Fake Interactivity

No, I'm not talking about linear games.  Sofia's watching TV right now and in three shows in a row the characters have asked the audience questions and then said, "You're right!  Thanks!"  Sofia's too young to get what's going on - she just watches.  But I'm wondering if any kids, at any age, actually fall for this illusion of interactivity?

I'll just take it as an indication that I'm in the right industry.  TV wants to be video games.  Video games already are video games.  Woo!

Comments

[Paul]

This reminds me when I worked at Jellyvision on the trivia games. Everyone thought we had this incredible AI because the game host seemed so intelligent. In reality, it was clever audio engineering and certain techniques known as "The Jack Principles" that allowed to fake interactivity that seems far beyond what is truly possible with current hardware and AI algorithims.

http://www.jellyvision.com/go.php?p=/ici/

[Jeff Freeman]

"Picture Pages, Picture Pages,
Time to get your Picture Pages,
Time to get your crayons and your pencils...

"You can play with Picture Pages,
Fill your day with Picture Pages,
'Till Bill Cosby does another Picture Page with you!"

That wasn't fake interactivity. Bill Cosby was coloring with ME!

[jvalenzu]

Yes. "Dora the Explorer" and similar shows sometimes elicit a response from my much-smarter-than-average child. She seems to understand that Dora isn't really listening to her, but willingly suspends her disbelief.

[Seraldin]

I asked my two and a half year old why she didn't answer Dora once. She stared at me like she couldn't believe I was asking, then said "because she can't hear me, Daddy".

So, I think that even young kids know they can't be heard over the TV... but, as the above poster said, some are just willing to suspend disbelief.

And, just to note, I've watched Dora and found it just about as interesting as some games I've played lately :)

[Ramification]

TV, as games, on your inquiried level of interactivty basically counts on a factor of immersion based upon "like-minded" thoughts.

In a sense, it be no different than hearing a politician speaker delivering a speech you agree with whilest nodding your head or shouting "hell yeah" to the TV while watching Stone Cold @ WWF, or rocking with your devil-goat-horn-fingers alongside a heavy metal track.

If it be something you share its views, and even kids succumb to some degree to that, agree with - then you become immersed in it at some level and indeed 'interact' on some elusive plane.

[Ramification]

On a stingy side-note:
Of course TV be attempting to become a video game...this be why these wretched consoles were invented in the first place.
Or shows like Video Power/The Power Team (ugh!).
PC wannabees...