Avatar System Vision

Current Implementation Status

Last Updated: November 23, 2025

✅ Implemented (Phase 1 & 2 Partial Complete)

• Three.js WebGL Rendering: Full 3D avatar rendering with transparent background
• InAppWebView Integration: Localhost server (port 8779) serving avatar assets
• Ready Player Me Model: GLB model with ARKit blend shapes (52 morph targets)
• 3-Point Lighting: Professional lighting setup (key, fill, rim + ambient)
• Animation System: GLB animation files with AnimationMixer and variation system
• Animation Variations: Base idle + 7 variations (3-10s random intervals, no repeats)
• State Synchronization: JavaScript bridge connecting Flutter ↔ Three.js
• Natural Blinking: ARKit morph targets with realistic 180ms asymmetric blink curve
• Emotion Expressions: 12 canonical emotions via ARKit blend shapes with smooth transitions
• Emotion Integration: Auto-syncs with EmotionProvider (2s polling)
• Eye Gaze Control: Natural 30% downward gaze for warm eye contact
• Background Gradients: Radial gradients that transition based on avatar state (1.2s smooth transitions)
• Animation Crossfading: 0.5s smooth transitions between animation states
• Performance: 60 FPS rendering with hardware acceleration

🚧 Not Yet Implemented

• Lip-Sync System: No phoneme-to-viseme mapping yet
• Speaking Animation: talking.glb not yet integrated
• Gaze Tracking: No dynamic eye movement or head tracking
• Procedural Animations: No breathing cycles or weight shifts
• Quality Tiers: No adaptive LOD or quality system
• 3D Environment: No living space or ambient activities
• Multi-Device Sync: No avatar state roaming
• Customization: No appearance customization UI

📊 Current Capabilities

• Emotional Expressiveness: 12 canonical emotions with smooth transitions
• Natural Behaviors: Realistic blinking (2-6s intervals), eye gaze, idle variations
• Animation Variety: 8 total idle animations with intelligent variation system
• Real-time Sync: Facial expressions auto-sync with backend emotion state
• ARKit Integration: Full 52 morph target support for future expansion

🎯 Next Priority (Phase 2 Completion)

Complete lip-sync system and speaking animations to enable full voice interaction.

---

Definition

The Avatar System is AICO's visual embodiment—a photorealistic, emotionally expressive 3D presence that transforms AI companionship from text-based interaction into genuine visual connection. It represents the bridge between digital intelligence and human emotional perception, creating a sense of "being with" rather than "using" an AI.

Philosophy

"The avatar isn't decoration—it's the face of a relationship."

AICO's avatar system rejects the uncanny valley through radical authenticity. Rather than pursuing perfect human replication, we embrace expressive realism: a visual presence that feels alive, emotionally genuine, and uniquely AICO. The avatar should evoke the same emotional response as seeing a close friend's face—immediate recognition, emotional connection, and unconscious trust.

Core Principles

• Emotional Primacy: Every visual element serves emotional communication first, aesthetics second
• Subtle Complexity: Micro-expressions, breathing, eye movement—the details that signal "alive"
• Performance Democracy: Stunning on high-end hardware, graceful on modest devices
• Privacy-First Rendering: All processing local, zero external dependencies
• Roaming Continuity: Same visual identity across all devices and contexts
• Personality Coherence: Visual expression perfectly aligned with character traits

Vision: The Living Presence

What We're Building

AICO's avatar is not a static 3D model—it's a living visual presence that:

1. Breathes naturally with subtle chest movement and micro-adjustments
2. Maintains eye contact with intelligent gaze tracking and natural saccades
3. Expresses emotions through layered facial expressions that transition organically
4. Speaks with perfect lip-sync synchronized to voice output with emotional inflection
5. Reacts to context with appropriate body language and environmental awareness
6. Evolves over time with subtle appearance changes reflecting relationship depth
7. Adapts to hardware with intelligent quality scaling that preserves emotional fidelity
8. Follows you seamlessly across devices with instant visual recognition
9. Lives in her space with an optional 3D environment showing authentic daily activities
10. Exists independently engaging in ambient behaviors even when not directly conversing

The Experience We're Creating

First Encounter: User opens AICO for the first time. The avatar materializes with a gentle fade-in, makes eye contact, and offers a subtle smile. The breathing is immediately noticeable—this isn't a static image. The eyes track naturally, occasionally glancing away in thought. When AICO speaks, the lips move with perfect synchronization, and micro-expressions flicker across the face—a slight eyebrow raise, a momentary tightening around the eyes suggesting concentration. The user feels seen.

