CrossTalk: An Interactive Installation with Animated Presentation Agents

In this paper, we describe CrossTalk, an interactive installation in which the virtual fair hostess Cyberella presents and explains the idea of simulated dialogues among animated agents to present product information. In particular, Cyberella introduces two further virtual agents, Tina and Ritchie who engage in a carsales dialogue. Cyberella on the one hand, and Tina and Ritchie on the other hand live on two physically separated screens which are spatially arranged as to form a triangle with the user. The name “CrossTalk” underlines the fact that different animated agents have cross-screen conversations amongst themselves. From the point of view of information presentation CrossTalk explores a meta-theater metaphor that let agents live beyond the actual presentation, as professional actors, enriching the interactive experience of the user with unexpected intermezzi and rehearsal periods. CrossTalk is designed as an interactive installation for public spaces, such as an exhibition, a trade fair, or a kiosk space.