When you try to implement virtual characters in your brand, you don't always get the results you're looking for. The animations are clunky and the character is not believable. However, there is a technology that offers hyper-realistic results: virtual avatars with Motion Capture.
Motion Capture (MoCap) is a revolutionary technique that makes it possible to animate digital characters quickly and realistically. The suit records the movements of the person wearing it, and the computer processes them. This way you can save a lot of 3D animation time and get more realistic results.
Although it may seem simple, it is a complex technology that requires professionals to implement it correctly. So to make your life easier, and not waste your time, here we bring you an extensive and detailed blog about Virtual Avatars with Motion Capture. After reading it you won't be able to wait to implement it in your company!
How does Motion Capture technology work?
Definition of Motion Capture technology
Motion Capture is a novel virtual avatar animation technique that consists of two key elements: the Motion Capture suit and the computer. The suit records the movements of the wearer, and the computer processes them, animating the virtual avatar in real time.
Motion Capture Suit
The first key piece is the Motion Capture suit. It is a specialized garment that is equipped with a series of sensors or markers strategically placed on various parts of the body. In this way they manage to accurately capture every movement, gesture or posture made by the person wearing it. Some systems even include gloves and masks to capture facial expressions and hand movements.
Computer and Software
The second key component is the computer, which is equipped with specialized software to process the data captured by the suit. This software is capable of translating the recorded movements into real-time digital animations. The processing can range from simple motion translation to the incorporation of special effects, textures and other elements that make the virtual avatar more realistic.
Real Time Animation Process
Once the person in the suit makes a movement, the sensors send this information to the computer almost instantaneously. The software then processes this data and translates it into movements for the virtual avatar. All of this happens in real time, allowing for smooth and natural interaction.
Benefits of using Virtual Avatars with Motion Capture in your company
| Key benefit | Description |
| Realism and Authenticity | Improves brand authenticity and the quality of user interactions through realistic movements and expressions. |
| Personalization and User Experience | It allows to offer more personalized and engaging experiences by adapting avatars to the brand identity. |
| Global Accessibility | Facilitates global brand expansion and outreach to new markets by being accessible from anywhere, anytime. |
| Cost and Operational Efficiency | Reduces the need for human and physical resources for certain tasks, resulting in cost savings and a more efficient operation. |
| Innovation and Differentiation | It positions the brand as innovative and avant-garde, attracting a wider audience and differentiating it from the competition. |
Examples of uses of Virtual Avatars with Motion Capture in companies
These are the 4 sectors where MoCap suits are most commonly used:
Immersive Marketing
Virtual Brand Ambassadors: If you want your advertising spot to be starred by a fantasy character, but you don't know how to achieve it, MoCap suits are the solution. And not only can it be the image of your ads, it can also become your virtual "Influencer", called V-tuber. He will be able to connect with the audience, carry your social networks, interact in real time with followers, and represent your brand in a much closer environment to the consumer.
Fashion and cosmetics
Virtual Fashion Shows: Fashion brands are increasingly looking to innovate when it comes to presenting their new collections, and with the emergence of virtual fashion, virtual avatars with MoCap are their cornerstone. Virtual avatars are used to present new collections in dreamlike fashion shows, with unreal models that seem out of this world, allowing for a more immersive and accessible experience for global audiences.
Tourism and Hospitality
Virtual Tour Guides: The goal of tourism is to learn about new places and cultures while enjoying the experience. However, when we visit monuments and museums, we don't end up immersing ourselves in history. Now imagine that historical characters tell you about their most important moments, that the bravest warriors simulate decisive duels, or that international artists explain the intention behind their works. You are sure to feel part of history.
Customer Service in Hotels: The check-in and check-out time in hotels usually means long lines of people waiting for the front desk to assist them. One way to optimize it is to implement several screens with animated virtual avatars with MoCap to support the front desk. The virtual assistants guide customers while they fill in the data and if they have questions, they can ask them.
Entertainment
Fantasy and science fiction characters: Imagination may have no place in the real world, but if we combine cinematography with Motion Capture there is no limit. Motion capture has been in this sector for years, being the technology responsible for productions such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Planet of the Apes or the highest grossing film in history, Avatar. With the help of this technique, the most iconic characters we know come to life.
Hyperrealistic video games: Grand Theft Auto, The Last Of Us, Red Dead Redemption... The most popular video games in history are starring virtual avatars. The evolution of video games took a leap of innovation from the most basic animations to the creation of incredibly humanized characters. In this way, the experience of playing a video game changes drastically thanks to increased realism, used to tell deeper and more complex stories.
The use of virtual avatars is not only limited to these four sectors, the possibilities are endless. Here is a table summarizing examples of how to implement them in other sectors
| Health | Rehabilitation with avatars to guide exercise | Surgical procedure simulations |
| Sports | Motion analysis in athletes | Training simulators with avatars |
| Education | Virtual teachers for remote teaching | Educational simulations with historical characters |
| Technology and Development | Software testing with simulated interactions | Development of user interfaces with realistic virtual assistants |
MoCap Suit Styles
Although it seems that this technology is beyond our reach, it may actually be closer than we think. Of course, this type of technique requires especially professional equipment, and therefore has a high cost. However, the offer is becoming more and more varied every day.
As for the brands involved in the production of these materials, Xsens, Rokoko and OptiTrack are some of those that are part of this market. Among their product catalog, you can find very different models in terms of cost, depending on their characteristics.
On the other hand, the choice of accessories is a crucial part of working with Motion Capture. Without them, Motion Capture would be meaningless. Just like costumes, the price of accessories such as trackers, facial capture helmets or sensors vary in price, so their availability covers both high-budget projects and the first contact you can have with Motion Capture from the comfort of your home.
Inertial and Optical Configuration
For working with Motion Capture suits, we can distinguish two types of configurations. On the one hand, Inertial MoCap is characterized as the fastest method: gyroscopes are installed on the body and convert the received movements into animation data.
The optical method, on the other hand, stands out as the method of choice for more elaborate productions, such as films. Through high-performance cameras that track movements, incredibly accurate and detailed results are achieved. For this reason, the team in charge of developing this technology is made up of highly qualified personnel with rigorous training.
Latests Trends in Motion Capture
Augmented Reality
The future of Motion Capture lies in achieving the highest quality and accuracy in programming data to ensure a more realistic experience for the consumer. To this end, other technologies can be relied upon to help with this process, such as Augmented Reality. AR technology consists of the creation of virtual elements within a real environment, where the user can freely interact with the product in its surroundings in real time.
If we combine Motion Capture, we can achieve very effective results that would be of interest to many companies. For example, in order to improve customer service, the balance of these technologies would result in a virtual avatar with which the user could interact in real time regardless of their location, to resolve doubts and improve the company-customer relationship.
Virtual Reality
Another successful combination that we achieved with MoCap is the implementation of Virtual Reality. Thanks to the VR viewers, the user is immersed in a virtual environment with a real or imaginary aspect, where he/she can interact as if it were real life. By offering a 360º experience with a virtual avatar, the consumer's complete immersion is assured.
Artificial Intelligence
Despite the many known uses of Artificial Intelligence, its implementation in Motion Capture is not far behind. Several companies have already innovated technologically by introducing this tool. In the case of video games, when motion capture is incorporated there are incredible results as we can see in the most famous examples. However, to improve the humanization of the characters, it is possible to work with Artificial Intelligence to make gestures more natural, the voice more realistic or the behavior more fluid.
Metaverse
When we talk about immersion in video games, we imagine free interaction with our environment, a place where all our decisions count. Now imagine a video game where every movement plays an important role in the experience, making it much more exciting and intense. This novelty was introduced by Move.Ai and the Fashion Innovation Agency, when they incorporated Motion Capture into the Metaverse. The experience consisted of the user's movements being immediately replicated in a virtual avatar, so the possibilities were endless.
Conclusion
Motion Capture technology is revolutionizing the way companies interact with their customers. By implementing hyper-realistic virtual avatars, brands can significantly improve user experience, operational efficiency and brand authenticity . From immersive marketing and virtual fashion to interactive tourism, the applications of this technology are virtually endless. If you're looking to differentiate yourself and take your business to the next level, virtual avatars with Motion Capture are an investment worth considering.