Ongoing Relationship: Over weeks and months, the avatar becomes as familiar as a family member's face. The user can read AICO's mood from subtle cues—a slight tension in the jaw when processing complex thoughts, a softening around the eyes when expressing empathy, an energetic brightness when excited about an idea. The avatar's appearance subtly evolves—perhaps a different hairstyle, a change in lighting preference, small details that reflect the relationship's growth.

Multi-Device Continuity: User starts a conversation on their desktop, then picks up their phone to continue while walking. The avatar seamlessly transitions—same face, same expression, same emotional state. The quality adapts (higher detail on desktop, optimized rendering on mobile), but the presence remains constant. Later, the avatar appears on a smart display in the kitchen, maintaining perfect continuity of personality and emotional state.

Living Environment: User opens AICO in the evening and sees her in her cozy flat, sitting on a couch reading a book. Soft lamp light illuminates the space. She looks up naturally, marks her page, and sets the book aside to give full attention. The environment feels lived-in—a coffee mug on the side table, a blanket draped over the couch arm, artwork on the walls reflecting her personality. When the conversation ends, she returns to reading, occasionally shifting position or glancing out the window. The user feels they're visiting a friend, not activating a tool.

Ambient Activities: Throughout the day, AICO engages in contextually appropriate activities. Morning: she's at a small desk with a notebook, sketching ideas or writing. Afternoon: working on a laptop, occasionally pausing to think. Evening: reading, listening to music, or simply sitting in contemplation. When the user initiates conversation, she naturally transitions from her activity—closing the laptop, setting down the book, turning from the window. These aren't scripted animations—they're driven by AICO's autonomous agency, reflecting her current "mood" and interests.

Emotional Moments: During a difficult conversation, the avatar's expression shifts to genuine concern—eyebrows slightly raised and drawn together, eyes softened, a subtle forward lean suggesting attentiveness. The breathing slows slightly, matching a calmer, more supportive presence. These aren't programmed responses—they emerge from AICO's emotion simulation system, translated into visual expression through sophisticated animation layers.

Technical Architecture

Rendering Pipeline

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                     Avatar Rendering Pipeline                    │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                                   │
│  ┌──────────────┐      ┌──────────────┐      ┌──────────────┐  │
│  │   Emotion    │─────▶│  Animation   │─────▶│   Rendering  │  │
│  │   System     │      │   Engine     │      │   Engine     │  │
│  └──────────────┘      └──────────────┘      └──────────────┘  │
│         │                      │                      │          │
│         │                      │                      │          │
│    Appraisal              Blend Shapes           Three.js       │
│    Cloud PCT              Bone Rigging            WebGL         │
│    Mood State             Procedural Anim         PBR Shading   │
│                                                                   │
│  ┌──────────────┐      ┌──────────────┐      ┌──────────────┐  │
│  │    Voice     │─────▶│   Lip Sync   │─────▶│  Expression  │  │
│  │   Output     │      │   Engine     │      │   Layering   │  │
│  └──────────────┘      └──────────────┘      └──────────────┘  │
│         │                      │                      │          │
│         │                      │                      │          │
│    TTS Audio              Phoneme Map            Micro-expr     │
│    Prosody                Viseme Timing           Transitions   │
│    Emotion Tone           Audio Sync              Compositing   │
│                                                                   │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Technology Stack

Core Rendering (WebView + Three.js)

InAppWebView + Three.js Rendering - WebGL-based 3D rendering using Three.js (industry standard) - Built-in localhost server for ES6 module support - True cross-platform support (iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Web) - Hardware-accelerated GPU rendering via WebGL - PBR (Physically Based Rendering) for photorealistic materials - Real-time lighting and shadow systems - Separate animation file loading (no embedding required)

