Avid gamers can add one more possible career path to their collection: Forensic sketch artist. This wanted poster for a hit-and-run driver above features a Mii created on Nintendo Wii's Mii creator instead of a traditional hand-drawn or computer-aided sketch.
The Mii creator lets gamers create a digital avatar using the Wii interface. While the basic details are conveyed--like the suspect's glasses, angled face and long hair--I have a sinking feeling this type of forensic sketch will only grow in popularity despite its apparent uselessness for crime-fighting.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Digital Avatars in Forensic Sketching
- The use of digital avatars, such as those created with the Nintendo Wii's Mii creator, for forensic sketching could disrupt traditional methods in the field.
- Gamification of Forensic Artistry
- The integration of gaming technologies, like the Wii interface, into forensic artistry may offer new opportunities for engagement and skill development.
- Increasing Popularity of Non-traditional Forensic Techniques
- Despite their perceived uselessness for crime-fighting, non-traditional forensic techniques like using digital avatars are gaining popularity and could lead to breakthroughs in the field.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Gaming Hardware and Software
- Gaming hardware and software companies, like Nintendo, could explore the potential of their technologies in the field of forensic artistry and develop specialized tools for digital sketching.
- Law Enforcement and Investigation
- Law enforcement agencies and investigative organizations may need to adapt to the emergence of non-traditional forensic techniques and incorporate training for digital avatar-based sketching into their programs.
- Education and Training
- Educational institutions and training centers could incorporate gaming technologies and digital avatar-based sketching into their curriculum to prepare future forensic artists for the evolving industry.
