DailyDirt: Fake People
from the urls-we-dig-up dept
The uncanny valley refers to the creepy-looking appearance that many computer-generated people have when their virtual features don’t quite seem as natural as the real thing. But as technology improves, virtual people are starting to look more natural and less like zombies. Here are just a few examples of some artificial humans that are bound to become more widespread and acceptable.
- The NY Port Authority is renting some avatars for a few months to serve as customer service agents for travelers to New York city. Does Siri really need a face? Let’s just hope there’s no “blue screen of death” for these automated agents… [url]
- Tupac Shakur is on tour again as a hologram — prompting some folks to question some aspects of the intellectual property rights of dead artists. Forget using real artists, there are already completely fabricated singers/actors. [url]
- Using just a PS3, game developer Quantic Dream demoed a virtual android named Kara to promote its technological skills in creating real-looking fake people. With better hardware/software, it looks like developers could jump over the uncanny valley entirely. [url]
- To discover more interesting tech-related content, check out what’s currently floating around the StumbleUpon universe. [url]
By the way, StumbleUpon can recommend some good Techdirt articles, too.
Filed Under: automated agents, avatars, cgi, creepy, csr, tupac shakur, uncanny valley
Companies: ny port authority, quantic dream
Comments on “DailyDirt: Fake People”
6 month trial of NYC avatars..
Those avatars probably won’t get renewed if they work like I think they’re going to….. which is badly.
I can just imagine trying to ask a question like “Where is the nearest bathroom?” And getting some nonsensical response from the avatar…… or a snide Siri-like non-answer when she doesn’t actually know how to answer.
Am I the only person here who feels this whole hologram tour thing is extremely disrespectful to the deceased?
Re: Re:
This hologram technology certainly has the potential to be disrespectful, but then so does any kind of video, or audio, or even written media. It’s not the technology itself, but how people use it.
Unless you meant that Tupac specifically was being disrespected in this particular holographic tour — but I haven’t seen enough of it to tell how good/bad this latest revival of Tupac is.