Author: Aayushi Adhir Barai

I had a review with Nigel to go over my topic, question, and general progress so far. I didn’t have the full literature review written yet, but I had about 8–9 sources ready that I’d been working with, and he went through them with me.

He said the topic and question are solid and that I should definitely continue with it, which was really reassuring. It gave me more confidence to move forward, especially since I’ve been focusing a lot on building a strong direction. He encouraged me to read a bit more, just to expand the research base, but overall he seemed happy with the choices I’d made so far.

I also showed him the names of the chapters I had in mine and he went through them and suggested a few changes as well as omissions. Having my key sources and chapter names approved made me feel like I’m on track. The feedback helped me narrow my focus even more, and now I know what to improve and expand on next.

This week, I focused on writing my literature review, which is one of the most important parts of academic research. It’s basically the section that shows what other people have already said about the topic and how my project fits into that conversation. I aimed for around 600–650 words, so I needed to make sure it was focused, relevant, and actually helpful to the direction I’m taking.

A literature review is more than just a summary—it’s like building the foundation of the research. It usually includes an introduction to the main theories and ideas, a main body that brings together different sources (from broader ideas to more specific ones), and a conclusion that points out what’s missing in the current research or where I might be going next.

While writing mine, I tried to avoid just describing each article and instead grouped similar ideas and themes—especially around identity, digital spaces, and immersion. I looked at what each author was saying about how people build and live through digital selves, how immersive environments like games or VR shape that process, and what psychological effects might come with it. I also made sure to reflect on the gaps in the research—like areas where things are still evolving, or where the tech is moving faster than the theories.

Doing this helped me see where my own research sits. It clarified a lot of things and made me think deeper about what I’m actually trying to say. Writing it took some effort, but now I feel like I have a much clearer structure for the next stages of the project.

This week has been all about laying the groundwork for my literature review. Instead of jumping straight into writing, I focused on collecting, organising, and sorting through sources that directly connect with my research focus on how immersive environments and digital technologies influence identity.

I used a mix of academic databases and library search tools to gather relevant material, using targeted keywords like “digital identity,” “virtual self,” “VR and embodiment,” “online persona,” and “immersive technology.” I also filtered sources based on how closely they aligned with my chapter themes—philosophical perspectives, identity construction, psychological impacts, and tech-driven transformation.

To keep things structured, I began compiling a initial bibliography. For each source, I made brief notes on:

• What the text is about
• Why it’s relevant to my research
• Which chapter it may support
• Any key ideas or quotes to revisit later

At this point, I’m focusing more on learning more about the topic than analysing it deeply. The aim is to get a clear overview of the conversation around my topic so that next week, I can start identifying patterns, debates, and where my own argument fits in.

As I progress with my project, the focus is becoming sharper. My research question—how immersive digital technologies like VR, avatars, and online gaming contribute to the dissolution of personal identity—is now taking a more defined direction.

Initially, I was exploring the broader concepts of identity and technology from a philosophical and psychological angle. However, after refining my approach, I’ve shifted to focus more specifically on how gaming platforms and virtual environments play a central role in constructing and shaping digital identities. These spaces are not merely tools for entertainment; they’re environments where users engage in creating and evolving their virtual selves, often with much more depth than in traditional social media.

I plan to analyze how these spaces facilitate the creation of avatars, and the psychological effects of spending significant time in these immersive worlds.

The structure of my project is now fully outlined, with six chapters that explore the various ways in which technology and virtual environments shape identity. I’m particularly excited to explore topics like digital identity construction and virtual embodiment within the context of gaming.

These chapters will examine how people build and perform their online personas and how the immersive nature of new technology can cause the boundaries between physical and virtual identity to blur.

In the coming weeks, I’ll focus on gathering academic sources and psychological theories related to immersion and identity formation. My goal is to explore how avatar customization impacts the way players perceive and connect with their digital selves, ultimately leading to a shift in identity.

With the topic locked in, the next step is to build a clear structure that explores how deepening immersion in virtual environments and digital technologies is reshaping how we perceive and construct identity. The following chapter breakdown focuses on how tools, apps, and platforms influence this transformation—from digital self-curation to full immersion and emotional entanglement with digital selves.

