• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.120-128
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• 2022

While online social interactions have been more prevalent with the increased popularity of Metaverse platforms, little has been studied the effects of facial expressions in virtual reality (VR), which is known to play a key role in social contexts. To understand the importance of presenting facial expressions of a virtual avatar under different contexts, we conducted a user study with 24 participants where they were asked to have a conversation and play a charades game with an avatar with and without facial expressions. The results show that participants tend to gaze at the face region for the majority of the time when having a conversation or trying to guess emotion-related keywords when playing charades regardless of the presence of facial expressions. Yet, we confirmed that participants prefer to see facial expressions in virtual reality as well as in real-world scenarios as it helps them to better understand the contexts and to have more immersive and focused experiences.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.65-74
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• 2006

Human tracking is a requirement for the advanced human-computer interface (HCI), This paper proposes a method which uses a component-based human model, detects body parts, estimates human postures, and animates an avatar, Each body part consists of color, connection, and location information and it matches to a corresponding component of the human model. For human tracking, the 2D information of human posture is used for body tracking by computing similarities between frames, The depth information is decided by a relative location between components and is transferred to a moving direction to build a 2-1/2D human model. While each body part is modelled by posture and directions, the corresponding component of a 3D avatar is rotated in 3D using the information transferred from the human model. We achieved 90% tracking rate of a test video containing a variety of postures and the rate increased as the proposed system processed more frames.

• International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.121-131
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• 2022

We look at the initial stage of Meta (previous Facebook)'s new metaverse platform and investigate its platform design in pre-launch and ignition life stage. From the Rocket Model (RM)'s theoretical logic, the results reveal that Meta firstly focuses on investing in key content developers by acquiring virtual reality (VR), video, music content firms and offering production support platform of the augmented reality (AR) content, 'Spark AR' last three years (2019~2021) for attracting high-potential developers and users. In terms of three matching criteria, Meta develops an Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered translation software, partners with Microsoft (MS) for cloud computing and AI, and develops an AI platform for realistic avatar, MyoSuite. In 'connect' function, Meta curates the game concept submitted by game developers, welcomes other game and SNS based metaverse apps, and expands Horizon Worlds (HW) on VR devices to PCs and mobile devices. In 'transact' function, Meta offers 'HW Creator Funding' program for metaverse, launches the first commercialized Meta Avatar Store on Meta's conventional SNS and Messaging apps by inviting all fashion creators to design and sell clothing in this store. Mata also launches an initial test of non-fungible token (NFT) display on Instagram and expands it to Facebook in the US. Lastly, regarding optimization, especially in the face of recent data privacy issues that have adversely affected corporate key performance indicators (KPIs), Meta assures not to collect any new data and to make its privacy policy easier to understand and update its terms of service more user friendly.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.3121-3144
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• 2023

As interest in the metaverse has grown, there has been a demand for avatars that can represent individual users. Consequently, research has been conducted to reduce the time and cost required for the current 3D human modeling process. However, the recent automatic generation of 3D humans has been focused on creating avatars with a realistic human form. Furthermore, the existing methods have limitations in generating avatars with imbalanced or unrealistic body shapes, and their utilization is limited due to the absence of datasets. Therefore, this paper proposes a new framework for automatically transforming and creating stylized 3D avatars. Our research presents a definitional approach and methodology for creating non-realistic character avatars, in contrast to previous studies that focused on creating realistic humans. We define a new shape representation parameter and use a deep learning-based method to extract character body information and perform automatic template mesh transformation, thereby obtaining non-realistic or unbalanced human meshes. We present the resulting outputs visually, conducting user evaluations to demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed method. Our approach provides an automatic mesh transformation method tailored to the growing demand for avatars of various body types and extends the existing method to the 3D cartoon stylized avatar domain.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.1244-1251
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• 2003

