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Chapter 8. Conclusion
8.1.2 Gaze Attention Behaviors for Crowds
Our second main contribution is the development of gaze attention behaviors for crowds of
characters. This consists of an extra layer added to an existing crowd animation. Our method
automatically detects the points which are interesting to look at for the virtual characters
using features such as distance, orientation, and speed. We use the character trajectories only
in order to define our interest points. It then consists of adapting the character motions to
satisfy the automatically defined gaze constraints in a smooth and natural way. The method
we have proposed allows the definition of the where, the when and the how to gaze for
hundreds of characters.
8.1.3 Gaze Interaction for Agoraphobia
Our third contribution is the development of gaze attention behaviors for crowds in real time.
The main idea of the method is the same as the one we have proposed to create gaze attention
behaviors for crowds, but reconsidered in order to meet online requirements. In this system,
not only are the characters able to look at each other or at objects in the scene, but also at the
user walking around in their environment. This application allows the determination of the
amount of characters which should perform gaze behaviors. It also allows the definition of
different modes of interest for the characters, i.e. gaze at the user, gaze at the user’s interest
point, randomly gaze at any character, or a mix of any of these modes. Finally, we allow a
very immersive setup in a CAVE environment where a user can interact with characters in a
crowd using gaze and gestures.
8.1.4 Experimental Validations
Finally, we have discussed various studies to validate our applications in the context of social
phobia and agoraphobia with crowds. Our first validation experiment evaluated the use of VR
to treat social phobia and more specifically, fear of public speaking. We have also validated
the use of eye-tracking as an assessment tool for therapists, as it allows the visualization of
where a patient has been looking throughout an exposure session.
Our second validation experiment focused on the use of eye-tracking as a diagnosis and
assessment tool for the treatment of social phobia; and more specifically, fear of public
speaking. Since abnormal eye contact behavior is a known feature present in social phobia,
this consists in an objective evaluation tool. We validated the use of this tool with an
experiment conducted over a phobic population and a control group population.
Our third validation experiment consisted in evaluating the application we have developed
for interaction between a user and a virtual character in the context of fear of public
speaking. We have tested our application on a group of healthy people and conducted a case
study on a young girl suffering from Asperger syndrome.
Finally, our last experiment consisted in validating our application allowing the interaction
with crowds of characters in a CAVE environment. We have tested this on a group of
healthy people and discussed its application to agoraphobic patients.
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