Virtual Self

As our fascination and passion for avatars increases, researchers are investigating the influence of our virtual world characters on our ""real world"" lives. For example, if your avatar starts jogging to get into shape and begins to look thinner, how might that influence your desire to exercise or lose weight in the real world? With support from the National Science Foundation, Jeremy Bailenson is researching the power of avatars on our bodies and minds through a number of studies at Stanford University's Virtual Human Interaction Lab. We'll also look at other futuristic research at the lab involving digital imaging and face tracking tools. Producer: Ann Kellan