So-called haptic devices capture one’s touch—how firm a handshake is, the way one hugs, and how one moves her hands. The overall result will be an avatar that looks and behaves like the person it represents, but can do so even when that person is no longer alive, sort of like Disney World’s Abraham Lincoln but with artificial intelligence and social-interaction capabilities. After one passes on, his great-great-great-grandchildren can enter a “holodeck,” sit on the long-deceased ancestor’s lap, tell him about their day, experience his avatar tell a story, give a hug, and provide advice. A
...more
