Misread Headline Suggests Creative Plan
The headline for the column by Thomas R. Karlo '97 ["Institute Should Stimulate Attendance at Sports Events," Nov. 26] tricked me into misreading "stimulate" as "simulate." But hey, what a great idea.
On the assumption that athletes get their rewards directly from their participation in sports, and not to please a crowd, then a "simulated" crowd ought to do the trick. Imagine a huge video screen along one side of the field with an eager throng displayed on it, plus computer vision to monitor the action, simulated cheers in 16-bit audio at appropriate moments and maybe even Pattie Maes' animated dog capering up and down the sidelines. It's perfect for MIT - a real breakthrough. I say let's hand this problem to the Artificial Intelligence group and the Media Laboratory, and the rest of us can go about our business.
Visiting Scientist Richard F. Olivo
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