Copyright © 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Avatar as Content Delivery Platform*1
Available online 25 August 2000.
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Abstract
Traditionally, an Avatar has been viewed as a representation of an individual, a humanoid representation. This approach applies unnecessary restrictions to the Avatar’s usefulness. Avatars, when viewed in the abstract, are Content Delivery Platforms. They are a point to distribute and to receive data. The humanoid frame simply provides a comfortable metaphor for this process. By looking beyond the human frame, we find a vast new area of interactivity and expressive power. Like a genie, Avatars can become any type of model, graphic or animation. They can do this in sync with any type of oral or text based presentation. They would inherently blend the best elements of three-dimensional interactive environments with human sensitivity and human flexibility. Furthermore, this approach is not something for tomorrow — it is something we can do now. We have successfully demonstrated it in practical application, an online multi-user virtual classroom environment.
Author Keywords: Author Keywords: VRML; Avatar; Education; Teaching; Virtual reality
Article Outline
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*1 A version of this paper with colour graphics can be found online: http://www.pd.org/
thatguy/c/educate.html.






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