Digital Replicas May Change Games and Film

Carl Bialik from WSJ writes "Steve Perlman is touting technology that he says can create animated digital reproductions of the human body that are as accurate as photographs, the Wall Street Journal reports. From the article: 'Game makers could use the system, called Contour, to create very realistic animated characters in videogames with fully controllable movements and facial expressions. Film makers could use the technology as a kind of digital makeup, changing an actor's looks or words or switch camera angles without costly retakes. The technology can even substitute one actor's face for another's and create exact replicas of long-dead historical figures.'"

hooray

[Anonymous Coward]

finally: something to make humans totally unnecessary in all film clips! what's that, mr. president? you're addressing 50 audiences at once on live television, saying contradictory things to each? what a talented orator!!!

Create replicas of long-dead historical figures?

[Anonymous Coward]

create exact replicas of long-dead historical figures

I don't think you want to witness this, judging by how the process is described in TFA:

First, an actor's face is coated in ordinary phosphorescent makeup like that worn by children at Halloween. The actors then conduct their performance in a studio surrounded by fluorescent lights and digital cameras.

Dig 'em up, cover 'em in phosphorescent makeup and dangle 'em in front of the camera?

Awesome

[Anonymous Coward]

Chuck Norris vs Mr T, without the universe exploding.

I can see a lot of practical uses

[ben there...]

Here's just a few ideas:

• Jessica Alba steals cars and punches hookers
• Jessica Alba bunny hops and spawn camps
• Jessica Alba breaks bricks with her head and goombas turtles
• Jessica Alba does the perfect varial flip kick grind
• Jessica Alba joins a guild and raids gold farmers

Long Dead Characters

[Kev_Stewart]

Quote 1

...and create exact replicas of long-dead historical figures...

Quote 2

Mova has run into problems with facial captures, even with its older motion-capture system, when actors have recently had Botox injections, which can immobilize sections of the face

those two quotes seem to be at odds with each other. Come on guys, can you bring dead people back to life or not? ;)

Re:$2000 per second...

[jcinnamond]

$3.6m to get rid of the real Tom Cruise sounds pretty reasonable to me. Shame it's only for 30 minutes though.

inconceivable!

[DanHibiki]

Why is it that each time someone claims to be capable of creating "photo realistic" or "lifelike" digital images only have a shity demo to show what might pass as "realistic" to the clinicly blind?

This can be used for evil/

[hrrY]

Does the film, "The Running Man" ring a bell? And if so, do you remember how technology that was exactly like this, was used? Scary to say in the least...but I am cynic by nature so...

Re:I can see a lot of practical uses

[Drachemorder]

"I can think of many other ways to use Jessica Alba but this is a family board."

You must be new here.

Re:The tin-foil hatter in me is screaming

[SmittyTheBold]

I took that class at the community college; it was a total waste of time.