Avatar Machine
The virtual communities created by online games have provided us with a new medium for social interaction and communication. Avatar Machine is a system which replicates the aesthetics and visuals of third person gaming, allowing the user to view themselves as a virtual character in real space via a head mounted interface. The system potentially allows for a diminished sense of social responsibility, and could lead the user to demonstrate behaviors normally reserved for the gaming environment.

Avatar Machine Design Museum - Designers in residence 2009 from MARC OWENS on Vimeo.
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Avatar Machine has now existed in quite a few different incarnations. The most recent version shown above was designed for the 'Design Products Collection' - Royal College of Art. For the first time Avatar Machine is available to purchase, and customers can buy anything from a set of Avatar Arms right through to the technical system that allows you experience 'Life in Third Person'

http://designproductscollection.rca.ac.uk/

images: © designproductscollection

Avatar Machine [LONDON] 2008 from MARC OWENS on Vimeo.