[Sigia-l] The Uncanny Valley

[Eric Scheid]

While playing about with YASNS (which shall remain nameless), I finally had
an epiphany concerning why their stock template invitations nearly always
irk me.

Although it does vary from service to service, these "invites" are often
written in the 1st person with gushing sincerity, as if it's *me* writing
that message. Problem is, as friendly and enthusiastic and sincere it tries
to be, it's just not how I write when I'm recommending something, and the
people who know me know that. I've even received a couple of back-channel
responses asking if it's really me.

Then I realised -- they are falling into the uncanny valley!

    http://www.arclight.net/~pdb/glimpses/valley.html



So ... something to think about when you start thinking "wouldn't it be cool
if the website could adapt and respond as if it knows you, your wants, your
desires".