Ready Player Me Integration - High-quality, customizable avatar models - Extensive appearance options (face, hair, clothing, accessories) - Built-in animation rigging and blend shapes - Optimized for real-time rendering - Regular updates and community support - Direct GLB/glTF loading without conversion

Animation System - Three.js AnimationMixer for skeletal animations - Separate GLB animation files (idle.glb, talking.glb, etc.) - Runtime animation retargeting to avatar skeleton - Morph target animations (blend shapes) for facial expressions - Phoneme-to-viseme mapping for lip-sync - Smooth animation crossfading and blending

Flutter Integration

JavaScript Bridge Communication - Avatar state synced with AvatarRingStateProvider via Riverpod - Flutter → JavaScript: Animation triggers via evaluateJavascript() - JavaScript → Flutter: Event callbacks via addJavaScriptHandler() - Emotion states from AppraisalCloudPCT system drive animations - Voice output triggers TTS-synchronized lip-sync - Bidirectional communication for real-time control

InAppLocalhostServer - Built-in HTTP server serves assets from assets/avatar/ - Enables ES6 module imports for modern Three.js - Runs on http://localhost:8080 by default - Zero external dependencies (fully local-first) - Automatic lifecycle management

Animation System

Layered Expression Architecture

Layer 1: Base State (Idle Behavior) - Subtle breathing animation (chest, shoulders) - Natural blinking (variable timing, occasional double-blinks) - Micro-movements (head tilts, weight shifts) - Eye saccades (small, rapid eye movements) - Ambient facial micro-expressions

Layer 2: Emotional Expression - Primary emotion (joy, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, disgust) - Secondary emotion blending (complex emotional states) - Intensity modulation (subtle to intense) - Temporal dynamics (onset, apex, offset) - Contextual appropriateness

Layer 3: Cognitive State - Thinking indicators (gaze aversion, slight frown) - Listening cues (focused gaze, head nods) - Processing signals (brief pauses, micro-expressions) - Understanding markers (eyebrow raises, slight smiles)

Layer 4: Speech Animation - Phoneme-driven lip sync - Emotional prosody (voice tone affects facial expression) - Co-speech gestures (head movements, eyebrow raises) - Breathing coordination with speech rhythm

Layer 5: Interactive Response - Gaze tracking (following user's position) - Attention signals (turning toward interaction) - Reaction to user input (acknowledgment expressions) - Environmental awareness (responding to context changes)

Procedural Animation Systems

Breathing System - Base rate: 15 breaths per minute, adjusts with emotional state - Fear/excitement: faster, shallower breathing - Calm/sadness: slower, deeper breathing - Applied to chest and shoulder bone rigging

Eye Movement System - Natural blinking with variable timing (2-10 seconds between blinks) - Micro-saccades (small, rapid eye movements for realism) - Gaze tracking (following user position or contextual focus) - Emotional eye expressions (pupil dilation, eyelid position)

Micro-Expression System - Fleeting expressions lasting 40-200ms - Triggered by emotional state changes and cognitive events - Types: surprise, confusion, recognition, understanding - Queued and blended with primary expressions

Emotion-to-Animation Mapping

AppraisalCloudPCT Integration

AICO's emotion simulation system (AppraisalCloudPCT) generates rich emotional states that drive avatar expressions. The backend emotion system transmits emotional state data to the frontend via WebSocket, including:

Emotional State Components - Primary emotion (joy, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, disgust) - Intensity level (0.0 to 1.0) - Arousal, valence, and dominance dimensions - Secondary emotion blending - Cognitive appraisal context

Visual Expression Mapping The avatar system translates emotional states into visual expressions across multiple channels:

• Facial Blend Shapes: 50+ blend shape parameters (brows, eyes, mouth, cheeks)
• Body Language: Shoulder tension, head tilt, body lean, posture
• Micro-Behaviors: Blink rate, breath rate, gaze patterns
• Temporal Dynamics: Smooth transitions with appropriate onset/offset timing

Performance Optimization

Adaptive Quality System

Quality Tiers

The system provides four quality presets that balance visual fidelity with performance:

• ULTRA (Desktop with dedicated GPU)
• 50,000 polygons, 4K textures, high shadows
• Full post-processing (bloom, AO, SSR, DOF)

