Copyright: Copyright © 1995-97, Fujitsu Software Corporation
Citation: Copyright © 1995-97, Fujitsu Software Corporation and Fujitsu Limited. All


!ToBeDone
ToBeDone


'Get'

This action should be present when the selected Object is the direct Object and meets two criteria: it is not being held by another avatar and the actor/avatar is not holding another Object in his hands (there is no indirect Object).

Selecting this action will 'Walk' the actor/avatar to the Object if he is not adjacent and place the Object in the actor's hands.


'Put'

This action should be present under the following conditions: there is an indirect Object(the actor/avatar is holding something) and the direct Object has an open position that can hold the indirect Object. Some Objects, such as floors, have a relatively unlimited capacity, while others (containers) have a specific number of places that can hold other Objects.

Selecting this action will 'Walk' the actor/avatar to the direct Object if she is not adjacent and place the indirect Object on or in the direct Object


'Tell me about...'

This action should be present on the main popup menu for every Object, but not on any sub-menus.

Selecting this action will display an informational message related to the Object in the message display area of the client window.


'Walk to'

This action should be present any time the actor/avatar is not adjacent to the selected Objects and the position selected is 'walkable', i.e. the position or Object is within the boundaries for movement allowed within the Locale.

Selecting this action will Walk the actor/avatar to an adjacent position to the selected Object.


Automatic links

The WorldsAway community you are visiting may contain some automatic links, usually on locales. If a locale contains an automatic link, the associated web page will open automatically in your browser window when your avatar or ghost enters that locale.

Places: How and where to travel in WorldsAway

What you see on your screen: The two-window system

Integration with the World Wide Web

Web Tour: Group tours of the web

Links on objects

Personal links on your avatar


Avatar

The graphical representation of real people in the WorldsAway community, displayed as cartoon like characters.


Avatar Menus

Avatars are objects which act as containers for several other objects; a head, accessories, the contents of the pocket and anything held in the avatar's hand.

Even thought you can see some of the contained objects of another avatar, such the head or things in her hand, objects held or connected to an avatar are treated as part of that avatar. When you click any part of the avatar, you will see only the menu for interacting with the avatar.

Only you can access the menus for objects held by or attached to your avatar. So, when you click on your own avatar's head, or an object held in your avatar's hand or an accessory worn by your avatar, you will get a menu for that object, not the menu for your avatar. Click on your avatar's body for the avatar's menu.

Manipulation basics

Dynamic menu creation

Handling Objects: The things of WorldsAway


Avatars and the social scene

Each avatar in WorldsAway represents a real person logged in from somewhere on the planet. You communicate with others in the virtual community much as in the real world, expressing yourself through your appearance, words and actions. You can participate actively as an avatar, or lurk as a ghost. How you present yourself in the online world and what part you play in the community are entirely up to you. To learn about customizing your avatar, see Customize your avatar.

Your avatar is your personal graphic representation in WorldsAway. An avatar consists of two parts: the body and a removable head. You manipulate your avatar by using its popup menu. All avatars can hold objects in their hands and carry objects in their pockets, move around, communicate, perform gestures and expressions, customize their looks and change into ghosts and back again. Helper avatars have special status and special powers. The title and specific powers of Helpers varies from one world to another.

Ghosts

Helpers

In-world behavior guidelines

Chatting in-world

Gestures and Expressions

Customize your avatar

Buying, selling and trading


Banking machines

If the WorldsAway community you visit has an official currency, you will probably find banking machines at which you may deposit and withdraw funds. To use a banking machine, click on it to access its popup menu and select the desired option from the menu.

In-world currency

World-specific guidelines

Vending machines

Recyclers

Local trading system

Buying, selling and trading


Buying, selling and trading

A WorldsAway community may have an official economy and trading system and an in-world currency. There may be a number of ways to earn income. You may be able to deposit and withdraw funds at banking machines. Items may be sold from vending machines, and returnable to recyclers. Check the guidelines for the specific world you are visiting. In addition to or instead of a formal economy, members of a virtual community often develop a local trading system as well.

In-world currency

Banking machines

Vending machines

Recyclers

Local trading system

Theft

Avatars and the social scene


Change and customize your avatar’s body

If the WorldsAway community you are visiting allows you to change your avatar’s body, look for vending machines that sell or dispense them. Body changes are likely to be available at the beginning of your first visit to a world. However, body change methods and choices can vary from one world to another, so check the world-specific documentation. To use a body machine, click on the machine to access its popup menu. The menu options will enable you to view the available selections and make a choice. Changing bodies will probably require your avatar to enter the body machine. Your avatar can have only one body at a time.

Each body comes with its own default hair and face colors, which you may be able to customize. If custom skin and clothing colors are available, look for vending machines that sell or dispense body spray. The popup menus of your avatar and the spray can will give you the necessary options for using the spray. Go ahead and experiment; you’ll be able to change and adjust the colors again and again until you find the combination you like.

Body accessories that you can wear or carry around to further enhance your identity may also be available in the world you are visiting. Look for vending machines that dispense or sell these items. Use the popup menus of your avatar and the accessories to wear or carry the accessory items.

Avatars and the social scene

An in-world economy


Change and customize your avatar’s head

If the WorldsAway community you are visiting allows you to change your avatar’s head, you are likely to encounter vending machines that sell or dispense them. To use a head-vending machine, click on the machine to access its popup menu. The menu options will enable you to view the available selections and make a choice. To change heads, hold the new head in your avatar’s hand; then click on your avatar and select Wear from the popup menu. You can store extra heads in your avatar’s pocket. You may be able to sell them or dispose of unwanted heads by selling them to in-world recyclers, selling them or giving them to other avatars, or depositing them for recycling. Check to see what is available in the world you are visiting. Some worlds develop a busy black-market trade in avatar heads, especially discontinued models.

Each head comes with its own default hair and face colors, which you may be able to customize. If custom face and hair colors are available, look for vending machines that sell or dispense head spray. If your head is sprayable, the popup menus of your avatar and the spray can will give you the necessary options for using the spray. Go ahead and experiment; you’ll be able to change and adjust the colors again and again until you find the combination you like.

Head accessories, such as sunglasses and hats may also be available in the world you are visiting. Look for vending machines that dispense or sell these items. Use the popup menus of your avatar and the accessories to put the accessories on and take them off.

Avatars and the social scene

An in-world economy


Chatting in-world

You can converse publicly or privately in real time with any other avatar in the WorldsAway virtual world. There are three communication modes: Speech, Thought and ESP. You create messages by typing into the message entry box and pressing Enter/Return. Messages appear in the scrolling message display area onscreen. You can record messages by using the Save Message option. You can use your Friends List to keep track of your companions in-world and send them messages easily.

