say hello to my little friend!

self representation
Here I introduce you to my digital self in the form of pixels. This is British Dumpling! That's not easy to forget is it? This is my Second Life avatar. I tried "British" everything it seems like from the selected list of last names and "Dumpling" was available an now I'm stuck with it. You may as well take a look a me now as I'm sure like many of us at this novice stage will go through changes. I found myself actually trying to represent myself as I am in real life in terms of physical features and dress sense. Am I wasting the opportunity to live a "second" life by doing this?

continuing the brainstorm

social interaction

After conferring with my colleagues about their project ideas, it seems as if everyone is on a completely different wavelength or perhaps this is some really good and broad brainstorming.

Well!.....After finally entering the virtual world of Second Life (SL), creating my avatar,  and just simply walking and flying around the pixelated kingdom has given me enough experience to generate more ideas and/or thoughts for a theme to connect the series of semester projects together. I will not abandon my initial idea of "identity" as common bond, however, "social interactivity" is another idea I would like to entertain. In SL we are provided with a palette of tools to communicate with other residents from simply chatting to making a specific gesture, the list goes on. I'm curious about the social interaction that takes place in SL and how it is provoked and/or promoted. Indeed, as in real life, social interactivity can be non existent, or the experience can be positive or negative. I'm interested in the components that promote positive social interactivity between SL residents whether its through a specific place, an event, interest group, visual appearance or any combination of these components. I look forward to sharing my views in class and encourage my classmates to comment on my thoughts.

project idea

Identity

Pictures, symbols, icons, avatars and digital characters are emerging more than ever in the digital world as a way to identify ourselves.  Why do we choose certain and very specific names, symbols or icons to visually represent, or in many cases, misrepresent who and what we are?  Many of us log onto our computers with a thumbnail sized icon attached to our name.  What is the layered meaning behind choosing a flower over an abstract background, or uploading a picture of ourselves, or of something/someone special to us?  I think that there are many reasons why we try to personalize our digital experience, and why we feel the need to humanize our computers.  We name them, refer to them, and depend on them.  We have serious relationships with them.  They become an extension of us just as our Avatar does.  It is fascinating how we choose to digitally represent and/or misrepresent ourselves.  Through Second Life the user is responsible for the visual representation of their Avatar.  I am curious to evaluate how users portray themselves digitally and how that may/may not differ from their real physical form, and to explore the deeper meaning of what it all means.  Obviously, in a digital "second life" realm the user can be who he/she wants.  But, why do many people misrepresent themselves?  I'm not convinced that I will have a finite answer to these questions, but I hope to have a better understanding of visual communication as a whole at the end of the semester.