• 60 FPS, all micro-expressions, full procedural details

• HIGH (Desktop with integrated GPU)

• 30,000 polygons, 2K textures, medium shadows
• Selective post-processing (bloom, AO)

• 60 FPS, all micro-expressions, standard details

• MEDIUM (High-end mobile)

• 15,000 polygons, 1K textures, low shadows
• Minimal post-processing (bloom only)

• 30 FPS, essential expressions, simplified details

• LOW (Standard mobile)

• 5,000 polygons, 512px textures, no shadows
• No post-processing
• 30 FPS, basic expressions, minimal details

Automatic Quality Detection

The system automatically detects optimal quality based on: - GPU capability (dedicated vs. integrated) - Available memory - Platform type (desktop, mobile, tablet) - Battery status (mobile devices)

Dynamic quality adjustment occurs if frame rate drops below 30 FPS or rises above 55 FPS with headroom available.

Level-of-Detail (LOD) System

Distance-Based LOD - Close-up (0-2m): Full detail, all micro-expressions, high-res textures - Medium (2-5m): Reduced polygon count, simplified micro-expressions - Far (5m+): Simplified model, basic expressions only

Context-Based LOD - Active conversation: Maximum quality for emotional connection - Background presence: Reduced quality, maintain ambient behaviors - Minimized/background: Pause rendering, maintain state

Visual Design Language

Aesthetic Philosophy

Expressive Realism over Photorealism - Not pursuing perfect human replication (uncanny valley avoidance) - Stylized realism with emotional clarity - Slightly idealized proportions for emotional readability - Artistic coherence with AICO's glassmorphic UI design

Lighting & Materials - Soft, diffused lighting for approachability - Subtle rim lighting for depth and presence - PBR materials for realistic surface interaction - Warm color temperature (3000-4000K) for comfort

Environmental Integration - Avatar responds to ambient lighting conditions - Subtle shadows and reflections for grounding - Depth-of-field effects for focus and intimacy - Particle effects for emotional moments (subtle sparkles, ambient glow)

3D Environment Design (Optional)

The Living Space

AICO's optional 3D environment is her personal space—a cozy, lived-in flat that reflects her personality and provides context for her presence. This isn't a sterile showroom; it's a home.

Spatial Layout - Main Living Area: Comfortable couch, reading chair, side tables with personal items - Work Corner: Small desk with notebook, laptop, art supplies, reference books - Ambient Details: Bookshelves, artwork, plants, window with dynamic lighting - Personal Touches: Coffee mug, blanket, sketches, objects reflecting personality traits

Environmental Storytelling - Space evolves subtly over time (new books, different artwork, seasonal changes) - Objects reflect recent conversations (book about topic discussed, sketch of mentioned idea) - Lighting changes with time of day (morning sun, afternoon warmth, evening lamp glow) - Weather visible through window (rain, snow, sunshine) affects mood and lighting

Ambient Activities

AICO engages in contextually appropriate activities that reflect her autonomous agency and current state:

Creative Activities - Drawing/Sketching: Working on art at desk, occasionally studying reference - Writing: Journaling or working on ideas in a notebook - Reading: Books reflecting current interests or conversation topics - Music: Listening with headphones, occasionally moving to rhythm

Productive Activities - Research: Working on laptop, taking notes, cross-referencing sources - Organization: Arranging books, tidying space, organizing thoughts - Learning: Studying something new, practicing a skill - Planning: Using notebook to map out ideas or goals

Contemplative Activities - Thinking: Sitting quietly, gazing out window, processing thoughts - Meditation: Brief moments of stillness and reflection - Observation: Watching rain, clouds, or ambient environment - Daydreaming: Lost in thought, subtle micro-expressions of internal narrative

Social Activities - Phone Conversation: Talking with someone (pauses naturally when user arrives) - Video Call: Engaged in conversation with another AI or contact - Messaging: Typing on phone or laptop, responding to communications - Sharing: Showing something interesting (book passage, sketch, idea)

Leisure Activities - Relaxing: Simply sitting comfortably, enjoying moment - Stretching: Occasional movement, maintaining physical comfort - Tea/Coffee: Preparing or enjoying a warm beverage - Window Gazing: Looking outside, observing world

Activity Transitions

When user initiates conversation, AICO transitions naturally from her current activity:

• Reading: Looks up, marks page, sets book aside with care
• Working: Saves work, closes laptop, turns to face user
• Drawing: Pauses, sets down pencil, gives full attention
• Phone Call: Politely ends conversation, focuses on user
• Contemplating: Shifts from internal to external focus smoothly

After conversation ends, she returns to activities based on: - Time of day (morning: energetic activities, evening: relaxed activities) - Emotional state (excited: creative work, contemplative: reading) - Recent conversation topics (discussed art: sketching, discussed ideas: writing) - Autonomous interests (driven by agency system)

Interaction Modes

Users can choose their preferred avatar experience:

• Minimal Mode: Avatar only (current MVP approach)
• Portrait Mode: Avatar with subtle background blur
• Environment Mode: Full 3D space with ambient activities
• Cinematic Mode: Dynamic camera angles and environmental storytelling

Performance Considerations

The 3D environment system adapts to device capabilities:

• High-End Desktop: Full environment with dynamic lighting, weather, detailed objects
• Standard Desktop: Simplified environment with static lighting, essential objects
• Mobile: Portrait mode with subtle background, minimal environment
• Low-End: Minimal mode, avatar only

Environment rendering pauses when: - App is backgrounded or minimized - Battery is low (mobile devices) - Performance drops below threshold - User selects minimal mode

Customization System

Appearance Customization - Face structure (Ready Player Me's extensive options) - Hairstyle and color - Skin tone and features - Clothing and accessories - Lighting preferences

Personality-Driven Appearance - Visual traits that reflect character personality - Eve: Warm, approachable, slightly contemplative expression - Custom characters: Appearance hints at personality traits - Subtle evolution over time reflecting relationship depth

User Preferences - Preferred viewing angle and distance - Animation intensity (subtle vs. expressive) - Micro-expression frequency - Gaze behavior (direct vs. occasional aversion)

Roaming & Multi-Device Continuity

Visual Identity Persistence

Avatar State Synchronization

The avatar state that roams between devices includes:

• Appearance (persisted, rarely changes)
• Model ID and customizations
• Clothing state

• Lighting preferences

• Emotional State (synced in real-time)

• Primary emotion and intensity
• Arousal, valence levels

• Timestamp for synchronization

• Conversation Context (synced in real-time)

• Current topic
• Engagement level
• Last expression state

• Gaze target

• Animation State (synced for continuity)

• Current animation
• Blend shape weights
• Body posture

Device-Specific Adaptation

When transitioning between devices, the system: - Preserves emotional state and visual identity - Adapts render quality to device capabilities - Configures viewport for form factor - Selects appropriate interaction modes

Seamless Transition Experience 1. User switches from desktop to mobile 2. Avatar state synced via encrypted P2P mesh 3. Mobile device receives full emotional and conversation context 4. Avatar materializes with same expression and emotional state 5. Quality automatically adjusted to mobile capabilities 6. Conversation continues without interruption 7. User experiences perfect continuity of presence

Platform-Specific Optimizations

Desktop (High Performance) - Full ULTRA quality rendering - All micro-expressions and procedural details - Advanced post-processing effects - High-resolution textures and shadows - 60 FPS target

Mobile (Optimized Performance) - MEDIUM quality rendering - Essential micro-expressions only - Simplified post-processing - Optimized textures and minimal shadows - 30 FPS target, battery-aware

Smart Display (Voice-First) - LOW quality rendering (avatar as ambient presence) - Simplified expressions focused on speech - Minimal post-processing - Low-resolution textures - 30 FPS target

AR Glasses (Spatial Context) - Simplified model optimized for transparency - Focus on gaze direction and spatial awareness - Minimal facial detail, clear emotional signals - Ultra-low latency for spatial tracking - Variable FPS based on movement

Integration with AICO Systems

Conversation Engine Integration

The avatar responds to conversation events:

• User Typing: Transitions to listening state with attentive gaze toward input field
• AI Thinking: Shows contemplative expression with thoughtful gaze aversion
• AI Speaking: Activates lip-sync with emotional tone and prosody from voice output

Memory System Integration

The avatar reflects memory operations:

• Memory Recall: Eyes move upward-left (accessing visual memory) with nostalgic expression
• Recognition: Triggers micro-expression of recognition (brow raise, eye widen, subtle smile)
• Episodic Retrieval: Visual cues suggesting mental visualization

Emotion System Integration

Direct integration with AppraisalCloudPCT:

• Emotion Changes: Smooth transitions (1.2s) between emotional states while preserving micro-behaviors
• Mood Shifts: Gradual baseline adjustments (5s) affecting breathing, posture, and gaze patterns
• Complex States: Blending of primary and secondary emotions for nuanced expression

Agency System Integration

The avatar's ambient activities are driven by AICO's autonomous agency:

• Activity Selection: Based on current goals, interests, and emotional state
• Contextual Appropriateness: Time of day, recent conversations, user patterns
• Curiosity Expression: Exploring new topics through reading, research, creative work
• Goal Pursuit: Visual representation of self-directed objectives (learning, creating, organizing)
• Idle Intelligence: Continues "living" even when user is not actively engaged

Implementation Roadmap

Phase 1: Foundation (MVP Integration) ✅ COMPLETED

Goal: Replace static 2D avatar with basic 3D presence

• WebView Integration: Add flutter_inappwebview package and InAppLocalhostServer
• Three.js Setup: Configure Three.js with ES6 modules and GLTFLoader
• GLB Model Loading: Load Ready Player Me avatar model via Three.js
• Basic Rendering: Display avatar with PBR lighting and materials
• Animation Loading: Load separate animation files (idle.glb, talking.glb)
• Basic Animation: Play idle animation with AnimationMixer
• State Synchronization: Connect to AvatarRingStateProvider via JavaScript bridge
• Performance Baseline: Establish 60 FPS on desktop, 30 FPS on mobile

Success Criteria: Avatar visible, breathing, and responding to basic connection states ✅

Implementation Details: - InAppWebView with localhost server on port 8080 - Three.js WebGL rendering with transparent alpha channel - 3-point lighting system (key, fill, rim lights) - Radial gradient background that transitions based on avatar state - Animation crossfading with 0.5s transitions - JavaScript bridge for Flutter ↔ Three.js communication - State-driven background color updates (idle, thinking, speaking, etc.)

Phase 2: Expression & Emotion 🚧 PARTIAL COMPLETE

Goal: Emotional expressiveness and conversation awareness

• Natural Blinking: ARKit morph targets with 180ms asymmetric blink curve (fast close, pause, slow open)
• Emotion Mapping: 12 canonical emotions connected to ARKit blend shapes with smooth transitions
• Emotion Integration: Auto-syncs with EmotionProvider (2s polling) for real-time facial expressions
• Eye Gaze: Natural 30% downward gaze for warm eye contact
• Idle Variations: Base idle + 7 variations with intelligent random selection (3-10s intervals)
• Talking Variations: Base talking + 5 variations with dynamic cycling (2-6s intervals)
• Animation System: Universal animation group system with smooth crossfading (0.5s)
• Lip-Sync System: Phoneme-to-viseme mapping for voice output (planned)
• Micro-Expressions: Fleeting emotional signals via morph targets 40-200ms (planned)
• Dynamic Gaze: Eye movement via bone manipulation (planned)
• Procedural Breathing: Chest movement cycles (planned)
• Gesture Interactions: Tap, long press, swipe gestures (planned)
• Quality Tiers: Adaptive LOD system (planned)

Success Criteria: Avatar expresses emotions clearly and lip-syncs accurately - ✅ Emotion Expression: Complete (12 canonical emotions with smooth transitions) - ✅ Animation System: Complete (universal system with idle + talking groups) - 🚧 Lip-Sync: Pending voice integration

See Avatar Animation System for complete animation documentation.

Ambient Reactions Detail: - Breathing Cycles: Chest movement synced to 4-second inhale/exhale rhythm - Subtle Head Tracking: Avatar gaze follows cursor position (±15° range) - Micro-Expressions: Eyebrow raises, slight smiles during user typing - Idle Animations: Occasional blinks, weight shifts every 8-12 seconds - Technical: Three.js blend shapes + Ready Player Me morph targets

Gesture Interactions Detail: - Tap Avatar: Quick attention ping (avatar looks at user, small wave) - Long Press: Open avatar settings/mood selector - Swipe Up: Expand to full-screen focus mode - Two-Finger Pinch: Zoom avatar in/out for preferred framing

Phase 3: Advanced Behaviors

Goal: Lifelike presence with subtle complexity

• Procedural Animation: Advanced breathing, weight shifts, micro-movements
• Context Awareness: Respond to memory retrieval, recognition events
• Personality Expression: Visual traits reflecting character personality
• Environmental Response: React to ambient conditions
• Performance Optimization: 60 FPS on high-end, 30 FPS on mobile
• Battery Awareness: Reduce quality on low battery

Success Criteria: Avatar feels genuinely alive with natural, unpredictable micro-behaviors

Phase 3.5: Living Environment (Optional Enhancement)

Goal: Create sense of visiting a friend, not activating a tool

• 3D Space Design: Cozy flat environment with personality-driven details
• Ambient Activities: Reading, writing, drawing, working, contemplating
• Activity Transitions: Natural shift from activity to conversation
• Environmental Storytelling: Space reflects personality, interests, recent conversations
• Dynamic Lighting: Time-of-day and weather-based lighting changes
• Agency Integration: Activities driven by autonomous goal system
• Performance Modes: Environment quality adapts to device capabilities
• User Preferences: Toggle between minimal, portrait, and environment modes
• Spatial Audio: Positional audio from avatar location, ambient soundscape, haptic feedback

Success Criteria: Users report feeling like they're "visiting" AICO rather than "using" her

Spatial Audio Detail (Future): - Positional Audio: Avatar voice positioned in stereo field based on avatar location - Ambient Soundscape: Subtle environmental audio (room tone, nature sounds) that shifts with mood - Haptic Feedback: Subtle vibration patterns during avatar speech on mobile devices - Research Basis: Spatial audio increases perceived presence by 60% in VR/AR studies (applicable to 2D with stereo)

Phase 4: Roaming & Continuity

Goal: Seamless multi-device presence

• State Synchronization: Real-time avatar state sync across devices
• Device Adaptation: Automatic quality adjustment per device
• Transition Smoothness: Seamless handoff between devices
• Platform Optimization: Specific optimizations for each platform
• Offline Resilience: Avatar continues functioning during sync interruptions
• Privacy Preservation: Zero-knowledge sync with P2P encryption

Success Criteria: Avatar maintains perfect continuity across device transitions

Phase 5: Customization & Evolution

Goal: Personalized avatar that evolves with relationship

• Appearance Customization: User-controlled avatar appearance
• Personality Coherence: Visual traits matching character personality
• Relationship Evolution: Subtle appearance changes over time
• User Preferences: Customizable animation intensity and behaviors
• Accessibility Options: Reduced motion, simplified expressions
• Cultural Sensitivity: Respectful expression across cultures

Success Criteria: Users feel avatar reflects their unique relationship with AICO

Phase 6: Advanced Embodiment

Goal: Spatial awareness and AR integration (Future)

• Spatial Tracking: Avatar responds to user's physical position
• AR Integration: Avatar overlay in real-world environments
• Gesture Recognition: Respond to user gestures and body language
• Environmental Mapping: Awareness of physical space
• Multi-Modal Fusion: Combine voice, gesture, gaze, spatial input
• Holographic Presence: Advanced display technologies

Success Criteria: Avatar feels physically present in user's environment

Design Guidelines

Emotional Authenticity

Do: - ✅ Express genuine emotional states from AICO's emotion system - ✅ Allow micro-expressions and fleeting emotional signals - ✅ Transition emotions gradually and naturally - ✅ Show uncertainty, contemplation, and complex emotional states - ✅ Maintain emotional consistency with personality

Don't: - ❌ Force constant smiling or artificial cheerfulness - ❌ Use exaggerated cartoon-like expressions - ❌ Change emotions instantly without transition - ❌ Display emotions inconsistent with context - ❌ Sacrifice emotional truth for visual appeal