To accompany your words, you have a full range of movements, gestures and facial expressions available. These are easily accessed from your avatar’s popup menu and through the keyboard and may be integrated with your text messages or used on their own. Each avatar body and head has its own special way of enacting the facial expressions and some of the gestures.

Communication modes

Gestures and expressions

Avatars and the social scene

Customize your avatar

Friends List

Ghosts

Helpers

In-world behavior guidelines


Communication - ESP

One of the three communication modes used in WorldsAway. ESP messages are private; they are displayed in the message display area only for the avatar specified in the To: field of the message entry box


Communication - Quip

A pointer from a message in the message display area into the graphical display area that indicates which avatar in a locale created that message. The two types of quips are a pointed quip, indicating the message was created by speaking, and a 'thought bubble' quip that indicates the message is a thought.


Communication - Speech

One of the three communication modes used in WorldsAway. Speech messages are public; they are displayed in the message display area of the locale your avatar is in for all the other avatars and ghosts in that locale. The avatar Speaking is indicated by the message appearing over the speaker's head and a Speech quip points down at the speaker.


Communication - Thought

One of the three communication modes used in WorldsAway. Thought messages are public; they are displayed in the message display area of the locale your avatar is in for all the other avatars and ghosts in that locale. The avatar thinking is indicated by the message appearing over the thinker's head and a Thought quip points down at the speaker.


Communication Mode Buttons

There are three modes of communication; Speech, Thought and ESP. The mode you are currently in will be indicated by which button at the right of the message entry box is depressed. The communication mode may also be selected from the Communicate pull-down menu on the main menu bar.


Communication messages

Communication messages are what you use to chat in real time with others in WorldsAway, publicly or privately. The three communication modes are Speech, Thought and ESP. All communication messages you send or receive will appear in the message display area on your screen and on the screens of all recipients. Public communication messages (Speech/Thought) appear as white text in color-coded speech balloons and are visible to all recipients in the locale. Private messages (ESP) appear as black text in a white balloon and are visible only to the sender and one specific recipient. For more about communication messages, see Avatars and the social scene.

System messages

Messages

WorldsAway signposts: Popup menus and messages


Communication modes

Select your communication mode (Speech, Thought or ESP) by clicking the appropriate button to the right of the message entry box. The button will remain depressed until you choose another mode. You can also select the mode from the Edit or Communicate pull-down menu on the main menu bar; a check mark will appear next to the current mode. Speech and Thought messages are public messages sent by avatars and visible to all avatars and ghosts in the sender’s locale at the time. ESP messages are private, one-on-one messages sent by avatars or ghosts from any locale to any other locale. ESP is visible only to the sender and recipient. Type your message text into the message entry box; edit your text with keyboard commands or using the Edit options from the main menu bar. Note: Using upper- and lower-case letters for your messages is considered a normal tone of voice. Typing your message in all capital letters is considered shouting! You may integrate gestures, facial expressions and emoticons with your words and text.

Speech

Thought

ESP


Contents

Welcome to WorldsAway

What you see on your screen: The two-window system

Your web-browser window

Your WorldsAway window

Graphical Display Area

Message Display Area

Message Entry Box

Communication Mode Buttons

Main menu bar

Preferences

Friends List/Edit Friends List

Save Messages

Exit/Quit

WorldsAway signposts: Popup menus and messages

Popup menus

Messages

System messages

Communication messages

Paging a Helper

Avatars and the social scene

Ghosts

Helpers

In-world behavior guidelines

Chatting in-world

Communication modes

Speech

Thought

ESP

Gestures and Expressions

How to perform gestures and expressions

Integrating gestures and expressions with message text

Other expressive actions

Customize your avatar

Name your avatar

Change and customize your avatar’s head

Change and customize your avatar’s body

Link your avatar to a URL

Buying, selling and trading

In-world currency

Banking machines

Vending machines

Recyclers

Local trading system

Theft

Places: How and where to travel in WorldsAway

Moving within a locale

Moving between locales

Leading and following other avatars in-world

Rapid-transit booths

Private apartments

Moving between Worlds

Handling Objects: The things of WorldsAway

Manipulation basics

Dynamic menu creation

Avatar Menus

Integration with the World Wide Web

Links on objects

Personal links on your avatar

Automatic links

Web Tour: Group tours of the web

How to Web Tour/stop Web Touring

How to lead a Web Tour/end a Web Tour

Socializing in-world during the tour

World Specific help


Contents full
Contents - Full

Welcome to WorldsAway

What you see on your screen: The two-window system

Your web-browser window

Your WorldsAway window

Graphical Display Area

Message Display Area

Message Entry Box

Communication Mode Buttons

Main menu bar

Preferences

Friends List/Edit Friends List

Save Messages

Exit/Quit

WorldsAway signposts: Popup menus and messages

Popup menus

Messages

System messages

Communication messages

Paging a Helper

Avatars and the social scene

Ghosts

Helpers

In-world behavior guidelines

Chatting in-world

Communication modes

Speech

Thought

ESP

Gestures and Expressions

How to perform gestures and expressions

Integrating gestures and expressions with message text

Other expressive actions

Customize your avatar

Name your avatar

Change and customize your avatar’s head

Change and customize your avatar’s body

Link your avatar to a URL

Buying, selling and trading

In-world currency

Banking machines

Vending machines

Recyclers

Local trading system

Theft

Places: How and where to travel in WorldsAway

Moving within a locale

Moving between locales

Leading and following other avatars in-world

Rapid-transit booths

Private apartments

Moving between Worlds

Handling Objects: The things of WorldsAway

Manipulation basics

Dynamic menu creation

Avatar Menus

Integration with the World Wide Web

Links on objects

Personal links on your avatar

Automatic links

Web Tour: Group tours of the web

How to Web Tour/stop Web Touring

How to lead a Web Tour/end a Web Tour

Socializing in-world during the tour

World Specific help


Contents level 1
Contents

Welcome to WorldsAway

What you see on your screen: The two-window system

WorldsAway signposts: Popup menus and messages

Avatars and the social scene

Customize your avatar

Buying, selling and trading

Places: How and where to travel in WorldsAway

Handling Objects: The things of WorldsAway

Integration with the World Wide Web

World Specific help


Customize your avatar

Your avatar started life with a default name, body, head, and colors. The WorldsAway community you are visiting may provide you with the means to customize some or all of these features to achieve the look that best expresses your online identity. Look for in-world vending machines that dispense or sell heads, bodies, spray cans and other items for changing your appearance. If the community allows name changes, there will also be a name registry. Some worlds also allow you to link a URL to your avatar, enabling others to access a web page of your choice by double-clicking on your avatar.

