Technology, Gaming and the Age of Milo

While this blog generally ruminates about social media, I had to include this video, just released from by the people at Ted.com, a unique non-profit dedicated to "Ideas Worth Spreading."  This video features an update on game developer Peter Molyneux's "Milo," essentially a video game incorporating advanced artificial intelligence, motion and voice detection, and a series of technologies that give the user the illusion that he or she is actually interacting with the character on screen - in this case, a 10 year-old boy who has just relocated with family from London to the USA, somewhere in New England.

While details of the game are still somewhat sketchy, it's similar in general concept to "The Sims," albeit on a vastly more sophisticated level.  The user takes on the identity of an imaginary playmate of sorts, and will have the ability to direct Milo's actions, and thus change his future path as a person.  Imagine a horror scenario in which Milo responds to threats with bravery or cowardice or even recklessness, depending on how you've treated him.

I've always found this concept incredibly amazing - and once available (or if - that's still unclear), I would likely buy the Xbox game system to experience this cutting edge technology.  Milo's a product designed to work with the new "Kinect" add-on for the Xbox, which allows for the video and audio interaction.

There's a great deal of skepticism about the reality of this product - even Molyneux admits that this AI (artificial intelligence) child incorporates "smoke and mirrors" to create the illusion of interaction - but viable or not, it's the future of interactive entertainment.