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Cyber women test what's real
BBC News Online ^ | Wednesday, 22 October, 2003 | By Jo Twist

Posted on 10/23/2003 8:01:01 AM PDT by Momaw Nadon

Cyber women test what's real

By Jo Twist


BBC News Online technology reporter


Software cyberbabes, created by powerful computers, sophisticated modelling packages and active imaginations are getting extremely human-like.

Rene Morel's 3D model
Rene Morel's 3D model has a very human face

Virtual cyberbabes are used in advertising campaigns, hit shoot-em-up games, and the pop industry, from Lara Croft to virtual pop idols, T-Babe and Diki or DK-96.

Some of the best 3D models around are currently on show at an exhibition which has just opened in London called Perfectly Real: Women in Bits and Bytes.

But they raise questions about what people might be able to do with the models if they get too realistic and we cannot tell the difference anymore.

Better processing power and 3D graphics programs mean creating your own, virtual human is much easier to do.

Hyper real

While the technology is maturing, many of the women created from the hard drives and fantasies of mostly male designers are not.

The beauty of many of the images in the exhibition is striking. But their impossibly perfect limbs, lips and looks, are still pretty far removed from what a "real" woman looks like.

Rene Morel, who worked on many of the main characters in the sci-fi film Final Fantasy, has created an incredibly beautiful and engaging figure.

Rene Morel's 3D model

What makes her really real?

She has a stunning, highly human-like face, but as soon as you pan down her body, it is obvious she has borrowed a few diet tips from Barbie.

They are the "hyper-reality" of women who only exist in a plastic surgeon's dream.

The exhibition's curator, Niki Gomez, says this is no different to the "hyper-reality" of manufactured pop bands and airbrushed celebrities which are so far removed from normal people anyway.

For years, women learned to deal with images of the "perfect woman", celebrities, super-skinny supermodels and slinky pop kittens.

Nonetheless, four in 10 women still worry about their body shape every day and more than one in three dream of losing at least two stones, says a recent survey.

"It is interesting that women are being made more than men. I think that is partly because it is men who are mainly making them," she says.

Imperfect present

Brazilian creation Kaya has what the artist describes as a large mouth and teeth, far-apart eyes and thick eyebrows, deliberately designed to represent "realistic woman with slight imperfections".

Kaya, created by Alceu Baptistao
Do far apart eyes and visible pores make Kaya more real?

You can even see her pores, and these touches supposedly make her more real.

Her makers intend to give her a strong character and let her live online, "so people can control what she says and her movements through the web," Ms Gomez explains.

She does look more "realistic" than many of the airbrushed creations which grace the pages of both men and women's magazines every day.

But perhaps some might ask why far-apart eyes, thick eyebrows, gaping pores should be seen as "imperfections".

"In this time of real perfection in terms of plastic surgery, when it comes to the digital, we only believe them if they are not 100% perfect and that is where the power lies," says Ms Gomez.

Manipulating reality

Some might argue advances in software and processing power should be used render images that break a few gender stereotypes.

But maybe the bigger issue is about the potential problems of creating women so realistic complete with imperfections, that we cannot tell the difference anymore.

Steven Stahlberg's Webbie Tookay

Webbie Tookay will never miss a modelling shoot

Take Webbie Tookay, who was signed up by modelling agency Elite when she was born, as an example.

"They can control her as much as they want, there are no personality clashes, she will never grow old or fat and can be in more than one place at any time," says Ms Gomez.

Such realistic-looking constructs could be put to use in a variety of "entertainment industries".

The ethical implications of their use when these 3D models finally do make it off the screen and try to pass off as real could be enormous.

"That is not really at this stage a concern because they still can't make a virtual woman seem real in real space and time," says Ms Gomez.

"If that happens, then that will be a problem. But it still quite a way off."





TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Philosophy; Technical; Unclassified; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: artificial; babe; beauty; body; computer; cyber; cyberbabe; cybersex; doll; fantasy; future; haptic; human; model; mywifethinkillkeeper; pleasureunit; real; realdoll; reality; robot; robotic; science; sensual; sex; stepfordwife; technology; virtual; webbabe; webbies; women; yumyum
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1 posted on 10/23/2003 8:01:01 AM PDT by Momaw Nadon
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To: Momaw Nadon
"They can control her as much as they want, there are no personality clashes, she will never grow old or fat and can be in more than one place at any time,"

Yeah but can they cuddle.

2 posted on 10/23/2003 8:03:46 AM PDT by CJ Wolf
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To: CJ Wolf
Yeah but can they cuddle.

The robotic models being developed will be able to cuddle.

3 posted on 10/23/2003 8:08:19 AM PDT by Momaw Nadon (The mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work unless it's open.)
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To: Momaw Nadon
It is interesting that women are being made more than men. I think that is partly because it is men who are mainly making them," she says.

This is an interesting but not necessarily correct statement. consider:
What do men's magazines show? women.
What do women's magazines show? women.

It is part of human nature that women's bodies and movements are watched and admired. [before anyone says anything silly, this does not mean there is any latent lesbianism in women. so can that thought before you think it].

And, by the way, barbie was invented by a woman, and the almost-anorexic look for women is in women's magazines. Men like women with curves and breasts, not scarecrows with a balcony.

4 posted on 10/23/2003 8:09:26 AM PDT by fqued (The mainstream media wouldn't over-rate anyone, would they?)
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To: Lorianne; Catspaw; wimpycat
The big question is whether they can be blamed for any of the following:

-The downfall of Western Society;
-Sleeping with their mates best friend;
-Being greedy wastrel shrews;
-Ruining their mate's life;
-Being brood sows to create an ever larger welfare class

5 posted on 10/23/2003 8:14:25 AM PDT by Chancellor Palpatine
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To: Momaw Nadon
Juxtapose this article with the articles on the higher and higher rates of obesity.