Name your avatar

Change and customize your avatar’s body

Change and customize your avatar’s head

Link your avatar to a URL

Integration with the World Wide Web

Avatars and the social scene

Buying, selling and trading


Direct Object

The object being pointed at when the mouse button is clicked; the intended target for selection.


Dynamic Menu

The popup menus created by clicking anywhere in the graphical display area are dynamic; that is, the choices in the menu are determined at creation time by such things as what object is being pointed at, whether your avatar is holding a certain object and whether you are a ghost or an avatar. Just as in the real world, many difference things will influence what actions are available to you at a specific place or point in time.


Dynamic menu creation

When you click on an object, it may take a few moments for the popup menu to appear. Because the popup menus are dynamically created, the time for their display will be affected by such things as how many other avatars are present and what other active objects are present. At menu creation time, four things affect the situation, determining what dynamic menu options will appear:

1) your avatar,

2) the object you are pointing at,

3) any object held in your avatar’s hand,

4) the distance between objects.

There is a slight difference in behavior for popup menus between the Windows and Macintosh clients.

Macintosh users: click and hold for the menu to be displayed. While holding, drag the mouse to the action you wish to select and release. The action will then be performed. To dismiss the menu without selecting an action, move the pointer outside of the menu and release.

Windows users: click release (single click) to bring up the menu. The menu will float on the screen until either an action is selected or the menu is dismissed. To dismiss a menu without selecting an action, click on the title bar of the menu; or click somewhere else (which will display a new popup in the new location); or click somewhere outside the graphical display, such as the message entry box, the message display area or your desktop.

Handling Objects: The things of WorldsAway

Manipulation basics

Avatar Menus


ESP

Of the three communication modes, ESP is used for sending private, one-on-one messages, and is the only communication mode available to ghosts. ESP messages may be sent by any avatar or ghost to any other avatar or ghost, from any locale to any other locale. They appear as black text in a white balloon without a quip and are visible only to sender or recipient. To use ESP, select the ESP mode and type the name of the recipient in the ESP address box to the right of the message entry box. (The ESP address box appears automatically when you select ESP mode, and will retain and scroll the names of avatars with whom you have exchanged ESP messages.) Type your message into the message entry box, and press Enter/Return. The communication mode button for ESP is to the right of the message entry box on your screen; it bears a [Judy check this]. The communication mode menu option for ESP is on the Edit or Communicate pull-down menu of your main menu bar.

You may also use your Friends List to prepare ESP messages. Open the Friends List from the pull-down menu of your main menu bar. Select the name of the avatar ) to whom you want to send ESP. (If the name is not already on your Friends list, enter the name or transfer it from the Strangers list.) Click the Send ESP button. The avatar name will appear in the ESP address box and a greetings message will automatically appear in your message entry box. You can use the default message or replace it with your own. Press Enter/Return to send the message.

To integrate gestures or facial expressions with your ESP message, press the appropriate function key simultaneously with the Ctrl key while you are composing your text, or use the Insert command from the Communicate pull-down menu of your main menu bar. Emoticons representing the gestures or expressions will be inserted in the text where you place them. your avatar will not perform those actions but the emoticons will appear at the designated points in your message.

You can turn your ESP receiving on and off by selecting the appropriate option from the Status submenu of your avatar’s popup menu. Turn your ESP back on the same way. If you send an ESP message to someone who has turned off ESP or is not in-world at the time, a system message will notify you that the intended recipient cannot hear you or is unavailable.

You can automatically add to your message the URL of the website that is currently open on your browser by using the Insert URL option from the Communicate pull-down menu.

Gestures and Expressions

Friends List


ESP balloon (Example)


Emoticons def
Emoticon

Emoticons are symbols that represent particular gestures or facial expressions. You can insert emoticons into your messages in-world by using the function keys or the Edit or Communicate pull-down menu from the main menu bar.


Exit/Quit

Use this menu action to close the WorldsAway application window and disconnect from the Interverse server. This is the recommended method, as it allows the Interverse server to do some bookkeeping so that your avatar and objects are all correct the next time you visit, and it allows the WorldsAwayapplication to properly close and clean up after itself on your personal machine.


Friends List/Edit Friends List
Friends List

Your Friends List is two lists: one for Strangers and one for Friends. The Strangers list records all the avatars you encounter during a given visit to the virtual world and is automatically erased when you log off. Names transferred to the Friends list remain on the list from visit to visit unless you remove them. To transfer a name from one list to the other, click on the name to highlight it and then click on the arrow between the two lists. To send ESP to a name on the list, click on the name and then click the Send ESP button. The Friends List window will close and the name will be automatically entered in the ESP address box.

Chatting in-world


Gesture

Gestures change the mood or expression shown by your avatar, or cause a specific movement, such as a shrug or a wave.

Changes in expression are modal - they remain until you change expression again. Movements are temporary; they are displayed and then your avatar returns to a neutral stance.


Gesture Function Keys

Mood changes remain in effect until changed.

Movements are expressed once per selection.

Moods

Normal	F2

Happy	F3

Sad  	F4

Mad  	F5

Movements

Wave hand	F6

Bow 	F7

Shrug	F8

Present	F9

Jump	F10

React	F11

To compose a message that includes emoticons,
make selections from the Insert cascading menu
(in the Communicate application menu), or use the
corresponding function key shortcut by pressing
a function key while holding the Ctrl key down:


Gestures and Expressions

You can express yourself with actions as well as with words in the virtual world. Your avatar has a wide range of movements, gestures and facial expressions. These can be used independently or in conjunction with text, in whatever combinations you choose to express your ideas and emotions. Gestures and expressions are easily accessed from your avatar’s popup menu and through the keyboard. Each avatar body and head has its own special way of enacting the facial expressions and some of the gestures. See Places: How and where to travel in WorldsAway more about avatar movement.

How to perform gestures and expressions

Integrating gestures and expressions with message text

Other expressive actions

Popup menus

Avatars and the social scene

Places: How and where to travel in WorldsAway

Chatting in-world

Customize your avatar

In-world behavior guidelines

Ghosts

Helpers


Ghost

A special state of existence for end users in WorldsAway. Ghosts do not have the normal avatar body, and are represented by an icon in the upper right corner of the Locale. Ghosts have limited abilities; they can not Get or Put objects, can not operate machines and can only communicate via ESP.


