In the world of virtual reality, most people will be accustomed to the concept of an avatar. In the future, this process may be taken one step further. More specifically, it is possible actual cyborgs will be produced. Not the physical kind, mind you, but virtual cyborgs. Now is a good time to take a look at how such a virtual cyborg can be created.
Virtual Reality Cyborgs Are Coming
It is important we put this concept into perspective first and foremost. Cyborgs are a mix of human features and robotics. In the world of virtual reality, those concepts can mix a lot easier. In fact, it is possible to model a robotic humanoid by using digital readings of a real human. This pertains to body shape gestures, movements, and anything else that makes us unique. Knowing such a virtual counterpart exists is both exciting and scary at the same time.
Transforming the digital readings into a photo-realistic animated character will be challenging. It requires a lot of sensory input which needs to be collected. Right now, VR sensors are very limited in what they can do, let alone map all aspects of its human user. That will change in the coming years, though, but for now, this will remain a utopian dream. Given some time, manufacturers and VR developers may turn that ship around.
There is more to creating a virtual cyborg than just mimicking our exterior, though. The software – and hardware – also needs to create localized sound. Our human ears are rather perceptive when it comes to sounds and their origin. It makes no sense not to focus on this aspect when creating a virtual cyborg which is designed to be our virtual clone. It will be interesting to see how companies plan to tackle this particular aspect.
Moreover, the assignment of orientation will be another steep hill to climb. It is very difficult to develop consumer-grade solutions capable of mapping and mimicking human movements. Especially when it comes to how the inner workings of our body interact with one another. Even simple gestures, such as yawning or blinking an eye can be very difficult to imitate. Creating a convincing virtual cyborg will not happen anytime soon, but virtual reality will get us there eventually.
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