David Shaw - Publications

We present a new interest point operator based on the regular polygon detector developed by Loy and Barnes. This operator finds square-like features as a basis for scene reconstrucion and visual Simulatenaous Localisation and Mapping (SLAM) from robot camera sequences. In this paper we show results from the application of this detector as an interest point operator on a robot camera sequences in an indoor office environment. The detctor shows good results for non-trivial frame baselines.

Storytelling has been popular throughout the ages in a variety of different forms, and now computers offer the potential of interactive storytelling; stories that can adapt to the wishes of the audience. However, to present a dramatic experience to compete with existing storytelling forms, any interactive storytelling system requires the ability to maintain the integrity of the story while coping with the audience decision about story path. This dissertation proposes a method for a core component of such a system, a model for abstracting plot to suit an interactive storytelling system.
Interactive storytelling is a medium where the audience is an active participant, taking the role of the protagonist in the story. For the storytelling to be truly interactive, the audience must be given the opportunity to shape the path of the story through their actions. A linear pre-written story cannot provide this level of freedom, as the story acts as a constraint to the audience's ability to choose their own path. For interactive storytelling to be a possibility, an algorithmic method of writing stories is needed.
To work towards solving the problem of integrating story with interactivity an abstract model of plot is presented, which uses the metaphor of doors and keys to represent plot challenges. In this model, `doors' represent an important milestone or choice that the audience can make that affects the path of the story. `Locked doors' are doors that require an additional element or action, for example fetching an important item. `Keys' are the elements or actions that `unlock' the locked doors. A prototype of this model is shown to generate abstract story worlds that would suit an interactive environment, and an example is given showing how this model can be used to generate plots for interactive stories.

The possession of strong characters and plot is an important element in computer games. In this paper, we discuss how dynamic stories cannot be satisfied using techniques adapted from standard entertainment media such as film. We propose that semi-autonomous characters are a requirement for creating dynamic non-linear stories, and show the basics of how to building such characters in a way that can show personality.