Multimodal Behaviour Generation Frameworks in Virtual Heritage Applications: A Virtual Museum at Sverresborg

Abstract

This masters thesis proposes that multimodal behaviour generation frameworks are an appropriate way to increase the believability of animated characters in virtual heritage applications. To investigate this proposal, an existing virtual museum guide application developed by the author is extended by integrating the Behavioural Markup Language (BML), and the open-source BML realiser SmartBody. The architectural and implementation decisions involved in this process are catalogued and discussed. The integration of BML and SmartBody results in a dramatic improvement in the quality of character animation in the application, as well as greater flexibility and extensibility, including the ability to create scripted sequences of behaviour for multiple characters in the virtual museum. The successful integration confirms that multimodal behaviour generation frameworks have a place in virtual heritage applications.