#Garbage Forensic Anim.
This is a statment which I distributed to several media and professional
groups:
As a professional forensic crime scene reconstructionist and forensic animator
I want to comment on the Simpson/Goldman homicide animation produced by the TV
show C/Net and the engineering firm Failure Analysis, Inc and recently shown on
several TV shows: This animation is an embarrassment to the forensic animation
profession and is an irresponsible use of computer technology. It is an example
of High-Tech Garbage In = High -Tech Garbage Out.
Although the C/Net and Failure Analysis claim that the actions depicted
represent a scientific analysis of the physical evidence, the physical evidence
does not support their ridiculous, fantasy-based animation. Such details as
where the assailant was located before the attack, the location and orientation
of the victims, whether or not a victim was knocked-out, whether the assailant
"tortured" the victims by holding them or the assertion that "it is clear that
the assailant was talking to the victims" before inflicting the fatal wounds is
complete and utter speculation and conjecture by the producers. C/Net and
Failure Analysis' disregard for accuracy and sloppiness is further evidenced by
the inclusion of several factual errors of known details such as the final
position of Nicole Simpson s body and the front gate.
It is one thing for the someone to produce an animation which shows what
"might" or "could" have happened as a demonstration of how technology can be
utilized but it is quite another for a TV show and an engineering firm to claim
that their animation represents a scientific solution to the incident. What is
most objectionable is that a firm with Failure Analysis' engineering
credentials is attempting to pass off an elaborate bit of self-promotion as a
fact-based, authoritative work. The use of such new technology as capturing
data from human actors and then transferring their movements to computer
generated human forms in no way detracts from the inherent fraudulent nature of
the C/NET-Failure Analysis animation. While impressive high-tech computers may
accurately reproduce the movements of an actor, those "accurate" movements are
simply those of an actor — not of the assailant (actor-in = actor-out.) While
proclaiming themselves to be high-tech computer experts, the C/Net producers
have clearly demonstrated either conscious dishonesty and/or amazing lack of
knowledge by being part of such shoddy, deceitful work.
C/Net and Failure Analysis are examples of how high-technology can be used for
very low purposes.
Alexander Jason Crime Scene Reconstructionist / Forensic Animator
Member: American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Association of Crime Scene
Reconstruction; Qualified Expert Witness in Crime Scene Reconstruction and
Forensic Animation; CBS News Crime Scene Reconstruction Consultant; creator of
first 3D computer animation used in a U.S. criminal trial.