The Stepford Holograms

[Van Rijn]

I just saw this:

http://www.kurzweilai.net/avatars-to...-area-airports

Some folks are doing video recordings to be played back on a person shaped screen sitting in the middle of an airport. It's not actually a hologram, of course, but it really looks like something out of a science fiction movie.

On one hand it's pretty cool, something I'd like to see in person. On the other hand, it's a bit creepy, given the overenthusiastic performance by the actress, with an expression that suggests something robotic or artificial.

It's interesting to me how many science fiction ideas are coming to the real world. Maybe we don't have practical flying cars yet, but it really is the future.

[NEOWatcher]

Some folks are doing video recordings to be played back on a person shaped screen sitting in the middle of an airport. It's not actually a hologram, of course, but it really looks like something out of a science fiction movie.

I'd like to see one myself, because from what I see of the descriptions and the video, it doesn't impress me. So; there's got to be something I'm missing.
I see it simply as a simple flat projection. I don't know how it even remotely resembles a hologram.
At least in Disney's haunted mansion the projections are on glass.

[djellison]

What's impressive here? It's a video of someone, looping. I don't get it.

[Trebuchet]

I'd like to see one myself, because from what I see of the descriptions and the video, it doesn't impress me. So; there's got to be something I'm missing.
I see it simply as a simple flat projection. I don't know how it even remotely resembles a hologram.
At least in Disney's haunted mansion the projections are on glass.

"I can be just about anything you want me to be" comes across more than a bit creepy.

Disney also uses projection onto 3-D shapes to give talking figures and heads. Much more impressive than this, and it's been there for years.

[Grey]

From this link, it suggests that it can interact and answer questions, but also says they're renting the setups for $180,000 for six months. For $30,000 a month, they couldn't just hire real people, that could almost certainly be vastly more helpful to the customers?

[NEOWatcher]

Disney also uses projection onto 3-D shapes to give talking figures and heads. Much more impressive than this, and it's been there for years.

Well; it's been a few decades for me which would actually increase my ennui for this.

[Van Rijn]

What's impressive here? It's a video of someone, looping. I don't get it.

It uses a person shaped, life sized flat screen that can be put up easily in the middle of an airport, with something that looks a lot like Avina from the Mass Effect games.

[Van Rijn]

Disney also uses projection onto 3-D shapes to give talking figures and heads. Much more impressive than this, and it's been there for years.

Yes, but requiring enough support hardware that it was only used in a very limited way.

[djellison]

It uses a person shaped, life sized flat screen that can be put up easily in the middle of an airport, with something that looks a lot like Avina from the Mass Effect games.

And? I still don't see the point. Why is this impressive or useful? It acts and looks awkward, unusual and unpleasant. Automated telephone support is bad enough. Adding video to the mix...even more repulsive.

[HenrikOlsen]

It does look like they're searching for the bottom of the uncanny valley.

[NEOWatcher]

It uses a person shaped, life sized flat screen that can be put up easily in the middle of an airport...

Still not even remotely close to a hologram.
All that tells me is that someone thought it was profitable enough to build a TV that's not a rectangle.

Keep in mind, this is for advertising. So; hype is already built in.

[Van Rijn]

It does look like they're searching for the bottom of the uncanny valley.

Yep, they should dial that back a bit. I suspect a deliberate Stepford performance.

[Van Rijn]

And? I still don't see the point.

The point is, I thought it was interesting, so I posted about it.

[HenrikOlsen]

One thing I just realized is that for people with depth perception, that it's projected on a silhouette is going to give a very strong visual cue even if the silhouette is flat.

As for the point, a display that looks like a display seen in a cool video game is going to be seen as cool.

[publiusr]

Double post

[publiusr]

This is as good as it gets now: http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/31/r...aphic-display/

Blasted thing uses a spinning plate that could take your hand off if you tried to touch the image.

it doesn't take much to get hurt
http://www.compliancesigns.com/OWE-13099.shtml
http://www.nasdonline.org/document/2...-by-fruit.html

[pghnative]

From this link, it suggests that it can interact and answer questions, but also says they're renting the setups for $180,000 for six months. For $30,000 a month, they couldn't just hire real people, that could almost certainly be vastly more helpful to the customers?

Hmmm, let's see. $180,000 for six months is equivalent to paying individuals about $30/hr, given certain assumptions*. That's pricey, even for New York, but this is just the short term rental fee. If the long term fee (or equivalent, if you purchased the system) could be cut in half, maybe it's worth it.

(* Assumes 24 hour / day usage and assumes benefits cost 33% more than salary. Assumes the equipment only "staffs" one location. Ignores operating costs of the equipment, also ignores the hidden costs of employee breaks, training, etc.)