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The Uncanny Valley
Why are monster-movie zombies so horrifying
and talking animals so fascinating?
Written and illustrated by Dave Bryant
... a second peak where resemblance to humanity is complete.

Glimpses—The Uncanny Valley
http://www.arclight.net/~pdb/nonfiction/uncanny-valley.html

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The Uncanny Valley

Why are monster-movie zombies so horrifying
and talking animals so fascinating?

Written and illustrated by Dave Bryant

Japanese roboticist Doctor Masahiro Mori is not exactly a household name—but, for the speculative fiction community at least, he could prove to be an important one. The reason why can be summed up in a simple, strangely elegant phrase that translates into English as “the uncanny valley”.
Though originally intended to provide an insight into human psychological reaction to robotic design, the concept expressed by this phrase is equally applicable to interactions with nearly any nonhuman entity. Stated simply, the idea is that if one were to plot emotional response against similarity to human appearance and movement, the curve is not a sure, steady upward trend. Instead, there is a peak shortly before one reaches a completely human “look” . . . but then a deep chasm plunges below neutrality into a strongly negative response before rebounding to a second peak where resemblance to humanity is complete.

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<center><h2>The Uncanny Valley</h2></center> <p></p><center><h4>Why are monster-movie zombies so horrifying<br> and talking animals so fascinating?</h4></center> <p></p><div class="first"><center><b>Written and illustrated by Dave Bryant</b></center></div> <p></p><div class="first">Japanese roboticist Doctor Masahiro Mori is not exactly a household name&#x2014;but, for the speculative fiction community at least, he could prove to be an important one. The reason why can be summed up in a simple, strangely elegant phrase that translates into English as &#x201c;the uncanny valley&#x201d;.</div> <div class="body">Though originally intended to provide an insight into human psychological reaction to robotic design, the concept expressed by this phrase is equally applicable to interactions with nearly any nonhuman entity. Stated simply, the idea is that if one were to plot emotional response against similarity to human appearance and movement, the curve is not a sure, steady upward trend. Instead, there is a peak shortly before one reaches a completely human &#x201c;look&#x201d; .&nbsp;.&nbsp;. but then a deep chasm plunges below neutrality into a strongly negative response before rebounding to a second peak where resemblance to humanity is complete.</div>