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Research could lead to more realistic computer characters

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Thanks to research being carried out at Goldsmiths, University of London, unrealistic computer characters could soon be a thing of the past.

Dr Marco Gillies, a lecturer in the Department of Computing, is heading up a project that will create more believable, expressive characters that can be used in interactive media.

Creating interactive behaviour is usually primarily a programming task and is therefore done by people with technical rather than artistic training.

Gillies’ research will use the Motion Capture software to record actors performing scenes and use it to create algorithms for computer programs. This will make computer game characters’ body movements more realistic.

He has already taken on a new member of staff, Andrea Kleinsmith, to help with the project and work will begin next month.

Gillies said: ’In traditional computer games, characters are running, jumping and fighting, very physical actions, and you don’t have a lot of social interaction. Part of the problem is that a lot of body language and behaviour is subconscious so it’s quite hard to design an algorithm for it.’

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