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Summary: Like a Screenplay
Review: As a screenwriter with 30+ years experience, I found that Peter's interpretation of character and backstory to be a perfect primer for my craft as well! To be truly creative, one must always consider depth when creating character, and Peter has and he's done this in "Virtual Humans" very, very well. If you believe, as I, that the future in entertainment is digital, this book should serve you well indeed.
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Summary: A headlight on the road to the Future!
Review: As biology, physics, and technology converge in ever more dramatic ways through the coming years, Peter's book will take on the cast of a prophetic milestone in the literature. Yet, in the present it quite simply ROCKS! It strikes just the right balance of technical detail, how-to advice, exposition of exciting AI agents and robots, and sheer, starry-eyed vision. The world may expect a surge of young Human Emulation Engineers, inspired by this popular, yet scholarly text. I mean, really, I can't imagine that a reader wouldn't leap up from the proverbial reading chair and holler out in awe and wonder, at the this profundity of this book. Bravo Peter!
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Summary: Exceptional Book
Review: I am amazed at the plethora of information packed in this book. It's filled with humor as well as easy to follow steps on how to build your very own virtual human. I haven't been able to put this book down. For those 3D artists really interested in taking your creation to a higher level, this book is a must.
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Summary: Excellent Starting Point for People New to V-Humans
Review: I found this book an inspiration. As a technologist interested in moving into the V-Human field, I found this an excellent starting point. I particularly liked the examples and discussion on emulating emotions. This has become a montra for me in the development of our V-Human application. On top of all that, it was an interesting, quick read. Kudos to Peter Plantec for a great book...
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Summary: Fantastic book - highly recommended
Review: I have really enjoyed this book (although not finished yet) I have found since it arrive two days ago, I haven't wanted to put it down.
I cannot imagine a better overall guide for creating virtual humans. It covers all the technology you need and in the most simple terms.
As the author is a psychologist, he is able to guide you on how to build a virtual human that is believable and with personality, which are really important aspects in the design.
It seems he has managed to cram all the most important aspects, covering a very diverse range of important issues for v-humans all into the one book.
Very exciting stuff.
I have already contacted the author and asked if he has any other books available.
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Summary: A Slab of Mind Sushi
Review: I just received my pre-ordered copy of Virtual Humans and have devoured it like a slab of fine ahi. I have waited years for Plantec to fully divulge his wisdom in this arena and this book was well worth the wait. Virtual humans is a visionary tour of a technology which is already making its mark and is certain to have a profound impact on how humans interact with the world of bits. Plantec accomplishes this without any of the over reaching fantasy and wishful thinking of many futurists, yet spells out the dramatic effects virtual humans will soon have on our lives. Plantec explores not only the technological implications, but the moral and societal ramifications of this emerging field. With a fascinating tour of the history of all the streams which have come together, Plantec delivers a road map of the virtual future. Or does he? Virtual Humans is really a detailed technical manual for using this technology to build and design virtual characters. To those already proficient at coding v-people, Plantec adds layers of wisdom on how to make them funny, engaging and, in short, human. He delivers the tech detail and highly usable techniques without falling into the tech manual automaton mode which keeps most of us from ever RTFM (Reading the .. Manual). Oh really. Virtual Humans is actually a profound look into our own minds. We discover how personalities differ, what motivates them and how they express themselves. Anyone who reads this book without making discoveries about their own character and personality and those of others, may need to seek Plantec's help on a professional basis. So which is it? The answer is all of the above. Plantec has managed to deliver a usable and readable tech manual, a visionary peek at the future and an engaging examination of the human psyche. His quirky but charming wit pervades and makes this book an excellent read for anyone interested in humanity, virtual or otherwise. Thanks Peter....
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Summary: Achieving my Childhood Dream :)
Review: I remember when I was child, I always wanted to create perfect virtual girl for me :). As I grew up, I become 3D artist and modeled many virtual beauties. I got lot of books about 3D modeling in my shelves, but this is only one that shows not only how create shell but ghost too. This book will guide you step by step how trough creation of complex virtual human with her own personality. If you ar fan of "Bladerunner" or "Ghost in The Shell" and dreaming abot your own Virtual Human this book is a must...
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Summary: Good read, even for non-techies!
Review: Let me say two things first: I have no intention of creating my own V-person any time soon, and, unline the author, I don't look forward to the day when virtual humans make up a good part of my life. So why do I give Peter Plantec's book five stars? Because in taking us on a tour of the technology of virtual humans, he makes us take a thorough look at ourselves. In his unusually engaging and humorous style, Plantec confronts us with the chemistry of our own minds and, by doing so, explores what being human really is. I expected a crusty scientific treatise; I got an eminently readable text that made me smile while learning.
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Summary: The construction and psychology of an artificial entity
Review: Once I received my copy of the book I could not put it down. It is a very well written and absorbing book. It will give you the knowledge and insight to design your own virtual entity.
Besides being a manual for the creation of a virtual human, it is also takes a deep look into the psychology of the human face and body. You will learn more about your own psychology and increase your ability to read the body language of others, as well as being able to create your online alter-ego.
Get a copy and enjoy reading it.
Jerry Meislik
Whitefish Montana
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Summary: Peter is leading the way to future interfaces
Review: Peter Plantec serves as a mentor for anyone pursuing user interfaces of the future. Finally the technology has caught up with Peter's visions for palatable interfaces the average person can use by presenting the critical issues that must be addressed for anthropomorphic interfaces that will allow the man in the street to leverage the power of computers in everyday life. Not only does he provide the mentoring required to address personality and emotions required in such interfaces, he provides the tool kits included on the CDROM to quickly bring those interfaces to life so you can see the vision for yourself. Peter's forum, that compliments the book for users to communicate today and participate with he and his fellow pioneers, actually makes this a living and evolving vehicle to allow everyone to assist in pushing this frontier faster than it would if left to its own devices. Anyone working in re-inventing the internet user interface, since speech recognition is here today, and provides a hands free computing environment where everyday people can talk to synthetic characters and have them intelligently respond, is missing a huge opportunity to bootstrap themselves forward if they don't purchase this book. A must read!
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