There are two distinct purposes for this experiment. The first purpose is to determine whether the use of a digital avatar improves the quality of communication compared to not having a digital avatar presence at all (i.e. chat only). The second purpose is to determine whether direct avatar gaze control improves the quality of communication compared to an indirect and "inanimate" avatar gaze.

            Direct avatar gaze can be defined as a situation in which the normal lines of avatar face planes (assume they are flat) are relatively parallel to each other (Refer to Figure 1.0).

            Indirect avatar gaze can be defined as a situation in which the normal lines of avatar face planes do not have a parallel relationship.

(Figure 1.0)