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One study showing how the use of realistic avatars can influence people to exercise or eat better and can influence they way they view women.

The avatar movie motivated audiences, but paradoxically led to depression in some audience members who wanted to live in the virtual world.

Can avatars mimic Ben Franklin?

In context of Professor Dede's comment from last class about the "Proteus Effect"...some punchlines from Professor Jeremy Bailenson about the power avatars can exert on their creators.

Avatar is taking a step in the direction of 3D movie experiences

Jeremy Bailenson from the Virtual Human Interaction Lab (Stanford) talks at the Berkman Center about how the use of avatars fundamentally alters communication styles both in virtual and real world settings. (Includes video and slides)

The tokidoki brand collaborated with xbox live so avatars can now wear tokidoki brand clothing and asscessories

Augmented reality is dazzling when used appropriately. The Science Museum in London's exhibit on the Making of the Modern World looks to be a wonderfully educational experience about how specific technologies have propelled human history forward.

First off, I really stopped playing the major video game titles after I beat Super Mario Bros. II. It took me like 4 months to best Bowser, but once I did and the world pretty much remained the same I lost interest. Still, I cannot say all the new games that have come out recently don't peak my interest. The problem, I have been out of the gaming loop for so long now that I am at a serious disadvantage whenever I play. The controllers have become so complkicated and sensative that I spend most of the initial induction just trying to figure out what the hell I am supposed to do, and what combonation of clicks and toggles prompts the desired effect. Nintendo's Wii however seemingly streamined the learning curve as my body was the primary controller. Sony is now prepping to launch an entirely new controller protocol that uses the functions of the handheld even less. It might even eliminate the need for a controler all together...all body, all movement are calibrated and support the players avatar.

Children who cannot pick up context and facial cues from peers more likely to face social isolation. I wonder if social gaming environments using avatars as virtual selves help or hinder a child's ability to pick up such social cues.

What i found most interesting about this article was the idea that the popularity of Facebook games has caused a "technological step backward"

Avatar stuff...mentioned in class

Thanks so much for finding and posting this!

Touting how addictive a video game can become for players is an interesting selling point. I am thinking it means, fast highs, quick death (of avatar, etc) and replayability. I would describe THE MORON TEST available on iTunes as having those addictive qualities.

I watched this last night. Pretty lousy flick, but interesting questions about avatar/person relationship in particularly immersive games.

"The new study runs counter to the conventional idea that success in an unfamiliar, changing environment comes from a mixture of innovation and copying others."

"Literature has unreliable narrators, but what do you call-how would you even begin to represent-an unreliable avatar?"

Two players who met in the World of Warcraft virtual world, wound up falling in real-life love.

A research article regarding the interesting phenomenon of choosing avatars opposite of your real-life gender.

EducationUSA just released a virtual simulation on their Facebook page. They state that it is the "World's first game-based adventure for international students to learn about opportunities in the United States of America." A short YouTube video is linked below. I would love to get your thoughts on this application. Can creating an avatar effectively teach (and prepare) international students for the U.S. college experience? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Fj01uSj4L4&feature=youtu.be