Cloning of people remains controversial. While it’s true that often lost in the debate is the distinction between cloning a whole person and the so-called “therapeutic cloning” of cells or organs to save lives, there are nevertheless serious ethical issues involved here.

For many purposes, an entirely new kind of “cloning” is starting to happen. It shouldn’t promote any ethical qualms at all.

At the University of Iowa, a program called Virtual Soldier Research is underway according to Wired News. As the name suggests, it was originally developed for military purposes. However, like many cutting-edge military projects, civilian applications are quickly following.

The virtual soldier (called “Santos”) is a computer construct that displays the physical behavior and responses of a human in a simulated environment.

Here’s what I mean by that. Let’s say person smashes his fist into a computer monitor, physically expressing frustration at the malfunctioning of a so-called labor saving appliance, his personal computer. (I spent two hours today on the telephone with technical support representatives, and this action crossed my mind more than once. I’m sure you can relate.)

When a person does something of this sort, a variety of physiological factors dramatically change. Cortisol (a measure of stress) rises. Heart rate and blood pressure also increase. Breathing becomes deeper, and adrenaline flows into muscles. These are but a few of the physiological phenomena involved.

Depending on how hard the person strikes the computer monitor, additional physical responses may include pain emanating from the hand and even bleeding. (Perhaps I’m fortunate to have just struck the computer virtually rather than physically.)

Santos is a completely digital entity that nevertheless displays physiological responses in exactly the same manner as a living, physical human. Of course, he does so in a digital environment — but it is a digital environment in which all of the physical laws of nature are faithfully represented.

For example, should Santos strike his computer monitor, not only would he suffer “pain” but the monitor would move and perhaps even break in response to his blow.

Simulated physical environments in which objects obey the laws of physics are not new. Nearly 30 years ago, I was a consultant writing documentation for CAD/CAM systems running on supercomputers at Control Data.

Engineers are now so certain of the accuracy of these computer models that venture capitalists consider them adequate proof of concept for new products and devices.

What’s new is modeling of physiological systems in people the same way. A set of well-understood rules governs Santos’ behavior. Thanks to these rules, he can be short or tall and there’s no reason “he” can’t be a “she.”

CAD/CAM representations of products can be put into the same “virtual world” as Santos, and his interactions with these products can be studied. This is especially helpful in evaluating ergonomics — the study of how equipment meets people’s physical needs.

Caterpillar Corporation is already using Santos to determine that its heavy equipment is both ergonomic and easy to service. If the equipment doesn’t meet these requirements in the virtual world with Santos, it’s virtually modified until it does.

Nothing is actually manufactured until it’s known to work properly. For instance, while Santos performs some sort of routine maintenance on a simulated truck, his virtual heart rate and other key physiological parameters are being monitored.

If the work is too strenuous, it’s back to the drawing board. (Obviously, Santos is modeled to represent a typical operator.)

Future envisioned uses for Santos include forensics and accident reconstruction.

In my mind (a kind of virtual environment), I put Santos together with the software that runs the Philip K. Dick robot. Long-term readers of Penny Sleuth may recall that I was invited to the Next Fest “Festival of the Future” in Chicago two years ago and again last year.

At Next Fest, the FedEx Institute of Robotics and Hansen Software jointly showcased this talking robot. It had facial expressions and conversational skills so impressive that it gave me the momentary illusion of talking to a real person. It was eerie.

Use that software to add facial expressions and conversational skills to Santos, and it would enable a whole new level of video game. Now couple all this with “agent” software coming out of MIT’s Artificial Intelligence Labs, and it’s an exceptionally user-friendly interface for finding information on the World Wide Web.

If your agent has a personality you like, it will give a whole new dimension to surfing. It also might make the process of doing web-based research a lot more fun for kids.

To your profitable future,
Jonathan Kolber
February 28, 2007

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Penny Sleuth Contributor

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