System and method for creating avatars or animated sequences using human body features extracted from a still image
A user may create an avatar and/or animated sequence illustrating a particular object or living being performing a certain activity, using images of portions of the object or living being extracted from a still image or set of still images of the object or living being.
1. A method comprising:
monitoring information received from one or more sources, wherein the one or more sources comprise one or both of a social media website and a news website;
determining a common theme according to the information received from the sources;
gathering a plurality of images according to the common theme;
determining characteristics according to the plurality of images;
receiving an input from an end-user;
generating an avatar depicting an object; and
generating a background for the avatar, wherein the background comprises one or more images selected from the plurality of images according to the input from the end-user and according to one or more of the characteristics.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the characteristics comprise one or more of a subject matter, a level of importance, a timeliness, and a classification of geographic relevance.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:
adjusting one or both of appearance aspects and motion aspects of the avatar according to the input from the end-user.
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein adjusting one or both of appearance aspects and motion aspects of the avatar comprises selecting a motion template for animating the avatar.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:
prompting the end-user to interactively identify segments of the one or more images as one or more sub-images.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:
associating an image selected by the end-user with one or more aspects of the object, wherein the one or more aspects of the object are associated with reference parameters of a structural feature of the object, and wherein the reference parameters define one or more of a location of motion, a dimension of motion, and a constraint upon motion;
applying the image selected by the end-user to a model, wherein the model comprises anatomical characteristics, and wherein the applying is based on the reference parameters of the structural feature of the object; and
rendering, from the model, the avatar.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the object is a human being.
8. A system comprising:
one or more processors for communicatively coupling to a communication network and operably coupled to a display device, the one or more processors operable to:
monitor information received from one or more sources, wherein the one or more sources comprise one or both of a social media website and a news website;
determine a common theme according to the information received from the sources;
gather a plurality of images according to the common theme;
determine characteristics according to the plurality of images;
receive an input from an end-user;
generate an avatar depicting an object; and
generate a background for the avatar, wherein the background comprises one or more images selected from the plurality of images according to the input from the end-user and according to one or more of the characteristics.
9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the characteristics comprise one or more of a subject matter, a level of importance, a timeliness, and a classification of geographic relevance.
10. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are operable to:
adjust one or both of appearance aspects and motion aspects of the avatar of the object based upon the input from the end-user.
11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein adjusting one or both of appearance aspects and motion aspects of the avatar comprises a selection by the end-user of a motion template to define animation of the avatar.
12. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are operable to:
prompt the end-user to interactively identify segments of the one or more images as one or more sub-images.
13. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are operable to:
associate an image selected by the end-user with one or more aspects of the object, wherein the one or more aspects of the object are associated with reference parameters of a structural feature of the object, and wherein the reference parameters define one or more of a location of motion, a dimension of motion, and a constraint upon motion;
apply the image selected by the end-user to a model, wherein the model comprises anatomical characteristics, and wherein the applying is based on the reference parameters of the structural feature of the object; and
render the avatar according to the model.
14. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the object is a human being.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon, a plurality of code sections, each code section comprising a plurality of instructions executable by one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to perform the actions of a method, the actions comprising:
monitoring information received from one or more sources, wherein the one or more sources comprise one or both of a social media website and a news website;
determining a common theme according to the information received from the sources;
gathering a plurality of images according to the common theme;
determining characteristics according to the plurality of images;
receiving an input from an end-user;
generating an avatar depicting an object; and
generating a background for the avatar, wherein the background comprises one or more images selected from the plurality of images according to the input from the end-user and according to one or more of the characteristics.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 15 , wherein the one or more characteristics comprise one or more of a subject matter, a level of importance, a timeliness, and a classification of geographic relevance.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 15 , wherein the actions comprise:
adjusting one or both of appearance aspects and motion aspects of the avatar of the object according to the input from the end-user.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 17 , wherein adjusting one or both of appearance aspects and motion aspects of the avatar comprises selecting a motion template to define animation of the avatar.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 15 , wherein the actions comprise:
prompting the end-user to interactively identify segments of the one or more images as one or more sub-images.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 15 , wherein the actions comprise:
associating an image selected by the end-user with one or more aspects of the object, wherein the one or more aspects of the object are associated with reference parameters of a structural feature of the object, and wherein the reference parameters define one or more of a location of motion, a dimension of motion, and a constraint upon motion;
applying the image selected by the end-user to a model, wherein the model comprises anatomical characteristics, and wherein the applying is based on the reference parameters of the structural feature of the object; and
rendering, from the model, the avatar.
21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 15 , wherein the object is a human being.