Dancing Buddhas: New Graphical Tools for Digital Cultural Heritage Preservation

We will demonstrate and discuss the use of a mathematically based tool, Function Representation (FRep), for modeling complex 3D objects such as sculpture, and show the new capabilities that it provides for dynamically modifiable viewing and presentation. FRep uniquely allows smooth metamorphosis between structurally dissimilar objects, even with different mathematical connectivity. We intend to use FRep's modeling and metamorphosis capabilities for the multimedia presentation of a transformation of the kanji from a twelfthcentury Japanese text of the Lotus sutra (one found in the Aizu region) into moving 3D buddhaimages, accompanied by synchronous sounds of chanting. In our presentation, we will demonstrate some of the basic steps showing the concept and approach, but with a limited sample, and without sound. With our approach, an object at any point in its metamorphosis will be a verifiably closed, mathematically accurate representation of the object at that stage of the process. We achieve this by using HyperFun, a high level geometric modeling language for modeling based on FRep. Because of their mathematical basis, high level FRep and HyperFun data structures can survive centuries of hardware and software iterations, and form a useful tool for cultural preservation as well. We intend to make our methods, developed by an international multidisciplinary team and currently being refined and expanded for use in this field, freely available to the academic community, and welcome participation and suggestions.