Is this good or bad for society?

[IDGM]

Remembering how the few 'vunerable' people reacted to Avatar earlier in the year, take a look at the film on the BBC website today particularly the way real life transfers to the computer and how it reacts. It is remarkable.

Amazing and appealing though this technology is, it has me genuinely worried for certain aspects of society who, sadly, may become locked indoors unable to escape a pretend environment. People who may have lost a child might be able to 'reanimate them' and be totally lost to it.

[tobiasnugent]

I think its bloody good technology but from a gaming perspective nothing will beat the controller in your hand.

[IDGM]

I really cannot see a gaming application for this. This is verging on a substitute for real life.

[Naif]

I really cannot see a gaming application for this. This is verging on a substitute for real life.

It's Xbox 360's Kinect system, many gaming uses. This is just one of the 'games' that uses it.

[jamiea7x]

I really cannot see a gaming application for this. This is verging on a substitute for real life.

someone didnt quite read the article properly did they

[DarkStryder360]

I saw this at E3 last year and it was amazing.

And the fact that Milo isnt actually going to be released, makes the thing pointless. It was just an exercise as to see whats capable.... with scripted animations and a mediocre actress.

[IDGM]

someone didnt quite read the article properly did they

I did type a lenghty reply to that, but gave up. I did read the article and I don't see the application of Kinetik in this way as 'a game'.

Space Invaders, Super Mario, C.O.D. and the like are all games one can play and leave without them getting in the way of real life. Milo on the other hand, might become a substitute family member for someone beacuse it's that good. That's where I am not at ease with this.

Maybe being a new-ish Dad has made me react to this in an overly negative way. Milo could never replace Stan, the feedback from him is real if he's screaming the house down because he's lost his Panda or because he's having a chuckle at bubbles popping on his hand. Yet we see films on TV about women who cart dolls about as substitutes for babies they never had or were lost. These are exaclty the type of people who could become totally absorbed into this at the expense of real life responsibility, and in my opinion, it's not right.

However, during the time it took me to reply to that...

I saw this at E3 last year and it was amazing.

And the fact that Milo isnt actually going to be released, makes the thing pointless. It was just an exercise as to see whats capable.... with scripted animations and a mediocre actress.

Good.

[Picola]

Hmmm....

I don't like it. Gonna put Sarah Conner's number on speed dial just to be ready

[jamiea7x]

I did type a lenghty reply to that, but gave up. I did read the article and I don't see the application of Kinetik in this way as 'a game'.

Space Invaders, Super Mario, C.O.D. and the like are all games one can play and leave without them getting in the way of real life. Milo on the other hand, might become a substitute family member for someone beacuse it's that good. That's where I am not at ease with this.

Maybe being a new-ish Dad has made me react to this in an overly negative way. Milo could never replace Stan, the feedback from him is real if he's screaming the house down because he's lost his Panda or because he's having a chuckle at bubbles popping on his hand. Yet we see films on TV about women who cart dolls about as substitutes for babies they never had or were lost. These are exaclty the type of people who could become totally absorbed into this at the expense of real life responsibility, and in my opinion, it's not right.

dude i think youre looking waaaay far to much into this, this is not a new concept, it was around in the early days of the ps2 with eyetoy

and even if somone did take this way to far and use it as a replacement "person" where exactly is difference in that to you between them doing it in front of their tv screens or using as you said a doll?

uyour average consumer for this is gamers as its used in conjunction awith an xbox 360 "gaming system"

[IDGM]

Like i mentioned before, Kinetik is fine as it is within the Wii-esque application which it was predominantly designed for, the other videos are proof of that. However, the Milo scenario is totally different and exposes the 'doll huggers' to a very real danger of losing the plot all together. Surely those who are fragile need to be given the help to move on, not regress further into a fantasy world.

There is also mention of 'dark' scenarios within the Milo game/environment. Dark in what way? Offering him a cheeky puff on a Regal kingsize or something more unsavoury. In a worse case situation, it could be a tool to gauge reaction to a suggestion destined for a real child.

As we have been told, the Milo game has not been scheduled for public use. For me, that's good news.

[nfbr]

LOL My bet is the porn industry will be the first to utilise the technology...

[Picola]

I thought the same

Will become big time monies in an already billion dollar sector

[Mitchell]

hmm

[IDGM]

LOL My bet is the porn industry will be the first to utilise the technology...

I thought that too, they seem to turn a buck out of emerging tech with great aptitude.

[DarkStryder360]

You would probably enjoy this if you havent seen it?

Kinectimals at E3

Its either practice for real pets, just incase a lion cub rocks up, or the parents dont trust the kid with a real... lion cub.

[Adam K]

Remembering how the few 'vunerable' people reacted to Avatar earlier in the year, take a look at the film on the BBC website today particularly the way real life transfers to the computer and how it reacts. It is remarkable.

Amazing and appealing though this technology is, it has me genuinely worried for certain aspects of society who, sadly, may become locked indoors unable to escape a pretend environment. People who may have lost a child might be able to 'reanimate them' and be totally lost to it.

you are obviously a namby pamby daily mail reader!

ooooh it's evil because some mentalist might be so mental that they think it's real.

why even consider depriving all the sane people of some cool technology because some people can't handle it?

you may as well join the "ban violent games because they make people do bad things" clan and get it over and done with.

Edited July 15, 2010 by Adam K

[IDGM]

Ha!

I did feel a bit Daily Mail-ish when I wrote it. Adam you're right, I have taken an extremely negative view of Milo, which threw me somewhat because I like to think I'm very intolerant of mentalists normally, especially the Channel Five type.

It's clearly had a peculiar effect on me, I still think it's wrong (Milo, not the equipment). However, I do concede that this type of thing is inevitable and will enable us to enter The Matrix or Better Than Life (or leave it if that's where we already are).