Customer Reviews

Virtual Humans: A Build-It-Yourself Kit, Complete with Software and Step-by-Step Instructions

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

For starters, the book gives some good advice and fair examples. The subject does add fuel to the cerebral fire.

That being said, however, the book uses the software primarily from Yapanda.com. Yapanda.com has not been online for months and does not show that it will be anytime soon. I consider it to be a dead site. The software on the CD will work on an XP but again it is dated. One will find better solutions on the net these days.

Another chapter deals with virtual, realtime 3D faces and heads for your applications. One of the best is also out of business. There is a demo program for it on the CD but it's worthless as one is incapable of saving the work. And if it were possible, there is nothing between the software (chatbot engine and 3D software) to interface, nor are there any explanations on how to achieve such things.

The author's site is still running, however, even his links are outdated. I doubt he's done anything to it since 2001.

The book is good for material and gathering ideas. Don't expect it to be a step-by-step since the links for the related software don't exist anymore.

This is an excellent introduction to the use of virtual actors in software. It covers all the basic ground: facial display and animation, voice generation and synthesis, home control, and simple agent technology. It includes a CD with lots of great free software (and demos of commercial software) that covers most of the subjects Plantec covers. It lives up to its billing as a "do it yourself kit" for virtual humans. I highly recommend it to those just putting their toes into the water.

I do not, however, recommend this book for that small group of people who already have familiarity with the subject. I bought it thinking that it might cover some material that I have missed. It doesn't, and I think that anybody working in the field will have a similar experience. I was particularly disappointed by the use of a simple branching boolean tree system for artificial intelligence. Agent technology has gone far beyond this. I recognize that it's appropriate for beginners, but again, this book has nothing to offer anybody with experience in the field.

The two phrases that first attracted me to this book (after Virtual Humans) were "complete" and "step-by-step". In a normal day of developing instructional resources and supporting some 700 faculty members, anything promising to be "complete" and clear gets my attention. Understand also, although I have a background in technology, I am far from being a 'techie', and just don't have the time to run down that path now anyway. Let me simply say that since first purchasing and reading Peter's book, I have ordered a dozen or so more, and have passed them out to several faculty members who are now creatively exploring the use of virtual humans in their coursework.

This book is complete, step-by-step and accessible to anyone with a basic understanding of the PC (can you install a program and find it again?). The CD that comes with the book provides not only the software, but a clear "how to" for setting up the software and your computer to host a satisfying range of v-humans...all within about 30 minutes from unsealing the CD. How refreshing is that?!

The book itself moves from a basic intro to the concepts of virtual humans, to a clear introduction for using the included software, to an introduction to other available software online (most of it free), to a vision for the more advanced applications of v-human technologies. I spend most of my time living in the first 12 or 13 chapters (the limits of my techiness), but am constantly drawn to the magic of the later ones.

This book is well dog-eared, fully marked-up in a rainbow of colors, and travels with me to provide those quick sparks whenever I need one.

Let me also quickly respond to the comments posted about Peter's review of the "24 hour" book. I purchased both books at the same time. I would simply say that the two books are a real contrast in the current approaches to virtual human and 'bot' technology. The '24 hour' book was clearly targeted at the techies in our midest. After my first 24 hours, I had made my way part-way through the first chapter, still flipping back and forth to figure out what I was reading. That is not an indictment of the book, but my simple perspective that the book was written for those with very strong technical background, presenting the 'bot' world as the arena for those technical skills. On the contrasting side, Peter's book presents a v-human technology as accessible to the non-techie, encouraging a focus on the interpersonal, and 'human' side of the technology. One is not better or worse than the other, but they are very different.

Let me close by simply saying that I have an order in the works for about two dozen more of Peter's books, already assigned to the faculty and staff members clammering for them.

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....

The book is great introduction to the concept of virtual humans...BUT the included software is so buggy as to be totally useless. To give the author credit he has addressed this through his yahoo community...over and over, and still there is no version that reliably installs.

Buy the book for the concepts, through the CD away and save yourself the heartburn.

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.

The software will not download. The web site you are directed to as an alternative to the disc in order to download the programs does not operate with Vista. The frustration level is over the top. Had the software downloaded, this would be a great product. Sadley that is not the case.

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.

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...

The book is truly an excellent guide to help the novice chatterbot [V-person] builder to get a feel of what is possible with this type of technology in its broadest interpretation. Even the non-technical people will find the book a pleasant read, since the author himself is certainly no programmer.

With his humorous way of writing and the brilliant anecdotes it feels more like taking a quiet stroll through a park while listening to the author speak then actually ... well.. reading I'd have to say. There certainly wasn't any effort from my part to go through the material.

Somewhat experienced AIML developers will certainly appreciate the first part of the book that deals with virtual character development. Of course, chapter 17, dedicated to this particular scripting technology, is certainly one that gives a good overview of the online AIML community.

3D developers will find Peter's chapters on human representation, and some of the guest writers' contributions, practical in creating realistic facial animation. Blending his classical psychology education with personal observation of human behaviour. Not only saying how, but also why to implement a particular effect.