In:
Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments, MIT Press, Vol. 8, No. 4 ( 1999-08), p. 369-393
Abstract:
The KidsRoom is a perceptually-based, interactive, narrative playspace for children. Images, music, narration, light, and sound effects are used to transform a normal child's bedroom into a fantasy land where children are guided through a reactive adventure story. The fully automated system was designed with the following goals: (1) to keep the focus of user action and interaction in the physical and not virtual space; (2) to permit multiple, collaborating people to simultaneously engage in an interactive experience combining both real and virtual objects; (3) to use computer-vision algorithms to identify activity in the space without requiring the participants to wear any special clothing or devices; (4) to use narrative to constrain the perceptual recognition, and to use perceptual recognition to allow participants to drive the narrative; and (5) to create a truly immersive and interactive room environment. We believe the KidsRoom is the first multi-person, fully-automated, interactive, narrative environment ever constructed using non-encumbering sensors. This paper describes the KidsRoom, the technology that makes it work, and the issues that were raised during the system's development. 1 1 A demonstration of the project, which complements the material presented here and includes videos, images, and sounds from each part of the story is available at .
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1054-7460
DOI:
10.1162/105474699566297
Language:
English
Publisher:
MIT Press
Publication Date:
1999
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