Modelling facial action units using partial differential equations.

This thesis discusses a novel method for modelling facial action units. It presents facial action units model based on boundary value problems for accurate representation of human facial expression in three-dimensions. In particular, a solution to a fourth order elliptic Partial Differential Equation (PDE) subject to suitable boundary conditions is utilized, where the chosen boundary curves are based on muscles movement defined by Facial Action Coding System (FACS). This study involved three stages: modelling faces, manipulating faces and application to simple facial animation. In the first stage, PDE method is used in modelling and generating a smooth 3D face. The PDE formulation using small sets of parameters contributes to the efficiency of human face representation. In the manipulation stage, a generic PDE face of neutral expression is manipulated to a face with expression using PDE descriptors that uniquely represents an action unit. A combination of the PDE descriptor results in a generic PDE face having an expression, which successfully modelled four basic expressions: happy, sad, fear and disgust. An example of application is given using simple animation technique called blendshapes. This technique uses generic PDE face in animating basic expressions.Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia and Universiti Malaysia Terenggan

A simulation for the creation of soft-looking, realistic facial expressions

In dieser Arbeit wird ein Weg zur Erstellung von realistischen, weich wirkenden, virtuellen Gesichtsausdrücken vorgestellt. Um dies zu ermöglichen wurde eine Simulation der Gesichtsmuskeln mit einer Simulation der menschlichen Haut kombiniert. Für die Gesamtsimulation wurde daraufhin ein Tool erstellt, welches das Austesten und die Manipulation der Muskeln ermöglicht.In this thesis, a way is presented for the creation of realistic, soft-looking, virtual facial expressions. A simulation of the facial muscles and a simulation of the human skin was combined for this task. In succession a tool was developed which allowed the testing of the simulation and the manipulation of the virtual muscles

Generating anatomical substructures for physically-based facial animation.

Physically-based facial animation techniques are capable of producing realistic facial deformations, but have failed to find meaningful use outside the academic community because they are notoriously difficult to create, reuse, and art-direct, in comparison to other methods of facial animation. This thesis addresses these shortcomings and presents a series of methods for automatically generating a skull, the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS – a layer of fascia investing and interlinking the mimic muscle system), and mimic muscles for any given 3D face model. This is done toward (the goal of) a production-viable framework or rig-builder for physically-based facial animation. This workflow consists of three major steps. First, a generic skull is fitted to a given head model using thin-plate splines computed from the correspondence between landmarks placed on both models. Second, the SMAS is constructed as a variational implicit or radial basis function surface in the interface between the head model and the generic skull fitted to it. Lastly, muscle fibres are generated as boundary-value straightest geodesics, connecting muscle attachment regions defined on the surface of the SMAS. Each step of this workflow is developed with speed, realism and reusability in mind

Designing a Simulation showcasing the Pharmacological Effects of Beta-2-Agonists in Asthma Treatment; Virtual Reality as a supplement to traditional teaching methods

As educational technology evolves, there is a growing interest in applying VR in teaching complex scientific concepts that benefit from a visual and immersive learning environment. Motivated by the promising results of VR in medical education across multiple disciplines, we aimed to investigate the applicability and effectiveness of this technology in pharmacology education. This discipline, which involves understanding how drugs work within the human body, is often considered complex and challenging for students. However, it is a critical component of medical education and is essential in treating and preventing various diseases. The study was driven by two research inquiries. The primary inquiry aimed to explore the potential design possibilities of a virtual reality (VR) simulation for visualizing the pharmacological effects of beta-2-agonists in asthma treatment. The secondary question focused on evaluating the perspectives of students and educators regarding the efficacy of the VR application in learning pharmacology concepts compared to conventional teaching approaches. The application underwent two rounds of evaluation sessions with both students and teachers. Participants responded positively to the immersive learning experience, particularly appreciating the detailed visualizations and interactivity offered by the VR application. Their feedback highlighted the potential of VR to create a more intuitive understanding of complex pharmacological processes. Despite the evaluation phase featuring a limited number of participants, the received feedback suggested a promising potential for VR as an additional tool. The study, therefore, serves as a proof of concept, showcasing the possibilities of VR in enhancing pharmacology education and paving the way for future research and development in this area.Masteroppgave i Programvareutvikling samarbeid med HVLPROG399MAMN-PRO

Animation of a hierarchical image based facial model and perceptual analysis of visual speech

