Realtime Generation of Customized 3D Animated Explanations for Knowledge-Based Learning Environments

Rich D animated explanations can have a pow erful impact on students interacting with im mersive knowledge based learning environments By generating D animated explanations in re altime a learning environment can create en gaging explanations that are tailored to individ ual students This paper presents the immersive explanation planning framework for generating pedagogically customized D animated explana tions in realtime In this framework an expla nation system selects D models and their rele vant behaviors creates camera shots that most clearly depict complex phenomena constructs a temporal organization that synchronizes narra tive utterances with visual elements plans the movement of the virtual camera that lms the explanation and incorporates specialized visual e ects to focus students attention on the most salient concepts The framework has been im plemented in Rapid an explanation system that plans and renders customized D animated expla nations of dynamic phenomena in realtime Re sults of a focus group evaluation of Rapid are encouraging