Uncanny Valley

/ʌnˌkæn.i ˈvæl.i/ noun.

A cognitive phenomenon identified by robotics professor Masahiro Mori in 1970, the 'Uncanny Valley' effect is an inverted bell curve signifying a general tendency of humans to experience less affinity for mechanical objects as their appearance, movements, and sounds approach human resemblance as a robot. This decline in affinity becomes discomfort because as the machine more approximates a human body and head, and peaks where the face most accurately resembles a human face while the expressions it is programmed with, not being as intricate or precise as real human expressions, create a more 'alive but inhuman' impression.
As the physical appearance, movements, expressions, and vocalizations of the robot begin to more approximate those of a human, that 'creep factor' declines until the human form, face, movements, expressions, and vocalizations (and perhaps scents, breathing patterns, and pulse) is replicated by the robot at which point human discomfort with the robot would, theoretically, vanish.

"I just met Ron DeSantis and shook his hand. It was so cold and clammy. All my hairs stood on end and I was shaking because the uncanny valley feeling he gave me... dude, I need a drink. He's not real. He's just... he's not human. No soul.... no soul... no soul. Let's get that drink. Dude? Dude, what are you looking at? Why aren't you looking at m...

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!! OH GOD NO! YOU'RE RON DESANTIS!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH......."

"Honey?" *Shaking him* "Honey, wake up!"

*Waking up* "Whu... whu? Omg, baby... it was just a dream. I was with Brad and we just met Ron Desantis, and he had this wicked strong uncanny valley vibe... and then... and then Brad was Ron DeSantis.... I..."

"Shhhh honey, it's okay. It was just a dream. I'm here now."

"Is that Dozer under the covers with us?"

"Yeah honey." *too Dozer under covers* "Hey Dozie! Who's a good boy! See honey? It's Dozer."
*Throws cover off*

"Hi Buddy! I'm Ron DeSantis and I eat children.... 's textbooks. I mean meet, uhhh. oh, 'yeetie'. I 'yeetie' children's..."

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" -but forever.

The End

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