Listening to Yang Chengye’s description, Zhong Ming also roughly evaluated the prospects of this smart module.

Still very good.

If you are building an intelligent module similar to other companies, it will definitely be nothing to do, and Zhong Ming will not be interested. But the micro projection technology mentioned by Yang Chengye is equivalent to a killer weapon of this holographic projection module, which is completely different from other intelligent modules.

The cost will inevitably increase and the selling price will inevitably increase, but as long as the effect is good, it can be sold to local tycoons.

Whether it is taking the cost-effective route or the luxury route, as long as you can make differentiation, there will be some trouble.

Zhong Ming asked, "Why did you think of using the image of Chanel?"

Yang Chengye smiled: "This is actually just two points."

"First, I personally like the image of Chanel very much, and I think it is very suitable for our target group!"

"The smart module is mainly used by young people. Older people are generally more repulsive to smart devices. They basically don't buy smart modules. Even if their children buy them, they usually only buy the cheapest one, a small box worth two or three hundred yuan, and put it on the coffee table. It can play the simplest and most basic function of controlling all smart appliances, which is enough."

"Young people like games and virtual idols. For this group of people, Chanel likes them more than other virtual idols. Previously, Chanel was popular all over the Internet, attracted a number of big anchors to cos, and won the first prize in the virtual idol competition. These all show that this image is loved by young people."

"And, around the image of the Internet-addicted girl, we can also launch some new features, such as smart play..."

"The second is the cost-effectiveness issue. To be honest, our company's budget in this area is also limited. We have to cooperate with well-known virtual idols such as Su Bai and Dina. The price is too high and the company will not approve it."

"Of course, it's not that you are underestimating your side. We prefer to use the sharing method to cooperate. If the smart module can really succeed, your income will definitely not be reduced!"

Yang Chengye was very careful in his words, for fear of causing Zhong Ming's misunderstanding.

But what he said is the truth. Those virtual idols with very high reputation have too high endorsement fees.

It’s not that Zhihuan Technology cannot afford this money, but mainly because it thinks that the cost-effectiveness is not suitable, not to mention that the risk is too great.

Even Yang Chengye himself was unsure whether such intelligent modules could become popular. He didn't make any money. He was a bit irrational to spend tens of millions of endorsement fees first.

In this world, the endorsement fee of first-tier stars in the Chinese circle is basically 10 to 20 million yuan. Those first-class virtual idols are cheaper than real people, but they are not much cheaper.

After all, real-life endorsement is just a face, and it’s all done with a few advertisements. It doesn’t take much effort. They all buy a face, and they have a lot of fans of virtual idols and their popularity is not low. Why do you need to reduce the price by winning by your ability?

Yang Chengye thought that the initial endorsement fee would be lower and the money would be calculated by sharing the money, but a large company like Xinghua Interactive Entertainment would definitely not agree.

Just kidding, you used Su Bai as the endorsement, but the smart module was not completed, and the subsequent share income was not much. Isn’t that the same thing as a waste of money?

Xinghua Interactive Entertainment's bottom line is to sign a bet agreement. For example, if the sales volume does not reach XXX, Zhihuan Technology will have to compensate for an additional endorsement fee, which Yang Chengye will definitely not accept.

If the endorsement fee quotation is not high enough, you can only buy some virtual idols with relatively low popularity, such as Shangguan Yun, but Yang Chengye doesn't like it.

Therefore, Yang Chengye also found Zhong Ming here, hoping to discuss cooperation with Shanel.

After talking for half an hour, both sides had a good impression of each other.

Of course, this matter mainly depends on Zhong Ming's attitude. After all, Shanaier's image is here. Yang Chengye has nothing to be dissatisfied with. The key is whether Zhong Ming is willing to cooperate.

"In this way, Teacher Zhong, I will take you to see our company's products first, so you have a clear idea."

Yang Chengye first took Zhong Ming to see the finished products of the smart module, probably also wanted to showcase the R&D capabilities of Zhihuan Technology.

“This is our smart module, which can be installed on the ceiling or on the wall, just like that.”

Yang Chengye was holding a small black box in his hand, which looked like a square brick, square, about two fingers thick.

The intelligent module has some other accessories. After installation, the module will automatically scan the structure and layout of the room, conduct intelligent analysis, imaging, and then project the image in the room.

You can connect to audio, TV, game console and other equipment, and you can also bring radio and audio equipment to communicate with the owner without barriers.

"Now, because there is no corresponding virtual idol, I only use the most basic development version instead. Let's take a look. The subsequent optimization can be done." Yang Chengye said.

The current intelligent module projected a robot woman. This is a general material used during development. It looks a bit eye-catching, but the intelligence level is very high.

After all, Zhihuan Technology started out as an AI company, and it would be very good to do it casually.

"Play games with me." Yang Chengye said to the smart module.

"Okay, which game do you want to play? "War of the Gods" or "Dark Dawn"?"

Yang Chengye said: "Dark Dawn, two-player mode."

The game console in the room automatically turns on, and a stand-alone game "Dark Dawn" is turned on, and a two-player mode is selected.

Yang Chengye picked up the handle and could directly play games with artificial intelligence.

During the two-player mode game, artificial intelligence looks like a real player. Sometimes it is very reliable, and sometimes it makes mistakes. If it makes mistakes, you will feel embarrassed and apologize, and basically do not blame it.

"Let's just play here today. Sweep the floor." Yang Chengye put down the handle and said to the smart module.

