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Automatic Machinima News-Broadcasting

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the almost-listenable dept.

MattSparkes writes "Researchers claim to have produced software that automatically generates timely video news bulletins, presented by computer-animated characters, which could revolutionise current affairs broadcasting. The system, called News at Seven, takes RSS news feeds and does some formatting before passing it to an avatar from Half-Life 2 to read out. Based on keywords, the system also draws in video from YouTube and images from Flickr to supplement the speech."

8 of 138 comments (clear)

  1. Sweet! by Cleon · · Score: 4, Funny

    Nifty! Now, how long before they come up with a Max Headroom version? :D

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  2. And in other news... by d474 · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...is me. I have been created. I speak about news. Thank you for watching.

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  3. Skeptical by geekmansworld · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Isn't this the basically the same thing as Ananova? And didn't that come out, like, 6 years ago? I am skeptical. News anchors, don't start looking for a new job just yet.

  4. I can see it already... by Control+Group · · Score: 3, Funny

    This just in!

    "They're waiting for you, Gordon - in the test chamber."

    Cutscene at 11.

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  5. Re:i wonder by gt_mattex · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So did a great many factory workers when asked if their jobs could ever be automated by 'machines' run by 'computers'. A great many things seemed unlikely in the past and are common place today. Hell a great many things seemed unlikely 50 years ago what will the next 50 bring? Is automated news anchors that far out of the perspective?

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  6. Links by martyb · · Score: 3, Informative

    Here are some links for your viewing pleasure:


    news at seven home page

    Video Demonstration of News at Seven - 10/16/06 (.wmv - 24Mb)

    Video Demonstration of News at Seven Celebrity News - 10/16/06 (.wmv - 25Mb)

    Video Demonstration of News at Seven Science News - 10/16/06 (.wmv - 12Mb)

    News at Seven on the ABC News Tonight podcast.

    Video demonstration of News At Seven.
  7. But what about the BIAS? by Some_Llama · · Score: 3, Funny

    "before passing it to an avatar from Half-Life 2 to read out"

    It won't be long until these "avatars" start biasing the news towards their personal beliefs.. like denegrating head crabs, or constantly slanting the news against Dr. Breen.

    Not to mention the crowbar lobby's already powerful influence...

  8. Already in production by rlp · · Score: 4, Funny

    CBS has been using this technology for their evening news since September 5th. I think that the virtual presenter is named 'Katie'.

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