Ghosts

Your avatar has an alternate state of existence known as a ghost. When one or more ghosts are present in a locale, a special ghost icon appears in a corner of the locale. The look of the ghost icon will vary from one world to another. As a ghost, you cannot perform as many actions as an avatar and your identity is anonymous. You cannot send Speech or Thought messages. However, as a ghost, you can travel between locales, send and receive ESP messages, watch and listen to what goes on in almost any locale, and page a Helper. You can deliberately become a ghost by choosing the appropriate command on your avatar’s popup menu, or you may involuntarily become a ghost if your avatar enters a locale that already contains the maximum number of avatars. Some locales, such as private apartments, may allow you to visit only in ghost form, according to the wishes of the leaseholder.

Avatars and the social scene

Helpers

Chatting in-world

In-world behavior guidelines

Gestures and Expressions


Graphical Display Area

The graphical display area is your primary interface into the shared world. Clicking anywhere in the graphical display will display a popup menu appropriate to where you pointed and your current in-world situation.


Graphical Display Area_1
Graphical Display Area

The main section of the WorldsAway window, where avatars interact and where you can point and click to select objects for actions.


Handling Objects: The things of WorldsAway

Just as the physical world is composed of physical objects composed of various substances in a particular form, WorldsAway virtual worlds can be viewed as being made of WorldsAway objects: collections of resources - programming code, images, sounds or other data - packaged and presented to the end user as single understandable thing within a virtual world. As an end-user in the form of an avatar (which is also an WorldsAway object) you may  pick up, carry, and manipulate other objects much as you handle things in the real world. Objects are persistent (they hang around in the virtual world between user sessions), and have consistent behavior. Objects are aware of their surroundings and change their behavior to suit the situation.

Each object in the virtual world has a popup menu that appears when you click on the object. The contents of the menu are determined dynamically, and are specific to the situation and the setting at that moment.

Manipulation basics

Dynamic menu creation

Avatar Menus

Signposts: popup menus and messages

Avatars and the social scene

Buying, selling and trading

Integration with the World Wide Web


Hatchery_1
Hatchery

A special Locale or sequence of locales used to create new avatars for a WorldsAway community. You will need to complete the Hatchery process for each world you enter before being able to explore that world.


Helpers

Each world has a special class of avatars that are the official facilitators and caretakers of the community. Generically known as Helpers, their actual titles and powers will vary depending on the design of the World Provider. Helpers have been given special responsibilities and powers to keep the interaction in a specific community within the parameters specified by the World Producer.

Paging a Helper

Avatars and the social scene

Ghosts

Chatting in-world

In-world behavior guidelines

Gestures and Expressions


How to lead a Web Tour/end a Web Tour

Once you have created interest for your open or private Web Tour, click on your avatar and activate the desired Web Tour option. A system message will inform your potential tourists of the opportunity to join your tour.

If you are leading a private Web Tour, click on each avatar you wish to join the tour and select Allow to join my Web Tour from the popup menu; no avatar can join a private tour until the tourguide performs this step.

As avatars join your Web Tour, you will be notified by system messages. When you have collected your tourists, begin your tour. To start, open the first web-site in your browser window, either by clicking on a link in-world or by manually entering the URL. The browser windows of the followers will all change to the website you have selected. A system message will appear listing the URL of each new website. Set a leisurely enough pace to allow for the different equipment and browser speeds of your followers. Announce and narrate your tour by using your avatar in the virtual world to chat and send ESP messages to others.

To limit the size of an open Web Tour, you can convert it to a private tour once you have the desired number of tourists. Avatars may join an open tour at any point during the tour; they may join a private tour only at your direction. Tourists may leave a Web Tour at any time as they choose.

To end your tour, click on your avatar and select Stop Web Touring from the popup menu. To remove a particular avatar from your tour, click on that avatar and select Do not allow in my Web Tour from the avatar's popup menu. A leader cannot initiate a tour while in ghost form, although ghosting is possible after the tour begins. However, it is impractical to lead all but very small tours as a ghost, because you will not be able to address your followers as a group. The only form of communication available to a ghost is one-on-one, private ESP.

Note: Depending on the type of web browser you use, the complexity of the websites accessed, and the equipment of other users, some URLs may perform better than others in this context. Also, the world producer may restrict the use of certain URLs.

Chatting in-world

Integration with the World Wide Web

Socializing in-world during the tour

Avatars and the social scene

What you see on your screen: The two-window system


How to perform gestures and expressions

Click on your avatar and select the desired action from its popup menu. You may also select actions from the Communicate pull-down menu on the main menu bar. Or press the corresponding function key and the Ctrl key simultaneously. Each gesture and expression has a corresponding function key, listed on the menus. Your avatar will immediately perform the selected action.

Avatars and the social scene

Integrating gestures and expressions with message text

Other expressive actions


How to Web Tour/stop Web Touring

There are two kinds of Web Tours: open Web Tours and private Web Tours. Open Web Tours are announced and open to all avatars; private Web Tours are announced and open only to those avatars specified by the Web Tourguide. An open tour may be converted to a private tour by the tourguide.

You may join a Web Tour at any point during the tour. Click on the avatar acting as Web Tourguide and select Join this avatar’s Web Tour from the popup menu. A system message  appear informing you of your Web Tourist status and an introductory page with some touring guidelines will appear in your web-browser window. If the tourguide does not want you to join the tour, the tourguide can prevent or break the Web Tour connection at any time. Once the tour is underway, the websites selected by the tourguide will automatically appear in your browser window. A system message will appear listing the URL of each new website. To leave a Web Tour, click on your avatar and select Stop Web Touring.

During a Web Tour, you can chat, ask questions, move around and interact with others in the virtual world.

Note: you may break the Web Tour connection if you direct your web-browser to a different site than the tourguide has selected during the tour.

Note: While you can join an open Web Tour at any time, you cannot join a private Web Tour when in ghost form; your avatar must be present for the Tourguide to click on to accept you to the Tour. You may ghost after making the Web Tour connection. The tourguide may ask you to ghost after accepting you, at least temporarily, to make room so that others may join the tour.

How to lead a Web Tour/end a Web Tour

Socializing in-world during the tour

Integration with the World Wide Web

Avatars and the social scene


In-world behavior guidelines

Each WorldsAway community will have different expectations regarding your behavior as an avatar in that world. Keep in mind that all the avatars you meet have real, living, breathing people behind them. Many of them visit the world regularly and are protective of their evolving online community. Treat others as you wish them to treat you. If in doubt about the acceptability of an action or remark, ask around and check to see if any special behavior guidelines have been posted, or contact a Helper.

Paging a Helper

Avatars and the social scene

Chatting in-world

Ghosts

Gestures and Expressions

Customize your avatar


In-world currency

The WorldsAway community you are visiting may have an official form of currency such as tokens, and standardized pricing on items that are for sale from vending machines and returnable to recyclers. You may be able to deposit and withdraw funds at banking machines. The amount you earn may be tied to specific activities you perform in-world, or to usage time, or to another standard. Check the world-specific documentation for more information.

