A new and experimental concept referred to as the "human uber" gives new meaning to the phrase 'living vicariously through someone else.' Japanese researchers have developed a type of screen which, when strapped to a person's head, essentially allows them to act as someone else's body. The technology is called ChameleonMask; through it, users can more or less FaceTime through life. The 'surrogate' wearing a screen goes out into the world and the user, watching through a camera, remains behind.
via: Sway.com
The ChameleonMask's website suggests people such surrogates for long-distance business trips, or even cosplaying purposes.When MIT Tech Review writer Will Knight tweeted about the ChameleonMask, the internet began to take notice of this bizarre creation.
Knight tweeted a photo of the screen in use. In the same tweet, he also shared that the screen's inventor, Jin Rekimoto, called the technology "surprisingly natural."For those who love (hate) #HumanUber (#ChameleonMask). please take a look at the project page… https://t.co/jeqJgIrut7— Jun Rekimoto : 暦本純一 (@Jun Rekimoto : 暦本純一) 1517618922.0
Here's a video demonstration of the Human Uber:
The "human uber" website also includes this quick video with visual examples of the tech. "We hypothesize physical and social telepresence can be embodied by a surrogate human who imitates the remote user," the video explains.@rkmt giving the #emtechasia audience a peek into the emerging immersive technologies his lab is developing #AR #VR… https://t.co/MInfezNzur— EmTech Asia ➡️ Virtual (@EmTech Asia ➡️ Virtual) 1517296987.0
via: Sway.com
You can see the whole setup in more detail here, with the screen connecting to a thick pair of goggle-like straps. This might also look like the plot of a dystopian sci-fi movie.Of course, Twitter users proceeded to point out some funny (or potentially worrying) pop-culture parallels.
Exhibit A: That time How I Met Your Mother saw Marshall FaceTiming in to a meal via iPad and an awkwardly stuffed Marshall-dummy.@willknight @AnitaKenobi https://t.co/AB0dbsZZCV— The Cartoon Loon (@The Cartoon Loon) 1517429542.0
@willknight The Phil bot is finally here. https://t.co/7AwFqBrPKh— Priloza👄 (@Priloza👄) 1517303916.0
Basically, this isn't the first time someone has had the idea to make something (or someone) else their surrogates in life.
@willknight https://t.co/c2IUNIqb4q— R-Millz (@R-Millz) 1517328072.0
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