Computer system and method of using presence visualizations of avatars as persistable virtual contact objects

Computer apparatus providing user contact data in a virtual environment, comprising:

• one or more computer processors;
• a plurality of computer generated avatars representing respective users in a subject virtual environment;
• and
• for each avatar, a respective automatically computer generated trail of virtual contact objects that are computer executeable and displayed in proximity to the avatar, the respective trail of virtual contact objects being associated with the user represented by the avatar and being a visual indication of presence of the user in the subject virtual environment, each virtual contact object in the respective trail storing and providing user contact data of the user being represented by the avatar, the user contact data being different from location data of the avatar, and each virtual contact object in the respective trail being free of user instantiation in the subject virtual environment by the user being represented by the avatar,
• wherein each virtual contact object is able to be taken, copied and shared by any other user as representative of user contact information of the user represented by the avatar.

A computer system providing user contact data in a virtual environment, comprising:

• in one or more digital processors:
• computer means for representing users by respective avatars displayed in a subject computer generated virtual environment;
• and
• computer display means, for each avatar, the computer display means rendering display in proximity to the avatar, a respective trail of virtual contact objects, the respective trail of virtual contact objects being automatically computer generated and being associated with the user represented by the avatar in a manner serving as a visual indication of presence, including activeness, of the user in the subject virtual environment, each virtual contact object in the respective trail storing and providing user contact data of the user being represented by the avatar, the user contact data being different from location data of the avatar, and each virtual contact object in the respective trail being free of user instantiation in the subject virtual environment by the user being represented by the avatar,
• wherein each virtual contact object is able to be taken, copied and shared by any other user as representative of user contact information of the user represented by the avatar.

A computer program product comprising a computer readable memory storage medium having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes:

• representing users by respective avatars displayed in a subject computer generated virtual environment;
• and
• for each avatar, displaying in proximity to the avatar, a respective automatically computer generated trail of virtual contact objects, the respective trail of virtual contact objects being associated with the user represented by the avatar and being a visual indication of presence of the user in the subject virtual environment, each virtual contact object in the respective trail storing and providing user contact data of the user being represented by the avatar, the user contact data being different from location data of the avatar, and each virtual contact object in the respective trail being free of user instantiation in the subject virtual environment by the user being represented by the avatar,
• wherein each virtual contact object is able to be taken, copied and shared by any other user as representative of user contact information of the user represented by the avatar.