Profile Picture
In computing, an avatar is a graphical representation of a user or the user's character or persona. Avatars can be two-dimensional icons in Internet forums and other online communities, where they are also known as profile pictures, userpics, or formerly picons (personal icons). Alternatively, an avatar can take the form of a three-dimensional model, as used in online worlds and video games. The term ' () originates from Sanskrit, and was adopted by early computer games and science fiction novelists. Richard Garriott extended the term to an on-screen user representation in 1985, and the term gained wider adoption in Internet forums and MUDs. Nowadays, avatars are used in a variety of online settings including social media, virtual assistants, instant messaging platforms, and digital worlds such as ''World of Warcraft'' and ''Second Life''. They can take the form of an image of one's real-life self, as often seen on platforms like Facebook, or a virtual character that diverges f ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Jo Kay - Those Green Eyes (1431777290)
Jo, jo, JO, or J.O. may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Jo (film), ''Jo'' (film), a 1972 French comedy * Jo (TV series), ''Jo'' (TV series), a French TV series *"Jo", a song by Goldfrapp from ''Tales of Us'' *"Jo", a song by Mr. Oizo from ''Lambs Anger'' * Jo a fictional List of The Book of Boba Fett characters#Jo, character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise People * Jo (given name) * Jô, Brazilian footballer João Alves de Assis Silva (born 1987) * Josiel Alves de Oliveira (born 1988), Brazilian footballer also known as Jô * Jō (surname), a Japanese surname * Cho (Korean name), a common Korean surname which can be romanized as Jo Codes * JO, ISO 3166 country code for Jordan * .jo, the Internet country code top-level domain for Jordan * JO, IATA code for JALways, a subsidiary of Japan Airlines Other uses * ''jō'' (), a wooden staff used in some Japanese martial arts * ''jō'' (), a Japanese unit of length equivalent to the Chinese zhang (unit), zhang * ''jō'' (), a Japanese ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Second Life
''Second Life'' is an online multimedia platform that allows people to create an avatar for themselves and then interact with other users and user created content within a multi player online virtual world. Developed and owned by the San Francisco-based firm Linden Lab and launched on June 23, 2003, it saw rapid growth for some years and in 2013 it had approximately one million regular users. Growth eventually stabilized, and by the end of 2017 the active user count had declined to "between 800,000 and 900,000". In many ways, ''Second Life'' is similar to massively multiplayer online role-playing games; nevertheless, Linden Lab is emphatic that their creation is not a game: "There is no manufactured conflict, no set objective". The virtual world can be accessed freely via Linden Lab's own client software or via alternative third-party viewers. ''Second Life'' users, also called ' residents', create virtual representations of themselves, called ''avatars'', and are able to int ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Chip Morningstar
Chip Morningstar is an American software architect, mainly for online entertainment and communication. Morningstar held many jobs throughout his career in the research and development of technology and programs. Most notably was Morningstar's role as project leader for Lucasfilm's ''Habitat'', the first large-scale virtual multiuser environment. In March 2001, Morningstar and colleague Randy Farmer were awarded the inaugural "First Penguin Award" by the International Game Developers Association for their work on Habitat. He also participated in Project Xanadu, for which the word hypertext was first coined. Additionally, he is credited with coining the term avatar and pre-Internet work in online information marketplaces. Early life and education Morningstar graduated from University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering in 1981. While at the University of Michigan he performed research in the Space Physics Research Laboratory, where he wrote dev ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC is an American film and television production company and a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios, which is a business segment of The Walt Disney Company. The studio is best known for creating and producing the ''Star Wars'' and '' Indiana Jones'' franchises, as well as its leadership in developing special effects, sound, and computer animation for films. Lucasfilm was founded by filmmaker George Lucas in 1971 in San Rafael, California; most of the company's operations were moved to San Francisco in 2005. '' Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace'' (1999), '' Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' (2015), '' Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'' (2016), '' Star Wars: The Last Jedi'' (2017) and '' Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker'' (2019) are all among the 50 highest-grossing films of all time, with ''Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' becoming the highest-grossing film in the United States and Canada. Disney acquired Lucasfilm on October 30, 2012, for $4.05 billion in th ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Quest Of The Avatar
A quest is a journey toward a specific mission or a goal. The word serves as a plot device in mythology and fiction: a difficult journey towards a goal, often symbolic or allegorical. Tales of quests figure prominently in the folklore of every nation and ethnic culture. In literature, the object of a quest requires great exertion on the part of the hero, who must overcome many obstacles, typically including much travel. The aspect of travel allows the storyteller to showcase exotic locations and cultures (an objective of the narrative, not of the character). The object of a quest may also have supernatural properties, often leading the protagonist into other worlds and dimensions. The moral of a quest tale often centers on the changed character of the hero. Quest objects The hero normally aims to obtain something or someone by the quest, and with this object to return home. The object can be something new, that fulfills a lack in their life, or something that was stolen ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Songs From The Stars
