Exploring Center of Gravity in Motion Caption Technology
A computer graphic showing the animation of motion capture.Copyright Jovan Popović , Massachusetts Institute of Technology, http://graphics.lcs.mit.edu/~jovan/mocap.html. Used with permission.
Students learn how motion capture (mo-cap) technology enables computer animators to create realistic effects. They learn the importance of center of gravity in animation and how to use the concept of center of gravity in writing an action scene. Note: The literacy activities for the Mechanics unit are based on physical themes that have broad application to our experience in the world — concepts of rhythm, balance, spin, gravity, levity, inertia, momentum, friction, stress and tension.
Since people naturally have an intuitive sense about balance, computer animation designers who want to create realistic effects must convey a convincing sense of balance in their work Authentic-looking special effects, such as collapsing bridges or exploding structures, must first convey a loss in equilibrium before they fail. Engineers must also be convincing communicators. When writing to persuade, it is sometimes helpful to catch the reader off balance to make a dramatic point.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Use a full range of strategies to comprehend technical writing, newspapers, magazines, poetry, short stories, plays and novels.
- Choose vocabulary and figures of speech that communicate clearly.
- Learn the importance of center of gravity in animation and how to use the concept of center of gravity in writing an action scene.