Does anyone else think this is scarry technology?

[Locrian]

How easy would it be to have an "eyewitness" or fake an event with this technology? And this is the **early** stages - there will be a point where it is impossible to tell the difference. Check out the video.

http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article4557935.ece


Lifelike animation heralds new era for computer games

'Emily' will set a new precedent for photo-realistic characters in video games and films, says her creator, Image Metrics
Jonathan Richards

Extraordinarily lifelike characters are to begin appearing in films and computer games thanks to a new type of animation technology.

Emily - the woman in the above animation - was produced using a new modelling technology that enables the most minute details of a facial expression to be captured and recreated.

[tridim]

1. Getting closer CGI folks, but it wouldn't fool me yet.

They still haven't perfected the mouth and teeth of these CGI characters.

[GreenPartyVoter]

And they still don't work from a distance.They don't feel like they have weight to me

[Cronus Protagonist]

2. Nothing that some Neosporin won't fix n/t

[MiniMe]

10. Too obtuse

but Funny! Maybe some mederma?

[Cronus Protagonist]

18. I'm not sure of the efficacy of each against the problems of scarring

But I am sure the ad for Neosporin says scarring is reduced dramatically if that product is used. :P

[earthdragon]

3. Mcain was Keating 5!

Look at Wikipedia under Keating 5 --  John McCain was major
player in Keating 5 scandal (huge ethics violations) and the
savings and loans scandal in the 80s, as was Niel Bush!

[soulcore]

4. I woudn't worry, yet.

I can still spot CG a mile away, like tridim said, the mouth and teeth are often wonky. And the eyes never fool me.

This looks as good as it does because they simply COPIED a real persons expressions, etc.

When they can do this quality of work from scratch without motion capture or video reference, then I'll get worried.

[joshcryer]

15. Exactly! You have to start worrying when an 'actor' isn't in the place of the animation.

This is merely the result of extropolating older facial mapping technology and refining it, it's not some sort of procedural method that can work *without* the actor in there.

As long as it's just copies of actors you're OK.

But don't be worried. I expect once someone 'frames' someone with fake stuff webs of trust would become readily available, and cameras will have a way to log into trusted servers and sign the timestamp with a unique signature. But realism will happen in around 10-15 years, and I'm sure someone will go down over it.

[gateley]

5. Videos of Bin Laden.

Videos of the healthy, reassuring President who is actually passed out in a secret WH room, surrounded by empty gin bottles.

Videos of world leaders announcing an attack on the U.S.

Videos of ...

[FredStembottom]

6. when I saw Jar-jar Binks.....

...in Star Wars (episode whatever), I told everyone who'd listen NOT to go into acting as a profession. All those years ago I could see that someday ALL actors would be computer graphics.

I didn't expect this level of quality to arrive so soon!

Soon, it won't just be musicians out of work due to technology!

[EOTE]

9. It's still going to be a long time until actors aren't needed.

CGI is far from perfected. And being able to emote well is always going to be required for acting to be believable. Even when CGI is damn closed to perfected, people will still be able to appreciate what real human actors provide for cinema.

[FredStembottom]

17. I hope you are right.......

..... but back in the 1930's, there was broad consensus that "mechanical reproduction" of music would not be able to satisfy radio listeners. Live radio station orchestras were gone by the end of WWII, with listeners satisfied even by the lo-fi sounds of 78 RPM records.

I think it's just a matter of time. And the OP makes me wonder only how much time.

[EOTE]

19. I'm guessing knowledge of audio reproduction at the time

was far inferior to our knowledge of CGI right now. After all, I believe sometime in the early 20th century, there was talk of closing down the patent office because anything of significant importance had already been invented. Those who have a great appreciation for musical fidelity will still seek out a live performance because no matter how many thousands of dollars you've invested in your equipment, nothing beats the real thing. I imagine that digital actors and real ones will coexist for a very long time. I don't really ever see a time when organic actors are entirely replaced with digital ones.

[The Straight Story]

7. I can't wait to see the porn

:rofl:

[jayfish]

8. I Thought That Company Was Called Digital Matrix.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Looker

Jay

[lame54]

11. Are they interviewing her about the Republican Convention?

[Ezlivin]

12. I'd tap that

...with my keyboard.

:)

[whistle]

13. How do I get one of these for my answering machine?

[gps333]

14. Good

but clearly animation.

[SheilaT]

16. There is definitely

a certain mask-like quality still. Especially around the eyes. They don't crinkle at all, which is for me the biggest give-away.