I’ve been digging through early ’80s SIGGRAPH reels and, well, here’s a video of a woman kissing a CGI robot goodnight.
Interface is a short clip put together by the NYIT Computer Graphics Lab for 1984’s SIGGRAPH, an annual conference focused on computer graphics. It’s possible the clip actually showed up in 1985, or maybe even both years, but that’s getting us into the digital weeds. This segment was meant to show off an early attempt at a 3D graphics technique called reflection mapping.
“I’m going out tonight, so…you don’t have to wait up.”
Back in those early days, 3D had that extra special touch of uncanniness. What’s that robot really thinking, you know? Especially when the discordant synth voice kicks in. There’s something about that retro reflective robot aesthetic, though. Reminds me a bit of The Timekeeper circa 1992. But that’s a different story.
The rest of NYIT’s 1984 reel is equally surreal. The whole thing is over on the Internet Archive. Also part of the reel is 3DV – that’s DynaDigiDatavac – a proof of concept for 3D robot show hosts. It also includes some of the early work done for that unfinished animated 3D film The Works. It’s what all humans have been waiting for!
