Slashdot Mirror


Instant Messaging Goes Graphical

williampiv writes "For most of the millions of people around the world who regularly use instant messaging, the communications tool has largely been a text-only experience in which typed emoticons offer only minimal clues to someone's state of mind. The recent launch of two services -- a brand new, fully three-dimensional chat-room product known as IMVU, and AOL Instant Messenger's new 3-D SuperBuddy icons -- is putting the spotlight on a major shift by the leading IM providers toward making graphical avatars a fundamental personalization feature."

16 of 229 comments (clear)

  1. Been There by mr.nicholas · · Score: 4, Funny

    A graphical, 3D chat environment? Oh, you mean Star Wars: Galaxies!

    1. Re:Been There by killmenow · · Score: 5, Funny

      SW:G? I thought a graphical, 3D chat environment was a coffee shop...or maybe a strip club if you want more graphics.

    2. Re:Been There by cL0h · · Score: 2, Funny

      9 years old and for 9 year olds.
      WTF.
      ;)

      --
      cL0h
    3. Re:Been There by smallguy78 · · Score: 2, Funny

      You know you use msn too much when you start winking at people after you say a sentence, or try to make an :S with your mouth.

      --
      Nothing costs nothing
  2. Truth in avatars? by gad_zuki! · · Score: 4, Funny

    Is there a skin of someone who looks like me sitting at their computer in their underwear and sipping folgers? Perhaps with some 3D rendered clothes on the floor and a bowl of dried up ramen next to the keyboard?

  3. Re:Deja Vu??? by LiquidCoooled · · Score: 2, Funny

    But its more fun assigning your own avatars and icons to people:

    Devil - PHB
    Weasil - SCO
    Dragon - mother in law

    --
    liqbase :: faster than paper
  4. Re:MS Chat? by AndroidCat · · Score: 1, Funny

    A silent death? Are you sure, I thought they had text-to-speech for those things? (Granted, most text-to-speech engines scream like a little robot.) You'd think they'd at least put a really good wav scream in the uninstall. Bah!

    --
    One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
  5. Not suited for everything... by Sidicas · · Score: 5, Funny

    "IMVU gives you the sense that you are in the presence of the person you are chatting with,"

    Wow, that sucks. Now I'm not going to put any family members in my buddy list.

  6. Graphical chat = graphical hacks by YetAnotherName · · Score: 4, Funny

    With recently discovered security holes in JPEG imaging and perhaps other graphics libraries, graphical chat doesn't necessarily sound like a step forward ...

    Crystal90210: OMG!!!1 dont chat with CuteA0Lb0y!!!!1
    my sister did and now she's pwned!!!!1
    FLAgrrl: LOL!!!!1

  7. Next features .... by sawb · · Score: 4, Funny

    should include more animation.

    Nothing funnier than having your friend make fun of you and you execute the /goatse.cx command and your avatar ... er, won't go there.

    --
    I am .CA
  8. You know what would be REAL cool... by Anita+Coney · · Score: 3, Funny

    A system where you could talk to anyone else in the world, in real-time, by simply entering the person's ID into a device. I'd definitely use that!

    --
    If someone says he and his monkey have nothing to hide, they almost certainly do.
  9. Re:MS Chat? by grazzy · · Score: 2, Funny

    You're missing: This is in 3D - three dimensional space. Taste the word: threeeeedeeee.

    Its the future you know.

  10. Re:MS Chat? by NoMoreNicksLeft · · Score: 4, Funny

    Haha. Just set it to "apathetic/depressed" and leave it there, like everyone else on IRC.

  11. Re:Yawn by Daagar · · Score: 2, Funny
    Wake me when the avatar responds based on your facial expressions and body language.

    No No NO! I do not want to see an avatar responding to someone's body language/expressions while they are off surfing porn in another window.

  12. Drawing canvas by kars · · Score: 2, Funny

    Actually, what I'd -really- like to see is a "shared" canvas, where you can both just doodle on. Sometimes a quick picture, even if it's just a few lines, says more than a thousand words.

    --
    Take life easy: one bit at a time.
  13. Re:language by andfarm · · Score: 2, Funny

    To be or not to be, that is the question :-)
    Whether 'tis nobler in the mind :-P to suffer:-(
    The slings and arrows :-(( of outrageous fortune :-(((
    Or to take arms against a sea of troubles
    And by opposing end them? 8-) To die X-P, to sleep -_-,
    No more... I can't handle mangling Shakespeare this badly.

    --

    TANSTAAFI: There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free iPod.