uncanny valley

== English == === Etymology === Calque of Japanese 不気味の谷 (bukimi no tani), from 不気味 (bukimi, “eerie, uncanny”, of Middle Chinese origin, literally “bad taste and smell”) + の (no, noun modifier particle) + 谷 (tani, “valley”). First used in 1970 by roboticist Masahiro Mori. === Noun === uncanny valley (robotics, psychology) A range of appearances, mannerisms, or behaviors of a humanoid figure that are subtly different from a human and thereby cause feelings of discomfort, such as fear or revulsion. (by extension) Digital or ambiguous physical spaces that create a sense of unease or eeriness due to deviations from familiar patterns that challenge perception and categorization, leading to discomfort. (E.g. liminal spaces, haunted houses, the Backrooms, etc.) ==== Translations ==== === See also === Appendix:Liminal spaces === Further reading === uncanny valley on Wikipedia.Wikipedia