Sign Language Animation Transition via Kinematic Boundary Conditions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for generating sign language animations face challenges in creating seamless transitions between animations, often resulting in poor quality and scalability issues due to the need for extensive manual processing and the limitations of existing interpolation methods which do not adequately account for kinematic boundary conditions.
Innovation Solution
A method for generating sign language transition animations by calculating kinematic boundary conditions for each bone of a character's skeleton, using quaternions to define transition paths that respect the orientation, velocity, and acceleration of the bones, and applying easing functions for finger transitions, while also incorporating post-processing effects to enhance realism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If motion capture is used to create sign language animations, then the visual quality and detail of body and finger movements are improved, but the time and resources required for manual processing increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the sign language animation creation process into individual word-level animations that can be independently captured and stored in a dictionary. Each word animation is processed separately through motion capture, then combined using automated transition algorithms, eliminating the need for manual processing of entire sentences while maintaining high visual quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary motion capture and processing of individual sign language words to create a preprocessed dictionary of animations. This advance preparation allows sentences to be constructed later by simply retrieving and combining pre-processed word animations with automated transitions, significantly reducing real-time processing requirements.
2Ease of manufacture
If existing interpolation methods are used to transition between animations, then the implementation is simple, but the transition quality is poor and does not respect kinematic boundary conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameters used for animation transitions from simple positional interpolation to comprehensive kinematic parameters including orientation, velocity, and acceleration. By calculating and respecting these kinematic boundary conditions, the transitions maintain physical realism and smoothness while still being implemented through automated algorithms rather than manual animation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary transition animation layer between discrete sign language word animations. This intermediary layer calculates smooth kinematic transitions that respect boundary conditions, acting as a mediator that connects discrete animations while maintaining visual continuity and physical plausibility.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual processing is used to create seamless transitions between sign language animations, then the transition quality is improved, but the scalability and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service automation where the transition animations are generated automatically by the system itself using calculated kinematic boundary conditions. The automated algorithms compute smooth transitions between word animations without requiring manual intervention, enabling both high transition quality and scalable production of sign language sentences.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method for generating a sign language transition animation of a character. The method comprising selecting a first animation corresponding with a first signed word and a second animation corresponding with a second signed word, and generating a transition animation to transition the character between the first animation and the second animation.