Mapping the demographics of virtual humans

This paper presents a census of 147 virtual agents, by examining and reporting on their physical and demographical characteristics. The study shows that the vast majority of agents developed are from a white ethnic background. Overall, female agents tend to be more photo realistic than their male counterparts who are more cartoon like. These findings highlight current stereotypes in relation to agents and contribute to a deeper understanding of virtual worlds. Categories and Subject Descriptors Human Factors General Terms Design and Human Factors. Keywords Embodiment, agents, age, gender, race.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2007
• Where: BCSHCI
• Authors: Rabia Khan, Antonella De Angeli
• Keywords: BCSHCI 2007, Female Agents, Human Computer Interaction, Human Factors, Virtual Agents