bobology newsletter - What is an Avatar?
An Avatar is an image that is used in the digital world to represent you while online, often on social media sites such as Facebook, online chat rooms, blogs, forums, email services, digital games, and more. (If you are online as a business, your Avatar can also represent your business or shop.)
Let's imagine you want to create an Avatar for yourself. Think of an Avatar as a “profile picture” on your website that resides beside your profile name. It's the face you want other online users to think of when conversing with you or seeing something you post online. It offers a visual element that enhances and contributes personality to your online identity. Many people choose to make their Avatars as colorful and fun as possible.
So what might you use as your Avatar?
The possibilities are as limitless as your imagination. You may choose to simply upload and use a photo of yourself. You may choose a photo of a pet. Some people, especially business owners, may choose to make their Avatar an image of their logo, or a product they make. Others choose images that reflect their personalities or region.
What kinds of Avatars are there?
Most online Avatars are graphics or still photographs. However, on some websites an Avatar might be an animated image or character that moves, dances, waves its hands, etc. Usually you can use your mouse to move your Avatar around and make it perform actions like walking, running, jumping, fighting, flying, dancing, and so on. Think of the movie Avatar, in which men would use virtual representations of themselves to work in unfavorable environments. They controlled their Avatars like puppets.
In most cases you are allowed to customized your Avatar and decide the clothing, hair, skin color and more. Some people love to make their Avatars the self they dream of being—maybe a king, a princess, a superhero or some other character. It's a fun way to represent yourself online.
Where did the term Avatar come from?
So where did the word Avatar come from? It started in Hindu mythology, in which an avatar was a god who had taken on an earthly form. It translates nicely into the digital world. Have fun choosing your Avatar. And choose wisely because your Avatar will truly be the image that most people online will remember you by.
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