The
Avatar
Manifesto
As avatars evolve to become more accurate digital representations of ourselves, there is a need to create guidelines and best practices on how we create and operate them. These guidelines are meant to be the start of the conversation (for developers, ethicists, designers, and platform operators) as our understanding and perception of embodiment evolve over time. These guidelines will always be rooted in the more persistent underlying principles.
Watch the talk on GDC Vault
Watch the talk on GDC Vault
The guidelines
1 Avatars should always be driven by a user's intent.
Video from Pacific Rim | Legendary Entertainment
The avatar cannot be used, embodied, or operated by others without the consent of the owner. Avatars should only do things intended by the user. This can be done using sensors, controls, triggers or embodiment in VR. Autonomic or superfluous actions like breathing, subtle idles and reactions to physics simulation are exempt from this guideline.
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2 Avatars should have a way of indicating when they are asynchronous.
Video from Star Wars | Lucasfilm Ltd., Walt Disney Company
When playing back an Avatar message or when the user is AFK (away from controls), it should be clearly indicated that the Avatar’s owner is not currently operating it.
Other users should not be able to affect an asynchronous Avatar. (See guideline 1.)
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3 A user must always have a choice over using tracking features when using their Avatar.
Video from the Matrix | Warner Bros. Pictures
The user must always be made aware when a device is being used to track and record their IRL actions and movements to drive their Avatar.
A user should never be required to use sensitive sensors (camera, mic, etc.) and should never be surprised that their camera/mic/capture device is enabled.
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4 When a user starts to build an avatar, the default should not bias toward a specific gender or ethnicity.
Video from Black or White | Epic Records
It is important that we do not impose a specific gender or race when a user creates their digital representation. We need to make sure the Avatar creation process is inclusive and open to diversity.
We should present more choices beyond the binary.
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5 Features that allow a user to create authentic self-representation, like skin color or basic eye shapes, should always be equitable.
Changing Faces Rainbow Love GIF By Barbara Pozzi
A user must be able to build something that represents their genetic self without being charged more for being from a minority group.
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