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Building Interactive 3D Characters and Social VR

Prof Marco Gillies and Prof Sylvia Xueni Pan

Meeting another person is one of the most amazing experiences you can have in Virtual Reality. It is quite unlike communicating through any other medium except a real life face-to-face conversation. Because the other person is life size and shares a virtual space with you, body language works in a way that cannot be done on a flat screen. This course will enable you to create realistic social interactions in VR.

You will learn about both the psychology of social interaction and the practical skills to implement it in Unity3D. We will take you through the basics of 3D character animation and how to create body language. You will learn about how to make characters that can respond to players’ speech and body language. You will also learn about avatars: the virtual representation of other players, and agents: computer controlled NPC characters and how to implement both of them.

As many people have said before us, social is the future of VR. This course will help you become part of the future of Virtual Reality social experiences.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to Virtual Characters

In this module you will start to learn about the role of human-like characters in VR. Characters can represent other real people: avatars, or they can be computer controlled: agents. Either way they are the very foundation of social interaction in VR.

Body Animation in VR

In this module you will learn about the role of the body in social interaction and also about how to animate and control virtual characters' body movements.

Facial Animation

The face is one of the most important social and emotional signals. In this module you will learn about the role of the face and eyes in social interactions and how to recreate them in VR.

Social VR

This module brings together everything you have learned about virtual characters to talk about how you can build truly social experiences in VR.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores a niche use-case of virtual reality technology

Develops foundational skills that can be used in personal projects and professional settings

Taught by recognized experts in virtual reality social experiences

Examines advanced virtual reality topics relevant to industry trends

May require external resources or materials that students must purchase separately

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Reviews summary

Captivating course on 3d character building

Learners say this course combines a great balance of theory and hands-on experience on how to build and animate 3D characters within a social VR setting. The course includes engaging assignments and up-to-date content that empowers learners to understand and implement the fundamentals of social VR. Many students also report feeling supported by the instructors. However, some learners have expressed concerns about outdated assets and the quality of peer projects.

Provides guidance and assistance to learners.

"I highly appreciate the entire team for such mindful Vr tuting."

Explores theories and nuances of social VR interactions.

"This was an excellent course to teach the theories of social VR and the nuances behind crafting compelling social interactions within a VR setting."

"I loved learning about the theory of social interaction via VR."

Offers hands-on experience building and animating 3D characters.

"The project is a great opportunity to learn."

"It is very gratifying to have a complete interaction with a virtual character, and to think that you did it."

Includes assignments that foster understanding and implementation.

"This course has proved as a 4 step towards my VR understanding journey."

"The material provided for reading was always on point and somehow the course encouraged me to run my creative motor along with my technical one."

Inconsistent quality of peer projects.

"Unfortunately, I still think the way we share projects is not ideal."

"Most projects I saw were rand unity games without any VR interaction implemented."

Some assets used in the course may be outdated.

"It could be challenging at times thanks to the fact that many of the assets used by the instructors were outdated."

"The content is apparently not updated to reflect changes in available Unity free assets (Raw Motion Capture not available anymore)."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Building Interactive 3D Characters and Social VR with these activities:

Read 'The Art of 3D Computer Animation and Effects'

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This book provides a comprehensive overview of 3D computer animation and effects, covering topics such as character animation, rigging, and visual effects.

View The Art of 3D Computer Animation and Effects on Amazon

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Read the book thoroughly.
Take notes and highlight important concepts.
Complete the exercises and projects included in the book.

Review Body Language Cues

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Reviewing body language cues will help you better understand the significance of body language in social interactions and how to interpret it.

Browse courses on Body Language

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Read articles and watch videos about body language.
Participate in online discussions or forums about body language.
Practice identifying body language cues in real-life interactions.

Practice Facial Expression Animation

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Practicing facial expression animation will improve your ability to create realistic and expressive virtual characters.

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Use a mirror or video recording to observe your own facial expressions.
Practice animating different facial expressions using software or online tools.
Get feedback from others on your facial animation skills.

Five other activities

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Follow Tutorials on Character Animation

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Following tutorials on character animation will provide you with practical guidance and examples to enhance your understanding of animating virtual characters.

Browse courses on Character Animation

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Find online tutorials or courses on character animation.
Follow the tutorials step-by-step to create your own animated characters.
Experiment with different animation techniques and styles.

Create a Virtual Avatar

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Creating a virtual avatar will allow you to apply the principles of body language and character animation to a practical project.

Browse courses on virtual reality

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Choose an avatar creation platform and software.
Design the appearance and personality of your avatar.
Animate your avatar's movements and expressions.
Test your avatar in a virtual environment.

Join a Study Group for Social VR

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Participating in a study group will provide you with opportunities to discuss and explore social VR concepts and applications with peers.