Chapter 1: Introduction

This chapter sets the stage by introducing the research question and highlighting how the expansion of digital spaces—social media, gaming, VR platforms—has turned technology into more than just a medium. It’s now an active space where identity is created, tested, and often maintained. I’ll define key terms such as digital identity, virtual self, and self-dissolution, while positioning modern tech (from filters to full-body VR avatars) as environments where the line between real and digital selves is increasingly blurred.

Chapter 2: Philosophy of the Self in the Digital Age

This chapter will explore how digital technologies challenge traditional ideas of selfhood. Unlike fixed, physical identities, digital selves are fluid, customizable, and constantly updated. I’ll explore how platforms allow users to create multiple versions of themselves—some anonymous, some hyper-curated. I’ll tie in how modern platforms promote this fragmentation through features like alternate accounts, pseudonyms, and customizable interfaces.

Chapter 3: Digital Identity Construction

This chapter moves into how individuals actively shape their digital identities. What started with basic avatars or usernames has evolved into detailed, customizable representations backed by algorithmic feedback. I’ll explore how the interface itself guides this process, encouraging users to modify and change parts of themselves. Over time, repeated engagement with these characters or avatars builds a version of identity that can feel more present, more polished, and even more “real” than the physical self.

Chapter 4: Virtual Embodiment and Presence

This chapter focuses on what happens when individuals move beyond curating a persona to embodying one. Immersive technologies like VR and full-body tracking create a sense of virtual embodiment, where users begin to feel physically connected to their avatars. Games, social VR spaces, and metaverse-style platforms allow users to step into their digital selves—blurring the line between user and avatar. I’ll explore how this affects the sense of the physical body, and whether deep identification with a digital form leads to distancing from the real one. With high-resolution avatars, voice modulation, and motion tracking, users often start feeling more themselves inside digital bodies.

Chapter 5: Psychological Impacts of Immersion

This chapter investigates the psychological side of sustained digital immersion. Platforms are built to keep users engaged through systems of feedback—likes, shares, comments, levels, achievements—which reinforce digital behavior and persona construction. I’ll explore the emotional effects of relying on such validation and the mental impact of being constantly seen through the lens of a digital identity. Topics include digital dissociation (where the digital self feels more dominant than the physical one), online disinhibition (where anonymity shifts behavior), and how apps create pressure to maintain a particular version of self.

Chapter 6: The Future of Identity and Digitalisation

The final chapter looks ahead to where identity is going as tech becomes more immersive, intelligent, and integrated. With the growth of AI-generated avatars, deepfake technologies, neural interfaces, and persistent virtual spaces, identity may no longer be tied to the body at all. I’ll explore how emerging technologies could lead to people fully transitioning into digital spaces, living as avatars, or being represented by AI clones. The idea of a persistent virtual self—one that continues even when we’re not online—raises new questions about agency, autonomy, and authenticity. This chapter reflects on whether we are moving toward a post-physical self and what that might mean for future concepts of identity.

Each chapter builds on the last to show how users evolve from creating digital personas to potentially becoming them—guided by the tools, structures, and logics of the platforms they inhabit.

Next, I will begin my research by identifying key keywords related to my topic, such as “digital identity,” “virtual self,” and “psychological effects of digital immersion.” These keywords will help guide my searches for relevant academic articles, books, and papers. I plan to use both the university library and Google Scholar to find reliable sources that will deepen my understanding of how digital technologies and virtual worlds are shaping personal identity.

Identify Keywords:

• I will start by identifying the most relevant keywords for my topic. Some of the key terms I plan to focus on include:
  • Digital Identity
  • Virtual Self
  • Avatar Representation
  • Psychological Effects of Digital Immersion
  • Self-Perception in Virtual Worlds
  • Identity Fragmentation in the Digital Age
  • Virtual Reality and Selfhood
  • Ethics of Digital Identity Manipulation

Utilize Google Scholar:

• I will use Google Scholar to find recent studies on the topic. For example, I can search for phrases like:
  • “Impact of digital immersion on self-perception”
  • “Philosophy of identity in virtual reality”
• I’ll also use the “cited by” feature to explore related studies and follow key authors who specialize in digital identity.

