Friendly faces.(web)

One of the big drawbacks to using electronic mail is that the communication process is impersonal. Now, however, some e-mail users can attach a "face" to their e-mail "names."

Internet provider America Online is enabling subscribers to get animated with their messaging through its newest offering, SuperBuddy icons. This feature augments the provider's exclusive Instant Messaging capability, with which subscribers can e-mail their "buddies," and if the recipient (also an AOL subscriber) is online at the time, the message will instantly pop up on the person's computer screen.

A unique feature in the latest version of AOL, 9.0 Optimized, the SuperBuddy icons become 3D computer-animated characters that bring life to instant messaging through color, motion, stored, and humor.

These unique icons translate common Internet chat abbreviations and phrases into personality-driven character animations on the recipient's screen. For example, as a member types "LOL," an e-mail abbreviation for "laugh out loud," a character may act out the acronym by laughing with comical gestures or expressions; by typing "zzz," another character may fall asleep in dramatic flourish.

More than just animated GIFs, the SuperBuddies are mini applications with built-in behaviors that respond to real-time input. Each icon has its own unique personality that includes 21 animations that respond to more than 50 text and smiley triggers. A SuperBuddy icon even will continue animating while the user's messaging function is idle.

While these are the faces that can be used for chatting, the actual "face" behind this technology is Viewpoint. Buddies of sorts ...