The uncanny valley has implications within the field of robotics and artificial intelligence.
They are very realistic and lifelikebut when we examine them, we see they are notquitehuman.
Mori identified the phenomenon asbukimi no tani gensho, meaning ‘valley of eeriness.’
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In his work, Mori noted that people found his robots more appealing if they looked more human.
However, this only worked up to a certain point.
Once the uncanny valley has been reached, people feel uneasy, disturbed, and also sometimesfeel afraid.
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Mori used several examples to clarify this idea.
An industrial robot has little human likeness and therefore generates little affinity in observers.
Some of the best-known examples of the uncanny valley can be seen in movies.
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These include:
The Polar Express
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The 2004 children’s Christmas movieThe Polar Expressis an example of the uncanny valley effect.
Despite efforts to make the animated characters appear super-realistic, the movie was a flop.
DreamWorks Animation
Its commercial failure at the box office is often attributed to the uncanny valley.
Simply put, people didnt want to watch the movie because they found the animation disturbing.
Cats
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The 2019 film adaptation ofCatsfeatured humanoid felines that many people found unsettling.
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While some reportedly found the effect humorous, others reported feeling downright revolted.
On social media, many viewers described the film as weird, creepy, and eveninduced nightmares.
What Causes the Uncanny Valley Effect?
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Some theories suggest that the phenomenon is biological, while others propose cultural explanations.
Here are some factors that may play a role.
These relatively minor divergences can make a character go from lifelike to uncanny.
Human and nonhuman represent two separate and mutually exclusive categories.
When people hold conflicting beliefs, they tend to experience feelings of psychological discomfort.
This mismatch between what you are seeing and your expectations may make you feel ambivalent or even threatened.
In other words, it creeps you out.
Interestingly, these feelings of unease were more pronounced in instances where the characters lacked upper facial expression.
Startled facial expressions were also more likely to be perceived as uncanny.
Can It Be Prevented?
Not everyone agrees that the valley itself truly exists.
Implications of the Uncanny Valley
The uncanny valley has a number of implications in various fields.
People are more likely to be receptive to designs that are both useful and appealing.
Designs that fall into the uncanny valley are likely to be poorly received and utilized less frequently.
When effectively used, avatars may help promote thetherapeutic relationship.
However, overly realistic depictions may interfere with the process.
Film
Blockbuster films increasingly rely on CGI effects.
Criticisms of the Uncanny Valley
The uncanny valley concept has also been the subject of some criticism.
The heterogeneity suggests that each unique situation where it occurs may have different causes.
This may involve making robotic devices even more realistic so they move beyond the valley and appear more likable.
Researchers have also proposed several design principles that may help animators and roboticists avoid uncanny effects.
Instead, he advocates designing things that stop before they reach the point of uncanniness.
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