In this Show Case we illustrate how Avatars and their associated Virtual Intelligent Agents are evolving on the Pervasive Internet. Already Avatars are evolving from two dimensional Cartoon images to photo realistic 3-D Constructs that can simulate a multitude of different emotional expressions. By combining this photo realism with the right AIML we can produce a new generation of Chat bots that can both simulate Emotions and stimulate Emotional Interactions with Humans. We are delighted to have been given permission to feature in this Show Case the work of Guile3D Studio and their excellent Avatar Art. Guile 3D-Studio are one of the leaders in this field.
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| As Virtual Intelligent Agents become more 3 dimensional and photo realistic their other external facing capabilities need to evolve to help truly bring them to Life. In particular:
Their Body Motions must become fluid and anatomically correct
Their Voice Recognition and Synthesis needs to include a spectrum of emotional qualities, e.g. recognising not only words via speech recognition but detecting laughter and Anger. The ability to respond with voice synthesis that can emulate emotional tones synchronized with the Avatar's Emotional expressions.
<== Click on Denise for a Video demonstration of a Virtual Human with Speech Recognition and voice synthesis integrated with AIML.
Their Emotional Expression must evolve to include the ability to convey Emotions through Facial expression, gestures and pose.
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To exploit the full potential of these External qualities their Internal Characteristics also need to evolve. Specifically the Agents Artificial Intelligence Engine (e.g. AIML) needs now to feature Emotional States (e.g. sulking, happy) each with a corresponding set of Emotional Behavior's. (e.g. short negative responses when in the sulk state, together with the associated sulking body language).
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Taken together these capabilities will produce a Next Generation of Virtual Intelligent Agents that are not only 3 dimensional and photo realistic but have a degree of Emotional Intelligence. The Avatar on the right from Guile 3-D studio is illustrating a sample of her Emotional Spectrum. Talking to one of these Virtual Intelligent Agents through for example it's Text to Speech Interface (or through Voice recognition) can cause the Agent to switch between different Emotional States. For example if the Human is being rude to the Agent then the Agent can switch into a Sulk State. In this state the voice responses and Emotional Expressions are all sullen and negative. However if the Human starts talking nicely or apologises to the Agent then the Agent can switch into a different Emotional State, e.g. a Happy Chatty state.
This is exciting in that it opens up a potential for realistic Emotional Interactions between the Human and the Agent. From the user perspective it is fun to engage with the Agent and generate emotional responses from it. However from the Business perspective it will be interesting to try and stimulate emotional responses in the Human during conversations.
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For example if the Agent is acting in a call centre role dealing with Angry customers the challenge would be to detect from the Customers language their Anger and as a result switch the Emotional State of the Agent into a Concilliatory Mode. In this state the Agent would use Concilliatory emotive experssions, voice tones and responses when answering the customers questions with a view to switching the Humans Emotional State from 'Angry' to 'Pacified'.
There are of course many opportunities to exploit such Emotional capability to help the Agent to sell products services or political and or Social points of view.
From the perspective of Emergent Intelligence the potential for Intelligent Agents to Interact between themselves is also very interesting. One can imagine an experiment where a number of Emotionallly Intelligent Agents interact and as a result start switching their internal emotional states. The experiment here would be to see if this couold be used to stimulate a Human crowd dynamic such as e.g. mob hysteria in the Agent Swarm.
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| Guile 3d Studio: Creative Labs |
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| You can visit the Creative Labs of Guile 3D Studio and see one of their Avatars being created simply by clicking on the picture here on the Left.
Guile 3d provide both Web Based and PC based (e.g. MS Agent) Avatar products and Services.
Our thanks again to Guile 3D studio for allowing us to Show Case their work here.
www.Guile3d.com
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All the Images and Content on this page are proteted by Copyrights, all rights reserved. Images Guile 3D Studio , Text Evil Limited. 2008.
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Pan European - Electronic Virtual Intelligent Life
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