the CyberBabes versus the SuperModels

The time is nearing in which we, humans, can sit back and let the machines do all the work. One area in which this topic can be taken advantage of is modeling.

Software cyberbabes, created by powerful computers, sophisticated modelling packages and active imaginations are getting extremely human-like.

Virtual cyberbabes are used in advertising campaigns, hit shoot-em-up games, and the pop industry, from Lara Croft to virtual pop idols, T-Babe and Diki or DK-96.

Some of the best 3D models around are currently on show at an exhibition which has just opened in London called Perfectly Real: Women in Bits and Bytes.

But they raise questions about what people might be able to do with the models if they get too realistic and we cannot tell the difference anymore.

Why would we want to use a machine generated model to display our consumer goods? There are a lot of reasons; the computer generated woman can work 24/7 in any weather, it can’t complain, the clothing will always fit perfectly, the right model spec are not an issue, they don’t require pay… Get the idea?

As these computer models become more realistic, concerns arise about capturing the true image of real women. To do this, designers are purposely injecting, what they call, imperfections, so that the generated models appear to be more true to life.

Brazilian creation Kaya has what the artist describes as a large mouth and teeth, far-apart eyes and thick eyebrows, deliberately designed to represent “realistic woman with slight imperfections”.

You can even see her pores, and these touches supposedly make her more real.

Her makers intend to give her a strong character and let her live online, “so people can control what she says and her movements through the web,” Ms Gomez explains.

She does look more “realistic” than many of the airbrushed creations which grace the pages of both men and women’s magazines every day.

But perhaps some might ask why far-apart eyes, thick eyebrows, gaping pores should be seen as “imperfections”.

“In this time of real perfection in terms of plastic surgery, when it comes to the digital, we only believe them if they are not 100% perfect and that is where the power lies,” says Ms Gomez.

I believe that after reading this article, in the BBC News, I will keep a subconscious eye on the direction that this all takes. This is the beginning of a new industry and shortly after this grabs hold of the world, our TV and movies will follow suit. (Movies are already experimenting with the technology.) I’m interested in seeing the time when we will watch these creations and no longer wonder if it is real or not. The images may become so life like that we can’t tell the difference.

Source: BBC News