Computer-Assisted Interactive Documentary and Performance Arts in Illimitable Space

Computer-Assisted Interactive Documentary and Performance Arts in Illimitable Space Miao Song, Ph.D. Concordia University, 2014 This major component of the research described in this thesis is 3D computer graphics, specifically the realistic physics-based softbody simulation and haptic responsive environments. Minor components include advanced human-computer interaction environments, non-linear documentary storytelling, and theatre performance. The journey of this research has been unusual because it requires a researcher with solid knowledge and background in multiple disciplines; who also has to be creative and sensitive in order to combine the possible areas into a new research direction. Thus, we summarize the innovative research work surrounding the topic as “ComputerAssisted Interactive Documentary and Performance Arts in Illimitable Space”. This work encompasses a lot of research performed in each of the disciplines. It focuses on the advanced computer graphics and emerges from experimental cinematic works and theatrical artistic practices. Some development content and installations are completed to prove and evaluate the described concepts and to be convincing. More specifically, on one hand, the major research component includes the advanced rendering in real-time of an interactive physics-based softbody object simulation and visualization with OpenGL. Its immediate follow-up work in this thesis extends that system onto an artistic interactive jellyfish simulation controlled with advanced interaction devices, such as Falcon haptics. Some more advanced rendering techniques have been applied, such as stereoscopic effects, GLSL, LOD etc. in order to bring the CG objects to life and to increase the level of realism and speed.