Virtual Humans: A Build-It-Yourself Kit, Complete With Software and Step-By-Step Instructions

by Peter M. Plantec

Provides instructions on creating a synthetic being on a computer, with information on adding unique personalities, realistic voices and faces, and emotions.

288 pages, Paperback

First published December 22, 2003

Reviews

[Greg Chabala · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a highly disappointing book. Written in conversational style, there was almost no concrete examples of useful behaviors for 'virtual humans'.

Much of the emphasis was on social behavior, personality types, and musings on future applications. Any moderately complicated task is labeled as 'Maybe you can be the one to write this functionality, in your custom V-Human engine', even though the book does not touch upon the complexity of authoring an engine.

More can be learned online than can be derived from the book's content. Its only redeeming feature may be that it has preserved some interesting content on its included CD that would otherwise have been lost. The usefulness of that content is debatable, however.

Plantec is a hack writer, culling together his information from more technical colleagues.

[an. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Actually, my impressions of this book can be summed up in a single 4-word-long phrase, that is: "a waste of time". (Maybe a fifth word--"total"--should be added? Yeah, I guess it should.) The book seems to be intended as a basic guide to creating "virtual humans," but it turns out to be even too basic for people who know nothing of the subject. Honestly, the author's tendency to state that “the problem was too complex for him to grasp, therefore you should search for technical details somewhere else” is more than irritating. Thus, if you are even slightly interested in getting to know how to create your own "virtual human," do yourself a favour and don't waste your time on reading the book – more can be learned on-line with far less effort on your side.

[Ahmed Elsherbiny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Generally good book. It talks about virtual characters on computers that can interact with human and their potential and importance.
When I started reading it I felt bit bored as first couple of chapters were too theoretical for me, but as I go on the book started to be interesting.
The author talk about things needed to develop virtual human, personality and consciousness. Then he mention scripting for allowing virtual character to make good conversation.
Then he try to convince reader that virtual humans can do good job as a receptionist in a hotel, travel agent, or even banker.
The good thing in this book that it allows you to try and develop most of concepts presented.