Challenges of the Internet of Things

8 Interconnected Virtual Space and Theater: A Research–Creation Project on Theatrical Performance Space in the Network Era

8.1. Introduction

Since 2014, we have been conducting experiments based on a multidisciplinary collaboration between theatrical staging specialists and researchers in the field of virtual reality, digital art and video games. This team focused its work on the similarities and differences that exist between real physical actors (actor-performers) and virtual digital actors (avatars).

From this multidisciplinary approach, experimental research–creation projects have emerged, which we have previously described [GAG 15, GAG 17]. These projects rely on a physical actor playing with the image of an avatar, controlled by another physical actor via the intermediary of a low-cost motion-capture system (a mobile inertial motion-capture system, which we describe later).

In the first part of this chapter, we introduce the scenographic design on which our presentation is based and the modifications we have made in relation to our previous work. Next, in the second section, we discuss the impact of augmenting the player’s game using an avatar in detail, compared to the scenic limitations of the theatrical stage. In part three, we discuss the software-related aspects of the project, focusing on exchanges between the different components of our design and we describe the algorithms that enable us to utilize the real-time movement of a player via various capture devices. ...