Mapping and Recognition of Facial Expressions on Another Person's Look-Alike Avatars
Birate Sonia, Trinity Suma, Kwame Agyemang Baffour, Oyewole Oyekoya · 2023
As Virtual Reality (VR) continues to advance and gain popularity, one of the persisting concerns revolves around the level of fidelity achievable in creating lifelike avatars. This study aims to explore the possibility, feasibility, and effects of controlling avatars in Virtual Reality using actual facial expressions and eye movements from three different actors mapped onto one actor’s look-alike avatar. The objective is to explore the authenticity and appeal of avatars, particularly when they accurately portray facial expressions of their respective users compared to when they display facial expressions from other individuals. By properly mapping facial expressions and eye movements onto the avatar, we seek to aid with the development of a more realistic and captivating virtual experience that closely mirrors real-life interactions. Furthermore, we investigate whether mapping one’s facial expressions to another person’s look-alike avatar affects identification and recognition.