In this Thesis a hierarchical image-based 2D talking head model is presented, together with robust automatic and semi-automatic animation techniques, and a novel perceptual method for evaluating visual-speech based on the McGurk effect. The novelty of the hierarchical facial model stems from the fact that sub-facial areas are modelled individually. To produce a facial animation, animations for a set of chosen facial areas are first produced, either by key-framing sub-facial parameter values, or using a continuous input speech signal, and then combined into a full facial output. Modelling hierarchically has several attractive qualities. It isolates variation in sub-facial regions from the rest of the face, and therefore provides a high degree of control over different facial parts along with meaningful image based animation parameters. The automatic synthesis of animations may be achieved using speech not originally included in the training set. The model is also able to automatically animate pauses, hesitations and non-verbal (or non-speech related) sounds and actions. To automatically produce visual-speech, two novel analysis and synthesis methods are proposed. The first method utilises a Speech-Appearance Model (SAM), and the second uses a Hidden Markov Coarticulation Model (HMCM) - based on a Hidden Markov Model (HMM). To evaluate synthesised animations (irrespective of whether they are rendered semi automatically, or using speech), a new perceptual analysis approach based on the McGurk effect is proposed. This measure provides both an unbiased and quantitative method for evaluating talking head visual speech quality and overall perceptual realism. A combination of this new approach, along with other objective and perceptual evaluation techniques, are employed for a thorough evaluation of hierarchical model animations.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Animation of a hierarchical image based facial model and perceptual analysis of visual speech

In this Thesis a hierarchical image-based 2D talking head model is presented, together with robust automatic and semi-automatic animation techniques, and a novel perceptual method for evaluating visual-speech based on the McGurk effect. The novelty of the hierarchical facial model stems from the fact that sub-facial areas are modelled individually. To produce a facial animation, animations for a set of chosen facial areas are first produced, either by key-framing sub-facial parameter values, or using a continuous input speech signal, and then combined into a full facial output. Modelling hierarchically has several attractive qualities. It isolates variation in sub-facial regions from the rest of the face, and therefore provides a high degree of control over different facial parts along with meaningful image based animation parameters. The automatic synthesis of animations may be achieved using speech not originally included in the training set. The model is also able to automatically animate pauses, hesitations and non-verbal (or non-speech related) sounds and actions. To automatically produce visual-speech, two novel analysis and synthesis methods are proposed. The first method utilises a Speech-Appearance Model (SAM), and the second uses a Hidden Markov Coarticulation Model (HMCM) - based on a Hidden Markov Model (HMM). To evaluate synthesised animations (irrespective of whether they are rendered semi automatically, or using speech), a new perceptual analysis approach based on the McGurk effect is proposed. This measure provides both an unbiased and quantitative method for evaluating talking head visual speech quality and overall perceptual realism. A combination of this new approach, along with other objective and perceptual evaluation techniques, are employed for a thorough evaluation of hierarchical model animations

Generating anatomical substructures for physically-based facial animation

Physically-based facial animation techniques are capable of producing realistic facial deformations, but have failed to find meaningful use outside the academic community because they are notoriously difficult to create, reuse, and art-direct, in comparison to other methods of facial animation. This thesis addresses these shortcomings and presents a series of methods for automatically generating a skull, the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS – a layer of fascia investing and interlinking the mimic muscle system), and mimic muscles for any given 3D face model. This is done toward (the goal of) a production-viable framework or rig-builder for physically-based facial animation. This workflow consists of three major steps. First, a generic skull is fitted to a given head model using thin-plate splines computed from the correspondence between landmarks placed on both models. Second, the SMAS is constructed as a variational implicit or radial basis function surface in the interface between the head model and the generic skull fitted to it. Lastly, muscle fibres are generated as boundary-value straightest geodesics, connecting muscle attachment regions defined on the surface of the SMAS. Each step of this workflow is developed with speed, realism and reusability in mind.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Generating anatomical substructures for physically-based facial animation

Physically-based facial animation techniques are capable of producing realistic facial deformations, but have failed to find meaningful use outside the academic community because they are notoriously difficult to create, reuse, and art-direct, in comparison to other methods of facial animation. This thesis addresses these shortcomings and presents a series of methods for automatically generating a skull, the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS – a layer of fascia investing and interlinking the mimic muscle system), and mimic muscles for any given 3D face model. This is done toward (the goal of) a production-viable framework or rig-builder for physically-based facial animation. This workflow consists of three major steps. First, a generic skull is fitted to a given head model using thin-plate splines computed from the correspondence between landmarks placed on both models. Second, the SMAS is constructed as a variational implicit or radial basis function surface in the interface between the head model and the generic skull fitted to it. Lastly, muscle fibres are generated as boundary-value straightest geodesics, connecting muscle attachment regions defined on the surface of the SMAS. Each step of this workflow is developed with speed, realism and reusability in mind.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo