A demonstration of how avatars can help you transform your physical health.

1. Alexx Henry
Could Your Avatar Change Your Life?

2. Could an Avatar
Change Your Life?
Alexx Henry, BlueVisnu
A Glimpse into How 3D Digital
Humans Can Influence Behavior

24. Table 1
Date Weight (lb) Fat mass (lb) Lean mass (lb) Comments
2016-01-02 10:39 PM 183
2016-01-03 9:34 AM 180.5
2016-01-03 9:34 AM 180.2
2016-01-04 7:58 AM 180
2016-01-09 10:10 AM 178.3 37.9 140.4
2016-01-09 5:18 AM 179.1 37 142.1
2016-01-10 11:54 AM 179 38.6 140.4
2016-01-11 7:24 AM 179.2 38.6 140.6
2016-01-12 7:59 AM 177.4 35 142.4
2016-01-13 8:48 AM 177.4 36.6 140.8
2016-01-14 8:55 AM 177.7 37.7 140
2016-01-15 7:26 AM 179.5 37.7 141.8
2016-01-17 9:34 AM 179.2 39.1 140.1
2016-01-18 8:58 AM 179.7 37.9 141.8
2016-01-19 9:05 AM 180 36.8 143.2
2016-01-20 8:01 AM 179.2 38.6 140.6
2016-01-21 8:45 AM 179.1 37.7 141.4
2016-01-22 7:03 AM 179.7 37.9 141.8
2016-01-23 9:09 AM 180.4
2016-01-23 9:11 AM 179.7 38.5 141.2
2016-01-25 6:32 AM 179 38.5 140.5
2016-01-26 9:44 AM 177.7 37.4 140.3
2016-01-27 1:45 AM 179.3 35.8 143.5
2016-01-27 11:23 AM 178.1 36.5 141.6
2016-01-28 8:53 AM 177.6 37.5 140.1
2016-01-30 10:24 AM 177.8
2016-01-31 11:26 AM 177.1 35.8 141.3
2016-02-05 11:14 AM 176.2 37 139.2
2016-02-06 11:17 AM 175.7 36.7 139
2016-02-07 11:29 AM 174.5 34.5 140
2016-02-07 9:38 AM 173.9 35.4 138.5
2016-02-08 8:41 AM 176.2 38.2 138
2016-02-09 7:47 AM 175 36 139
2016-02-10 8:01 AM 175.7 35.5 140.2
2016-02-11 8:06 AM 175.7 34.9 140.8
2016-02-12 9:15 AM 176.5 35.4 141.1
2016-02-13 1:02 AM 176.3 35 141.3
2016-02-13 9:21 AM 173.5 34.1 139.4
2016-02-14 10:47 AM 174.8
2016-02-15 10:18 AM 174.9 35.8 139.1
2016-02-16 8:09 AM 173.5 34.8 138.7
2016-02-17 9:20 AM 175
2016-02-18 7:23 AM 174.2
2016-02-20 10:16 AM 173.9 36.1 137.8
2016-02-21 9:55 AM 174 35.2 138.8
2016-02-23 8:02 AM 173.6 34.4 139.2
2016-02-24 7:59 AM 172.6 34.5 138.1
2016-02-25 7:27 AM 172.3 32.3 140
2016-02-26 11:52 AM 172
2016-02-27 9:41 AM 171.2 33.6 137.6
2016-02-29 8:06 AM 172.4
2016-03-01 7:01 AM 172 34.1 137.9
2016-03-02 11:14 AM 172.2 33.5 138.7
2016-03-04 8:01 AM 170 33.4 136.6
2016-03-05 11:04 AM 169.4 31.7 137.7
2016-03-06 9:51 AM 170.7 32.8 137.9
2016-03-07 8:30 AM 169.9 33.5 136.4 160
167.5
175
182.5
190
2016-01-02 10:39 PM 2016-01-14 8:55 AM 2016-01-25 6:32 AM 2016-02-07 9:38 AM 2016-02-16 8:09 AM 2016-02-29 8:06 AM
Weight (lb)

29. Could an avatar change your life?

30. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication
I Am What I See: How Avatar and Opponent
Agent Body Size Affects Physical Activity Among
Men Playing Exergames
Jorge Peña
Department of Communication, University of California, Kerr Hall, Davis, CA 95616
Subuhi Khan
Department of Communication, University of California, Kerr Hall, Davis, CA 95616
Cassandra Alexopoulos
Department of Communication, University of California, Kerr Hall, Davis, CA 95616
This study examined how avatar body size (normal, obese) and opponent character body size (nor-
mal, obese) influenced physical activity while male participants played an exergame. Males operating
normal weight avatars showed more physical activity than those using obese avatars. Perceived avatar
and opponent character body-size differences moderated the effect of avatar appearance on physical
activity. Participants showed decreased physical activity when the opponent character was perceived
as slightly more obese than their avatar. Participants also showed decreased physical activity when
their avatar was perceived as more obese than the opponent character. We discuss theoretical implica-
tions and applications of using virtual characters to increase gamers’ physical activity. These findings
are also compared to an earlier study with an all-female sample.
Keywords: Avatars, Opponent Agents, Exergame, Physical Activity, Priming, Social Comparisons,
Replication.
doi:10.1111/jcc4.12151
Exergames are video games that require the performance of physical gestures to control the game and,
thus, allow users to exert themselves physically (e.g., dance, play tennis; Staiano & Calvert, 2011). There
is rising interest in how video games can boost physical activity and other positive outcomes (Peng, Lin,
& Crouse, 2011). For example, participants with high body-image dissatisfaction reported similar or
more favorable exergame experiences relative to those with low body-image dissatisfaction (Song, Kim,
The authors would like to thank Robert Lu for his assistance in coding data.
Editorial Record: First manuscript received on February 18, 2015. Revisions received on June 1, 2015 and September 1, 2015.
Accepted by Matthew Lombard on November 3, 2015. Final manuscript received on November 7, 2015.
Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication (2016) © 2016 International Communication Association 1

34. Could your avatar change you?

36. Self control
Self control is having empathy with your
future self.

37. “you are more likely to imitate the behavior
of an avatar in real life if it looks like you”
Jesse Fox, Stanford Virtual Human Interaction Lab

38. Your avatar can change you.

39. “Behavior is still the cause of
our top chronic diseases.”
-Daniel Kraft, MD
Chair for Medicine at Singularity University

41. BlueVishnu
Meet the best of you.
Alexx Henry
xx@bvx.io
@alexxhenry
Motion capture by: