But audibly, Traveler allows the ultimate personalization, as the avatars speak in their real-world person's voice. There is no typing involved in the conversation - users talk into a microphone or, in a pinch, into the earpiece of a headphone. The avatars lip-sync. And the closer another avatar comes, the louder its voice gets - just as in real life.

Recently Millet met up with friends - a horse, a white rabbit, a black-and-white face, a spiky ball, and two cats - at a cyberspace 1950s-style burger joint.

To a first-time visitor, the space was akin to the bar scene in Star Wars or the Restaurant at the End of the Universe from The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy. Yet within minutes, the new user turned her avatar to look at the avatar who was talking - or on this occasion, discussing why it is that people from Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York say they "food shop at the food store," while much of the country buys groceries at the grocery store.