To paraphrase the Bard: “Glendower: I can call avatars from the vasty deep. Hotspur: Why, so can I, or so can any man; But will they come when you do call for them?” (Henry IV). If you’re feeling blue, don’t try calling Z/Yen’s avatars; they come in more natural tones. In 2011 we announced a technology research project with the Technology Strategy Board and the London Film Museum to produce avatars which would help people comprehend large, complex data sets. Our objective was to create artificial ‘personalities’ that would react to data and thus help orient real personalities (the likes of you and me). We thought our avatars project might help people navigate financial services, gambling, health or security datasets.

The avatar personalities were provided by Z/Yen’s predictive system, PropheZy The large, complex dataset came from trading patterns in our prediction market, ExtZy . The avatars have been successfully interacting with ExtZy players for several months. For those readers who have missed ExtZy since its early 2009 launch, you play free for significant prizes while Z/Yen gain a laboratory for work on exchanges and trading. Basically, have fun while being a paid lab rat.