From: avi@oz.net (Avi Bar-Zeev)
Subject: Re: MISC: First use of "avatars", "virtual worlds"
Date: Sun, 19 Jan 1997 07:14:05 GMT
Message-ID: <32e1c731.28599063@news.oz.net>
Organization: Sense Networking (http://www.oz.net)


On Fri, 17 Jan 1997 11:47:45 +0000, Robert Braham <r.braham@ieee.org>
wrote:

>Anyone know who first used the word "avatars" and "virtual worlds" 
>in VR context?

For Avatars, the question is where did Neal Stevenson (Snowcrash) get
it. I don't recall seeing or using it before then but I can't be sure.

Virtual Worlds, I believe, has been a term of art in perceptual
psychology for some time and the meaning in the VR context is
basically the same. it speaks to the cognitive process, not the
technology of the display I've got a working definition on my web
site:

http://www.oz.net/~avi/glossary.htm

Any perceptual psychologists care to correct me or provide early
literature references?

I know that Bob Jacobson (one of the founders of this group) got me
using V.W. instead of V.R. The term makes much more sense.

Avi


Avi Bar-Zeev, a 60fps 3D (okay, 2.5D) animated character   
Wolfchild-3D Consulting         http://www.wolfchild.com/3d
mailto: avi@oz.net              http://www.oz.net/~avi
                   --"Every trip begins with a single misstep."