Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Another First - Fish People Go Live on Facebook
Last night, while working with Dana Stamos who was in LA and connected to my studio by Skype, the two of us created a small live animation directly on Facebook, placing it on Dana's Wall -
Friend Dana to look at the Wall on the bottom of her profile.
Now we are trying to think of ways this will benefit people.
Here's a look at the hardware and software we used - 2 Digital Puppeteer systems, one for each character in the two-character presentation, two Sharks, two mixers, a Canopus ACDV box to convert S-Video to Firewire input for the webcam, the DV driver, Skype and two ToonMX licenses, of course. The desktop hardware was my own build of a high-end PC system with my studio software tools on it. The Digital Puppeteer systems are running high-end Dell laptops with Nvidia cards.
For more information, contact me at the response form on the website - http://www.chops.com/
Friend me on Facebook - Gary Jesch - if you'd like a live animation on your Wall.
Friend Dana to look at the Wall on the bottom of her profile.
Now we are trying to think of ways this will benefit people.
Here's a look at the hardware and software we used - 2 Digital Puppeteer systems, one for each character in the two-character presentation, two Sharks, two mixers, a Canopus ACDV box to convert S-Video to Firewire input for the webcam, the DV driver, Skype and two ToonMX licenses, of course. The desktop hardware was my own build of a high-end PC system with my studio software tools on it. The Digital Puppeteer systems are running high-end Dell laptops with Nvidia cards.
For more information, contact me at the response form on the website - http://www.chops.com/
Friend me on Facebook - Gary Jesch - if you'd like a live animation on your Wall.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Digital Dan for President
What a surprise to find there's an amazing amount of support out there for our virtual character, Digital Dan, for President!
This just in from our friends at Paltalk...
This just in from our friends at Paltalk...
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Webcasting with Proclaim is very easy and effective
Here is a link to a short, prerecorded webcast I just produced for Netbriefings.
Brash Landau for Netbriefings
I'm using an online app called Proclaim. Let me know what you think.
Brash Landau for Netbriefings
I'm using an online app called Proclaim. Let me know what you think.
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Virtual Character Appears Live on Skype
At about 4 p.m. Pacific, a "First" occurred in the world of Cyberspace, when our virtual character Digital Dan interacted with Dana Stamos via a video webcam connection on Skype.
About five miles away, Gary Jesch, creator of Digital Dan and the live animation system called the Digital Puppeteer, were connected and Jesch was animating Dan in real time, with facial expressions, lip sync and real-time movement on the screen. Dan was posed in his computer-generated TV set, called "KNOW."
Dan is a full-bodied character, but since the window in the Skype interface is so small, only his head and shoulders appeared.
About five miles away, Gary Jesch, creator of Digital Dan and the live animation system called the Digital Puppeteer, were connected and Jesch was animating Dan in real time, with facial expressions, lip sync and real-time movement on the screen. Dan was posed in his computer-generated TV set, called "KNOW."
Dan is a full-bodied character, but since the window in the Skype interface is so small, only his head and shoulders appeared.
Now Dan and any one of the dozens of characters owned by CHOPS & Assoc. will be available on Skype, where clients can meet them, talk with them and learn how this technology can work to their benefit.
Dan is also capable of "remote animation," where he can appear on large video screens via the web through a Digital Puppeteer system operated remotely. He can also be set-up for webcasting appearances, virtual meetings, virtual tradeshows and a wide variety of online situations where live video can make a difference.
For more information or a chance to speak with Digital Dan on Skype, contact us for an appointment soon. You can find our contact information on the CHOPS website to the left.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Talking Portrait of Thomas Edison
One of my clients asked for a demo of the Talking Portrait for their event, and they are considering using Thomas A. Edison, one of my favorite inventors and businessmen. He demonstrated the spirit of the American inventor by claiming the most patents in the US patent office by a single individual.
So here's the link to my one-minute long video clip of Thomas Edison -
Labels: live animation talking portrait edison
Friday, June 20, 2008
Demonstrating the "Nixon Effect"
Click Here to Watch the Video!
Clicking on this link above will open a page with a Flash file showing how Nixon looks when animated in real time by Gary Jesch.
Our method is amazingly simple with our Live Animation software:
- 1. Size the photo correctly and mask out the mouth area so there will be a hole.
- 2. Apply the skin from the photo to the texture map of CHOPS used in our program.
- 3. In the live animation program, make the portrait into an overlay and play the animated character behind it.
- 4. Record it using a piece of Nixon's speech from his resignation, in real time, to get accurate lip sync.
- 5. Convert to a Flash video and upload to the Web page.
For more information, please send a note or leave a comment.
This was fun and quick. The "Nixon Effect" was initially developed for a client who planned a party with a "politically incorrect" theme. Nixon was displayed in a portrait frame surrounding a 65-inch plasma screen mounted on its edge, and interacted with guests as well as a "front man," who warned visitors about the office being bugged.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
"In the KNOW" - VirtuaLibby interviews Squeeze
"Squeeze" Debuts in Lindsay, CA at McDermont House
Our first virtual character to be installed in a permanent location (in the US) is "Squeeze," the new mascot of the McDermont Field House in Lindsay, CA, about 45 minutes south of Fresno.
He was designed by Jaren Fisher, a manager in Lindsay, and created in 3D by Tom Knight of IW43D of Hermosa Beach. Gary Jesch of CHOPS & Assoc. Live Animation is the producer on the project.
"Squeeze" is set up to meet and greet visitors to the field house from a 65-inch LCD screen near the front entrance. His purpose is to help them with directions to the huge facility, as well as to create a unique experience for children and adults who come to visit.
The McDermont Field House is a new family recreation center featuring basketball courts, a 10,000 sq. ft., darkened laser tag arena, video arcade and dance rooms. This month, it will open the new wing, with several floors big enough to accommodate indoor soccer fields, skatepark, Flo-Rider water park, a climbing wall and more.
For videos of "Squeeze," visit our YouTube Channel at CHOPS & Assoc. Live Animation Videos
