{"id":7206,"date":"2017-03-23T18:17:04","date_gmt":"2017-03-23T18:17:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/?p=7206"},"modified":"2017-03-23T18:21:03","modified_gmt":"2017-03-23T18:21:03","slug":"facerig-software-3d-avatars-useful-teaching-tools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/2017\/03\/23\/facerig-software-3d-avatars-useful-teaching-tools\/","title":{"rendered":"FaceRig Software &#8211; 3D Avatars &#8211; Useful Teaching Tools?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong><u>Overview<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7208\" src=\"http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/2.jpg\" alt=\"2\" width=\"588\" height=\"299\" srcset=\"http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/2.jpg 588w, http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/2-300x153.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cFaceRig is a program that aims to enable anyone with a webcam to digitally embody awesome characters.\u00a0 The output can be recorded as a movie or streamed to Skype, twitch, Hangouts, or any service that traditionally uses a webcam in real time\u201d.<br \/>\n~ FaceRig Steam Service Ad<\/p>\n<p>I recently ran into the FaceRig software available from an online gaming service called Humble Bundle for the grand sum of $5.40.\u00a0 See the following URL:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humblebundle.com\/streaming-software-bundle\">https:\/\/www.humblebundle.com\/streaming-software-bundle<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The software is also available from the FaceRig website for around $20.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/facerig.com\/\">https:\/\/facerig.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The software is quite sophisticated and a harbinger of technology to come.\u00a0 First you choose a 3D avatar and background.\u00a0 Then, by using your webcam, the program maps dots onto your facial features.\u00a0 Then when you talk or move your head, those lip, face, and head motions are mimicked by your avatar.\u00a0 The results can be recorded and are extremely realistic even without tweaking the extensive optional control panels.<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>Example Movie<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As a teacher, the first idea that came to me was to create a recorded avatar that could be used by a substitute to introduce and explain a planned lesson to my classes.\u00a0 You can view this short and incomplete video at:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.darngoodsolutions.com\/free\/trump2.mp4\">http:\/\/www.darngoodsolutions.com\/free\/trump2.mp4<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7209\" src=\"http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/3.jpg\" alt=\"3\" width=\"709\" height=\"398\" srcset=\"http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/3.jpg 709w, http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/3-300x168.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 100vw, 709px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m sure that with a little experimentation, teachers could come up with multiple creative uses for these avatars.<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>Pros<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Once set up, the software is very easy to use<\/li>\n<li>There are a good number of provided avatars with several more that can be downloaded for free<\/li>\n<li>Facial movements are mimicked quite well by the software &#8211; this includes eyes, eyebrows, mouth, and lips<\/li>\n<li>It is easy to produce the final video with excellent results<\/li>\n<li>Sound special effects can be added \u2013 great to mask the identity of your voice<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><u>Cons<\/u><\/strong> (see the suggestions below)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The software takes a bit of time to set up properly<\/li>\n<li>The interface is confusing in some places<\/li>\n<li>Laughing and other uttered noises other than speaking do not look realistic<\/li>\n<li>The video is saved in the .webm format which is not uniformly supported<\/li>\n<li>The software has trouble mapping your face if you are wearing glasses<\/li>\n<li>So far I have been unable to figure out how to import new backgrounds into the software<\/li>\n<li>There seems to be a few bugs that can be worked around<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><u>Suggestions<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/4.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-7210\" src=\"http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/4-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"4\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/4-1024x576.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/4-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/4-768x432.jpg 768w, http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/4.jpg 1596w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>When setting up the connection from FaceRig to your web cam, note that this control is NOT in the opening screen Options but located in a set of controls on the right (green) after you Launch and click on the UI+ button in the controls at the top(dark blue) of the screen<\/li>\n<li>In order to get your face to show up in the small viewing box and your videos to come out right, you may need to experiment with the image sizes that are available<\/li>\n<li>You can convert the .webm videos produced by the software into other formats (.avi, .mp4, etc.) by using the free Zamzar online tool:<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.zamzar.com\/convert\/webm-to-mp4\/\">http:\/\/www.zamzar.com\/convert\/webm-to-mp4\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li>I found that setting the sound options on the opening screen and choosing my webcam as the audio source did not work. What did work was not seeing this option at all.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><u>Conclusion<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This software would seem to be on the cusp of the 3D and 3D avatar \u201crevolution,\u201d bringing this technology to the \u201cmasses.\u201d\u00a0 The quality of the end product and the final ease of use far outweighs a few bugs and some time to get the software set up properly.\u00a0 Teachers should find a multitude of uses for their created 3D avatar movies in their classes, online, and in communications with students.\u00a0 I would give the software a 4 out of 5 star rating and when the bugs are removed a strong 5 out of 5 star rating.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/untitled.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7207 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/untitled.png\" alt=\"untitled\" width=\"325\" height=\"85\" srcset=\"http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/untitled.png 440w, http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/untitled-300x78.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 325px) 100vw, 325px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Brought to you by Multimedia Science<br \/>\n<\/strong><strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.teacherspayteachers.com\/Store\/Multimedia-Science\">https:\/\/www.teacherspayteachers.com\/Store\/Multimedia-Science<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Blogs: <a href=\"http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/post\/\">http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/post\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Pinterest: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/hughes6497\/\">https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/hughes6497\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Facebook: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/mmscience\/\">https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/mmscience\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Twitter: <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/drnebula9090\">https:\/\/twitter.com\/drnebula9090<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0Overview \u201cFaceRig is a program that aims to enable anyone with a webcam to digitally embody awesome characters.\u00a0 The output can be recorded as a movie or streamed to Skype, twitch, Hangouts, or any service that traditionally uses a webcam &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/2017\/03\/23\/facerig-software-3d-avatars-useful-teaching-tools\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,3,6,7,8,9,13,22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7206","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-3d","category-art-of-technology","category-computer-games","category-effective-teaching","category-future-of-learning","category-online-learning","category-software","category-teacher-tools"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7206","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7206"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7206\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7211,"href":"http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7206\/revisions\/7211"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7206"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7206"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/darngoodsolutions.com\/blogB\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7206"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}