web 2.0 and characters

Creating avatars is definitely not something new to all the internet users. Most of the time avatars represents characters on the internet and serve as a image of oneself.

Creating avatars on the internet can be really interactive. People can choose the name to be used, the image that represent themselves. All information can be customized. Avatars basically show how people want to be represented.

However, we as internet users must always be careful while playing around with avatars. Although avatar only serves as a virtual character, sometimes it can go beyond control.

For instance, what you do on the internet with the avatar, its accomplishments, the wanderings around in the cyberspace might determine how people perceive or look at you. Eventhough sometimes avatar is just a representative and does not fully live up to the person's real character, the avatar will still serve as a personal archive.

I roughly searched about avatar in the web 2.0 and i found something that is quite insightful. The author made statements like this:

"The relationship between a person and their virtual character can end up being very productive: hybridism is an inexhaustible source of creativity and discovery, making the Internet a fascinating place for exploration. However, this creative relationship has its own perils: the trails we leave behind as we go about our exploratory processes become actual material that anyone can manipulate. We keep our virtual character “alive,” but we are not always free to choose what happens to it… and therefore what happens to us. " (Mackrous 2009)

I'll provide a link to that website as well if any of you intend to do some further reading.

http://dpi.studioxx.org/demo/?q=en/no/15/virtual-characters-creations-personal-archives-by-paule-mackrous

Therefore, i think everyone needs to be extra careful with things they do on the internet, even just with avatar as anything will stay permanently and might reflect you in the wrong way.

Well, i've found a website that allows some practising to create your own avatar. Just have a look and relax for a while. There is the link:

http://web2educationuk.wetpaint.com/page/Avatars



Till then, cheers!