In the paper, we develop the ‘Navigation Mechanism’ that can present the 3D space and trace the location in the user's viewpoint. Especially, using this mechanism, VRML tools are used to develop the virtual reality space in the internet. These mechanism can effectively represent the 3D virtual reality space and apply the many 3D related parts like architefure, education, entertainment and so on.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.46
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• pp.181-206
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• 2017

In the near future, we are expected to live in a Mixed Reality environment where reality and virtuality coexist as today we live using the Internet and smartphones in our daily lives. The relevant content based on the idea of Mixed Reality crystallizing is currently expanding, and it is time for research on it. This study examines the current situation and the development direction of mixed reality contents. Typical mixed reality contents can be classify by wearability. We analyzed HoloLens, a mixed reality wearable device that is worn on a head, which is a example of wearable device. As an example of unwearable device, we also analyzed the Room2Room which is a communication system that combines video with augmented reality-based telepresence avatar. Mixed Reality content will develop in the direction of implementing expanded use of information and more natural realism through the interactive combination of Reality, Virtual Reality, and Augmented Reality. As head-mounted wearable technology develops, Mixed Reality content is expected to become popular by increasing the number of Mixed Reality device users if convenience and price competitiveness are secured. The way of unifying Mixed Reality wearable devices must be established in order to increase convenience, and the environment based on Mixed Reality will be created through diversifying leisure activity content. Telepresence Avatar is expected to develop into Mobile Hologram Avar as Mixed Reality content accessible anywhere and at anytime beyond space limits. Another potential for development of Telepresence Avatar is the combination of Avatar moving on user's thought, Augmented Human technology and Mixed Reality.

• 한국HCI학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.02b
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• pp.270-277
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• 2007

가상공간에서 사용자들은 온라인 커뮤니티(Online Community)로 관계(Relationship)를 맺고, 같은 관심사를 가지고 공감대를 형성하는 일이 하나의 디지털문화로 형성되었다. 이러한 가상공간에서 자신을 대변할 수 있는 또 다른 나, 즉 아바타(Avatar)에 대한 선호가 증가하고 있으며, 사용목적에 따른 사용자 감성의 반영으로 아바타 디자인이 다양한 형태로 발전하고 있다. 아바타의 근원은 분신(分身) 화신(化身)을 뜻하는 산스크리스트어 '아바따라(avataara)'에서 유래되었으며, 인터넷시대가 열리면서 3차원이나 가상현실게임 또는 웹에서의 채팅 등을 즐길 때 사용자를 대신하는 그래픽 아이콘으로 표상되면서 인터넷 상에서 자신을 대표하는 분신으로 정의되고 있다. 본 연구의 목적은 인터넷 매체 서비스 이용자의 아바타 사용에 따른 유형별 특성에 관한 것으로서, 이 연구를 통해 아바타 디자인의 시각적 표현요소에 효과적으로 활용될 수 요인을 찾고자 하였다. 분석을 위해 인터넷 공동체 집단을 미니홈피/블로그, 채팅, 게임으로 구분하였으며, 아바타 이용자들이 이와 같은 커뮤니티를 이용할 때 어떤 목적에 따라 사용하고 있으며, 그들이 아바타를 선택할 때 어떤 유형별 특성이 나타나는가를 실증하고자 하였다. 이것은 아바타 이용자들이 자신이 표현하려는 아바타 이미지와의 관계를 파악함으로써 가상세계에서 표출하는 아바타 사용 목적에 맞는 유형을 설명할 수 있을 것이다. 따라서 아바타 이용자의 특성을 파악하여 그들의 감성을 반영하는 디자인 전략을 세울 수 있다. 연구방법은 아바타의 개념과 유형분류, 그리고 미니홈피/블로그, 게임, 채팅의 이론적 논의 및 근거제시를 위한 문헌연구를 하였으며, 아바타 이용목적에 따른 유형별 특성을 심도 있게 파악하기 위해 질적연구(Qualitative)로서 표적집단면접(Focus Group Interview)을 실시하였으며, 그에 따른 내용분석과 표현분석을 하였다. 그리고 이것을 보다 객관적으로 검증(verification)하기 위해 양적연구(Quantitative)를 병행하였다. 조사대상은 아바타를 이용해 본 경험이 있는 384명의 학생들이며, 성별 연령별에 따른 분류를 통해 각 조사대상자별 특징을 발견하고자 하였다. 조사를 통해 미니홈피/블로그, 채팅, 게임의 서비스 공간에서 보여 지는 각각의 특성에 맞게 아바타 이용자들은 자신이 표현하려는 아바타의 유형에서 선호의 차이를 나타내고 있음을 알 수 있었다. 결과적으로 아바타사용자의 인터넷 매체 이용목적에 따른 유형별 특성을 파악할 수 있었으며, 향후 사이트(site)의 특성에 따라 사용자의 감성선호를 고려한 아바타 디자인 전략과 그 모델(Design model)을 제시할 수 있을 것이다.