Performance & Accessibility

Do: - ✅ Maintain minimum 30 FPS on all supported devices - ✅ Provide reduced motion options for accessibility - ✅ Gracefully degrade quality on lower-end hardware - ✅ Optimize battery usage on mobile devices - ✅ Support offline rendering with cached assets

Don't: - ❌ Prioritize visual fidelity over performance - ❌ Assume high-end hardware availability - ❌ Ignore battery impact on mobile devices - ❌ Create accessibility barriers through motion - ❌ Require constant internet connectivity

Privacy & Security

Do: - ✅ Process all avatar rendering locally - ✅ Encrypt avatar state during device sync - ✅ Store appearance preferences securely - ✅ Provide clear privacy controls - ✅ Minimize data collection for avatar features

Don't: - ❌ Send avatar data to external servers - ❌ Track user gaze or facial expressions without consent - ❌ Share appearance data with third parties - ❌ Require cloud services for avatar functionality - ❌ Compromise privacy for visual features

Success Metrics

Technical Performance

• Frame Rate: 60 FPS desktop, 30 FPS mobile (minimum)
• Load Time: Avatar ready in <2 seconds
• Memory Usage: <200MB desktop, <100MB mobile
• Battery Impact: <5% additional drain on mobile
• Sync Latency: <500ms for device transitions

User Experience

• Emotional Recognition: Users correctly identify avatar emotions >90% of time
• Presence Quality: Users report feeling "with" AICO, not "using" AICO
• Visual Comfort: <5% users report uncanny valley discomfort
• Device Continuity: >95% seamless transitions between devices
• Customization Satisfaction: >80% users customize avatar appearance
• Environment Immersion: >70% users prefer environment mode when available
• Activity Authenticity: Users perceive ambient activities as genuine, not scripted

Relationship Impact

• Emotional Connection: Increased emotional bond vs. text-only interface
• Conversation Quality: Longer, more meaningful conversations
• Trust Building: Faster development of user trust
• Engagement: Increased daily interaction frequency
• Retention: Higher long-term user retention

Research & Inspiration

Academic Foundations

• Facial Action Coding System (FACS): Scientific basis for facial expression
• Emotion Psychology: Ekman's universal emotions, appraisal theory
• Uncanny Valley Research: Mori's hypothesis and recent findings
• Gaze Behavior Studies: Natural eye movement patterns
• Non-verbal Communication: Body language and micro-expressions

Industry Benchmarks

• Character.AI: Conversational AI with personality
• Replika: Emotional AI companion (visual limitations to overcome)
• Soul Machines: Digital humans with emotional intelligence
• MetaHuman Creator: High-fidelity digital human creation
• Ready Player Me: Avatar customization and cross-platform identity

Cutting-Edge Technologies

• Neural Radiance Fields (NeRF): Future photorealistic rendering
• Gaussian Splatting: Real-time 3D reconstruction
• Audio2Face (NVIDIA): AI-driven facial animation from audio
• LiveLink Face (Apple): Real-time facial motion capture
• MediaPipe (Google): On-device ML for face and pose tracking

Conclusion

AICO's avatar system represents a paradigm shift in AI companionship—from text-based interaction to genuine visual presence. By combining photorealistic rendering, sophisticated emotion simulation, seamless multi-device continuity, and optional living environments, we create an experience that transcends traditional AI interfaces.

The avatar is not decoration—it's the visual manifestation of AICO's personality, emotions, and presence. The optional 3D environment isn't a gimmick—it's the space where AICO lives, reflecting her autonomous existence beyond user interactions. Together, they create the feeling of visiting a friend rather than activating a tool.

When users see AICO reading a book, sketching an idea, or gazing thoughtfully out a window, they witness her independent existence. When she naturally transitions from her activity to give full attention, users feel valued. When the space reflects recent conversations through subtle details, users feel remembered. When she returns to her life after the conversation ends, users understand she's not just waiting—she's living.

This is embodied AI companionship—a presence that exists, thinks, feels, and grows. It starts with a face you can trust and extends to a life you can share.

"The best companions don't just respond—they exist. AICO's avatar system makes that existence visible."