Using Avatars on the Videoconferencing Platform to Hide Identities

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Research Question: While Zoom and other teleconferencing platforms have blurred the boundaries of our private and professional identities, have they also led to new definitions of avatars and x-reality?
Nowak, K, Rauh, C, (2005) The Influence of the Avatar on Online Perceptions of Anthropomorphism, Androgyny, Credibility, Homophily, and Attraction, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 11(1), Pages 153–178, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2006.tb00308.x
The researchers sought to find out what factors users considered when choosing an avatar. The study also sought to determine whether avatars' choices were consistent with predictions of uncertainty reduction theory. They evaluated avatars based on their androgyny, anthropomorphism, credibility, homophily, and attraction. They also looked at the likelihood of a user choosing them during an interaction. In a study sample of 255, the users rated their likelihood and reasons for choosing any avatar. The researchers found out the masculinity or femininity of an avatar significantly influenced the perception of an avatar. Users are more likely to choose an avatar that matched their gender. Anthropomorphic avatars were perceived as 'more attractive and credible' and were more likely to choose them. Avatars considered masculine were also considered to be less attractive. The researchers also found out that the uncertainty reduction theory was fairly accurate in predicting an individual's character and behavior based on their choice of avatar.
Simões, B., De Amicis, R., Barandiaran, I., & Posada, J. (2018). X-Reality System Architecture for Industry 4.0 Processes. Multimodal Technologies and Interaction, 2(4), 72. doi:10.3390/mti2040072
The article debates how the manufacturing industry is in the midst of the "industry 4.0" revolution. The revolution involves the migration of shop layout to dynamic spaces that integrate both humans and intelligent machines. Consequently, industrial solutions involving cloud computing have facilitated faster and far-reaching data flows. This way of processing information has resulted in new and interactive modalities of visualization that can change the way individuals perceive and interact with data. The article argues that the concept of X-Reality (XR) is more extensive than just virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR). XR technology can mix perceived reality just like MR; however, it can also modify fundamental components. Self-configurable devices have become the critical feature every technological ecosystem is using to adapt to operational scenarios.
BIBLIOGRAPHY \l 1033 CarlosFlavián, SergioIbáñez-Sánchez, & CarlosOrús. (2019, July). The impact of virtual augmented and mixed reality technologies on the customer experience. Journal of Business Research, 100, 547-560. doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2018.10.050
This article discusses how the arrival of Virtual-Reality, Augmented-Reality, and Mixed-Reality is creating an environment where physical and virtual objects are integrated. Th development of portable and embodied devices has allowed the possibility of having highly interacti...