Uncanny valley meaning

The uncanny valley refers to the eerie feeling people experience when a humanoid robot or animated character looks almost human, but not quite.


Uncanny valley definitions

Word backwards ynnacnu yellav
Part of speech The term "uncanny valley" is a noun.
Syllabic division uncan-ny val-ley
Plural The plural of uncanny valley is uncanny valleys.
Total letters 13
Vogais (3) u,a,e
Consonants (5) n,c,y,v,l

Uncanny Valley is a concept used to describe the feeling of unease or discomfort that people experience when they encounter an artificial entity that almost looks human but not quite. This phenomenon occurs when robots or computer-generated characters appear almost lifelike but fall short in some aspects, leading to a feeling of creepiness or revulsion in observers.

Roboticists and animators strive to create more realistic and human-like robots and characters in order to enhance their interactions with humans. However, there is a fine line between creating a character that is endearing and one that falls into the uncanny valley.

Origin of the Concept

The term uncanny valley was first coined by Japanese roboticist Masahiro Mori in 1970 to describe his observations of human emotional responses to lifelike robots. He hypothesized that as robots became more human-like in appearance, there would be a point where they would evoke strong feelings of eeriness or disgust before eventually becoming indistinguishable from humans and eliciting positive emotional responses.

Examples in Popular Culture

The uncanny valley phenomenon has been explored in various forms of media, including movies, video games, and literature. Characters like the AI beings in the movie "Ex Machina" or the androids in the TV series "Westworld" are examples of how the concept of the uncanny valley can be used to create tension and intrigue in storytelling.

Implications in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence

For robotics and artificial intelligence developers, navigating the uncanny valley is a crucial challenge. Creating robots and virtual characters that can interact with humans in a seamless and non-threatening way requires a deep understanding of human psychology and aesthetics.

Overcoming the Uncanny Valley

Researchers are constantly working on ways to bridge the gap in the uncanny valley by improving the appearance, movements, and behaviors of robots and animated characters. By focusing on creating realistic yet distinct designs, developers hope to create more engaging and comfortable interactions between humans and artificial entities.


Uncanny valley Examples

  1. The CGI character in the movie looked so lifelike that it fell into the uncanny valley.
  2. The android robot's realistic appearance and movement made it unsettling due to the uncanny valley effect.
  3. The video game character's facial expressions were so close to human, it triggered the uncanny valley sensation.
  4. The wax figure of the celebrity was so eerily accurate that it caused an uncanny valley reaction among visitors.
  5. The virtual reality simulation was so realistic that it evoked feelings of unease related to the uncanny valley phenomenon.
  6. The humanoid robot's almost lifelike appearance made it teeter on the edge of the uncanny valley.
  7. The prosthetic hand was designed to look extremely realistic, but it ended up unsettling people due to the uncanny valley effect.
  8. The deepfake video was so convincing that it crossed into the uncanny valley territory.
  9. The motion capture technology captured the actor's movements with such precision that it entered into the uncanny valley zone.
  10. The 3D animation of the character was so close to human that it got stuck in the uncanny valley chasm.


Most accessed

Search the alphabet

  • #
  • Aa
  • Bb
  • Cc
  • Dd
  • Ee
  • Ff
  • Gg
  • Hh
  • Ii
  • Jj
  • Kk
  • Ll
  • Mm
  • Nn
  • Oo
  • Pp
  • Qq
  • Rr
  • Ss
  • Tt
  • Uu
  • Vv
  • Ww
  • Xx
  • Yy
  • Zz
  • Updated 28/03/2024 - 14:45:16