Synthetic (or virtual) humans

Synthetic (or virtual) humans

Abstract

Synthetic (or virtual) humans are computer models that look and act like real humans.

A great deal of effort has being exerted in an attempt to make the computer-generated 3D model look and behave more and more realistic.
However, the reasons behind the increasingly complex techniques for portraying and directing virtual humans almost real enough to fool their mothers are as much economic and educational as artistic. Virtual humans, in the large majority of applications, will be used to explore situations that have not yet happened. Couldn't we avoid a great deal of disappointment by seeing how we would look before having our hair done over, or cut differently? More dramatically, wouldn't it relieve a lot of anxiety if candidates for plastic surgery could see their smiles before undergoing a face-lift or chin reconstruction? Wouldn't be better to learn the anatomy and physiology of the human body or about problems in speech pathology by watching and manipulating synthetic actors? And why persist in using robots in ergonomics if we can simulate real people?