I am forwarding this response to a post in MCG from David Dawson regarding
'Funding opportunity from Europe' of the 4 October. It sounds like an
exciting opportunity for any interested organisation. Of course the deadline
for application for funding is now even more urgent so Jonathan would
appreciate contact (if you're interested) immediately.

On Wed, 25 Oct 2000 13:43:06 +0100 Jonathan Brookhouse
<> wrote:
> I understand from the e-mail that the fund is designed for cultural
> institution and applications need to come from them. We could be the
> technology partner for a venue that wants to convey a
theme/subject/exhibit
> in a new and exciting way.
> Below is brief outline of the of the system that we have developed and
some
> information on who we are by way of introduction.
> Again I'm not sure if you can do anything with it but you may know of a
> venue that is looking for a technology partner to implement their ideas.
>
> The development I speak of is a Movement Tracking System developed as a
new
> attraction concept an interactive virtual environment- named the
> 'Interactive Arena' - designed specifically for Museums, Visitor Centres,
> Theme Parks etc...
>
> The concept is new and does exist anywhere as yet. This funding
opportunity
> could help to implement and install  the first Arena in a venue that is
> interested.
>
>  The Arena concept is an interactive, multi-user, fully immersive virtual
> environment incorporating computer generated images projected onto large
> wraparound screens surrounding the Arena, where 'players' can control
> characters on screen, or the outcome of a scenario, simply by moving
around
> on the floor.
> Players interact in real-time with the activity, the environment and each
> other.
> The concept won the DTI SMART award for innovation, ( which is a
government
> funded, competition scheme aimed to promote innovation and technology
> nation-wide) and as a result, a feasibility prototype has been completed.
>
> As a rough illustration of the sort of exhibit that the Arena System is
> capable of, would be the Interactive Children's Playroom in the Play Zone
in
> the Millennium Dome. Although the tracking element used in that exhibit
was
> based on an IR camera system which, as you may know, has limitations as to
> what can be done with the image that the camera 'sees'. The object, or
> person is seen by the camera as a moving mass or blob and a simplistic
form
> of tracking could be applied to that data. The problem arises with an IR
> camera system when objects move together. It cannot differentiate between
> them, the objects simply merge and are seen as one larger blob, when they
do
> eventually separate, it cannot tell who is who.
>
> The Arena system was designed to address these limitations. It is
> sophisticated and versatile allowing some unique features to be
incorporated
> into the attraction because it is able to track individual people and hold
> them as separate objects even if they come together.
>
> This allows the activity (or game engine) to allocate an ID to each
> 'player', and as it tracks the movement and whereabouts of each individual
> player in real time, it can know 'who is where' at any given moment
allowing
> for a high degree of intelligence to be incorporated into the activity or
> story concept.
>
> Because of this feature the System could, if the game content required it,
> automatically tailor and allocate multiple, progressive levels of
difficulty
> to each individual participant, so that players of different ages and
> abilities can play together. For example a 6 year old could play in the
same
> game, at the same time as a 12 year old, but at a different level.
> Players would be able to participate at their own individual pace, which
> would allow each player more choice and control over his or her
interaction
> and participation. This would create a more personalised and relevant
> experience for each player.
>
> Existing systems cannot do this.
>
> The system is designed to respond to visitors 'as they are'. Visitors
inside
> the Arena do not have to hold any control device or wear anything extra.
It
> is not based on existing methods of tracking such as reflectors, heat
> sensors, cameras or under floor sensors.
> The whole system is completely automated and invisible. Players (and
> spectators) will not see how it actually works, creating a sense of
mystery
> and wonder.
>
> The system can be used indoors or outside and can cover an area of up to
400
> square meters. Although because the System is modular, larger areas can be
> achieved by linking modules together.
>
> The tracking System can be used in a variety of ways and below are a few
> ideas, the venue may of course, have others.
> The Interactive Arena concept is a fully immersive Interactive Virtual
> Environment incorporating large projected computer generated images and
> surround sound. Stimulating the imagination, the senses of movement, sound
> and vision and giving a stunning atmospheric impression of the
wraparound
> world players find themselves in.
>
> Once the System is in place, new graphics software can be integrated
> according to a Venues ongoing needs, ensuring a long shelf life even if
the
> main aims or functions of a Venue change over time.
>
> The System can produce multi-user, fun educational and creative
attractions
> where players can trigger, simply by their movement, any number of devices
> or applications in any protocol including:
>
> Audio-visual applications can be automatically triggered.-music, sounds,
> lights, colours.
> Computer generated images can be manipulated in real-time.
> Lasers, Fountains- can be played with by visitors movement
> Animatronics.- can be programmed to respond to visitors movement. e.g.. a
> lifelike animatronic animal in a natural history museum could, with eye
and
> head movement, follow a visitor that is walking past its glass fronted
> exhibit .
> Camera pan and tilt rigs or Robots can be linked in to the movement of an
> object or person to automatically follow or respond to the person or
object
> in real-time.
> Any cause and effect scenarios, pop-ups, sound effects,etc. can be
> automatically triggered by the position and direction of movement of
> visitors.
>
> In short, any concept that needs to integrate an automatic monitoring of
> position and movement of individuals or objects in real-time, either
singly
> or in a group, and to automatically trigger any number of predetermined or
> unpredictable devices, events or scenarios within the 'live zone' can make
> use of the system.
>
> Triad has recently joined Octec Ltd, a company of 35 engineers. Our joint
> expertise encompasses a wide range of skills including Game concept
design,
> hardware and software design, simulation, image processing, video tracking
> and capture, digital and analogue servo design and interfacing ,
> Electro-optical sensors, and overall systems design and integration.
> We are building a department that specialises in innovative solutions to
> technology based attractions.
>
> I hope that this has sparked some ideas but even if not I would appreciate
> it if you could contact me as soon as possible.
>
>
>
> With kind regards, Jonathan Brookhouse.
>
> Triad Technologies Ltd.
> The Octec Building, Units 12/13 The Western Centre.
> Western Road, Bracknell, Berkshire. RG12 1RW
> Tel: +44 (0) 1344 465 208 Fax:+44 (0) 1344 465 201
> [log in to unmask]
> www.octec.co.uk
>

----------------------
Vince Jones
TASI Technical Training & Research Officer
Institute for Learning and Research Technology
University of Bristol
8-10 Berkeley Square
Bristol
BS8 1HH

[log in to unmask]
www.tasi.ac.uk





%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%