Computer Generated Animation: Identifying New and Subtle Prejudicial Special Effects

Computer animation in the courtroom can be unfair because it can make the jury believe a testimony more easily, and ignore other evidence. This can be seen as unfair and could influence the outcome of a trial. In one case, a court allowed a computer animation to be used because it was not too graphic or emotional and the jury was told to only use it as a way to understand an expert’s opinion. Computer animation is a new and evolving type of evidence in court cases. The Florida Supreme Court has recognized that it can have a strong impact on jurors and may be more convincing than it should be. They have said that courts need to be careful when allowing computer animation as evidence because it can unduly influence the jury. Two animation firms created animations for a court case. One animation showed a bike rider colliding with a truck and tried to prove the truck driver was not at fault. The animation used special effects and different camera angles to show the sequence of events leading up to the accident. Using color in scientific experiments has shown that it helps people remember things better. For example, when shown items in color and then shown the same items in black and white, people were more likely to remember the colored items. In a court case, using color in a computer animation can help the jury remember the evidence better than black and white photos or diagrams. However, using color is not automatically unfair. It can be helpful in showing important details and creating a certain mood or effect. Repetition in advertising is important because it helps people remember the product and feel more confident about it. Using computer animation can also help get the message across. Another example of computer animation is when a chemical treatment plant used it to defend against claims of water contamination. They showed a small amount of chemicals contaminating the groundwater using a visual metaphor of twisting a portion of soil like wringing out a wet towel. They then showed the contaminated groundwater being distilled and the contaminant being extracted, ending up with just a small amount of contaminant. The use of computer animations in court cases can be unfair and misleading. The animations can make things look different than they actually are and can influence how the jury feels about the case. The animations give a fake version of reality, which can be fascinating, but it’s not the real thing. This can make the jury pay more attention to the animations and remember them more than other evidence. Computer animation is a useful tool for explaining complex information in court, but it can be made to look more convincing with special effects. Lawyers need to be aware of these effects and decide if they are unfair. It’s important for them to understand this new way of showing evidence in court. This article talks about how computer animation can be used in court to help explain things to the jury. There are different types of animations – some are just to help illustrate a witness’s testimony, while others are used to show important information that proves something in the trial. The article also mentions research showing that people are more likely to remember and believe something if it’s shown to them in an animation. It also talks about how using animations too much in court could be against the rules, but in one case, the court said it was okay because the animation was only shown for a short time. And it gives examples of companies that make these animations for court.

Source: https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-journal/computer-generated-animation-identifying-new-and-subtle-prejudicial-special-effects/