[Skeletons in my closet]

Just got my TrackIR in the mail also. I can't wait to see the final results of this! If it works even half as well as I'm hoping, I'll definitely have to send a donation your way for the hard work and creativity of this idea! I'll keep my eyes open...

 

[MonkeyBasic]

Just got my TrackIR in the mail also. I can't wait to see the final results of this! If it works even half as well as I'm hoping, I'll definitely have to send a donation your way for the hard work and creativity of this idea! I'll keep my eyes open...

Shoot me an email (the address is at the end of the video) and I will you a copy of the Beta version for you to try out.

As far as the idea, I can't take credit for it. Systems like this have been out before. I (hopefully) just simplified things.

 

[Skeletons in my closet]

email sent...thanks for the opportunity to help beta test!

 

[MonkeyBasic]

TheHumanSolution.com - Natural Point TrackIR 4 Pro Head Tracker Mouse for $114.00 (price changes daily) plus you can $10 off with coupon 'ergonomics' and free shipping.
So you would pay $104.00 shipped!

Looks like they dropped the price to $99.99, which means you can get this now for $89.99 shipped with the above coupon!!!

The reason for the price drop is they have just released the TrackIR 5. Both TrackIR 4 and TrackIR 5 "should be" fully supported by TrackSkull, since the SDK that I use is written by the same company.

 

[MonkeyBasic]

Differences

If I were you, I'd save your money and go with TrackIR 4... here are the differences:

Horizontal Field of View
TrackIR 4 = 46°
TrackIR 5 = 51.7°

Raw Sensor Resolution
TrackIR 4 = 355 x 288 *
TrackIR 5 = 640 x 480

Sub-pixel Resolution
TrackIR 4 = 1/20th pixel
TrackIR 5 = 1/150th pixel

Reporting Resolution
TrackIR 4 = 7,100 x 5,760
TrackIR 5 = 96,000 x 72,000

Resolution/Horizontal Field of View Degree
TrackIR 4 = 154 subpixels/degree
TrackIR 5 = 1850 subpixels/degree

 

[bfjou812]

Just wondering the status on this . Has anyone used the software and camera yet ? I was following this and am very interested in it and just wondered if anyone has used it other than the demo at the begining of this thread. My questions are mostly ease of use and the software operation- how does it interface with VSA etc. Thanks, Jeff

 

[bw1]

Jeff,

The software is under development. There are several people testing the software as monkeybasic adds features and functions.
Monkeybase is also adding support for different servo controllers which is being tested by different users.
So right now with the trackskull software and an auto talker board from bluepoint engineering Blue Point Engineering Inc. - Sound Devices / Equipment / Supplies
you could control a three axis skull and make him talk in puppet mode. Importing to VSA is being tested.

Brad (one of the testers)

 

[themindshaft]

Mo Cap

I think it's cool, but if you want my 2 cents, nothing beats a good animator behind the programing controls. Disney has experimented with many mo cap interfaces over the years, and even they say the same thing. You can have a figure with the most articulations, or realistic skin, or whatever. If it's animated poorly, it still sucks. Even with mo cap, there is usually a "cleanup" process to fix glitches or refine a movement. A good animator with a program that lets you "clean up" movements after an initial "rough in", is still the best way to animate in my opinion.

Bill Ehrsam.

 

[Dr Morbius]

I think it's cool, but if you want my 2 cents, nothing beats a good animator behind the programing controls. Disney has experimented with many mo cap interfaces over the years, and even they say the same thing. You can have a figure with the most articulations, or realistic skin, or whatever. If it's animated poorly, it still sucks. Even with mo cap, there is usually a "cleanup" process to fix glitches or refine a movement. A good animator with a program that lets you "clean up" movements after an initial "rough in", is still the best way to animate in my opinion.

Bill Ehrsam.

Bill's right...in fact it's funny how all the advanced tech in the world still boils down to refining a roughed in animation..a technique used by animators who draw by hand have used for decades. Not to say the MO cap won't be a great tool, but not in and of itself.

 

[Evil Bob]

You can edit out mistakes easier with the new version of VSA. Still, it would be nice to have integrated animation/playback within VSA.

Bill's right...in fact it's funny how all the advanced tech in the world still boils down to refining a roughed in animation..a technique used by animators who draw by hand have used for decades. Not to say the MO cap won't be a great tool, but not in and of itself.

 

[MonkeyBasic]

I just wanted to give everyone a quick update. The project is coming along very well... Plenty of bugs have been fixed and even more have been added. I'm continuously expanding the possibilities of TrackSkull with features I never even thought of adding. I have a great group of people beta testing right now and would not be anywhere close to finish without them. I'm looking to have a release candidate available soon (I really have to put a stop to new features). So keep your eyes open.

Also, I have some other projects in the works... should be a busy year.

 

[propboy]

MAN know I really have to get going on a 3 axis skull.
Dr Morbius got me interested, this makes me excited, now I just need to spend some $$$$, but TIME is my issue and not my friend.

Keep the info coming, maybe I can get off my arse and get one of these made

-PB

 

[indeva]

Any news? How's the beta testing going? Easy to use, import to VSA okay?

 

[MonkeyBasic]

Beta testing is going really well.... Working on the last few issues.

Hopefully something will be available very soon!!!

 

[MonkeyBasic]

Here is a quick diagram of the capablities of TrackSkull

 

[Evil Bob]

Dang! Great job!
You should charge for it!

 

[Mr_Chicken]

You can use a joystick instead of TrackIR? I want to use TrackSkull now!

 

[MonkeyBasic]

Charging adds additonal level of complication... from what I have seen & experienced, people will donate what they feel is appropriate.

So I hope you will do the same and not require me to charge.

 

[bw1]

Yes Mr chicken we are testing the use of a joystick. You get the two axis of the joystick and a third variable channel using what
would be the throttle for an airplane application, so you get three proportional channels. You also get three button controls on the
joystick like the trigger and two other buttons. These give you a fixed position and a momentary second position while the button
is pushed. This could be used for eye blinking or something like that.

 

[Mr_Chicken]

Yes Mr chicken we are testing the use of a joystick. You get the two axis of the joystick and a third variable channel using what
would be the throttle for an airplane application, so you get three proportional channels. You also get three button controls on the
joystick like the trigger and two other buttons. These give you a fixed position and a momentary second position while the button
is pushed. This could be used for eye blinking or something like that.

any reason why the 3rd axis of the joystick itself can't be used? Perhaps there could be an option to use throttle or the twist of the joystick for the third head movement.