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January 10, 2005
Animated Talking Characters for Elearning
Quite a few elearning projects use Oddcast to liven up narration or role-play simulations with SWF-based talking animated characters. Oddcast even has a suite specifically for elearning- Vhost E-learning Suite.
Sculptoris Voices Studio is another interesting product that also creates talking, animated SWF characters. It runs about $99 USD at their web site-- http://www.sculptoris.com
Posted by tking at January 10, 2005 06:59 PM
Comments
I have been amazed of talking characters on the internet for some time and wanted to ask if itll be easy for me to learn those stuff. Pls inform me on how I get started. I am a Computer Science graduate but the nature of my work since I graduate was not related with software development because I am working on a call center here in the Philippines. And I am worried that I havent applied the things I studied in college except for the use of computer and the internet. I am currently taking up MSIT/MS Info Tech but the topics were taking right now are mostly theoretical and are not application based. Please advice me on what can I do to be able to use my field.
Thanks.
Posted by: Hans at January 10, 2005 09:34 PM
Hi,
I saw alot of such products but the liping simulations is still need to be improved and the 3D render quality as well.
But, it is very useful when adding some small instrcutions tips, answers....etc.
Posted by: Rafiq R. Elmansy at January 11, 2005 03:53 AM
It's nice "foot in the door" technology but it's just not ready fro primetime yet. I agree with Rafiq, lip synching definitely detracts from the experience. Hopefully better soon.
Posted by: oingo boingo at January 11, 2005 06:07 AM
One thing with Sculptoris Voices is that is produces an unlimited amount standalone swf exports. Oddcast is run from their server and requires monthly fees and pay-per-usage fees.
Thanks....Rob
Posted by: Robert Walters at January 11, 2005 08:00 AM
A cool thing you can do with these characters is to give them some artificial intelligence.
Providing they can accept input in text format (which they do), you can setup ALICE on the server to act as their personality, ALICE even comes with a sample Flash front end (text only), so it wouldnt be hard to combine the two, and its free :)
If you supplied the correct set of AIML e.g. science based, this might just be used to act as a teacher in some form of e-Learning!
Posted by: Richard Leggett at January 11, 2005 11:05 AM