How convienient that when real people are becoming more overweight, advertisers and producers can create "realistic" people.

I can see a day when women on t.v. and in magazines are "model" thin (with large breasts) and when you go outside to the store or mall the women you see are "extra" large.

Funny?
6 posted on 10/23/2003 8:14:27 AM PDT by NotQuiteCricket (http://www.strangesolutions.com)
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To: Lorianne; Catspaw; wimpycat
Oh, I forgot another favorite FReeper gripe - being slutty with everybody but the complainer, to whom she is a cold, frigid witch.....
7 posted on 10/23/2003 8:15:28 AM PDT by Chancellor Palpatine
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To: Chancellor Palpatine

8 posted on 10/23/2003 8:16:04 AM PDT by Momaw Nadon (The mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work unless it's open.)
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To: Momaw Nadon

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within: Absolutely God-awful plot, but incredible CG.

9 posted on 10/23/2003 8:17:32 AM PDT by martin_fierro (A v v n c v l v s M a x i m v s)
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To: NotQuiteCricket
Not funny, but a very interesting observation.
10 posted on 10/23/2003 8:18:13 AM PDT by Eowyn-of-Rohan
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To: Momaw Nadon
The animation/CGI technology will break the liberal stranglehold in Hollywood. The cost and personal issues with actors/actresses, sets and etc, plus the studios tendency to be PC or refuses to do new materials due to the risk of failure versus the cost of producing a normal movie has prevented a variety of films from reaching production. Furthermore, there are individuals who have good creativity and acting skills, but are unable to be filmed due to their looks. CGI animation will allow that individual to control an animated image, manipulate its expressions, body movement and language in their own mannerism. Basicly they overcome the look barrier that has prevented talented people from acting because the studio do not think their looks are marketable, or they are the wrong ethnic/race to assume the character. Individual or small groups of writers, producers and animators can produce a full length film and bypass the studio system for approval. Low production costs, creative flexibility, and internet marketing/distribution can change the paradigms for making movies in this country and world. After viewing "Animatrix" I say give CGI another five years to reach the high degree of realism. I predict that conservative film makers will be the first to capitalize on this technology, because the liberal establishment and actors will attempt to demonize it and protect the status quo.
11 posted on 10/23/2003 8:19:00 AM PDT by Fee
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To: Momaw Nadon; Chad Fairbanks
Hands off the TARDshow's woman. He'll have to throw you into the pit in his basement for meddling in his affairs.
12 posted on 10/23/2003 8:22:27 AM PDT by Chancellor Palpatine
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To: Momaw Nadon

Ananova still needs work.

13 posted on 10/23/2003 8:23:17 AM PDT by martin_fierro (A v v n c v l v s M a x i m v s)
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To: Fee

14 posted on 10/23/2003 8:25:00 AM PDT by Momaw Nadon (The mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work unless it's open.)
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To: Fee; harpseal; Willie Green
Furthermore, there are individuals who have good creativity and acting skills, but are unable to be filmed due to their looks. CGI animation will allow that individual to control an animated image, manipulate its expressions, body movement and language in their own mannerism. Basicly they overcome the look barrier that has prevented talented people from acting because the studio do not think their looks are marketable, or they are the wrong ethnic/race to assume the character. Individual or small groups of writers, producers and animators can produce a full length film and bypass the studio system for approval. Low production costs, creative flexibility, and internet marketing/distribution can change the paradigms for making movies in this country and world.

Bimbo outsourcing? I love it!

15 posted on 10/23/2003 8:31:56 AM PDT by irgbar-man (Get Well, Rush!)
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To: CJ Wolf
Yeah but can they cuddle.

No, that will be part of the 2.0 release, which will also include other features like complaining about the toilet seat being left up and talking during a TV show, then asking what just happened while she was talking to you.

16 posted on 10/23/2003 8:33:49 AM PDT by Orangedog (Soccer-Moms are the biggest threat to your freedoms and the republic !)
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To: martin_fierro
She has a Sandra Bullock resemblence.
17 posted on 10/23/2003 8:36:48 AM PDT by Rebelbase
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To: Orangedog
...talking during a TV show, then asking what just happened while she was talking to you.

A married man, no doubt. LOL.

18 posted on 10/23/2003 8:36:49 AM PDT by Skooz (All Hail the Mighty Kansas City Chiefs: 7-0 baby)
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To: martin_fierro; Chancellor Palpatine
Weirdly, martin_fierro, my eyes are about the same color as the cyberbabe in your post #9.

Creepy.

19 posted on 10/23/2003 8:38:40 AM PDT by Catspaw
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To: martin_fierro
PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS IN 2019: VIRTUAL PHYSICALITY

* The all-enveloping tactile environment is now widely available and fully convincing. Its resolution equals or exceeds that of human touch and can simulate (and stimulate) all of the facets of the tactile sense, including the sensing of pressure, temperature, textures, and moistness.

* The "total touch" haptic environment requires entering a virtual-reality booth. These technologies are popular for medical examinations, as well as sensual and sexual interactions with other human partners or simulated partners. In fact, it is often the preferred mode of interaction, even when a human partner is nearby, due to its ability to enhance both experience and safety.

By Ray Kurzweil, author of The Age of Spiritual Machines

20 posted on 10/23/2003 8:41:42 AM PDT by Momaw Nadon (The mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work unless it's open.)
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