When we sit in front of a computer monitor, many of us slouch in our chairs and are drawn into a virtual world, leaving behind thoughts of our bodies. Eyes glued to the screen, fingers poised on a keyboard or a mouse, we require only a few physical movements to explore the Internet. Dislocated from our bodies, our minds are absorbed in cyberspace. Yet much of the language of the Internet suggests a physical presence. We speak, for example, of "navigating" through virtual space, "entering" chat rooms, and "establishing" a presence for ourselves online. Consider, for example, The Palace, developed by Electric Communities, which encourages users to "communicate interactively online in rich visual environments. You create personalized ‘avatars’ [personalized icons] that allow you to be ‘seen’ online. You can express yourself with sounds, space, and movement as well as text. Conversation appears in speech balloons next to avatars, making it much easier to follow than boring text-based chat." Draft an essay in which you examine the way in which the use of avatars changes the spirit and substance of conversations in a chat room. What are the advantages and disadvantages of conducting a conversation in a text-based chat room as opposed to a visually based space, such as The Palace?
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