Patent ID: 8161398

Claim:
A computer-implemented method, comprising: by a virtual world application, conveying a visual cue to a user represented by a user avatar in a group setting in a virtual world, the group setting comprising a plurality of avatars, wherein conveying the visual cue comprises: receiving settings for at least one visual cue, wherein the settings comprise a type of visual cue corresponding to an action that is performed by an avatar in the virtual world, a target cue format for expressing the visual cue, wherein the target cue format comprises at least one of tactile text and sound, wherein the virtual world application is configured to override a default sound with a specified sound, based on user input; receiving a selection of a specified avatar in the group setting in the virtual world, wherein, the specified avatar is disposed within a predefined distance from the user avatar, wherein the predefined distance is determined based on a context associated with the user; monitoring the specified avatar to detect the visual cue corresponding to an action that is performed by the specified avatar and is perceivable by sighted users, wherein the visual cue comprises one of an action of an avatar and inactivity of an avatar; by operation of one or more computer processors, converting the visual cue into the target cue format, wherein the target cue format is perceivable by sight-impaired users; and outputting the target cue format to an output device.