The World's First Virtual Newscaster?

By Sushuma January 21, 2000 4:10 PM

"Ananova looks, acts, and behaves like any human newscaster..." So claims the website owned by PA New Media, a British firm that created Ananova, a digital personality programmed as "28 years old, 5ft 8ins tall, with a pleasant, quietly intelligent manner that makes people feel relaxed when they engage with her." Her designers did not base her on any real human being, but set out ot create a computer generated persona to appeal to both men and women.?Her parent company wants her to be "your personal assistant in the digital world ...?available all around you - on TV screens, mobile phones, on whatever device you use to access or receive the information that matters to you." Intriguing or creepy? Website ...