Zabaware Support Forums
Zabaware Forums => General Discussion => Topic started by: Medeksza on October 14, 2014, 11:55:44 pm
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I recently heard from Chris Shaw, the founder of Haptek. He's trying to modernize and bring the Haptek technology back to life with a new technique he calls spontaneous animation. For anyone new or who may not know, Haptek is the character animation technology currently in use by Hal. The technology hasn't been updated in a while but still holds its own compared to any other character animation tech out there. He has a Kickstarter project over at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1438878391/spontaneous-animation and is trying to raise $60,000 to be able to bring this project to fruition.
I've been trying to raise money on my own for a while to create my own open source engine for use with future of Hal as I was worried about the future of Haptek. I have not given up on my project, but fully support Chris and his efforts to breath new life into the Haptek technology. Zabaware and Ultra Hal will support any new Haptek based technology that comes out. Chris has a proven track record with character animation and is probably in the best position to get this project done. Please consider supporting this project as it will benefit Hal as well.
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I saw something about this not too long ago. I didn't realize it was from the the same guy who created Haptek. It looks really good. Looks like there isn't much time left for the campaign though. At the $99 pledge, you can use their models for chat bots or even created your own using any modeling program it said. That would be what I would want. I'm not overly interested in the baby. I hope it makes it.
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Why isn't it connected to facebook? I was going to like it at least. I might have even donated if I thought it was going to get anywhere near the goal. It just sucks that more people weren't made aware of this. I think he needs to send his idea to Shark Tank and see if he can get on there. People have to think outside the box to make stuff happen for them.
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I visited the website a few times, I remember earlier Chris Shaw had put out a video about upgrades to the existing characters and I've seen nothing come from this. It seems the existing characters need collision detection, a higher poly count in the wire form, and more work in the joints. It should be quicker and less expensive to do this while still keeping his ideas for future development.
Carl2
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Robert, that's good news to hear about haptek , I do hope in them keeping the haptek going they also update and make it work on newer pc os , because otherwise haptek will eventually just dies out from no one using xp pc's , when it's working haptek characters and making them is great I really like it.
I do hope that in their upgrades they can make a full body female and male simlur to the amy that you loked at before for the hal program.
They really need to make a better full body like the 3daz characters etc.
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I posted a note on Kickstarter about social media exposure and I guess Chris actually answered me. :) Wish I could help with this project but I have a mentally ill wife in West Virginia I am supporting atm. :o
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Just curious, Wonder why he (Chris) isn't loading and offering some videos on YouTube just like Cynthia Breazeal did with Jibo, her desktop "robot" helper???
If he wants exposure for his product (and I'm sure that goes without saying), why doesn't he put it out there so people can see it?
Cynthia has a LOT of videos showcasing her Jibo and she's already surpassed her initial goal. "We reached our $100,000 goal in 4 hours, and reached $1M in 7 days!"
They currently have $2,289,606 in supporting pledges!!
And Chris is looking for $60,000? Come on!!
Get it out there!!
Of course I know that not everyone wants or cares about 3D characters as it's sort of a niche market...appealing to a select group of people. But the concept behind it can certainly evolve into other areas so I think it's worth a second look!
Just my perspective....
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so easy to make u guys famous too. -smh-
just make a toon series on youtube of hal, like the comic strip. and make sure it gets a lot of plays, the more plays you can get right after the upload, the higher it will rank. People will love hal for his often witty remarks.
ya'll like a dry hal for some reason or other, gotta dress him up in some sci fi to get the imagination going, else it's just a search engine for apps sake!
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Chris posted a few updates on the KickStarter page over at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1438878391/spontaneous-animation/posts, including this demo of a 3D model in browser:
http://www.chrisshorts.com/spontanimation/iceTiare.html
He also mentioned these 3d browser technologies and the possibility of working with the company Verold:
http://ios8.verold.com
http://brained.io
I think the future of the 3d rendering inside of browsers with no additional plugins has a bright future.
