Synthetic motion design by focusing on mimetic words (1st report) (Development of the motion database with mimetic words)

Abstract

Human ambition for design is to create objects that resonate with deep feelings. Recently, the field of design has been widened from static objects including pictures and architecture to dynamics object including music, animation and motion. In our previous study, we had proposed a method of designing a creative and emotional motion that might resonate with deep feelings. In this method, the motion is designed by blending motions which are called “base motions”. Base motions are based on motion of natural objects. In the present study, we focus on mimetic (reality-symbolic) words. Mimetic words express appearance and movements. These words can be understood as potential representations of those motions that are difficult to describe verbally. We attempt to create a database of base motions by focusing on mimetic words. First, we created a tool to obtain motion data by capturing a video of a natural object and extracting its movements. A total of 160 base motions were collected using the tool. Experiment 1 was conducted to classify mimetic words from the viewpoints of their similarities. Then, the representative word in each classified group was recognised as a head word of the database. Experiment 2 was conducted to relate each representative mimetic word to the base motion. As a result, a database of 160 base motions that were related to the corresponding mimetic words was constructed. Experiment 3 was conducted to examine generalities associated with evaluating the appropriateness of expressing each base motion with related mimetic words. Finally, a case study that used constructed database was conducted, and the feasibility of the database and the method was confirmed.