Banking machines

World-specific help

Vending machines

Recyclers

Local trading system

Buying, selling and trading


Indirect Object

The Object held in the actor/avatar's hands when the mouse button is clicked. May affect the menu actions presented for the direct object.


Information or help balloon (Example)


Integrating gestures and expressions with message text

Gestures and expressions may be Inserted into messages typed in the message entry box, in which case the actions are performed as the message appears in the message display area. To integrate gestures or facial expressions with your Speech or Thought message, press the appropriate function key simultaneously with the Ctrl key while you are composing your text, or use the Insert command from the Communicate pull-down menu of your main menu bar. Emoticons, small icons representing the gestures or expressions will be inserted in the Speech or Thought text where you place them. After you send the message, your avatar will perform those actions at the designated points in your message. You follow the same steps to integrate actions with an ESP message; but your ESP gestures and expressions will appear only as Emoticons inserted in the text ; your avatar will not perform the actions.

Chatting in-world

Message display area

Other expressive actions

Avatars and the social scene


Integration with the World Wide Web

The WorldsAway 2.0 software functions as a helper application to your web browser, transforming web-surfing into a social experience. Your web browser and WorldsAway run simultaneously, each with an active window open on your screen at the same time. URLs are linked to objects throughout the virtual world, allowing you to open sites in your web-browser by clicking on the linked objects. URLs can even be linked to your own avatar. The Web Tour option enables you to link your avatar with others and participate in group tours of the web.

Links on objects

Personal links on your avatar

Automatic links

Web Tour: Group tours of the web

What you see on your screen: The two-window system

Places: How and where to travel in WorldsAway


Interverse Architecture

The basis of the WorldsAway/Interverse system is a client/server architecture that provides a graphical virtual reality user interface to a world that is shared by other people. The interactions between WorldsAway users are controlled by an Interverse server, so that everyone in a particular locale will experience the same events.


Leading and following other avatars in-world

You can link your avatar together with one or more others to travel between locales in WorldsAway. The leader chooses where to travel and the others follow automatically. Leading and following are voluntary actions that may be discontinued at any time by either party. It’s also possible to link avatars together for group tours of the World Wide Web; this process is called Web Tour.

To follow another, you must begin in avatar form; you cannot initiate following as a ghost. Click on the avatar you wish to follow and select Follow from its popup menu. You will receive a system message telling you of your follower status. The other avatar may not wish to have followers and may prevent or break the connection. When moving from locale to locale as a follower, your avatar may be turned into a ghost, but you’ll be able to rematerialize as an avatar within locales without breaking the follow connection. To stop following, click on your avatar and choose Stop Following from the popup menu.

To lead another, click on your avatar and view its popup menu to make sure the Allow Following option is selected. (To prevent followers, select Disallow Following instead.) A system message will inform you of your status. When another avatar decides to follow you, you will receive another system message to that effect. To stop a current follower, choose Stop Following Me from the follower’s popup menu. To keep a current follower or followers but prevent anyone else from following you, choose Disallow New Followers after the desired follow connections have been established.

Integration with the World Wide Web

Avatars and the social scene

Moving within a locale

Places: How and where to travel in WorldsAway


Link your avatar to a URL

Some WorldsAway communities also allow you to link a URL to your avatar, enabling others to access a web page of your choice by double-clicking on your avatar. If this option exists, your avatar’s popup menu will contain the selection  Edit URL. Click on the selection. Enter the URL, and a label for the URL into the dialog box that appears. You may change or delete the URL and URL label as desired. Depending on the type of web browser you use, the complexity of the website tied to your URL, and the equipment of users accessing your URL, some URLs may perform better than others in this context. The use of certain URLs may be restricted in some worlds.

Integration with the World Wide Web

Avatars and the social scene


Links on objects

Any WorldsAway object or avatar can be linked to a URL and used to open a website in your web-browser window.

To open the site, click on the object and select the link from the popup menu. Links appear in the popup menu as whatever text has been entered as the label (if the object is not linked to a URL, this option will not appear.) You can also open a site linked to another avatar by double-clicking on the linked avatar. You can open websites in-world whether you are in avatar or ghost form.

Personal links on your avatar

Automatic links

Integration with the World Wide Web

Handling Objects: The things of WorldsAway

WorldsAway signposts: Popup menus and messages

What you see on your screen: The two-window system

Customize your avatar


Local trading system

Whether or not an official economy or currency exists in the world you are visiting, there may be a local trading system developed by the members of the community, for valuing, buying and selling items and services. There may be no official oversight of such a system, so proceed carefully until you know how it operates and who you can trust.

In-world currency

Vending machines

Recyclers

Theft

World-specific help

Buying, selling and trading


Locale

A WorldsAway virtual world is divided into areas known as locales; each view on-screen is a complete locale. A locale is your view into WorldsAway, where all objects appear and the action happens.


Lurk def
Lurk

Lurking refers to being present in an online environment without actively or publicly participating. In a WorldsAway virtual world, you can lurk in the form of a ghost.


Main menu bar

Windows and Macintosh users have similar options available on the Main menu bar.

Edit lets you edit your message text.

Communicate lets you select communication mode and add gestures and emoticons (see Avatars and the social scene )

Help lets you search this help document, and contact an in-world Helper (see Paging a Helper). World Specific Help contains supplementary information that is unique to the world you are visiting. Clicking on this topic will activate a hyperlink and transfer your web browser to a website set up by the world producer.


Main menu bar_1
Main menu bar

the pull down menu bar that is located at the top of the WorldsAway window (Windows) and at the top of the main display while the WorldsAway window has primary focus (Macintosh). The main pull down menus are File, Edit, Communicate, and Help.


Manipulation basics

Click on any object to display its popup menu and get information about it. Use the options on the popup menus to handle and manipulate objects. Depending on the objects, the situation and the action desired, the popup menu you need may be on your avatar, on the object itself, or on a third object.

For instance, you might want to put a bagel into your avatar’s pocket. If your avatar is holding the bagel in hand, you click on your avatar to display its popup menu, and choose Put in Pocket to accomplish the action. If your pocket is already full, you won’t be able to complete the action. To put the bagel on a table, you click on the table and choose Put from the table’s popup menu. Your avatar will then automatically move to the table and deposit the bagel there. If the table isn’t designed to hold objects, or if you aren’t holding the object when you click on the table, the Put option will not appear.