• Journal of the Korean Society for information Management
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.269-283
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• 2004

The importance of an efficient information delivery service cannot be overemphasized in the information society. In this context, this study, based upon the importance of information intermediary on the internet, tries to suggest the use of Avatars in information services. This study first examines the concepts, theories, and characteristics of information services and internet, along with the meaning and role played by Avatars. Also, by suggesting the use of Avatars in information services, this study alms at enhancing our understanding on the internet and providing efficient information services.

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.17-34
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• 2000

본 논문에서는 분신과 지능형 쇼핑에이전트에 입각한 새로운 개념의 가상현실 인터넷 쇼핑몰을 제안한다. 특히 본 논문에서 제안하는 인터넷 쇼핑몰은 기존의 쇼핑몰과는 달리 전체적인 설계를 웹에 기초한 의사결정지원시스템 즉 웹 DSS 개념에 기초하고 있다 일반적으로 전통적인 DSS의 경우 모델 데이터 그리고 사용자 인터페이스를 기본 구성요소로하고 있는데 본 논문에서 제안하는 인터넷 쇼핑몰은 모델로서는 지능형 쇼핑에이전트를 데이터로서는 각종 제품 정보 및 상용자 기호를 사용자 인터페이서로서는 분신(Avatar) 및 웹 환경을 전제로 한다. 특히 본 논문에서 제안하는 인터넷 쇼핑몰의 모든 의사결정지원과정은 웹 DSS 개념에 기초한다. 또한 소비자들의 흥미성과 몰입감 증대를 위하여 전체적인 환경을 가상현실로 하였다 본 논문에서 제안하는 인터넷 쇼핑몰인 VRISA의 특징을 요약하면 우선 라이프스타일 에이전트와 선호속성 에이전트를 가지고 있어서 이를 기초로 하여 소비자의 라이프스타일 확인 및 선호속성을 파악할 수가 있으며 또한 해당 라이프스타일 및 선호속성에 맞는 제품을 추천할 수도 있다 이같은 에이전트의 작동결과는 분신으로 반영되어 해당 분신이 적절한 제품을 소비자에게 추천할 수 있으며 모든 제품추천환경 및 분신의 작동환경은 가상현실 환경으로 구축되어 있어서 소비자들의 흥미성과 몰입감을 증대시킬 수가 있다. 이는 소비자들의 구매의도 향상에 크게 기여할 수가 있다.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea CI
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.41-49
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• 2004

As a means of overcoming the linguistic barrier between different languages in the Internet cyberspace, a sign-language communication system has been proposed. However, the system supports avatars having the same model structure so that it is difficult to communicate between different avatar models. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a new gesture communication system in which different avatars models can communicate with each other by using a FBML (Facial Body Markup Language). Using the FBML, we define a standard document format that contains the messages to be transferred between models, where the document includes the action units of facial expression and the joint angles of gesture animation. The proposed system is implemented with Visual C++ and Open Inventor on Windows platforms. The experimental results demonstrate a possibility that the method could be used as an efficient means to overcome the linguistic problem.