Being there together: social interaction in virtual environments

This book draws together research on how people interact in virtual environments: What difference does avatar appearance make? How do avatars collaborate and play together? How do the type of system and the space affect how people engage with each other? How does interaction between avatars differ from face-to-face interaction? Virtual environments and the changing landscape of information and communication technologies -- The varieties of experiences of being there together -- Avatar bodies and virtual spaces -- collaboration -- Social life in online worlds -- Modalities of communication -- Research uses of multiuser virtual environments -- Ethical and social issues in multiuser virtual environments -- Multiuser virtual environments and other technologies for being there together -- The future of being there together