If virtual worlds are to fulfil their promise for entertainment,
education, training and artistic endeavour, with who or what shall we
people them? Drawing on crossover research between the disciplines of
theatre, HCI and system design, we outline a framework for the design of
virtual worlds based on a dramatic model an envisionment. We
draw clear distinctions between drama and theatre as
models of interaction and we examine the role and function of drama in
constructing interactive virtual worlds. We consider the advantages of
using live performers as virtual puppeteers over the use of intelligent
or virtual software agents, with examples from current research and
commercial implementation. We examine the advantages and potential of
interactive drama in virtual environments, and stress the potential of
mixing live performers and computer-based agents in virtual drama.
Keywords: actors, agents, drama, interaction, performance,
theatre, virtual reality
in: Earnshaw R.A. & Vince J.A. 1995
Proceedings of Computer Graphics International 1995 (CGI '95),
(Leeds, UK, August 1995)
Pub. Academic Press, London UK / San Diego, CA pp. 255-265
Back to PUBLICATIONS
HOMEPAGE
Last updated September 1995
Ivor Benjamin - i.d.benjamin@city.ac.uk
All material © Copyright 1995 Ivor Benjamin unless otherwise specified.