Véronique Gaildrat

Two-dimensional potential fields for advanced implicit modeling operators

Current methods for building models using implicit volume techniques present problems defining accurate and controllable blend shapes between implicit primitives. We present new methods to extend the freedom and controllability of implicit volume modeling. The main idea is to use a free‐form curve to define the profile of the blend region between implicit primitives.

EXTRUSION OF 1D IMPLICIT PROFILES: THEORY AND FIRST APPLICATION

This paper presents a new interpretation of the general definition of the binary blending operator of implicit modeling. Instead of considering the operator as a composition of potential functions or as a function defined in the combined primitives metric, we propose to consider it as an implicit curve extruded in an implicit extrusion field. An implicit extrusion field is a 2D space for which each coordinate is a potential field. The study of general concepts around implicit extrusion field allows us to introduce theoretical notion of free-form blending controlled point-by-point by the user. Through the use of functional interpolation functions, we propose modeling tools to create, sculpt or combine implicit primitives by extrusion of a profile in an implicit extrusion field.

Implicit extrusion fields: general concepts and some simple applications

Presents a new interpretation of the binary blending operator of implicit modeling. Instead of considering the operator as a composition of potential functions, we propose to consider it as an implicit curve extruded in an implicit extrusion field. An implicit extrusion field is a 2D space for which each coordinate is a potential field. The study of general concepts around implicit extrusion fields allows us to introduce the theoretical notion of free-form blending, controlled point-by-point by the user. Through the use of functional interpolation functions, we propose modeling tools to create, sculpt or combine implicit primitives by extrusion of a profile in an implicit extrusion field.

“DIY” Prototyping of Teaching Materials for Visually Impaired Children: Usage and Satisfaction of Professionals

Professionals working with visually impaired children (i.e. specialist teachers and educators, Orientation and Mobility trainers, psychologists, etc.) have to create their own teaching materials. Indeed, only few adapted materials exist, and do not fully meet their needs. Thus, rapid prototyping tools and methods could help them to design and make materials adapted to teaching to visually impaired students. In this study, we first designed a blog enabling professionals to create their own teaching materials. Then, we set up a challenge with five teams including one professional of visual impairment and students in computer science. The aim of each team was to design and make a teaching material, based on handcrafting, 3D printing tools and cheap micro-controllers, fitting the needs of the professional. After they have used their material with visually impaired students, we interviewed the professionals in order to evaluate usage and satisfaction. The professionals reported that the materials were easy to make, and valuable for teaching to visually impaired students. They also reported that DIY prototyping, based on 3D printing and cheap microcontrollers, enables them to create their own teaching materials, and hence accurately meet unanswered needs. Importantly, they would advise their colleagues to use this method and new tools. However, they consider that they would need assistance to create new materials on their own.

Process of indexing and querying for theatrical texts

We briefly present a tool, called DRAMAtexte, for indexing theatrical texts in order to emphasize the existing informations about characters, sets, and accessories. After the indexation step, a process of simple or crossed querying allows the user an easy access to the previously indexed informations.

A Reproducible Experiment Towards the Accessibility of a Geographical Map

The “Mappa Mundi d’Albi” is an eighth-century map, registered in the Unesco‘s World heritage list in 2015. Difficult to understand even visually, it requires explanation and contextualization. In accordance with the legislation regarding the accessibility of cultural works, and to allow its understanding, we have implemented various devices, via digital technology, to make it accessible to as many people as possible. Different criteria of accessibility and perception of sensory modalities have been studied. After an analysis of the already existing accessibility design we have designed and evaluated different prototypes of enhanced digital and tangible maps. These prototypes have been put in place through different partnerships and based on a goal of reproducibility at low cost. The other objective was, taking into account the “diy” culture of fablabs, the work in collaboration for teachers specialized in accessibility or not and non-computer scientists.

Theatrical Text to 3D Virtual Scenography

Generation and visualization systems based on the principle of text-to-scene are powerful systems but they are not dedicated to the particular domain of theatre. Text-to-scene systems provide an intuitive way to easily create 3D environments for non-expert users. In this paper we propose a text-to-scene system dedicated to the theatre, which generates a 3D view based on the descriptive elements extracted from the theatrical text. Such a tool is designed to encourage the emergence of new methods in staging, research and teaching in the domain of the theatre. The works presented in this paper enable the elements of a theatrical production to be manipulated, with both a textual view and a 3D view. The 3D view is obtained from an automatic generation of a 3D environment, based on elements of scenography identified into the text by the user. Semantic annotations are added into the theatrical text to automatically obtain a visualization of a 3D virtual scenography. To encode the descriptive properties, the user adds tags, which identify semantic and descriptive information into the theatrical text. The tags are then used to calculate the location and the orientation of characters and objects in the resulting virtual scenography. The tags are also used to identify the emotional states, the postures of the characters, as well as the duration of each state in order to generate views of the scene.