swamped!


Bruce Blumberg
Michael Patrick Johnson
Michal Hlavac
Christopher Kline
Ken Russel
Bill Tomlinson
Song-Yee Yoon
Andrew Wilson

Teresa Marrin
Dr. Joseph Paradiso
Jed Wahl
Zoe Teegarden
Dan Stiehl

 
     

Swamped! is an interactive experience in which instrumented plush toys are used as a tangible, iconic interface for directing autonomous animated characters. Each character has a distinct personality and decides in real time what it should do based on its perception of its environment, its motivational and emotional state, and input from its "conscience," the guest. By manipulating a stuffed animal corresponding to the character, the guest can influence how a given character acts and feels.

For example, the guest could have the character wave at another character by waving its arm, make it squawk by squeezing it, or direct the character's attention by moving the stuffed animal's head. The characters incorporate a novel model of behavior and emotion, multi-target motion interpolation and new techniques for real time graphics. Automatic camera and lighting control help reveal the emotional content of each scene. 

By combining research in autonomous character design, automatic camera control, tangible interfaces and action interpretation, Swamped! seeks to create an evocative and novel experience.


Small Video - 12 MB Quicktime
Medium Video - 28 Mb Quicktime

More Info


 
 
 
 
Projects
 
2002-2003
Dobie T. Coyote
 
2001
alpha wolf
Rover@Home
 
2000
Duncan the
Highland Terrier / Sheep|Dog:
Trial by Eire

MusicCreatures - exchange:
listen:
exchange

 
1999
(void*)
sand:stone
Rufus
 
1998
swamped!