Motion Capture CS294-7 Jacqueline Takeshita Mindy Lue

What is motion capture? Technique that digitally records movements using markers at joints Technique that digitally records movements using markers at joints Software records positions, angles, velocities, accelerations, and impulses Software records positions, angles, velocities, accelerations, and impulses Also known as motion tracking Also known as motion tracking

Where is it used? Education – how the body moves Education – how the body moves Training – suggest ways to improve performance Training – suggest ways to improve performance Sports - simulations Sports - simulations Computer Animation Computer Animation Video Games Video Games

How it Works Mechanical – performer wears sensors Mechanical – performer wears sensors Optical – performer wears reflective dots followed by several cameras Optical – performer wears reflective dots followed by several cameras Electromagnetic – performer wears an array of magnetic receivers which track location with respect to transmitter Electromagnetic – performer wears an array of magnetic receivers which track location with respect to transmitter

Advantages Saves time Saves time Creates natural realistic movements Creates natural realistic movements Actor can play multiple roles in a single film Actor can play multiple roles in a single film Allows for rotating effects and multiple angles Allows for rotating effects and multiple angles Characters can be blended to digital environments Characters can be blended to digital environments

Disadvantages Limited to movements that are anatomically possible Limited to movements that are anatomically possible Specific hardware and programs needed to obtain and process data Specific hardware and programs needed to obtain and process data Technology upgraded quickly – versions become obsolete every few years Technology upgraded quickly – versions become obsolete every few years Real life performance may not translate onto the computer model Real life performance may not translate onto the computer model

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