Debugging The Uncanny Valley

By Kenwright

An engaging exploration of why almost-human faces, voices, and movements can feel eerie, unsettling, and strangely wrong.

Pages: 188
Publication: 2026
Language: English
ISBN: 9798254094791

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There is a strong reading opportunity in the space between Uncanny Valley and Human-Computer Interaction. “Debugging The Uncanny Valley” brings those listed subjects onto the same shelf and gives your next question a place to start. Almost-human design is a fascinating place to ask how appearance, movement, and expectation fit together. Bring a face, voice, or avatar example to the reading and ask which small detail changes your response. Follow the most surprising question first. Sketch an explanation, imagine an alternative, and see what you would need to distinguish them. The best part of an interesting subject is often the next question it unlocks. Save it for the next time you want to follow the idea further.

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Explore Uncanny Valley, Human-Computer Interaction, Artificial Intelligence with a reading approach that gives the ideas somewhere to go. Almost-human design is a fascinating place to ask how appearance, movement, and expectation fit together. Bring a face, voice, or avatar example to the reading and ask which small detail changes your response.

The listed 188 pages give a sense of extent; page count alone does not establish depth or difficulty.

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Publisher’s synopsis

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.

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