Real-Time Particle Simulation and Motion Capture Interaction

This thesis presents the design and development of a program that allows artists to explore and create visual effects from the interaction between a particle system and motion captured data. A spatial subdivision scheme was developed to ensure fast and efficient particle-mesh collisions, allowing the user to interact with the system as it runs. Motion captured data was applied to create different animation routines which include a tango electronica dance and a tribal magician choreography. The particle system was created to work in conjunction with these animations and developed to be as versatile as possible, allowing for a multitude of effects from the interaction of the particles with the mesh