The most
famous man in America in 1900 - About one hundred
years ago, Mark Twain traveled the lecture circuit,
a much-loved American author and humorist who captivated
audiences with his slow drawl and homespun stories.
Now, thanks to virtual reality and live animation
technology, plus the skills of a very able presenter,
Virtual Mark Twain is back to restore the memories.
VMT debuted
in New York City on the birthday of the real Mark Twain
in 1993 at the Virtual Reality Expo. The city had never
seen anything like it - a 3D version of Mark Twain
who spoke just like him, who knew the stories and the
people that made Samuel Clemens so famous. Behind the
scenes, the actor and producers did their best to recreate
the man and the feelings that people once loved so
much.
We share the
sense, along with Twain fans, that Twain is really
at his best as an educator rather than a pitchman,
and we know that someday, the price will be affordable
enough to get him into the classrooms of America and
the world, where he can continue to offer his much-admired
view of life in his own timeless fashion. Meanwhile,
we continue to offer him as a spokesman for an older
generation, with the values and dreams of a country
on its way to maturity. 
We like the
juxtaposition of Twain in an era of telegraph machines
and gas lamps, to the modern times of the Internet
and supersonic jets, because we think that human nature
hasn't really changed all that much. Maybe Twain's
delivery is a little slow compared to TV commercials
and video bites, but sometimes it's nice to slow down
a little and smell the flowers, or figure out the joke.
If you'd like
to give Virtual Mark Twain a try, let us know. You
can hear his delivery of some of the old stories and
decide for yourself if it is appropriate for your next
presentation. It just might be. |
