London, England — While Tony Blair and wife Cherie recuperate after the
weekend’s ordeal, a team of UK software developers have created a 3D virtual
Tony Blair stand-in, at www.phonyblair.com. “PhonyBlair” is the latest 3D
virtual human to hit computer screens. An interactive, photo-realistic animated
caricature of Prime Minister Tony Blair, PhonyBlair showcases the latest
developments in the creation of 3D ‘Virtual Humans’ or ‘avatars’.
PhonyBlair’s head can be rotated through 360 degrees and his features and facial
expressions exaggerated, while he can even be made to sport a mohican-
style haircut and to moo like a cow. PhonyBlair can be seen at:
www.phonyblair.com
Developed by BioVirtual, the technology behind PhonyBlair has a diverse
range of applications. In the first instance, it will help police
produce accurate 3D composite images of criminals. Using technology
developed over a three-year period in conjunction with experts at New
Scotland Yard, BioVirtual’s engineers have perfected a method of
applying the actual bitmap image from one or more photographs to an
anatomically accurate 3D model, to produce truly photo-realistic 3D
virtual humans.
BioVirtual has teamed with Aspley Limited to supply the
first commercially available 3D E-FIT product for police and security
applications. The product is designed to help with witness recollection
and facial identification.
BioVirtual’s technology will also take game playing into a new era.
Models can be animated using off-the-shelf computer animation software
and can also support streaming audio with lip synchronisation so that
customers will be able to build truly realistic, walking, talking
virtual people for use in a myriad of Internet applications and
eventually in mobile multimedia devices.
“Our experience working with New Scotland Yard to develop 3D modelling
technology that can map a myriad of facial builds and expressions has
undoubtedly given us a significant lead in this area. Our aim is to soon
deliver a Web based application that will allow anyone to take a
standard photograph and quickly create his or her own 3D virtual image”
explains Steve Holland, BioVirtual’s chief executive officer.
