Synthetic Interview Studio

About

Synthetic Interview Studio was a project at the Entertainment Technology Center at Carnegie Mellon University during the Spring of 2008.

What are Synthetic Interviews?

The Synthetic Interview is a unique, patented technology developed by ETC & SCS faculty member Scott Stevens and colleague Mike Christel. This technology allows an individual to have a conversation with a character or persona as if that person were present in real-time.

What did SI Studio do?

Our team of five students worked with a variety of clients nationwide to develop innovative web-based interviews and physical installations using Synthetic Interview technology. Our projects included:

• Producing three online Synthetic Interviews to supplement NASCAR coverage (for FOX Sports)
• Designing, creating video assets, and implementing the interface for a Synthetic Interview installation of Pittsburgh inventor George Westinghouse (for the Senator John Heinz History Center),
• Creating a tool and documentation for ease in future development of Synthetic Interviews (for the Entertainment Technology Center), and
• Researching content for a proposed Synthetic Interview of Charles Darwin (for Duquesne University).

Our team goal was to create immersive experiences that allow guests to have a meaningful conversation with a digital character.