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Find or create a study group with other students in the course.
Meet regularly to discuss course materials, share ideas, and work on projects.
Provide feedback and support to each other.

Attend a VR Development Workshop

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Attending a VR development workshop will provide you with hands-on experience and guidance in creating VR applications and experiences.

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Research and choose a VR development workshop that aligns with your interests and goals.
Register for the workshop and prepare any necessary materials.
Attend the workshop and actively participate in the activities and discussions.

Write a Blog Post on Social VR

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Writing a blog post on social VR will encourage you to synthesize your knowledge and reflect on the key concepts and applications of social VR.

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Choose a specific topic or aspect of social VR to focus on.
Research and gather information from credible sources.
Organize your thoughts and ideas into a logical structure.
Write and edit your blog post.

Career center

Learners who complete Building Interactive 3D Characters and Social VR will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Character Animator

Character Animators specialize in creating and animating characters for films, video games, and other visual media. This course provides a deep dive into the art of character animation, with a focus on body and facial animation. By learning how to create realistic and expressive characters, you will be well-prepared to succeed as a Character Animator.

See salaries and explore the career path for Character Animator

Virtual Reality Developer

Virtual Reality Developers create immersive and interactive virtual worlds. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of social interaction in VR, which is essential knowledge for Virtual Reality Developers who want to create compelling and engaging multiplayer experiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Virtual Reality Developer

Technical Artist

Technical Artists combine artistic and technical skills to create 3D models, textures, and other assets for video games and other visual media. This course provides a strong foundation in 3D character animation, which is an essential skill for Technical Artists who want to create realistic and expressive characters.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Artist

Motion Capture Artist

Motion Capture Artists use specialized equipment to capture the movements of actors and other performers. This course provides a strong foundation in body animation, which is an essential skill for Motion Capture Artists who want to create realistic and expressive character animations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Motion Capture Artist

3D Modeler

3D Modelers create 3D models for a variety of industries, including film, video games, and manufacturing. This course provides a strong foundation in 3D character animation, which is an essential skill for 3D Modelers who want to create realistic and expressive character models.

See salaries and explore the career path for 3D Modeler

Game Designer

Game Designers create the worlds and characters that players interact with in video games. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the principles of social interaction in VR, which is essential knowledge for Game Designers who want to create immersive and engaging multiplayer experiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer

Game Programmer

Game Programmers write the code that makes video games work. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of social interaction in VR, which is essential knowledge for Game Programmers who want to create immersive and engaging multiplayer experiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Programmer

User Experience Designer

User Experience Designers create user interfaces for websites, apps, and other digital products. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of social interaction in VR, which is essential knowledge for User Experience Designers who want to create immersive and engaging experiences for users.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience Designer

Game Tester

Game Testers play video games to find bugs and ensure that they are working as intended. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of social interaction in VR, which is essential knowledge for Game Testers who want to test multiplayer games effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Tester

Social Media Manager

Social Media Managers create and manage social media content for businesses and organizations. This course provides a solid understanding of the principles of social interaction in VR, which is becoming increasingly important for Social Media Managers who want to create engaging and interactive experiences for their audiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Media Manager

Creative Director

Creative Directors oversee the creative vision for a variety of projects, including films, video games, and other visual media. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of social interaction in VR, which is essential knowledge for Creative Directors who want to create immersive and engaging experiences for audiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Creative Director

Art Director

Art Directors oversee the visual style of a variety of projects, including films, video games, and other visual media. This course provides a strong foundation in 3D character animation, which is an essential skill for Art Directors who want to create immersive and engaging experiences for audiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Director

Technical Director

Technical Directors oversee the technical aspects of a variety of projects, including films, video games, and other visual media. This course provides a strong foundation in 3D character animation, which is an essential skill for Technical Directors who want to create immersive and engaging experiences for audiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Director

Concept Artist

Concept Artists create visual concepts for a variety of projects, including films, video games, and other visual media. This course provides a strong foundation in 3D character animation, which can be useful for Concept Artists who want to create realistic and engaging character designs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Concept Artist

Animator

Animators bring characters to life in films, video games, and other visual media. This course provides a strong foundation in body and facial animation, which are essential skills for Animators. By learning how to create realistic and expressive characters, you will be well-equipped to succeed in this exciting field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Animator

Reading list

We've selected 11 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Building Interactive 3D Characters and Social VR.

Animation Mini: Runs, Jumps and Skips

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Classic guide to animation, covering everything from the basics of movement to advanced character animation techniques. It must-read for anyone who wants to learn how to create great animation.

Building Interactive 3D Characters and Social VR

What's inside

Syllabus

Good to know

Save this course

Reviews summary

Captivating course on 3d character building

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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