Collaboration for high definition Virtual Humans
Toppan Printing in Japan is launching a collaboration focused on high-definition virtual humans created using high-resolution real scanning data.
The project with 3dig will create photorealistic virtual humans by using data from high-precision biometric scanning. This scanning will be performed on the Light Stage at the Toppan Virtual Human Lab and applying it as training data for 3dig’s “anma” system, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) for automated generation of virtual humans.
Use of AI-generated virtual humans not based on real-world people will enable creation of image-right-free corporate advertising, video content, and other media. This will also be a key technology for ‘metaverse’ applications.
Corporate advertising and video content using virtual avatars of real-world people or 3D computer graphic (3DCG) virtual humans have garnered interest in recent years. As AI technology evolves and expands, it is being used for simple operations, such as reception desk and guidance functions, and technologies related to virtual humans are expected to grow in importance.
- Virtual lab for high precision body measurements
- First aerial display to generate images parallel to the panel
However the development of virtual humans ha struggled with unnatural expressions and movements as well as a grainy appearance that is conspicuous when virtual humans appear in printed media or on high-resolution displays.
另一个问题是所谓的“恐怖谷”phenomenon, whereby humanoid objects or images provoke feelings of eeriness in viewers as expressions and movements get closer to resembling those of actual people. Creating virtual humans based on real-world people has costs associated with handling image rights and presents the risk of the content becoming unusable if problems arise in connection to the individuals concerned.
To address these issues, Toppan and 3dig are collaborating on the production of image-right-free content using AI-generated humans that are not based on specific real-world people. Data compiled from high-precision scanning of the human body performed on the Light Stage at the Toppan Virtual Human Lab will be classified and processed into datasets in suitable formats under robust security on Toppan’s Human Body Information Platform. The datasets will then be provided as training data for 3dig to incorporate into its AI-driven anma system to facilitate low-cost production of photorealistic virtual humans that replicate natural expressions and movements and avoid the “uncanny valley” phenomenon.
代理业务均旨在创建一个新的模型based on using 3dig’s anma system, providing advertising agencies and regional governments with image-right-free content using AI-generated virtual humans and characters not based on real-world people. 3dig will leverage knowledge gained from its research and development of 3DCG and AI to establish a business centreed on anma in the form of a platform for low-cost, high-quality generation of virtual humans.
Toppan and 3dig aim to create the training data and begin operating datasets on Toppan’s Human Body Information Platform in 2022. By April 2022, the two companies hope to construct an automated generation platform for image-right-free photorealistic virtual humans, which will be provided to the advertising industry and regional governments.
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