What if avatars could manifest themselves in physical form, with human shape, appearance, behavior, and sound? In other words, what if virtual humans could break free from their 2D displays, joining us in the real world as physically-present approximations of real humans? Dr. Welch will discuss this idea, including some applications, technology research, perceptual issues, and even ethical issues. The talk will include a little history, some current work, and some speculation.
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