I'm rather a Luddite too but Wikipedia tells us...
In computing, an avatar is the graphical representation of the user or the user's alter ego or character. It may take either a three-dimensional form,[1] as in games or virtual worlds, or a two-dimensional form as an icon in Internet forums and other online communities.[2][3] Avatar images have also been referred to as "picons" (personal icons)[4] in the past, though the usage of this term is uncommon now. It can also refer to a text construct found on early systems such as MUDs.[5] It is an object representing the user. The term "avatar" can also refer to the personality connected with the screen name, or handle, of an Internet user.
The Graphics Interchange Format (better known by its acronym GIF /ˈdʒɪf/ jif or /ˈɡɪf/ ghif) is a bitmap image format that was introduced by CompuServe in 1987[1] and has since come into widespread usage on the World Wide Web due to its wide support and portability.
The format supports up to 8 bits per pixel for each image, allowing a single image to reference its own palette of up to 256 different colors chosen from the 24-bit RGB color space. It also supports animations and allows a separate palette of up to 256 colors for each frame. These palette limitations make the GIF format less suitable for reproducing color photographs and other images with continuous color, but it is well-suited for simpler images such as graphics or logos with solid areas of color.
None the wiser...
