“Can This Be Done?” New Research Tools for Studying Human Interaction

In this webinar, Stefan Lindgren and Carolina Larsson (Lund University Humanities Lab) demonstrated a new workflow for using motion capture to study human movement and interaction. The workflow arose from a collaboration with Riksteatern Crea, a theatre group in Sweden that creates stage productions in sign language designed for deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing audiences alike. They asked whether it is possible to transfer the complex movements of a sign-language performer to a digital avatar that could be projected onto a stage and interact in real time with both the audience and live actors. The answer was yes. Here, Lindgren and Larsson outline the development of a simplified, more efficient workflow for researchers studying human interaction through body movement and gesture using motion capture devices of different kinds and a free game developing software called Unreal Engine.

About the Speakers

Stefan Lindgren

Stefan Lindgren is a research engineer at Lund University Humanities lab, a multiuser research infrastructure that provides tools and knowledge to conduct research about human behaviour, communication, cognition and culture. He is acting technical manager for the lab and has a background in computer technology with a special interest in 3d-data and 3d-visualisations. He has been involved in a large number of research projects helping out with 3d-documentation all over the world. His expertise includes 3d-scanning, photogrammetry, motion capture and 3d-visualisations.

Carolina Larsson

Carolina Larsson is a systems developer at Lund University Humanities lab, a multiuser research infrastructure that provides tools and knowledge to conduct research about human behaviour, communication, cognition and culture. Carolina is an expert in 3d-modelling and is proficient in Blender, a 3d-software that covers most aspects of 3d-modelling. She has a solid experience in working with and manipulating 3d-data from any kind of 3d-acquisition.  She has been working with 3d-documentation, motion capture and animations in research projects in areas such as medicine, archaeology, linguistics, historical reconstructions and museology. 

Note: subtitles for this video were created by Teodora Leu

Learning Outcomes

After watching this webinar, learners will be able to:

• Outline the steps taken in a simplified workflow for capturing complex human gestures and transferring them into digital avatars
• Identify the challenges of capturing human gestures for digital reproduction
• Recognise the need for accessibility in digital interactions