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An Embodied Group Entrainment Characters System Based on the Model of Lecturer's Eyeball Movement in Voice Communication

Authors:
Yoshihiro Sejima
Tomio Watanabe
Mitsuru Jindai
Atsushi Osa
Yukari Zushi

Keywords: Human Interface; Human Interaction; Embodied Communication; Group Interaction; Eyeball Movement.

Abstract:
We have developed a speech-driven embodied group entrained communication system called “SAKURA” for enabling group interaction and communication. In this system, speech-driven computer-generated (CG) characters called InterActors with functions of both speakers and listeners are entrained as a teacher and some students in a virtual classroom by generating communicative actions and movements. In this study, for enhancing group interaction and communication, we analyze the eyeball movements of a lecturer communicating in a virtual group by using an embodied communication system with a line-of-sight measurement device. On the basis of the analysis results, we propose an eyeball movement model that consists of a saccade model and a model of the lecturer’s gaze at the audience, called “group gaze model.” The saccade model reveals eyeball movement with a delay of 0.20 s with respect to the lecturer’s head movement. A group gaze model reveals the rate of the lecturer’s gaze (Center: 60%, Left-side: 27%, Right-side: 13%). Then, we develop an advanced communication system in which the proposed model is used with SAKURA. Using this system, we perform experiments and carry out sensory evaluation for determining the effects of the proposed model. The results reveal that the proposed model is effective for group interaction and communication in the speech-driven embodied group entrainment characters system.

Pages: 351 to 358

Copyright: Copyright (c) IARIA, 2014

Publication date: March 23, 2014

Published in: conference

ISSN: 2308-4138

ISBN: 978-1-61208-325-4

Location: Barcelona, Spain

Dates: from March 23, 2014 to March 27, 2014