As internet users spend more time inside online worlds, avatars are taking on animated dimensions
You are your avatar. The way you represent your virtual self says a lot about your mood, thoughts and personality.
There is the simple photo icon from the hiking holiday in Nepal ('I'm fitter than thou'); there is the image of Optimus Prime, a cartoon character popular two decades ago ('I'm a child of the 1980s'); many women prefer kittens ('I'm sweet and cute') and many men go for the laugh with silly poses ('I have a sense of humour').
Pity those who don't bother to choose an avatar at all ('I'm boring and unimaginative').
The computer-generated avatar made its first appearance as early as 1985 and traces its roots to video games. Now, as internet users spend more time inside online worlds, writing blogs and instant messaging, these avatars are taking on animated dimensions.
'Representing yourself through visuals is something you do on Skype [and other instant message programmes],' Oddcast founder and chief executive Adi Sideman said. 'It's just a matter of time until those visuals start to talk and have more flexibility in terms of how they look.'