Le Monde | Turn me into an avatar if you can
At the RG Lab, the Nantes-based startup silkke is showcasing its avatarization technology for the first time, a technology capable of creating a digital clone of every visitor in just a few minutes.
At the RG Lab, several startups and companies are presenting their innovations. One catches the eye and draws a crowd: the avatarization booth from Nantes-based silkke. Somewhere between a photo booth and a teleportation machine, as Nicolas Clairembault, the French company’s marketing manager, likes to describe the booth.
As for the appearance, it really looks the part. Inside, you strike a pose. Large white and gray panels give the impression of boarding a futuristic capsule that will send you to the other side of the planet. It’s into the heart of the digital world that it will send its passenger. A few flashes later, you can step out of the pod. The array of photo sensors inside has captured your body from every angle. Within an hour, the avatar is ready to use.
What could this technology possibly be used for? ‘Our goal is not at all to compete with virtual reality headset manufacturers like Oculus. What we’re trying to do is breathe life into virtual worlds, which are all too often disembodied, explains Nicolas Clairembault.
And there are many industries that might be interested in silkke. Since the startup’s official presentation at the French Open, retailers, banks, and insurance companies have already reached out to the young company. Within a few days, we realized just how much interest avatarization was generating, says Nicolas.
