Supporting Identity & Presence Online: Supporting Identity & Presence Online:

Beyond Chat and ForumsBeyond Chat and Forums

Anthony ChristopherAnthony Christopher

Digital PlacesDigital Places

Digital Placeswww.digiplaces.com

Online PresenceOnline Presence

Support for individuals to express their Support for individuals to express their identity and/or to develop a reputation identity and/or to develop a reputation onlineonline

Expanding presence increases interactionExpanding presence increases interaction Presence => Member Communications => Presence => Member Communications =>

Community ExperienceCommunity Experience

Digital Placeswww.digiplaces.com

Presence OnlinePresence Online

Email signatureEmail signature Personal web pagesPersonal web pages ProfilesProfiles

Digital Placeswww.digiplaces.com

ProfilesProfiles

Information about the memberInformation about the member Provided by the memberProvided by the member Structured by Community DeveloperStructured by Community Developer Contains information important to the Contains information important to the

communitycommunity

Digital Placeswww.digiplaces.com

EbayEbay

Digital Placeswww.digiplaces.com

Motley FoolMotley Fool

Digital Placeswww.digiplaces.com

AvatarsAvatars

Avatar definition: graphic representation of Avatar definition: graphic representation of an individual in online social spacean individual in online social space

Support rich social interactions among Support rich social interactions among participantsparticipants

Digital Placeswww.digiplaces.com

BlaxxunBlaxxun

Digital Placeswww.digiplaces.com

WorldsAwayWorldsAway

Digital Placeswww.digiplaces.com

PalacePalace

Digital Placeswww.digiplaces.com

Why Avatars?Why Avatars?

People who like them spend a lot of time in People who like them spend a lot of time in online avatar social spacesonline avatar social spaces

Ultimate StickinessUltimate Stickiness– December 1998 research of 1,200 Palace & December 1998 research of 1,200 Palace &

WorldsAway usersWorldsAway users– 5656++% stay more than 1 hour per visit% stay more than 1 hour per visit– 4848++% visit 4 or more times per week% visit 4 or more times per week

Digital Placeswww.digiplaces.com

Avatar User CommentsAvatar User Comments

““It’s a bit easier to relate to a pixel person It’s a bit easier to relate to a pixel person than just words.”than just words.”

““This beats all text chats I’ve ever seen.” This beats all text chats I’ve ever seen.”

““One gesture can save you 100 words here.” One gesture can save you 100 words here.”

““It’s weird but most conversations here begin It’s weird but most conversations here begin with hello, that’s not common on any text with hello, that’s not common on any text chat.”chat.”

Avatar User Satisfaction

Avatars Message Boards