The Rise of the Virtual Human

Abstract

Virtual Humans are here to stay. From the voice in your satNav to Apple's “Siri”, we are accustomed to engaging in some level of conversation with our technology, and it is rapidly becoming apparent that natural language interfaces have potential in a wide range of applications. Whilst audio-only communication has its place, most natural conversations take place face to face, and believable embodiment of virtual humans is the necessary next step for them to be fully integrated into our lives. Much progress has been made in the creation of relatable characters for film, but real-time facial animation presents a unique set of design challenges. This chapter examines the role of the virtual human, its history, and approaches to design and creation. It looks at ways in which they can be brought to life, interacting, assisting and learning. It concludes with a view into popular culture and perceptions of the future, where fact and fiction meet.

Virtual carers for the elderly: A case study review of ethical responsibilities

“…Many films appeal to people precisely because they offer an opportunity to explore these philosophical concerns. 19 Infantilisation is a further concern raised in publications addressing ethical concerns for VC systems 3,14 in which presenting older users with doll/toy-like artefacts, irrespective of their therapeutic application, is described as potentially dispiriting and encouraging of regressive behaviour by way of associating being elderly with being a child. 20 In their review of 'everyday' ethics in care for older people, van der Dam and colleagues 21 posit that communication with family, friends and colleagues is an essential freedom and that an automated, socially proficient machine may risk isolating individuals from such relationships by providing an immediate and constant alternative.…”

Cybersickness in virtual reality as a function of individual differences and scalable task workload

“…Currently, cybersickness is a major barrier to the adoption of immersive VR environments that can be used for entertainment (Powell et al, 2017), education (Ardiny & Khanmirza, 2018), and business endeavors (Thies et al, 2019). There are numerous potential factors that impact an individual user's cybersickness experiences, such as personal characteristics, task, and environment, but it remains unclear how these factors interact to influence cybersickness symptoms.…”

“…Cybersickness poses a barrier to the accessibility and usability of VR within all industries, such as entertainment (Powell et al, 2017), education (Ardiny & Khanmirza, 2018), and business (Thies et al, 2019). Much of the extant research on cybersickness focuses on how the software or hardware impacts symptom experiences.…”

“…The virtual reality (VR) industry is rapidly growing, with a 2020 market value of $15.81 billion, expected to grow 18% annually through (Virtual Reality Market Share & Trends Report, 2021-2028, 2021. This growth in VR is not surprising given its approachable price point and potential in many sectors, including entertainment (Powell et al, 2017), education (Ardiny & Khanmirza, 2018), and business (Thies et al, 2019). Despite the rising VR marketplace, the industry faces a difficult barrier that is preventing more widespread adoption: cybersickness.…”