Functions, Genres, Resources: Discussing the Adoption of Virtual Characters in Digital Museum from the Perspective of Communication Studies

A virtual character can play important role in a digital museum because it can enhance mass communication effects via manners of interpersonal communication by well representing the information of the museum's collections as well as improving the general publicity of the museum. This paper examines the categories of virtual characters by studying the story genres and identifies the potential resources for creating new virtual characters: the traditional and contemporary cultural resources. Creating a successful virtual character not only relies on the advanced technological realization on out looking appearance as well as the verbal and non-verbal communication systems, but also firmly relates with the cultural identity, which is rooted in the rich cultural heritage resources.