Avatars In Second Life

Our emotions affect us in so many ways. Emotions affect the way we behave, our views and opinions, our relationships and our decision-making; therefore, they are very relevant to our day-to-day lives. It is important that people have an understanding of these emotions and that they are able to interpret them. Emotions can both help and hinder our ability to best live our lives. It is also important to realize that even our emotions are shaped and biased by our environment and those close to us.

My freshman year of high school everyone was obsessed with Farmville. I know people who would spend hours playing the game and would even set reminders to collect their crops before they would go bad. Now however, most people that I know do not play the game anymore because they simply grew tired of it. I decided to focus on the social interactions in real time on Second Life because I wanted to not only look at how people interact in online games but also look at the avatars and worlds they spend hours creating. I first looked at what and how people talked to each other, then looked at how people customize their online world, and finally looking at some of the pros and cons of having an online world.

Communication is everywhere. We, as interactive human beings, spend the majority of our time corresponding with others to satisfy our physical, identity, social, and practical needs (Adler, Rodman, & Sevigny, 2011). Often, this is consciously done; we search our minds for the accurate linguistic means to express our experiences, and use them to communicate with those around us. However, communication is not as straightforward and effortless as we may believe. It is, in fact, often unintentional, with 65% of it occurring as a result of non-verbal cues (Matsumoto, Shibata, Seiji, Mori, & Shioe, 2010). As mentioned by Marta Dynel (2011) in a study done on nonverbal communication, “Non verbal signs and signals ... are prevalent practically in

Chapter  4  –  Nonverbal  Communication 1. What  are  the  functions  of  nonverbal  messages? ● Substitute ● complement  verbal  messages:  adds  to  verbal  message,  improves  clarity  and  understanding ● contradict:  non  verbal  behavior  not  reflecting  verbal  message 2. Know  the  different  codes  (i.e.,  kinesics,  haptics,  proxemics,  vocalics,  chronemics,  and  self-­ presentation  cues). Code  1  -­  Kinesics  /  Use  of  the  body ● Gestures ○ Emblems  -­  gestures  with  explicit  meaning  and  dictionary  definitions ○ Illustrator  -­  gestures  that  accompany  verbal  message ○ Adaptors  -­  Touching  behaviors  that  reveal  internal  states  such  as  anxiety ■ self  adaptors ■ object  adaptors  -­  handling  of  objects ■ other  adaptors  -­  touching  other  people ● Eye  contact  /  Oculesics ○ both  people  are  looking  directly  into  each  others  eyes ● Functions ○ regulates  interaction ○ monitors  interaction ○ signals  cognitive  activity ○ expresses  involvement

We show nonverbal and unwritten communication in our lives each and every day. How we choose to do it is up to us. Only we can give an impression on people it’s up to us if we want to leave a good impression or a bad

People communicate in different ways to help social interaction. Communication is not just though words it can also be though touch, facial expressions and body movement as well as written electronic messages.

There are many levels and moving parts in communication. We rely on both verbal and non-verbal forms of communication in order to send, receive, translate and respond to each other (Cheesebro, O’Connor, Rios, 2010). The spoken or written word only comprises of about 7% of our communication with each other. The other 93% is made up of voice quality and non-verbal communication (Heathfield, 2011). Non-verbal communication or demonstrative communication comes in many forms. It includes body language, facial expressions, eye contact, posture, touch and tone of language.

Any communication interaction involves two major components in terms of how people are perceived: verbal, or what words are spoken and nonverbal, the cues such as facial expressions, posture, verbal intonations, and other body gestures. Many people believe it is their words that convey the primary messages but it is really their nonverbal cues. The hypothesis for this research paper was: facial expressions directly impact how a person is perceived. A brief literature search confirmed this hypothesis.

Normal humans show emotion every day, rather it is being concerned for ones worth or being happy or sad. Emotions are key aspect in classifying one as human.

Finally, the last relationship to explore is the one between the player and narrator. As stated plainly, “The relationship the player has with the Narrator is expressed in conversational snippets … and the Narrator’s response to the actions you take within the game” (Heron and Belford). While not explicitly addressed by the narrator as the player, it is understood that almost all the actions in the game are controlled by the player. Due to this, the most common interaction in the game is between narrator and the player. Initially, the player is controlling Stanley and that is the extent of the player’s involvement to the story. That is, until the game changes this relationship and the narrator starts to reference the player themselves. The

In every society nonverbal communication is one of the most powerful tools that a person can use to interpret the message that is being delivered. Even though verbal communication is fairly straightforward, nonverbal communication allows others to sense the true emotions of the person that is expressing them. For example even though a person may say that they are not irritated, their usage of voice may display otherwise. Nonverbal communication not only reveals hidden messages, but it also complements, substitutes, and exaggerates verbal communication.

Central idea: Humans have always communicated face-to-face and the use of technology poses cognitive obstacles to communication. The lack of human presence during technology-mediated communication contributes to less nonverbal cues possibly creating a politer conversation if it is not face-to-face.

If a robot shows a human trait or emotion or not an emotion it will still make for an effective animation.

Boose, G., Jaffe, J., Segal, J., & Smith. M. (2013). Nonverbal communication. Retrieved from https://classroom.phoenix.edu/afm214/secure/view-thread.jspa?threadID=58196411

In cognitive science there is a growing theory that cognitive processes develop when bodies and their environment have real-time, goal-directed interactions (IEP). The human mind is stimulated and developed when the mind, body and environment conjointly interact and influence one another. Embodiment is comprehended as the distinctive way a body can effectively interact with its environment through the body’s sensorimotor capabilities. In today’s world, modern video games have presented a new form of embodiment that is now being studied. The study focuses on the relationship between players, avatars and 3D-virtual worlds. There is a wide debate about whether the embodiment of avatars in modern video games can have an effect on the human