# Exploring Digital Immortality Through Somnium Space Technology
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Somnium Space
Somnium Space is a pioneering platform in the metaverse that offers a unique service known as Live Forever mode. This innovative feature enables the creation of digital avatars that preserve elements of users even after their physical presence has ceased.
Section 1.1: The Mechanics of Digital Avatars
In Somnium Space, users interact through VR headsets and controllers, with plans to incorporate full-body haptic suits that use motion capture and biometric data. This comprehensive data collection includes facial expressions, body language, voice, and various personality traits, allowing the avatar to engage dynamically with living friends and family members. While the initial concept involved death bots and chatbots based on deceased individuals' data, Somnium Space advances this idea by offering a fully animated avatar that can converse and interact in lifelike ways.
Subsection 1.1.1: The Inspiration Behind the Project
Artur Sychov, the CEO of Somnium Space, was motivated to develop this project following the loss of his father to cancer. Concerned about his children growing up without knowing their grandfather, he envisioned a feature that would allow future generations to engage with their ancestors' avatars. In a conversation with Maxwell Strachan from Vice, he shared the profound implications of this technology:
“Literally, if I die — and I have this data collected — people can come or my kids, they can come in, and they can have a conversation with my avatar, with my movements, with my voice.”
Section 1.2: Ethical Considerations of Digital Afterlife
As technology ventures into concepts of digital afterlife, it raises significant ethical and privacy concerns. Sychov emphasizes that data collection is conducted with utmost care and that no information is sold; however, the ethical implications are still a work in progress, as Somnium Space is set to launch fully next year.
Chapter 2: The Challenges of Digital Legacy
This video delves into Somnium Space's Live Forever mode, exploring how it leverages the Experience Data Format (EDF) to create immersive digital identities.
In this interview, founder Artur Sychov discusses the intricacies of Live Forever mode and its potential impact on human relationships and legacy.
The ethical dilemmas surrounding self-representation emerge: when an idealized version of ourselves is created, do we relinquish control over our digital selves? Will families have the right to disable a deceased loved one's avatar? Furthermore, how will our ability to communicate with past loved ones affect our grieving process and notions of closure? These questions are critical as they challenge our understanding of social interaction, memory, and the concept of legacy in the digital age.
Ginger Liu is the founder of Ginger Media & Entertainment, a Ph.D. candidate researching photography, death, and artificial intelligence, as well as a podcast producer, journalist, author, artist, and filmmaker.