Are you ready to meet your alter ego?


              Imagine if you have the power to chose to be anyone that you want to be.  Would you prefer to be the president? Or maybe a movie star, singer, dancer, warrior, hero, or even a bird.  Sound familiar?  In a way, these small things are the manifestation of our alter ego.  Most of us are living an alternate reality without even realizing it.   My name is Tony H., and I am a current student at the Colorado Technical University.  As part of the Futuring and Innovation course (CS875), we were asked to create this blog to discuss something we are interested in.

              The world premiere of Fox’s Alter Ego (https://www.fox.com/alter-ego) on September 22, 2021, brings us something that the world has never seen before, the live performance of singers showcased as digital alter ego version of themselves.  The characters somewhat resemble Fort Nite characters appearing in real life, seemingly solid, authentic, and not as a hologram we have seen before. Every movement and sound was synced to a real-life performer behind backstage.  Despite their cartoonish characters and strange effects (i.e., glowing hair, moving tattoos, and fires), their singing performance was nothing short of a live concert.  The show offers the chance for hidden artists to showcase their pure talent without the fear of being judged by how they look, how old they are, or where they come from. 

              It is very much similar to how we become immersed when playing a video game. We can almost imagine ourselves as the main character of the game.  On top of that, technological advancement only brings us closer to the full manifestation of our alter ego.  Virtual reality, for example, enabled us to move to a digital plane where we can move and interact with our surroundings.  The powerful graphic card and systems make the characters more realistic than ever before.  The more natural the environment and more detailed the character, is greater the attachment, the more real the alternate world becomes. 


Image (https://www.omaze.com/products/comic-con-2021)

              Not all alter egos are digital.  Costumes and social media, for example, can be another form of alter ego.  However, it is the digital alter ego that is most prominent and readily available. We can simply move in and out of our alter ego self with just a simple touch.  In this blog, I hope to explore the world of digital alter ego, including topics ranging from gaming, social media, robotics to real-life transformations and how technology plays a role in it.  Whether it is moving in the right direction, good or bad, that is for you to decide.


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