Microsoft has patented a new application labelled “Avatar Indivdualised by Physical Characteristics”.
The idea is that your Avatar will be able to look more like you, rather than a cartoon carbon copy. The aim of the device will be to encourage you to do exercise and also reflect how your avatar looks when talking to people.
The patent application says: “An Avatar generator for a virtual environment reflects a physiological characteristic of the user, injecting a degree of reality into the capabilities or appearance.
“Thereby, many of the incentives of the real world are replicated in a virtual environment.
“Physiological data that reflect a degree of health of the real person can be linked to rewards of capabilities of a gaming Avatar, an amount of time budgeted to play, or a visible indication. Thereby, people are encouraged to exercise. Physiological data that reflect the health and perhaps also mood also improve social interaction in virtual environments.
“People seeking to meet and become acquainted with particular types of people are not thwarted by the artificiality of Avatars,” the patent adds.
We’re not really sure how it’ll be used, but possibly expect something when Natal launchs in 2010.
