CompuServe Thread

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.