To pick the bagel up again, you click on the bagel and choose Get from its popup menu. Your avatar will automatically retrieve the object. To give the bagel to another avatar, you hold the bagel in hand, click on the other avatar and choose Give To from the other avatar’s popup menu. If the other avatar’s hands are empty, the bagel will automatically be transferred. If the other avatar is already holding something, the Give To option will not appear and you won’t be able to complete the action.

Dynamic menu creation

Handling Objects: The things of WorldsAway

Avatar Menus


Message Display Area

The top section of the WorldsAway window, where messages from avatars and the Interverse system are displayed

Messages are displayed in the order they are created. The text automatically scrolls up. To review messages, use the scroll bar to the right. Messages appear in different colors and formats depending on their origin.

Click on the picture to identify the different parts.


Message Display Area def
Message Display Area

Messages are displayed in the order they are created. The text automatically scrolls up. To review messages, use the scroll bar to the right. Messages appear in different colors and formats depending on their origin.


Message entry box -Speech or Thought (Example)


Message entry box 1
Message entry box

All your keyboard action will be automatically entered in the message entry box, and sent to the Interverse server when you press Enter/ Return. The message then appears in the message display area of your WorldsAway window and the WorldsAway windows of the message recipients.


Message entry box def
Message entry box

All your keyboard action will be automatically entered in the message entry box, and sent to the Interverse server when you press Enter/ Return. The message then appears in the message display area of your WorldsAway window and the WorldsAway windows of the message recipients.


Messages

While in the virtual world, you’ll be receiving system messages from your WorldsAway application or the Interverse server software that help you deal with the world and its objects in various ways. Meanwhile, you and your fellow citizens converse by sending public and private communication messages to each other. Messages are displayed in various colors and formats, depending on the type of message.

System messages

Communication messages

popup menus

WorldsAway signposts: Popup menus and messages


Moving between Worlds

Each WorldsAway community will have its own entry requirements, depending on the goals of the World Producer. To enter a new world for the first time, contact the World Producer for instructions. To leave WorldsAway and return to the real world, select Exit or Quit from the File pull down on the Main menu bar. This is the recommended method, as it allows the Interverse server to do some bookkeeping so that your avatar and objects are all correct the next time you visit, and it allows the WorldsAway application software to properly close and clean up after itself on your personal machine.

Some worlds will have URL links embedded into objects or locales that will take your avatar into another world. To travel to another WorldsAway community this way, open the URL location.

Integration with the World Wide Web

Moving within a locale

Moving between locales

Places: How and where to travel in WorldsAway


Moving between locales

Locales are usually linked to adjoining locales. Doors, elevators, teleporters, exit mats, street markers or similar objects may indicate such links; click on them and view their popup menus to see what options exist. You can also find links to other locales by clicking on the background of your current locale. The popup will have selections such as Go, Go this way or Go that way, accompanied by directional arrows. Choose one of these Go... actions to walk out of the current locale into a new locale.

Moving within a locale

Moving between worlds

Places: How and where to travel in WorldsAway


Moving within a locale

Each locale is divided into walkable and non-walkable areas. To move around within a locale, click on the spot or the object you wish to walk to. A popup menu will be displayed and if the point you clicked on is walkable, the option Walk To will appear on the menu. Select that action, and your avatar will walk to the selected point.

Note: a Walk command moves you around within a locale; a Go command moves you out of the locale into another locale.

Moving between locales

Moving between Worlds

Places: How and where to travel in WorldsAway


Name your avatar

If the WorldsAway community you are visiting allows name changes, it is likely to be via an in-world name registry. To use a name registry, locate the registry and click on it to access its popup menu; then select the appropriate options to change your avatar’s name. Some rules may apply to choosing a name, such as a maximum number of characters, a ban on names already in use and restrictions on the use of inappropriate terms. There may be an in-world fee for changing your name.

Buying, selling and trading

Avatars and the social scene


Navigation Message (Example)


Objects

Just as the physical world is composed of physical objects composed of various substances in a particular form, WorldsAway can be viewed as being made of WorldsAway Objects, collections of resources -- programming code, images, sounds or other data -- packaged and presented to the end user as single understandable thing within a World.

End users, in the guise of avatars (which are also Objects) are able to pick up, carry, and manipulate Objects much like we handle things in the real world. Objects are persistent (they hang around in the World between user sessions), and have consistent behavior. Objects are aware of their surroundings and change their behavior to suit the situation


Other expressive actions

You can use other avatar actions for self-expression. Your avatar can turn in four directions, walk around from place to place within a locale, travel from one locale to another, give objects to other avatars, pick objects up and put them down, carry objects in hand and put objects in its pocket and take them out again. You will find the necessary commands available on the popup menus of your avatar, other avatars, the objects themselves or the objects making up the locale your avatar is in.

Avatars and the social scene

Places: How and where to travel in WorldsAway

Handling Objects: The things of WorldsAway


Paging a Helper

A Helper is an avatar with special status and special powers. The titles and powers of Helpers vary from one community to another, but they all exist to help the citizens of the virtual community. You can automatically send a private ESP message for assistance to a Helper at any time by selecting the Page option from the Help menu or the Communicate menu on the Main menu bar. A system message will follow, informing you if there is a Helper available. The Helper will then respond to your page.

Avatars and the social scene

Helpers


Personal links on your avatar

Some WorldsAway communities also allow you to link a URL to your avatar, enabling others to access a web page of your choice by double-clicking on your avatar. If this option exists, your avatar’s popup menu will contain the selection Edit URL. Click on the selection. Enter the URL, and a label for the URL into the dialog box that appears. You may change or delete the URL and URL label as desired.  Depending on the type of web browser you use, the complexity of the website tied to your URL, and the equipment of users accessing your URL, some URLs may perform better than others in this context. The use of certain URLs may be restricted in some WorldsAway communities.

Automatic links

Links on objects

Integration with the World Wide Web

Customize your avatar

Avatars and the social scene

What you see on your screen: The two-window system


Places: How and where to travel in WorldsAway

There are several ways to travel around WorldsAway, and several different kinds of destinations. A locale is the basic unit of "physical" space in a virtual world. Each screen in the graphical display area represents one locale of the world you are visiting. You can move around within a locale by walking, and from one locale to another by walking or teleporting or taking an elevator. You can travel in avatar form or in ghost form, and you can link your avatar with others to lead or follow while traveling.

While in the virtual world, you may also travel around the World Wide Web, by accessing websites in your active browser window.

Moving within a locale

Moving between locales

Leading and following other avatars in-world

Rapid-transit booths

Private apartments

Moving between Worlds

Integration with the World Wide Web


Popup Menu

A menu that appears when you click anywhere in the graphical window. To select an action, drag the selector bar to the action and release the mouse button.


Popup Menu (Example)

Click on the different parts of the picture for identification of each part


Preferences

Preferences allows you to modify your Idle Timeout, your Sound settings, and the position of your web-browser window.

Idle Timeout defines how long you can remain inactive before the client disconnects.

Sound Settings turn sound on and off. (You don't need sound to interact in the virtual world, but some in-world activities may be accompanied by incidental sounds.)

Web Browsing lets you specify whether or not to bring the web-browser window forward (in front of the WorldsAway window) when you launch a website or participate in a Web Tour.

SimpleTalk (Macintosh only): You can use the SimpleTalk feature to assign a synthetic voice to avatar speech. Activate SimpleTalk and select the desired voice. The voice will read aloud all speech messages in your avatar’s locale.


Private apartments

One of the places you might travel in a WorldsAway community is to your own or another’s private apartment. Private apartments will be available in some worlds, and you will be able to rent and decorate one or more apartments on your own or with roommates. Since the leaseholder controls who can come and go, you can use an apartment for special events, private gatherings and solitude. To find out how to rent an apartment in the world you are visiting, travel to the apartment building lobby and make inquiries, or check the world-specific documentation.

Avatars and the social scene

Places: How and where to travel in WorldsAway

Moving between locales

World-specific documentation


Quips (Example)


Rapid-transit booths

The WorldsAway community you are visiting may have teleporters, elevators or other forms of rapid transit to allow you to move quickly between distant locales, sometimes for a fee. To use a rapid-transit booth, click on it to view its popup menu and select the desired action from the menu.

Places: How and where to travel in WorldsAway

Moving within a locale

Moving between locales

Moving between Worlds


Real World

the physical universe that is all around you. Get out and get some exercise!!


Recyclers

The WorldsAway community you visit may have machines generically known as recyclers, for returning or reselling objects that you no longer want. To use a recycler, click on it to access the popup menu and select the desired option from the menu.

Vending machines

Banking machines

Theft

In-world currency

World-specific guidelines

Buying, selling and trading


Save Messages

Use this menu action to save a transcript of messages in the message display area during a connect session. A standard file selection dialog allows you to name the text file to hold the transcript. Repeat the process to save new messages that appear.

Save Messages will overwrite an existing file if the name selected for the new transcript is the same as the existing file.


Save messages def
Save Messages

Use this menu action to save a transcript of messages in the message display area during a connect session. A standard file selection dialog allows you to name the text file to hold the transcript. Repeat the process to save new messages that appear.

Save Messages will overwrite an existing file if the name selected for the new transcript is the same as the existing file.


Socializing in-world during the tour

During a Web Tour tour, your browser window changes from one website to another, but your avatar stays fully functional in the WorldsAway community with the other avatars. It's as if you were in a theater with friends watching a multimedia show together. You can comment on the show, ask questions, make suggestions, use your avatar's movements, gestures and facial expressions and simply chat (and use ESP) while the show goes on in all your browser windows simultaneously.

How to Web Tour/stop Web Touring

How to lead a Web Tour/end a Web Tour

Integration with the World Wide Web

What you see on your screen: The two-window system

Avatars and the social scene

Chatting in-world

Gestures and expressions


Speech

Of the three communication modes, Speech is the most commonly used for regular conversation. Speech messages are public messages sent by avatars and visible to all avatars and ghosts in the sender’s locale at the time. They appear as white text in speech balloons color-coded by speaker. Speech balloons have pointed quips; the quip points to the speaker. To use Speech, select the Speech mode, type your message into the message entry box, and press Enter/Return. The communication mode button for Speech is to the right of the message entry box on your screen; it bears a speech balloon with a pointed quip. The communication mode menu option for Speech is on the Edit or Communicate pull-down menu of your main menu bar. Ghosts do not have access to the Speech mode.

To integrate gestures or facial expressions with your Speech message, press the appropriate function key simultaneously with the Ctrl key while you are composing your text or use the Insert command from the Communicate pull-down menu of your main menu bar. Emoticons representing the gestures or expressions will be inserted in the text where you place them. After you send the message, your avatar will perform those actions at the designated points in your message.

You can automatically add to your message the URL of the website that is currently open on your browser by using the Insert URL option from the Communicate pull-down menu.

Gestures and Expressions


Speech balloon (Example)


Spray can

Spray cans allow you to change the colors of some items in-world. Spray cans may be available for painting avatar bodies and heads, private apartments or other objects. To use a spray can, hold the can in your avatar's hand, and access the Spray command from your avatar's popup menu. To get information about the spray can itself, click on the can and read its popup menu.


System messages

System messages are enclosed in square brackets and are color coded according to category.

Navigational messages tell you the name of the locale your avatar has entered. They appear as black text in a white balloon. [Click here for an example]

Help or informational messages are sent by the WorldsAway system reporting the results of an action you have taken, such as selecting a menu option. They also appear when the system needs to report status changes. An example of a status change is when your avatar tries to enter a locale already occupied by the maximum number of avatars (usually six). Under such circumstances, your avatar would automatically change to ghost form, and a system message to that effect would appear in the message display area of your screen. This type of message appears as white text in a green balloon. [Click here for an example]

Warning or error messages are responses from the system that appear if your requested action could not be completed, or to inform you of technical problems. These appear as white text in a red balloon. [Click here for an example]

Communication messages

Messages

WorldsAway signposts: Popup menus and messages


Theft

Certain objects, such as avatar heads, acquire value in a WorldsAway community whether or not an official economy and exchange system exist. And probably every WorldsAway community will have some thieves who use unethical and dishonest methods to take valuable items away from others. Each WorldsAway community will have its own methods and customs for dealing with thieves and teaching theft prevention. Proceed carefully until you are familiar with the operations and the citizens of the world you are visiting.

Local trading system

Banking machines

Recyclers

Vending machines

Avatars and the social scene

World-specific help

Buying, selling and trading


Thought

Of the three communication modes, Thought is generally used for remarks that you wish to express as asides or non-sequiturs or comments that do not fit the current line of conversation. Thought messages are public messages sent by avatars and visible to all avatars and ghosts in the sender’s locale at the time. They appear as white text in thought balloons color-coded by thinker. Thought balloons have bubble quips; the line of bubbles points to the thinker. To use Thought, select the Thought mode, type your message into the message entry box, and press Enter/Return. The communication mode button for Thought is to the right of the message entry box on your screen; it bears a thought balloon with a bubble quip. The communication mode menu option for Thought is on the Edit or Communicate pull-down menu of your main menu bar. Ghosts do not have access to the Thought mode.

To integrate gestures or facial expressions with your Thought message, press the appropriate function key simultaneously with the Ctrl key while you are composing your text or use the Insert command from the Communicate pull-down menu of your main menu bar. Emoticons representing the gestures or expressions will be inserted in the text where you place them. After you send the message, your avatar will perform those actions at the designated points in your message.

You can automatically add to your message the URL of the website that is currently open on your browser by using the Insert URL option from the Communicate pull-down menu.

Gestures and Expressions


Thought balloon (Example)


Vending machines

The WorldsAway community you visit is likely to have vending machines that dispense or sell various kinds of objects for customizing your avatar’s identity, furnishing a private apartment, collecting or other uses. Items acquired from a vending machine may be returnable or re-sellable to a recycler. To use a vending machine, click on it to access the popup menu and select the desired option from the menu.

Recyclers

Banking machines

Theft

Local trading system

In-world currency

World-specific help

Buying, selling and trading


Warning or error balloon (Example)


Web Tour: Group tours of the web

You can link your avatar with others in Web Tour mode to take group tours of the World Wide Web while remaining active in the virtual world. Web Touring is an activity separate from "physically" following an avatar through the virtual world. See Leading and following other avatars in-world for more about this.

In Web Tour mode, the browsers of the Web Tourists follow the browser of the Web Tourguide through the World Wide Web.

The WorldsAway community you are visiting may have official tours; these will be led by Web Tourguides  representing the world producer. Unofficial tours can be organized and led by you or any other user who wishes. Web Tour is a voluntary activity and can be discontinued by the leader or follower at any time during the Web Tour.

You can simultaneously be a tourguide and a tourist - leading your own tour at the same time you are part of someone else’s tour. This is useful if you and another avatar want to show certain websites to each other.

Note: Depending on the type of web browser you use, the complexity of the websites accessed, and the equipment of other users, some URLs may perform better than others in this context. Also, the world producer may restrict the use of certain URLs.

How to Web Tour/stop Web Touring

How to lead a Web Tour/end a Web Tour

Socializing in-world during the tour

Integration with the World Wide Web


Welcome to WorldsAway

Welcome to WorldsAway 2.0, the client application for theWorldsAway virtual community system integrated with the World Wide Web. The WorldsAway application functions as a helper application to your web browser. It allows you to access WorldsAway communities and transforms web-surfing into a social experience! While in WorldsAway you live online in the form of a personalized, animated character known as an avatar, and interact in real time with other people through their avatars. All interactions are shared by an Interverse server so everyone in the same location sees the same actions and participates in the same activities at the same time. You will be able to run your web browser and WorldsAway simultaneously, and participate in group tours of the web with other WorldsAway users. The basics you need to know to use the WorldsAway application and to get started exploring WorldsAway communities are explained in this help file.

Supplementary information that is unique to the world you are visiting is provided by the world producer under the topic of World Specific Help.

What you see on your screen: The two-window system

WorldsAway signposts: Popup menus and messages

Avatars and the social scene

Places: How and where to travel in WorldsAway

Handling Objects: The things of WorldsAway

Integration with the World Wide Web

World Specific help


What you see on your screen: The two-window system

Once the WorldsAway application is launched, you are logged into the virtual world and your avatar appears onscreen. You have two functioning windows open on your monitor: one for your web-browser (providing web content) and one for WorldsAway (providing social interaction within the virtual world). Click on a window to make it the active window.

There are three ways to open web pages while using WorldsAway:

1) direct command to your web browser,

2) clicking on a hyperlink in the virtual world and

3) in Web Tour mode, with another user giving you a tour of the web.

Your web-browser window

Your WorldsAway window

Integration with the World Wide Web


World Producer, World Service Provider

The person or company that operates and provides you access to a specific WorldsAway community or virtual world.


World Specific help

The World Specific Help topic under the main menu bar Help pull down contains supplementary information that is unique to the world you are visiting. Clicking on this topic will activate a hyperlink and transfer your web browser to a website set up by the world producer.

Main menu bar


WorldsAway signposts: Popup menus and messages

Popup menus and messages are the signposts of the WorldsAway system, and keys to getting around and interacting in a virtual world.

Popup Menu

Messages


Your WorldsAway window

Your WorldsAway window displays your current location and activity within the virtual world. Click on it to make it the active window.

Graphical Display Area

Message Display Area

Message entry box -Speech or Thought (Example)

Main menu bar

Your web-browser window

What you see on your screen: The two-window system

Integration with the World Wide Web

Avatars and the social scene


Your web-browser window

Your web-browser window opens automatically when you launch the WorldsAway application, and remains open while you are using WorldsAway. When you click on it, it becomes the active window. You can close the browser window if you wish; your browser will still be running and the browser window will reopen if you open a hyperlink to a web page within the virtual world.

What you see on your screen: The two-window system

Your WorldsAway window

Integration with the World Wide Web


accessories def
Accessories

An accessory is an object or item, such as a guitar, hat or teddy bear, that you can acquire and use in the virtual world. The WorldsAway community you are visiting may have accessories available in vending machines.


actor

The avatar of the end user in a menu creation event. The avatar requesting an action with an object


callout-ESP button
ESP button


callout-Menu Title bar
Menu Title bar


callout-Menu action item
Menu action item


callout-Menu right pull item
Menu right pull item


callout-Menu selection bar
Menu selection bar


callout-Navballoon
Navigational message


callout-emoticons
Emoticons


callout-infoballoon
Informational or system help message


callout-quip-sp
Speech Quip


callout-right pull cascading menu
right pull cascading menu


callout-scrollbar
scroll bar


callout-speech button
speech button


callout-speechballoon
speech balloon


callout-text entry box
text entry box


callout-thought button
thought button


default image bg popup
Click on an item in this picture for details about the item


Pocket/container

WorldsAway worlds have different kinds of containers that you can use for storing the objects you acquire. The simplest container is your avatar's pocket. Other containers may be in the form of chests or gift boxes. Containers can usually be nested inside each other, giving you a lot of storage capacity. Some containers may be lockable.


Popup menus

Popup menus enable you to learn about the virtual world and its functionality quickly and easily. Click the mouse button while pointing anywhere in the graphical display area of your WorldsAway window and a popup menu with a list of options is displayed at the point location. Some of the options have cascading submenus with additional options. If an option is unavailable, it will be grayed out. Point at an option to select it.

Macintosh users must click and hold to retain a popup menu onscreen; Windows users click and release. To dismiss a menu (Windows) click anywhere outside the menu. Each popup menu has a title, usually the name of the object pointed at.

Specific uses of popup menus are discussed in:

Avatars and the social scene

Handling Objects: The things of WorldsAway

WorldsAway signposts: Popup menus and messages

Messages