'Virtual human' Milo comes out to play

groveChuck

U-matic Member
Awesome video of Xbox virtual friend Milo recognizing and interacting with a human (Cleverbot has just been out-clevered):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10623423

Microsoft has shown off its "virtual human" that reacts to a person's emotions, body movements and voice.
Milo, as he is known, is designed for use with the firm's hands-free Xbox 360 motion controller called Kinect.
The technology is the brainchild of veteran UK games designer Peter Molyneux.

Mr Molyneux said that he wanted to create a character "that seemed alive, that would look me in the eyes, and feel real".

Milo was first shown off in a demo at the E3 expo in 2009, but has not been seen since.
"There was a huge row online about that with people saying 'this can't be real'," Mr Molyneux said.
The live demonstration used Microsoft's soon-to-be released Kinect controller, which uses a series of sensors, cameras and microphones to interpret a player's intentions.

The demo was conducted by an assistant, who showed Milo exploring a garden, learning to skim stones and finally confiding in him after being told off by his parents.
"We're changing the mind of Milo constantly," he said.
"No two people's Milos can be the same - you are actually sculpting a human being. Some of the things you are doing will change the course of his life."
Mr Molyneux said Milo had been built using artificial intelligence developed by his firm Lionhead studios, along with technology that was "hidden in the dusty vaults of Microsoft".

He said the system exploited psychological techniques to make a person feel that Milo was real.
In addition, software allowed "complete control" over subtle facial elements such as blushing and even the diameter of Milo's nostrils, which he said could denote stress.
"Most of it is just a trick - but it is a trick that actually works," he said.
During the demonstration, the player egged Milo on to squash a snail in the garden.

Mr Molyneux said that commands such as these were interpreted by Milo using voice-recognition software along with a database that attempted to interpret the players intonation and meaning.
These seemingly inconsequential events could also impact on Milo's later life and development in the game, he said.
The demonstration showed the initial stages of the game, where players learn to interact with Milo.
"After three-quarters of a hour, he recognises you," said Mr Molyneux.
"I can promise you that if you are sitting in front of this screen, that is a truly wonderful moment."
 
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I wasn't aware that Peter M was the brain child of this. It doesn't surprise me, but I wasn't aware.

It's good to know this wasn't canned. I heard it had been.
 
That video may well have been legit, but it seemed pretty scripted. You'd think if they wanted to showcase it for what it is, it would be more spontaneous.

The business about Milo being nervous about not having done his homework seemed particularly suspect, considering "he" has no actual homework to be nervous about, and Claire would have to be prompted to ask about it.
 
I just realized that this video is a couple months old at least. They're still calling it the Natal and not the Kinect.
 
I don't know the date or source of the video (Molyneux's or MS's, I assume) but the BBC story is dated July 13.

It will be interesting to see someone interact with Milo for the first time, to put in that first "three-quarters of a hour, he recognises you" Molyneux mentions.

The interactive reflection in the "water" is kinda cool, too.
 
I don't know why I find this disturbing, but I do...I could see this tech being cool in an RPG, talking to characters within a game context. But the idea of just having an emotional relationship with this thing unnerves me.
 
It will be interesting to see someone interact with Milo for the first time, to put in that first "three-quarters of a hour, he recognises you" Molyneux mentions.
Yeah, that'd be cool. To really see how it works, completely unscipted - no prompts.

Looks to have the sky as the limit with this kind of technology. Imaging playing a war game and the characters are really reacting like a real person would.
 
my only question is, why are we interacting with a little boy instead of the more obvious choice.. a swimsuit model.
 
Incredibly cool stuff.

Ditto.

That video may well have been legit, but it seemed pretty scripted. You'd think if they wanted to showcase it for what it is, it would be more spontaneous.

Ditto.

I don't know why I find this disturbing, but I do...I could see this tech being cool in an RPG, talking to characters within a game context. But the idea of just having an emotional relationship with this thing unnerves me.

Ditto.

my only question is, why are we interacting with a little boy instead of the more obvious choice.. a swimsuit model.

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Dit-toe.
 
my only question is, why are we interacting with a little boy instead of the more obvious choice.. a swimsuit model.

Might have something to do with them wanting people to look at the expressions on the human's face?
 
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