So you think your agent can dance? An investigation of choreographic and software structures within motion-capture driven, real-time, virtual dance environments

摘要

In this research project I have investigated methodologies for creating interactive software environments within the context of a live dance performance. Live dancers wearing motion capture (mocap) technology allowed the streaming of movement data into a virtual, projected software environment. In this project I have looked at both software structures and choreographic structures to see if there are characteristics that might point to appropriate software environments for particular choreographic investigation. The next step was to investigate, by examining the results of various experiments in the nexus of choreography and software design, whether the choreographic structure, not the movement itself, but the underlying organizational architecture, can be used to model the software architecture itself and vice versa. A research pathway from two dancers using mocap techniques to engage in a shared virtual environment, to a single human dancer interacting with a software agent is described. The research has prompted questions about the possible types and uses of software-driven ‘performance agents’. While it is not within the scope of this research project to develop a fully autonomous collaborative performer agent, a direction for further development is tendered. Existing choreographic structures are compared to appropriate behavior organizational structures in software and in particular game engine software, in an attempt to elucidate any potential benefits one might have for development of the other. Beginning with simple structures I progress to more demanding choreographic scenarios and propose potential software architectures derived from the requirements of the choreographic structure.