Method of controlling avatars

Abstract

A method of controlling the position and orientation of user controlled computer generated avatars in computer generated virtual world in a manner that tends to bias the user controlled avatar positions and orientations in a way that sends useful non-verbal social cues to outside observers. These non-verbal cues can include cues such as 'this conversation is open to outside participants' and 'this conversation is private'. The methods can also convey “stage presence” to that can somewhat bias the position and orientation of the user controlled avatars in a manner that takes the viewpoint of an outside observer into account. These effects can be modulated up or down as desired, and may be further modulated by the degree of social connections or past history of virtual world interactions between various users.