Listen to pop songs by Ramona. « the Kurzweil Library

creative projectvirtual girl RamonaListen to pop songs by Ramona.

January 1, 2018

IMAGE

the Kurzweil Library
collection: Lifetime of Innovation
section: creative projects
set: virtual girl Ramona

An introduction.

Ramona is a chatbot + digital avatar created by Ray Kurzweil. She was designed in 2001 as a showcase for the digital media tools of tomorrow. Ray invented the reading machine for the blind. And a renowned electronic music synthesizer keyboard — that re-created the sounds of a grand piano + orchestra instruments.

He believes that tech tools can give us new senses, overcome handicaps — and expand our creativity. He champions the freedom for all people to express themselves.

Here you can listen to Ramona’s two pop songs — with Ray singing using pitch-alteration software, to sound more like his avatar. He also performed on-stage as Ramona at a live event in 2001. Using a set of body sensors to detect his motion, he could digitally puppeteer a Ramona graphic displayed on the theater’s screen.

quote :: by Ray Kurzweil

“The future is positive. We’ll have the digital, creative tools for more freedom of personal expression. With powerful virtual + augmented reality you can literally be whoever you want to be. You can go anyplace you want to go.

Some of this capability is here now, and growing rapidly — it’s faster, more seamless, and more life-like. Like in video games and with augmented reality (AR) headsets. My own experience becoming my Ramona avatar was fantastic. Because you can bring your artistic, conceptual, emotional, and futuristic visions to life.”

— Ray Kurzweil

music

1. |

The first song is an original.

track: Come Out and Play
lyrics: by Ray Kurzweil
music: by Zoux
performed: by Ray Kurzweil :: as Ramona

SONG :: Come Out and Play ~ final production.