Apr 26 2013
Dmitry Itskov, founder of the 2045 Initiative and Global Future 2045 congress (GF2045) has announced that he will unveil the Dmitry Avatar-A head -- the world's most human-like android head -- at the GF2045 congress, scheduled for June 15-16 at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City.
The Dmitry Avatar-A head is an exact robotic replica of the head of Mr. Dmitry Itskov himself and was created by award-winning roboticist Dr. David Hanson, founder of Hanson Robotics. Hanson is best known for his robotic androids of Albert Einstein and Philip K. Dick, and the latter will also be exhibited at the GF2045 congress.
Dmitry Itskov himself commented: "The world's best two creators of state-of-the-art robotic faces -- Dr. Ishiguro of Japan and Dr. Hanson -- are speakers at our GF2045 congress. In this project Dr. Hanson pushed the state-of-the-art even further. This achievement shows that science is literally just a few steps away from being able to make an artificial human head and body shape that is extremely realistic and nearly indistinguishable from the original."
"The Dmitry Avatar-A head represents the most expressive facial robot in history and far exceeds the life-like characteristics of previous robot portraits of humans in both technology and artistry," stated David Hanson. "The Dmitry Avatar-A head can establish eye contact, recognize faces, and carries out natural spoken conversation. In the case of Dmitry Itskov, the robot will be controlled by Dmitry, enabling the Avatar-A head to speak both Russian and English."
Facial expressions were created with 36 degrees of freedom (servomotors) with high-resolution sensors in the eyes. The Dmitry Avatar-A head also benefits from a new hyper-expressive formulation of Hanson's proprietary nanotech material called "Frubber," a spongy, structured elastic polymer that expertly mimics the movement of real human musculature and skin using 1/20th the power of other materials, as well as new mechanisms for improved facial expressions, explained Hanson. The Dmitry Avatar-A head is built for real use and is designed as a whole system for practical deployment as a telepresence representative. According to Hanson, the Dmitry Avatar-A head represents "a leap into a bold new future. The age of avatars has arrived!"
About the 2045 Initiative
Founded by Dmitry Itskov in February 2011 the main goals of the 2045 Initiative include the creation and realization of a new strategy for the development and self-directed evolution of humanity, based on spiritual and scientific breakthroughs. The main science mega-project of the 2045 Initiative, known as the Avatar Project, aims to create technologies enabling the transfer of an individual's personality to a more advanced non-biological carrier, and thereby extend life, including to the point of immortality.
About the Global Future 2045 congress
Organized annually by the 2045 Initiative, GF2045 will be attended by visionaries and world-class practitioners in science, technology and ethics, as well as educators, futurists, philosophers, and spiritual leaders. Congress discussions will include challenges to our global civilization, brain modeling, life support systems for the brain to extend human life, brain-machine interfaces, consciousness, interfaith discussions, and the synthesis of science and spiritual traditions. Speakers include: Ray Kurzweil, Dr. Marvin Minsky, Dr. George Church, Dr. James Martin, Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, Dr. Hiroshi Ishiguro, Dr. Theodore Berger, Dr. Ed Boyden and others. A full list is on the GF2045 website.