If you visit the Lights of Liberty Show in Philadelphia, you will not have to pay the $17.76 entrance fee to speak with a virtual Ben Franklin because his ghost is located in the free visitors area. There, you'll be able to choose from a list of 160 prepared questions or type your own request. And Ben's image will appear to float in front of you, like a ghost. But don't worry! In fact, you'll see a video of Ralph Archibald, an actor who has been portraying Franklin for more than 25 years. And Ben's ghost will give you the most appropriate of about 800 possible answers from its own database using a technology developed at Carnegie Mellon University and already in use by some medical firms online.
So here are the facts about this exhibit.
An exhibit developed by the Entertainment Technology Center at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and now open in Philadelphia at least gives the illusion that the founding father can still keep up his end of a conversation.
Called "Ben Franklin's Ghost," it is open across the street from Independence Hall in the visitors center for the Lights of Liberty Show, a sound-and-light walking tour after dark through Independence National Historical Park.
"People who wish to talk with Franklin's Ghost will find it floating on a large screen above this table, which holds a book containing questions about his life. They can touch the questions that interest them or type in other ones while Franklin answers in real time." (Credit: CMU Press Release).
How does this work?
The Papacy is no other than the ghost of the deceased Roman Empire, sitting crowned upon the grave thereof; For so did the Papacy start up on a Sudden out of the Ruins of that Heathen Power.
—Thomas Hobbes (1579–1688)
Using a Carnegie Mellon-patented technology called Synthetic Interview, visitors can ask questions of Franklin, either by choosing from 160 prepared questions or typing in their own questions based on a list of key words.
Computer software then calls up the most appropriate of about 800 possible answers as performed by actor Ralph Archbald, who has portrayed Franklin in hundreds of appearances in the Philadelphia area over the past 25 years. These digitally recorded images are then displayed using a 150-year-old illusion known as Pepper's Ghost, which makes Archbald's image appear to float in front of the visitor like a ghost.
You might think that this technology is only useful to entertain your kids. But you'll be wrong. This technology, invented and patented by Scott Stevens and Mike Christel is already used online.
For example, MedRespond, a technology company servicing the healthcare and medical communities, already has started to design and develop Synthetic Interviews for online interactive applications.
If you happen to see Ben Franklin's Ghost, don't ask him silly questions, such as what will the host city for the Olympic Games in 2012 -- tip: the answer is London! Instead, please take some pictures of the ghost in the air and tell me where to find them online. Thanks.
Sources: Various news releases and web sites
The consciousness of being deemed dead, is next to the presumable unpleasantness of being so in reality. One feels like his own ghost unlawfully tenanting a defunct carcass.
—Herman Melville (1819–1891)
Related stories can be found in the following categories.
Displays
Education
Human Computer Interface
Software
Vision and Visualization Apps.