A research team from Walt Disney (NYSE: DIS) is testing the limitations of fright and horror as it recreates the lifelike image of a human robot. The robot is constructed from a mindset of human creativity and logic, as it utilizes the Walt Disney Imagineering team and researchers from the California Institute of Technology in Los Angeles.
Although the robot is composed of a scarce amount of muscle and skin, it could potentially trick a real person into believing that it is real, given that it is so real-seeming. Depending on the types of movements that the robot engages in, their presences can potentially be very powerful, although subtle.
There is a great deal of movement and engagement involved with these types of robots, which are also known as animatronic figures. These types of figures are known for being very much engaged with their audiences and for behaving in characteristically animated ways. They create stories with the movement of their arms and legs, behaving in ways that are potent and spirited. The creation of social cues in the robots are especially important, particularly with the emphasis on sight. It is thought that more intense gazes indicate higher intelligence levels and more complex emotional states, a phenomenon that, similar to that of humans, can also be recreated in the robots.
The creators of the robots intentionally designed the robots so that they could depict lifelike depictions of reality -- illusions that resemble reality, but not in entirety. They intentionally contain both technical and human qualities in order that balance is maintained, including both natural and unnatural characteristics of life. One aspect of living that includes both unnatural and natural qualities is the art of performance. Much like the art of performing, the purpose of the robots is to reenact specific scenes from life by pretending to engage in live scenarios that could potentially mimic reality. For example, a man sits beneath a park bench reading a book, and utilizes the art of gaze in order to exemplify his true feelings about those whom he encounters.
Lifelike robots, while seemingly intimidating, can be attractive, as they provide entertainment to humans. This type of entertainment requires a much closer look, as it requires much understanding regarding the combination of technicality and humanism. Overall, while we cannot fully grasp lifelike robots as they are crafted yet, we still have knowledge that they are both terrifying and engaging, which will propel us toward a future filled with imagination and positive adventure.