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Uncanny Valley

Debugging The Uncanny Valley

By Kenwright

A thought-provoking look at the uncanny valley and why almost-human creations trigger discomfort, fear, and fascination.

WHAT THE PUBLISHER HIGHLIGHTS

  • Understand why almost-human visuals and behaviors can provoke discomfort.
  • Explore the psychological roots behind the uncanny valley effect.
  • Gain insight into how realism, emotion, and perception interact in design.

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INSIDE THE BOOK

About this book

Debugging The Uncanny Valley dives into the strange psychological space where realism becomes discomfort. When something looks nearly human but not quite right, our instincts react immediately. This book explores that unsettling threshold through the lenses of perception, design, emotion, and technology. From lifelike robots and digital avatars to synthetic voices and animated faces, it examines why imperfect realism can feel more disturbing than obvious fiction. Clear, accessible, and engaging, this book is ideal for readers curious about the intersection of psychology, artificial intelligence, robotics, and human-computer interaction.

From the publisher’s description

  • Understand why almost-human visuals and behaviors can provoke discomfort.
  • Explore the psychological roots behind the uncanny valley effect.
  • Gain insight into how realism, emotion, and perception interact in design.
  • Learn why robots, avatars, and digital humans can feel believable yet disturbing.

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ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE

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Reader review4

Good value, minor gaps

Very good, with a few caveats. The core material is strong.

I picked this up after getting stuck on a project and it turned out to be exactly the right book at the right time. The index and cross-references are surprisingly good, which matters for a book I will come back to. The progression from chapter to chapter is well thought out; nothing feels out of order. The examples are small enough to type out and experiment with, which is exactly what I want from a book like this. Recommended, with the caveat that it is not a gentle introduction.

Lucas SanchezSolutions architect · Montreal, QC
Debugging The Uncanny Valley
Reader review4

A worthwhile read

Very good, with a few caveats. The core material is strong.

I picked this up after getting stuck on a project and it turned out to be exactly the right book at the right time. The code samples assume a particular environment, which took a bit of fiddling to get running properly. I appreciated the honesty about what the book does not cover — it saved me from expecting things that were not there. The chapters on uncanny valley are the strongest — the examples are stripped down but complete, and I could follow along without constant guessing. Worth picking up if you already have the basics. Set realistic expectations and you will get a lot out of it.

Robert MartinezResearch scientist · Oslo, NO
Debugging The Uncanny Valley

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