The sweeping robot next to it automatically starts to sweep the floor.

Yang Chengye demonstrated some other functions, such as turning on the TV regularly, reminding important matters, etc.

In fact, these functions are also available in other intelligent modules. The difference between this intelligent module is that the virtual image generated by this holographic projection will always make movements in the living room like a real person.

For example, when playing games, this virtual idol will find a position facing the TV and sit down, if there is no seat, stand or sit on the ground.

The owner can also make some settings, such as setting the performance in standby mode, the virtual image can disappear directly, or dozing off and reading in the room, which can be adjusted.

What’s even more bizarre is that there is a special “nostalgia model”.

In "nostalgia mode", the owner says "Open the TV", and the virtual image will really run to the TV and press the button, and then the TV will turn on.

The owner said "sweeping the floor", and the virtual image would run to the sweeping robot and press the button, and then the sweeping robot would start.

Although it is automatically turned on with permissions, with such dynamic display, it is like there is really a butler listening to you in the living room and busy working hard.

"It's quite interesting." Zhong Ming praised.

If it is a general smart module, there is really no need to endorse virtual idols, it is useless.

However, the best thing about this smart module is that it has a holographic projection, which allows virtual idols to truly survive in the living room!

It feels like it is a pretty good benefit for some empty-nest elderly people or empty-nest singles.

"Okay, then let's talk about the contract in detail. In addition, after the contract is signed, we will prepare for Chanel's action collection and dubbing. The action collection is easy to say, mainly dubbing and emoticon capture. You also need to cooperate and check it out."

...

Yang Chengye sent a copy to Zhong Ming for the electronic contract terms.

Zhong Ming couldn't stand such a long term on the scene, so he had to take it back and study it carefully to avoid being cheated.

On the way, Zhong Ming was still thinking that after the New Year, he had to find someone to be responsible for legal affairs. The entire studio was full of legal ignorance and semi-legal ignorance, which was not easy to do.

At that time, this kind of complex contract terms will be taken directly to the legal authorities and you will be done without worrying about it yourself.

The contract is a relatively ordinary endorsement contract, but the initial endorsement fee is not much, only 2 million yuan. For every smart module sold in the future, Weiguang Studio can get 30% of the revenue as a share.

According to the pricing of Zhihuan Technology, this new smart module is priced at about 1,000 yuan, and it may be sold at a price similar to 998. After deducting OEM fees, R&D costs, etc., a smart module earns about 150.

This price is not low, but it is not high, because the profit margin of hardware is almost the same. Take a bracelet worth about 1,000 yuan as an example. The one with the lowest profit is 50~80, and the one with the highest profit is 100~150. After all, the competition for smart hardware is fierce now, and many manufacturers are taking the cost-effective route, with small profits but quick turnover, and the price is butcher, and the profits are not too high.

If one unit earns 150 yuan, then for every smart module sold by Zhihuan Technology, Weiguang Studio can get about 40 yuan, and 100,000 units sold is 4 million yuan.

Obviously, this offer is definitely unacceptable to Xinghua Interactive Entertainment. Virtual idols like Su Bai directly cost tens of millions.

As for how high the sales volume is? It is not realistic. After all, this is a smart module, not a bracelet.

Bracelets are considered necessities, and most people have a great demand for renewal. The shipments of several large bracelet manufacturers are in units of billions.

But smart modules are not a necessity, and they are not even used by them. Can you buy a million-level?

It's a bit difficult, Yang Chengye himself has no confidence.

However, Zhong Ming was confident in Shanel. Not to mention the million-level, as long as he sold 500,000, Weiguang Studio could get 20 million, which was an income that could not be ignored.

...

Three days later, the two parties formally signed a contract.

Yang Chengye packed and sent a file to Zhong Ming, which contained two folders, namely "Expression Capture" and "Recording".

There are many videos in the "Expression Capture" folder, with the left half of which is a real person's expression and the right half of which is Chanel's expression after processing.

The principle of expression capture and motion capture is actually very simple. It is to install a tracker on the face and body of a real person. When the real person makes expressions and actions, it can be transmitted to the computer and applied to the virtual characters.

This technology has been widely popularized. It is essential to use it to make some 3A masterpieces or make virtual idols. Wei Guang Studio has no equipment for the time being, but it is just because it can't afford it. If you want to do large-scale games in the future, you must have your own motion capture studio.

This time, if Zhihuan Technology wants to use Chanel's image, it must also solve all the problems of movement, expression, and sound source.

Zhong Ming looked at the column "Expression Capture".

The performances of these actors are similar, and Zhong Ming has not seen any outstanding ones for the time being.

I listened to the recording again.

Many voice actors here recorded the sounds according to Chanel's lines, and Zhong Ming needed to choose the most suitable one as Chanel's sound source.

After selecting the audio source and recording it, Chanel can speak like other virtual idols.

At the same time, this set of sound sources can also have some other uses, such as giving some navigation software and radio software to make sound sources. When the bracelet map is opened, Chanel continues to navigate for you! It is also quite good.

The sound source can be said to be the second life of virtual idols. The sound is not good and has no characteristics. The virtual idols are half cold and must be cautious.

However, Zhong Ming opened the recording and listened to it one by one, and nothing was particularly satisfactory.

All are a bit...too mediocre.

Zhong Ming replied to Yang Chengye: "Capture expressions, let me take a look again. The sound source is not very good, it feels too ordinary and has no characteristics."
To be continued...