We design speech driven navigation of web content featuring avatar and user-interaction 3D scenarios. Our design team is experienced in developing speech-interaction 3D avatar scenarios for demo and product development applications. This expertise extends to stereoscopic 3D and motion-picture scenarios and VR worlds.

Previous client work (Mission Corp.) plus commercial punk talking heads:

Avatar 'talking heads' - Poser / Mimic - Sample avatar video clips 30 sec. clips - 200K - 700K Win Media (.WMV) for Highband with audio/video. click image for pop-up screen viewer

Speech-interaction graphical interfaces (you are talking, not typing or employing pointers) are on the horizon for gamer and many other applications (web browsing, chat, entertainment, security, remote control, medicine).

Issuing voice commands (as in games) is a lot more human than punching hotkeys to generate actions. Talking with a interactive avatar (humanoid) is more social than typing. As in stereoscopic 3D game and display applications, voice-interaction is coming to the near future. Competetive companies and design houses should take note. Old bandwidths are being reinvested with new streaming solutions.

The old 2D web - chat room typing

3D web gamers want to converse

We like to chat, meet people, engage in 'relationships'. Human interaction is typified by interaction with other humans, and speech-recognition (SR) makes web simulations with avatar-humanoids a two-way conversation.

For the http web, a stable browser environment is required to support the speaking user interacting with web content. The major choices are out there on the market. A 2D (eg. hyperlink, Flash action script, embedded media, video animation) or 3D scenario (VRML, Java Applet, API, full poly animation, game engine animation, QTVR) is developed to interact in real-time with the spoken commands via http servers.

Proprietary rendering engines utilize different I/O, rendering, streaming and back-end strategies and the battle.net is ample evidence of that.

The avatar can be 'realistic' or 'fanciful' but the graphic artist not the technician gives it a personality and telling features (expressions, details, movement) that correspond to familiar 'cues' (eg. eye movements, mouth shapes) that are necessary for exciting human speech interaction.

Texture mapping of photo-realistic human images is an economical way to 'humanize' a poly-mesh avatar.

Producing a humanoid form and animating this form in a designed architectural space is the first step to creating an interesting 'interactive environment'. Flat scrolling maps with 3D avatars moving about are on their way out.

The speech-interactive scenario is based on embedded Text To Speech (TTS) functions of the browser to activate specific avatar (humanoid) responses and delivery of web content. The avatar exists in a library (database) of available responses; the recognition of user input is based on a grammar - syntax determined by the speech-enabled browser and an intelligent (A.I.) back-end that 'recognizes' the user in terms of a unique history of personal parameters. In this capacity, the speech-recognition capabilities of the browser environment must be accurate, and the avatar - content response must be equally accurate and timely (real time).

The avatar visual characteristics (skins) are subject to viewer choice input, from anything in the viewer's skins pile.

In the marketplace the viewer sees the artistry, design, animation and the delicate work of software engineers is hidden. That's were art and technology are put to their test.

The market will discard a poorly performing (robotic) avatar, however intricate or complex the software design. Many projects that did not incorporate effective (artistic) graphic design have gone into the marketplace trash bin.

Low-bandwidth speech animation is readily available (see Traveller on-line avatar chat rooms featuring low-poly animations). For the 'realistic' effect, high bandwidth with innovative (Mpeg-4) compression and streaming solutions is required. Successful strategies combine intelligent and compelling front-end solutions with AI. Otherwise, it's the land of 'emoticons'.

PRODUCTION CYCLE:

• As per client financial capabilities, identify or develop rendering ENVIRONMENT (browser, game) using custom (proprietary) or licensed tools.
• For 3D WEB GRAPHICS or GAME identify optimal programming - script language.
Use appropriate authoring tools for graphics, media, 2D - 3D web
Create STORYBOARD in 3D (Discreet - Max, Maya, Cosmo, or proprietary 3D authoring tools)
• Write performance SCRIPT as per client specifications
• Record ACTORS in studio filming - audio recording (motion-capture)
• Create speech-animated 2D or 3D AVATARS using selected authoring software
• Incorporate avatar presence in HTML pages, or game environment - triggered by user voice commands
Develop and incorporate linked web or database content
Optimize avatar file sizes
Apply to custom display (browser or game engine) environment
• Creative application of scripted AUDIO and VIDEO EDITING, special FX, and compression
• Finalize STREAMED AUDIO and VIDEO in a variety of formats (and applications)
• Develop custom-designed user interfaces for web display of audio - video media
Allow art to lead the way in front-end design (i.e. don't put the back-end solution 'cart before the horse')
Emphasizing creative content over 'generic forms of design'
Developing specific strategies for content delivery
Optimizing content for multiple platforms and bandwidth

PRAXIS:

Encourage clients to develop their product based on their own vision, budgets and needs that are scaled to long-term growth.

Flexible in hours and scheduling.

Can work with you from any location on the planet; all you require is a connection to the internet to review the results as the site work is conducted.

Pricing is taylored to the project and duration. All sites are maintained for a specified time under the terms of contract.

For custom site work and modifications, rates can be adjusted to fit overall budget and requirements. Contact Al Razutis with your requirements (please provide relevant URL, if applicable) to receive a reply-quote by e-mail.

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