Review Articles and Books:

• After gathering my search results, I will skim through the abstracts of articles to assess their relevance.
• I will prioritize peer-reviewed journals and books that discuss the theoretical and psychological aspects of digital identity.

After a lot of reading, I finalised the topic “The Digitalisation of Humanity: How Virtual Worlds and Technology Lead to the Dissolution of Personal Identity“

After finalising my topic, I began framing a key research question that captures what I want to explore:

How does the increasing immersion in virtual worlds and digital technologies contribute to the dissolution of personal identity, where individuals may eventually identify exclusively with their digital selves?

This topic feels especially relevant right now, as digital spaces continue to blur the line between what’s real and what’s constructed. With so much of our identity being expressed—and even experienced—online, I want to critically examine how our sense of self might be shifting, dissolving, or being redefined in these spaces.

The key research areas I will be looking into are:

1. Philosophy of the Self in the Digital Age

What does “self” even mean in a world where it can be split, edited, or simulated?
→ Is our digital self an expansion of who we are, or is it a loss of the “real” self?

2. Digital Identity Construction

I will then explore how people build, project, and live through virtual selves on social media, in gaming, or in VR.
→ How do we curate, edit, and perform our identities online? Are these still authentic representations of who we are, or are they entirely constructed?
→ What happens when our digital selves start feeling more “true” than our offline selves?

3. Virtual Embodiment and Presence

I want to look at how we “become” our avatars or digital selves in immersive environments like VR or online games.
→ How do we embody these digital representations of ourselves? And what happens when the boundary between the user and the avatar breaks down?
→ Does this create a sense of disconnection from our physical bodies?

4. Psychological Impacts of Immersion

Then I’ll be looking at how deep digital engagement affects how we perceive ourselves, our mental health, and our self-worth.
→ This includes things like digital dissociation, online disinhibition, and how constant virtual interaction can fragment our sense of self.
→ Also, how does emotional dependence on digital validation (likes, followers, avatars) affect our mental state?

5. Future of Identity & Digitalisation

Finally, I’ll speculate on where this is all heading: What happens to human identity in a world dominated by AI, virtual environments, and neural integration?
→ Are we moving toward a post-physical, fully digitized version of selfhood? How will this shape who we are in the future? Will we identify solely as our digital selves losing any sense of self identity?

I think this topic is super relevant right now, especially as we move closer to fully immersive digital lives. The question isn’t just how we use technology—but how it’s shaping the very core of who we are.

This week, I spent time thinking about the direction I want to take for my FMP Thesis. From the beginning, I knew I wanted to focus on 3D animation because it’s where my main interest and passion lie. I didn’t want to pick just any random topic — it felt important for me to choose something that reflects what’s happening in the industry right now.

I started by looking at the trends and shifts in animation, especially how technology is evolving and influencing creativity. I’ve been noticing how tools and techniques are rapidly changing, and I wanted my research to feel current and relevant to the future of the field. At the same time, I kept thinking about how animation goes beyond just visuals — it carries meaning, emotion, and impact.

My process has mostly been about balancing my curiosity for technical innovations with my interest in the deeper themes animation can explore. I’ve been doing a lot of reading, watching industry talks, and reflecting on what excites me the most. Gradually, this has helped me narrow my focus and feel more confident about the direction I want to take.

The potential topics I shortlisted were:

• The Digitalisation of Humanity & Effects on Personal Identity
• The Ethical Responsibility of Animators in Portraying Violence and Trauma
• The Role of 3D Animation in Preserving Cultural Narratives

When I was exploring ideas, ‘The Digitalisation of Humanity & Effects on Personal Identity‘ felt like the right choice because it connects directly to what I’m most interested in — how digital technology, especially in 3D animation and virtual spaces, is changing the way people see themselves. I’ve been thinking a lot about how people are spending more time in digital environments, and how things like virtual avatars and online identities are starting to feel like extensions of real life.

Since I also wanted my topic to reflect current trends in the industry, this felt like a perfect fit. It lets me look at both the creative side of building digital worlds and the deeper effects on personal identity. I like that this topic isn’t just about technology, but about people too — how they connect, express themselves, and even change because of these digital experiences.