''Songs from the Stars'' is a novel by Norman Spinrad published in 1980. Plot summary ''Songs from the Stars'' is a novel in which Clear Blue Lou and Sunshine Sue help manage the society of Aquaria, the only human civilization that survived a nuclear war. Reception ''Kirkus Reviews'' states "Debates on communications and karma ensue. Gassy." Tom Easton reviewed ''Songs from the Stars'' for '' Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact'', and commented that "I enjoyed ''Songs'', and I believe it should be read widely. Spinrad has split human life into technophilia and technophia, and effectively dramatized the necessity of reconciling the two if anyone is to have a life of freedom and comfort." Greg Costikyan reviewed ''Songs from the Stars'' in '' Ares Magazine'' #8 and commented that "Whatever dialectical disagreements one may have with Spinrad's themes, ''Songs from the Stars'' shows once again that he is an extremely powerful writer – among the best science fiction has to offer." ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Norman Spinrad
Norman Richard Spinrad (born September 15, 1940) is an American science fiction author, essayist, and critic. His fiction has won the Prix Apollo and been nominated for numerous awards, including the Hugo Award and multiple Nebula Awards. Personal life Born in New York City, Spinrad is a graduate of the Bronx High School of Science. In 1957 he entered City College of New York and graduated in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree as a pre-law major. He has lived in San Francisco, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and New York City. He married fellow novelist N. Lee Wood in 1990; they divorced in 2005. Spinrad served as President of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) from 1980 to 1982 and again from 2001 to 2002. He has also worked as a phone-in radio show host, a vocal artist, a literary agent, and President of World SF. In an interview with ''Locus'' magazine in 1999, Spinrad described himself as an "anarchist" and a "syndicalist". Style Some critics have ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Avatar (1979 Video Game)
''Avatar'' is an early graphics-based multi-user highly interactive Role-playing video game, created on the University of Illinois' PLATO system in the late 1970s. It has graphics for navigating through a dungeon and chat-style text for player status and communication with others. It can currently be played online via Cyber1 or a simulation called Javatar. What makes ''Avatar'' popular is the high level of interactivity with other players and the sense of community that develops. Development on Avatar began on the University of Illinois PLATO system around 1976 by Bruce Maggs and Andrew Shapira, who were junior high school students at the time. They were soon joined by David Sides, who was a student at the University of Illinois. The first version was released in 1979. History ''Avatar'' was a successor to several innovative and highly successful role-playing games on the PLATO system, most notably ''Oubliette''. ''Oubliette'' was written by Jim Schwaiger and published on the PL ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Role-playing Video Game
A role-playing video game (commonly referred to as simply a role-playing game or RPG, as well as a computer role-playing game or CRPG) is a video game genre where the player controls the actions of a character (or several party members) immersed in some well-defined world, usually involving some form of character development by way of recording statistics. Many role-playing video games have origins in tabletop role-playing games Adams, Rollings 2003, p. 347 and use much of the same terminology, settings and game mechanics. Other major similarities with pen-and-paper games include developed story-telling and narrative elements, player character development, complexity, as well as replay value and immersion. The electronic medium removes the necessity for a gamemaster and increases combat resolution speed. RPGs have evolved from simple text-based console-window games into visually rich 3D experiences. Characteristics Role-playing video games use much of the same terminology, s ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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PLATO (computer System)
Plato (428/427 or 424/423 – 348/347 BCE) was a Greek philosopher. Plato may also refer to: People Given name or nickname * Plato (comic poet) () * Plato (exarch) (), Byzantine exarch of Ravenna * Plato II (1737–1812), Metropolitan of Moscow in 1775–1812 * Plato III (born 1993), American rapper * Plato of Bactria (2nd century BCE), Greco-Bactrian king * Plato of Sakkoudion (–814), Byzantine saint * Plato Andros (1921–2008), American football player * Plato Cacheris (1929–2019), American lawyer * Plato T. Durham (1873–1930), American academic administrator * Plato Fludd (), American politician * Plato Malinovsky, Metropolitan of Moscow in 1745–1754 * Plato Malozemoff (1909–1997), Russian-American engineer and businessman * Plato E. Shaw (1883–1947), American historian * Plato A. Skouras (1930–2004), American film producer * Plato Tiburtinus, 12th-century Italian mathematician, astronomer and translator * Plato von Ustinov (1840–1918), Russian-born ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Computer Game
Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This feedback mostly commonly is shown on a video display device, such as a TV set, computer monitor, monitor, touchscreen, or virtual reality headset. Some computer games do not always depend on a graphics display, for example List of text-based computer games, text adventure games and computer chess can be played through teletype printers. Video games are often augmented with audio feedback delivered through loudspeaker, speakers or headphones, and sometimes with other types of feedback, including haptic technology. Video games are defined based on their computing platform, platform, which include arcade video games, console games, and PC game, personal computer (PC) games. More recently, the industry has expanded on ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
''Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary'' is a large American dictionary, first published in 1966 as ''The Random House Dictionary of the English Language: The Unabridged Edition''. Edited by Editor-in-chief Jess Stein, it contained 315,000 entries in 2256 pages, as well as 2400 illustrations. The CD-ROM version in 1994 also included 120,000 spoken pronunciations. History The Random House publishing company entered the reference book market after World War II. They acquired rights to the ''Century Dictionary'' and the ''Dictionary of American English'', both out of print. Their first dictionary was Clarence Barnhart's ''American College Dictionary'', published in 1947, and based primarily on ''The New Century Dictionary'', an abridgment of the ''Century''. In the late 1950s, it was decided to publish an expansion of the ''American College Dictionary'', which had been modestly updated with each reprinting since its publication. Under editors Jess Stein and Laurence Ur ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |