Issues of designing gestures into online interactions: Implications for communicating in virtual environments

This paper describes the use and design of gestures for online virtual environment interactions. Virtual Environments (VEs), are three dimensional virtual worlds that combine sound, text, and gestures in computer-mediated communication (CMC) processes. In VEs, communication can be done through text-based CMC such as instant messaging and chat, but also through additional gestural, visual, proxemic and deictic non-verbal channels. For this reason, VEs require an understanding of the impact of gestures in various contexts. This paper will outline common CMC medium affordances as related to VEs and discuss the importance of using gestures in various online communication contexts. In doing so, this paper will explore the issues that may influence the design and use of gestures for specific professional communication purposes. Because gestures may serve in addressing intercultural contexts and have informational and cognitive communicative benefits within virtual environments, this paper will end with an exploration of specific gesture designs that may help facilitate their use by professional communicators.