What is this?
Adjusting the interaction type determines how learners communicate with your dynamic avatar during the experience. You can configure the avatar to support different interaction methods based on the type of learning experience you want to create:
Video + Voice: The avatar appears on screen and learners speak with it using their microphone.
Voice Only: Learners interact with the avatar through audio without seeing a video of the avatar on screen.
Chat: Learners can type messages to the avatar using the chat interface. This option is always available, regardless of the selected voice or video setting.
You can choose the interaction type that best supports your learning and the experience you want to create for your learners.
Why This Matters
The interaction type shapes how learners engage with your dynamic avatar. Choosing the right combination of video, voice, and chat can make the experience feel more natural, and better align with your learning objectives. Selecting the appropriate interaction method also helps ensure learners have the technology and level of interaction needed to successfully complete the experience.
When to Use This 🎯
Choose the interaction type based on the experience you want to create:
Video + Voice: Best for immersive, conversational experiences where face-to-face interaction enhances engagement, such as coaching.
Voice Only: Ideal when visual presence isn't necessary or when you want to reduce distractions while maintaining a natural conversation.
Chat: Great for learners who prefer typing, need a quieter environment, or require an accessible alternative to speaking. Chat is always available as a fallback interaction method.
VIDEO: SEE IT IN ACTION
DIY STEPS
How to configure interaction types for your dynamic avatar
If your project includes a dynamic avatar imported from SimGate 2.0 Beta, you can customize how learners interact with it.
Open the avatar settings
In Studio, select the interface button to locate your dynamic avatar.
Click on the interface item that has the dynamic avatar and click the edit page icon
Click Settings twice to open the Avatar Settings panel.
Configure the avatar settings
The Avatar Settings panel lets you control how the avatar appears and interacts with learners.
Variant
Choose how the avatar is displayed.
Talking Head – Displays the avatar as a framed, portrait-style video.
Video Call – Displays the avatar in a video call-style interface with an avatar icon.
Background
Choose what appears behind the avatar.
No Background (Transparent) – Displays the avatar without a background image.
Custom Image – Upload or select a background image.
Solid Color – Enter a hex color value (for example, #4b8add) and adjust the opacity from 0–100%.
Video Mode
Control whether learners can interact with the avatar using video.
Video Available – Enable or disable video conversations.
Video Limit (minutes) – Set the maximum length of a video session. Enter 0 for no limit.
Transition to Voice – Enter the message the avatar will speak before switching from video to voice-only mode when the video limit is reached.
Voice Mode
Control whether learners can speak with the avatar.
Voice Available – Enable or disable voice conversations.
Voice Limit (minutes) – Set the maximum length of a voice conversation. Enter 0 for no limit.
Transition to Chat – Enter the message the avatar will speak before switching to chat-only mode when the voice limit is reached.
Inactivity Timeout
Automatically end sessions after a period of inactivity.
Enable Inactivity Timeout – Turn the inactivity timeout on or off. When enabled, the avatar delivers a sign-off message and ends the session after the configured idle period.
Save your changes
When you've finished configuring the interaction settings, click Save to apply your changes.
FAQ
Can I disable chat?
No. Chat is always available as an interaction method. Even if you enable video or voice, learners can still use chat throughout the experience.
What happens when a video session reaches its time limit?
If you've configured a Video Limit, the avatar will deliver the Transition to Voice message and continue the conversation using voice only. If no limit is set (0 minutes), the video session can continue indefinitely.
What happens when a voice session reaches its time limit?
When the Voice Limit is reached, the avatar displays or speaks the Transition to Chat message and the conversation continues in the chat interface.
What does entering "0" for a time limit mean?
Entering 0 for either the Video Limit or Voice Limit removes the time restriction, allowing learners to continue using that interaction type without interruption.
Can learners switch between interaction types on their own?
Learners can always use chat. If video or voice is enabled for the experience, they can use those interaction methods as well. If a configured time limit is reached, the experience automatically transitions to the next available interaction type.
Should I choose Video + Voice or Voice Only?
It depends on your learning objectives:
Video + Voice creates a more immersive experience and is ideal for coaching.
Voice Only reduces visual distractions while maintaining a natural conversation and may be a better fit for content-focused discussions.
When should I use chat as the primary interaction?
Chat works well when learners:
Are in environments where speaking isn't practical.
Prefer typing over speaking.
Need an accessible alternative to voice interactions.
Have limited microphone access.
What is the difference between the Talking Head and Video Call variants?
Both variants provide the same conversational capabilities. The difference is visual:
Talking Head displays the avatar as a portrait-style video.
Video Call presents the avatar in a video conferencing-style interface.
Does changing the interaction type affect the avatar's knowledge?
No. The interaction type only changes how learners communicate with the avatar. The avatar's knowledge and responses are based on the content provided by the learning designer.
What happens if a learner is inactive?
If Inactivity Timeout is enabled, the avatar waits for the configured amount of idle time, delivers the sign-off message, and ends the session automatically.
Can I customize what the avatar says during transitions?
Yes. You can define custom messages for:
Transitioning from Video to Voice
Transitioning from Voice to Chat
Ending the session due to inactivity
These messages help create a smoother, more natural learner experience.
Do learners need a microphone to interact with the avatar?
Only for voice or video conversations. If a learner doesn't have a microphone or prefers not to use one, they can always communicate using chat.
Can I change these settings after importing my project?
Yes. Avatar interaction settings can be updated at any time in Studio by opening the Avatar Settings panel and saving your changes.