Abstract:

When motion capture is used as a source for the behavior of an animated
character, some method of transitioning from one segment of motion to another
must be provided. The real-time demands of video games usually require fast
methods of transition, and consequently linear interpolation has been the
method of choice. When linear interpolation is used, selecting a proper blend
length for the interpolated transition is important. This talk will show show
that observers are quite sensitive to changes in blend lengths, and quantify
their sensitivity, thus demonstrating that it is an important consideration in
design of complex behaviors for animated characters.

Bio:

Bobby Bodenheimer is an Associate Professor of Computer Science and Computer
Engineering at Vanderbilt University. His research interests are in computer
animation and virtual environments. In computer animation, he is interested in
methods that allow the creation of visually compelling human motion. In virtual
environments, he is interested in the construction of virtual environments that
leverage perceptual affordances.