In Japan, technologists have created some kind of cutie-pie cartoonish virtual young woman who follows you around in real life. You won’t get any street cred for having this gal by your side, though, because you’re the only one who can see her. She’s not imaginary–just fake.

Before we go on, take a look. Start the video at about 1:00 since I’m assuming you can’t read Japanese. (And if you can read Japanese, tell me below about how my assumption made an ass out of me. –only do it in Japanese!)

Here’s the video:

I think it looks pretty awesome. However silly it might seem right now, it’s definitely a step in technology having someone or something right there in your own “augmented reality”–as they’re calling this. And not just to see her, but to be able to interact with her. It would take some pretty sophisticated computering to be able to have this virtual person respond to finer interactions, but we should be hopeful that one day this companion can play chess or even have a conversation.

Of course, like the Internet and television before it, this technology can also give a person with isolatory tendencies the chance to become more so. Technology has its inherent, dichotomous positives/negatives.

But let’s stay positive here:

How about this scenario off the top of my head: prisoners too dangerous to be left with other inmates could still be in solitary confinement without being alone. One creative commenter on YouTube said, “wow that´s scary… imagine horror videogames in the future.”

Can you come up with some other applications?

to new plateaus,

-Brandon