Would you like to meet your pets again with the help of AR?

I came across an AR prototype by NTT that lets you interact with your pets in a virtual space. Would you find this interesting?

I love how it completely ignores the owner even after death.

That’s my cat! This simulation would be very realistic.

I think you’re missing the point of my joke.

No, it wouldn’t be my pet. This is just a lousy imitation of the real beings we loved. I loved my pet because it loved me. This isn’t a valuable substitute in my opinion. I don’t think this is good for mental health either. Loss is part of being human, and this could disrupt our behavior and lead to issues for some people.

Some would say it’s just an advancement in videos. Would you say, ‘Nope that’s not my pet,’ if you saw a video of it for the first time? I’m getting sick of these concepts and the people who think they’re real.

A video is a capture of a real moment. This is just a 3D model in XR. Even with high-fidelity tech, it’s not something I’d be interested in. It’s not about the technology; it’s about the idea behind it.

This is actually a sequence of videos made in a 3D capture studio.

Which concepts do you mean? The app in the video is real, if that’s what you mean.

The farthest I’d go is 3D video, like an immersive Apple video. Anything else feels like a mockery of the real person or pet.

No. If my pet passes away, seeing it animated would either destroy me emotionally or ruin the closure I have with my furry friend. Never produce this. An AI pet that’s unique could help those who suffer from loneliness, though.

I think this would just remind me that she’s gone.

This would just make me incredibly sad.

Nah. Something feels off about using pets or people that have passed. I prefer having finite time with my pets. It might be like looking at a photograph.

I imagine people reacted similarly to photos when that tech was new. Maybe reactions will change in 20 years.

A new level of ‘Black Mirror’ has been unlocked.

As an imaginary pet, this is cool! But recreating actual pets that are no longer alive seems unethical and weird. This could fulfill someone with intense grief, but I’d reconsider the direction of this project.

It makes me sad to think about someone hiding photos because they feel it’s wrong to remember. Here’s a link on dealing with grief involving photos.

This feels a bit more like having a real doll made of your deceased spouse than just keeping pictures.

Yes, it may seem that way to you. But it’s not fair to speculate about the mental health of those who might want to use something like this.