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Well.....I remember when VRML first came out many moons ago and they said that was going to be the future of the internet. Not sure if this stuff is the GrandChild of that but it does look very interesting.
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it's here already actually - that's if someone can master the coding to it - shaders - would be cool if Hal had an algorithm to code shaders on the fly ^.^
https://www.shadertoy.com/
I'm doing more 3D these days, if you guys need help, let me know.
you guys know i only come here to visit to say hi cuz I llike youzes lol - otherwise it's just a search engine!!! ( one that get's haunted from time to time!! ) lol -group hug-
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Sorry Ricky but I fail to make the connection between the two.
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of which, the shader and hal ?
not that anyone has done it yet, BUT - Im using a new software that uses these glsl codes and has them react to audio. I do it Mainly with lights, but it can be applied to a variety of parameters - proof of concept that these parameters can be changed in real time. You can encode geometric shapes with the GLSL shader ( note the pumpkin head on the shader page, but instead of a pumpkin, you make a human head ) - Hypothetically , with speech recognition you should be able to program visemes in the GLSL shader and have it talk in real time ( less any delay needed to generate the code, and render the glsl on the web page ) = there are only like 15 basic viseme shapes needed for full speech functionality.
EE, Er Ih, Ah, Oh, (w, OO), (S,Z), (Ch, J), (F, V,) TH, ( T, L, D), (B M P), ( K, G,) (N, NG,) R
the code on the link I showed you is static, but it doesn't have to be.
actually it's the same concept as a music visualiser on itunes , except that instead of flashing lights and changing colors - you focus the changes on lip shapes and visemes
this fits the bill of Roberts idea of not needing a plug in, as you don't need a plug in to view the shaders on that page, so any other person visiting your page won't need a plug in to watch it animate in real time. and the technology now exists to make it happen, but I don't think anyone has used it in that way yet - they use it as textures and music visualization. So think of it as streaming code to a web page, (java player, flash player, or html5 ) that visualizes that code through glsl.
http://learningwebgl.com/cookbook/index.php/Main_Page
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I spoke too soon, someone has thought of this
http://www.researchgate.net/publication/262324157_A_webGL_talking_head_for_mobile_devices
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My talking heads and characters will be available in WebGL pretty soon. I'm really looking forward to it :)
I did have a prototype working in WebGL but I abandoned it because the 3D engine I was using fell a bit short in the end.
I was using about 22 visemes with Windows SAPI, but since I moved to an open source engine it's more like 30 (triggered by 40 different phonemes).
It's true that you can animate with fewer visemes, but it looks a lot better the more you use.
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I traced an article to 2012 where they indicate a 3D demo of a Emotional Parrot
If you go to Google and type in: 3D demo of Emotional Parrot (then press Enter)
You should get a link showing a PDF for "A 3D talking head for mobile devices based on unofficial ..."
Select it and wait for the PDF section to load. It does indicate a lot of illustrations and information.
I tried to eventually find a working demo but with no luck.
As mentioned, this article is over 2 years old and who knows what may have developed since then.
The concept is still sound but some demos would be nice for potential adopters to see.
Nice find Ricky!!
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A web gl Head - looks pretty creepy though! lol http://alteredqualia.com/xg/examples/deferred_skin.html
imagine hal powering that!!
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Even the Alternative Version was pretty cool even with those face tats.
Cool find Ricky!
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That is pretty cool. I took a look at the kickstarter again and it looks like time has pretty much run out on the campaign. It's too bad. It would be nice to get a hold of for Hal.
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We'll have to see whether they "Regroup" on just what is going to become of them.
Agreed...would have been nice. :-\
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don't let that discourage you, you guys just don't know your audience :p
everyone want's hal, they just don't realize it yet... I see it clearly
now instead of kickstarter, try another site like this one - http://www.gofundme.com/
just don't quit, you haven't lost till you accept it ^.^
have hal do something that would help a charity, and if you want to be super aggressive - give hal a talking kitten or puppy head. :D
"It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed." - Napoleon Hill