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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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Catalogue reference: 89eb0c1c08c0e60d

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

Readers, in their own words

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Reader review5

Finally, an explanation that clicks

This is the one to get if you are serious about uncanny valley.

There is a particular kind of technical book that is dense without being difficult, and this is one of them. A couple of chapters felt like they could have been merged, but that is a minor complaint. It is denser than the page count suggests, and I found myself slowing down around the middle. This is the book I wish had existed when I started working with uncanny valley.

Oliver BrooksBioinformatics researcher · Montreal, QC
Debugging The Uncanny Valley
Reader review3

Good in places

Three stars feels about right. Useful, but not essential.

I bought this on a whim after seeing it mentioned in a forum thread, and I am glad I did. The book rewards careful reading. Skimming it would be a mistake. The explanations are careful without being condescending, which is a difficult balance to strike. It is denser than the page count suggests, and I found myself slowing down around the middle. Fine, but there are stronger books on the same subject if you look around.

Ryan NelsonQA lead · Stockholm, SE
Debugging The Uncanny Valley

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