co.uk

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