A Framework for Human-like Behavior in an immersive virtual world

Abstract

Abstract-Just as readers feel immersed when the story-line adheres to their experiences, users will more easily feel immersed in a virtual environment if the behavior of the characters in that environment adheres to their expectations, based on their lifelong observations in the real world. This paper introduces a framework that allows authors to establish natural, human-like behavior, physical interaction and emotional engagement of characters living in a virtual environment. Represented by realistic virtual characters, this framework allows people to feel immersed in an Internet based virtual world in which they can meet and share experiences in a natural way as they can meet and share experiences in real life. Rather than just being visualized in a 3D space, the virtual characters (autonomous agents as well as avatars representing users) in the immersive environment facilitate social interaction and multi-party collaboration, mixing virtual with real.

REVERIE: Natural human interaction in virtual immersive environments

“…REVERIE's form of avatar reasoning serves to control the autonomous agents and semi-autonomous avatars that act in REVERIE's virtual environment with a framework which will drive their coherent and natural behaviour [8]. It supports interaction of both user-driven as well as autonomous virtual characters that engage in understandable social interactions in an emotional and expressive manner.…”

Playing Immersive Games on the REVERIE Platform

“…REVERIE's Speech Recognition functionality supplies information on spoken input and User Affect Analysis functionality supplies head nod/shake input [8]. REVERIE's Reasoning Framework provides the control functionality for Simon [9]. Through this control system, Simon knows about the rules of the game and handles the running of the game autonomously.…”